Tag: 2016

  • Baroness Walmsley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Baroness Walmsley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Walmsley on 2016-05-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether total Accident and Emergency (A&E) waiting times are calculated, for the purposes of reporting, from the time the ambulance arrives at A&E or from the time the patient enters the A&E Department.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    Accident and emergency (A&E) waiting times for patients who arrive by ambulance start either when the ambulance crew hand over the patient to the A&E department, or 15 minutes after the ambulance registers its arrival at A&E, whichever is earlier.

  • Jim Fitzpatrick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Jim Fitzpatrick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Fitzpatrick on 2016-07-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department plans to begin the five-year review of the Trade in Animals and Related Products Regulations 2011 required by those regulations.

    George Eustice

    Defra began its review of the Trade in Animals and Related Products (TARP) Regulations 2011 with formal and informal consultation with customers in October 2015.

    The intention is to complete the review by the end of 2016.

  • Jonathan Djanogly – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Jonathan Djanogly – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Djanogly on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he plans to hold discussions with his EU counterparts on the potential inclusion of companies and significant people who are involved in the construction of the bridge from Russia to Ukraine on the Russia sanctions list.

    Sir Alan Duncan

    The UK continues to strongly condemn Russia’s ongoing violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The EU has agreed a robust sanctions package against Russia, including specific measures targeting those responsible for infrastructure projects linking Crimea to Russia.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2016-01-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many times HMS Ocean has been deployed in the most recent year for which figures are available.

    Penny Mordaunt

    HMS OCEAN deployed away from UK waters twice in 2015. In July she participated in Exercise BALTOPS, a major Allied naval exercise in the Baltic Sea, and between September and December she was deployed on COUGAR 15, the annual deployment of the UK’s high readiness maritime Joint Expeditionary Force.

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-02-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to encourage UK companies to improve (a) working conditions, (b) safety standards and (c) pay in clothes factories in Bangladesh in their supply chains.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    The UK, through DFID, is encouraging UK companies to improve working conditions, safety standards and pay in the garment sector in Bangladesh in a number of ways. The UK has used every opportunity to call for companies to take responsibility for the working conditions. This has included a Westminster Hall debate, repeat Ministerial visits to Bangladesh, and various meetings with retailers and buyers.

    The UK Government has also encouraged all UK Brands to sign up to the Bangladesh Safety Accord, an independent and legally-binding agreement between trade unions and private companies that was established in the wake of the Rana Plaza disaster to improve safety and health standards in the Bangladeshi Ready-Made Garment Industry. A total of 30 UK companies have signed the Accord.

    The UK is also supporting the Trade in Global Value Chains Initiative (TGVCI) which supports UK companies to invest more in their supply chains and improve working conditions in the factories in which they are working. DFID also supports the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) which is a leading alliance of British companies, trade unions and non-governmental organisations working together to improve the lives of workers around the world.

  • Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-03-10.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are (1) the set up costs, and (2) the running costs, of the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    In the first year, the setting up costs and the running costs of the Healthcare Safety Investigations Branch will be £3.6 million. The Healthcare Safety Investigations Branch will sit within NHS Improvement and therefore other costs, such as premises and back office functions, will be met by NHS Improvement.

    The budgets of arm’s length bodies are agreed on an annual basis, subject to business planning. The budget for the Healthcare Safety Investigations Branch will be set through this process.

  • Jim Fitzpatrick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Jim Fitzpatrick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Fitzpatrick on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on implementing UN General Authority motion A/70 L.44 which reaffirms SDG targets 3.6 and 11.2.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    DFID officials meet regularly with both Department of Health (DoH) and Department for Transport (DfT) officials and work in a co-ordinated manner on international road safety, including UN General Authority motion A/70 L.44.

  • Lord Hylton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Hylton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2016-05-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what reports they have received concerning the welfare of refugees and migrants removed from Greece to Turkey, in the light of reports that some are being detained in camps at Düziçi and elsewhere, without access to legal advice or medical services.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    The Government takes very seriously any allegations of the inappropriate treatment of migrants or refugees, and we would urge any evidence substantiating the allegations to be made available to us and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). We note Turkey’s strong assurances about the treatment of migrants and refugees in its camps and removal centres. And also note the recent agreements reached betweenTurkey, the European Commission and the UNHCR, providing them with access to the Düziçi Camp and Kirklareli Removal Centre, and the UNHCR’s positive view following its initial visit. We will be following the outcome of future visits closely.

  • Antoinette Sandbach – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Antoinette Sandbach – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Antoinette Sandbach on 2016-07-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, by what date (a) clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are required to submit and (b) NHS England is required to approve sustainability and transformation plans for maternity services; and when he expects the NHS to publish its annual rating on the provision of CCGs maternity services.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) are being developed by health and social care organisations located across local areas referred to as ‘footprints’. Whilst clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are key stakeholders in the footprints, STPs represent the combined view of the organisations in the area also including National Health Service providers and local government.

    The March STP guidance to footprints stressed the importance of responding to 10 key priority areas which included maternity. On the 30 June there was a checkpoint for STPs. Footprints are at different starting points, and so the degree of detail that has been provided in the 30 June STP checkpoint varies. At present, managerial conversations regarding the submission are being held between the national bodies and representatives from each footprint. Footprints will be expected to submit a final plan in October. Final STPs and operational plans will be expected to set out how Mandate priorities will be delivered, including improvement to maternity services, before being agreed.

    The CCG Improvement and Assessment Framework will rate CCGs on the provision of maternity services annually. The first results of the first assessment will be published soon.

  • Clive Efford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Clive Efford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Efford on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the 46th Report of the Public Accounts Committee, Session 2014-15, HC971, what steps he has taken to ensure that the public purse is not exposed to any losses in circumstances in which Circle Holding plc fails to fulfil its contractual obligations in the delivery of musculoskeletal services in Greenwich; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The procurement of local health services by means of competitive tendering is a matter for the local National Health Service.

    We are advised by NHS England that NHS Greenwich Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has taken all reasonable steps to protect the public purse with regard to the contract for the provision of an integrated Musculoskeletal (MSK) service in Greenwich, which it awarded to Circle Health.

    The contract is governed by the General Conditions of the NHS national Standard Contract, which require the service provider and commissioner to indemnify each other in respect of any losses.

    With regard to contract expiry or termination, the conditions also provide for the protection of commissioners from excess costs (and their administration) incurred in procuring the services from another party, for a period of six months from termination.

    We are also advised by NHS England that as part of the procurement process undertaken by Greenwich CCG, parties bidding to provide an integrated MSK service in Greenwich were required to provide a mobilisation plan within identified timescales, in line with the scope of service.

    We understand that the CCG and Circle Health hold weekly mobilisation meetings to track Circle’s progress and to monitor the implementation and transition of the service up to the go-live date and the post go-live transition.