The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2016-09-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many hospitals are forecast to (a) open and (b) close in each of the next five years for which figures are available.
Mr Philip Dunne
The reconfiguration of services, including the opening and closing of hospitals, is clinically led and a matter for the local National Health Service.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian C. Lucas on 2016-10-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which post offices in each constituency have moved from ground floor to first floor premises in the last two years.
Margot James
The provision and location of post offices is the operational responsibility of Post Office Limited.
I have asked Paula Vennells, the Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to the Hon Member on this matter. A copy of her reply will be placed in the libraries of the House.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2016-01-06.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2015 by the Minister for Skills, Official Report, column 1401, if he will introduce a levy to continue to fund action against loan sharks by the National Illegal Money Lending Team.
Harriett Baldwin
The Government is looking at a range of ways to ensure that the England and Wales Illegal Money Lending Teams have the funding they need to ensure that consumers continue to be protected from illegal loan sharks.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2016-02-01.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the Court of Auditors’ report stating that EU farm projects to improve the environmental sustainability of EU farms are unreasonably costly; and what action they are taking to hold to account those who administer the Common Agricultural Policy.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Of the 28 projects reviewed in the four Member States by the European Court of Auditors (ECA), the only ones viewed as cost effective overall were in England. The ECA found that payment rates in England took account of the wider economic benefits to the farmer which might result from making these investments. They also commented favourably about the high level of integration between these capital payments and multiannual land management activities which leads to better outcomes.
However, some projects reviewed in England were found not to be cost effective. We accept that in some cases the standard payment rates to farmers to help improve environmental sustainability may have been too high. We have reviewed our payment rates for the new Countryside Stewardship scheme. These have been independently verified. We will review standard payment rates again in 2017 to ensure that these types of payments are cost effective overall.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-02-25.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of in which areas of the Civil Service there is a deficit in capabilities.
Matthew Hancock
We have completed a skills review process across different government departments in the last 3 years considering leading and managing change, programme management, digital, and commercial skills and this has given a high level indication of the areas where we need to increase capability. Our approach to learning and development includes specific focus on these areas.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department issues guidance to bus operators on air pollution control and leaving bus engines running idle while at a bus stand.
Andrew Jones
The Government fully recognises the potential hazards to health and the environment that pollutant emissions from motor vehicles can cause, including when vehicle engines are left idling. Whilst the Government has not issued specific guidance on the subject of idling by bus operators, under Regulation 98 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, as amended, it is an offence to cause emissions or noise by leaving a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily whilst stationary on the road – other than when in traffic. Local authorities also have powers under the Road Traffic (Vehicle Emissions) (Fixed Penalty) (England) Regulations 2002 to issue fixed penalty notices for this offence.
We are committed to improving the UK’s air quality, reducing health impacts and fulfilling our legal obligations. Our air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide, published on 17 December 2015, sets out a comprehensive approach to meeting our ambition for the UK to have some of the cleanest air in the world, including by implementing a new programme of Clean Air Zones. Under the Plan, by 2020 the most polluting vehicles, including older polluting buses, will be discouraged from entering the centres of Birmingham, Leeds, Southampton, Nottingham and Derby. As part of the plan, London also has a well-developed strategy for improving air quality, including the implementation of an ultra-low emission zone by 2020 – which will cover a range of vehicles, also including buses.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-04-26.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to boost the co-operative housing sector in England.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
We recognise the significant role Housing Co-Operatives can play in delivering locally led housing development. The Government continues to be supportive of Housing Co-Operatives, because we want to see communities more in control of decisions that affect them. The March Budget confirmed £60 million a year from additional receipts from higher stamp duty rates on additional residential properties will be redirected into rural and coastal areas for community supported housing.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many officials of his Department have specific policy responsibility for deregulation.
Matthew Hancock
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 11 March 2016 to UIN: 29744.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-09-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 11 April 2016 to Question 32631 on human trafficking: females, if she will take steps to ensure that data referred to is collected.
Sarah Newton
Data about the number of victims of human trafficking with mental health issues who receive support through the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is not collated centrally. We work with victim support providers to strengthen data collection systems and will consider this as part of that.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-10-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of NHS England having secured lower prices for the latest Hepatitis C drugs, whether they expect that progressively more patients will be treated in 2016–17 and future years.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The Department’s Commercial Medicines Unit has recently concluded a tender which has resulted in some reductions in the cost of new hepatitis C drugs. These, and future reductions, support NHS England’s plans to increase treatment rates. NHS England has funded providers to treat 10,000 patients in the financial year 2016-17, and is expecting to treat more patients in the second half of the financial year. NHS England is already planning to increase treatment in 2017-18 to 12,500 patients, and is working with stakeholders to develop plans for a Strategic Multi-Year Procurement which aims to further improve the cost of these treatments and the opportunity to roll out treatment further.