Tag: 2016

  • Matthew Pennycook – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Matthew Pennycook – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2016-02-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when she will publish the findings of the Frontier Economics analysis commissioned by her Department in 2014 with the aim of further systematising her Department’s understanding of the whole system impacts of electricity generation technologies.

    Andrea Leadsom

    DECC commissioned Frontier Economics late in 2014 to undertake a project on the Whole System Impacts of Electricity Generation Technologies on the electricity system.

    Given the variety of different terminologies and approaches to whole system impacts in existing literature, the core aim of the project is to set out a comprehensive framework to define whole system impacts and their components and drivers, which can be used to further systematise DECC’s modelling capability. The resulting methodological report is nearing completion following peer review by experts in the field of whole system impacts.

  • Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-03-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) serving personnel and (b) veterans have had mental health issues in each year since 2010.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    The following table shows the number of UK Armed Forces serving personnel who were assessed as having a mental health condition, either at one of the military Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMHs) or one of the facilities contracted by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to provide in-patient treatment, from 1 January 2010 to 30 September 2015 (the latest date for which verified data is available).

    Year

    Number of personnel assessed

    2010

    3,875

    2011

    3,953

    2012

    4,816

    2013

    5,093

    2014

    4,896

    2015

    3,811 (up to 30 September 2015)

    The MOD does not hold information on the number of veterans who were diagnosed with a mental disorder after leaving Service. However UK Armed Forces personnel identified with a mental health problem prior to leaving Service are entitled to access care in a UK DCMH for up to six months beyond their discharge date to continue their care. These personnel would be diagnosed prior to leaving Service and thus would be included in the statistics provided.

    Veterans in England, Scotland and Wales are entitled to priority treatment at NHS hospitals for Service-related conditions (subject to the clinical need of all patients) and a Veterans’ Transition Protocol ensures any Service person discharged with a diagnosed mental health disorder is transferred appropriately to the NHS in England and the Devolved Administrations. A number of enhancements have been made to the care available for them, including more NHS veterans mental health nurses, follow-up of Service leavers 12 months after discharge, and a 24 hour mental health helpline.

  • 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 2016-04-27.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the outcome, and (2) the cost effectiveness, of the use of faecal microbiota transplants in the treatment of recurrent clostridium difficile.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced guidance on faecal microbiota transplant for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection. NICE has recommended that the procedure is safe and effective for use in the National Health Service, but no assessment of its cost effectiveness has been made by NICE.

    Data on the uptake of faecal microbiota transplants in the treatment of recurrent Clostridium difficile by the NHS is not collected centrally.

  • Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-06-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 on levels of homelessness in England in each of the next five years.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    We are committed to supporting the most vulnerable in our society. Since 2010 our investment has helped local authorities prevent over 935,800 households from becoming homeless.

    The Housing and Planning Act will increase the range of affordable homes available, including homes to rent, homes for shared ownership and discounted Starter Homes to buy outright, so that social housing is prioritised for those that need it most.

  • Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2016 to Question 41740, when he expects to answer Question 39267, tabled by the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion on 3 June 2016.

    Margot James

    I have done so.

  • Diana Johnson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Diana Johnson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-10-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many claims under the Human Rights Act 1998 against British soldiers in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan the Government subsequently found to be spurious in each year since 2009-10.

    Mike Penning

    Legal actions citing the Human Rights Act, whether judicial reviews or personal injury claims, are normally brought against the Secretary of State for Defence rather than against individual Service personnel (on the basis that the Ministry of Defence is vicariously liable for their acts). The Courts allow or dismiss claims in whole or in part. There have been approximately 1,400 such judicial review claims and 1,000 personal injury claims stemming from our military oprations in Iraq and Afgahnistan. The vast majority of them have not yet been heard, as they are queued behind a small number of lead cases. It is the view of the Government, based on the findings of the Al-Sweady public inquiry and other evidence, that large numbers of these claims are likely to be exaggerated or spurious.

  • Kevin Brennan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Kevin Brennan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2016-01-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals for a statutory duty for fire and rescue services to respond to flooding.

    Mike Penning

    The Hon. Member will be aware that the Prime Minister announced on 5 January 2016 that responsibility for fire policy was being transferred to the Home Secretary with immediate effect. I am, therefore, answering the Hon Member’s question as Fire Minister. As fire is a devolved matter in Wales, my response applies only to England.

    Fire and Rescue Authorities are required to put in place integrated risk management plans, coordinated with the community risk registers produced by Local Resilience Forums. These documents should identify the full range of risks to which fire and rescue services should be able to respond. The effective response of fire and rescue services to the recent flooding demonstrates that the system is working.

    I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those at the frontline involved in that response. The commitment and dedication they showed throughout the Christmas and New Year period in helping communities affected to deal with the largescale flooding and to rebuild their lives afterwards is a demonstration of public service at its very best.

  • Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-02-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the transfer of HMS Cambria to Cardiff Bay is expected to be completed.

    Mark Lancaster

    On current plans, completion is expected in the autumn of 2018.

  • Nicholas Soames – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Nicholas Soames – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2016-02-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to facilitate the development of an improved labelling code in the UK.

    George Eustice

    The Food Information Regulations (No. 1855) were introduced in 2014 and has resulted in better and more consistent labelling of food in a number of areas, including allergen labelling, ingredients labelling and, from the end of this year, nutrition labelling.

    Origin labelling is also improved by these Regulations with new rules on origin labelling of meat of poultry, sheep, goat and pigs introduced in April last year. In addition, we look forward to prospective implementing acts on origin labelling of ingredients of foods, including meat and dairy, where this is different from the place that the food itself was made. The Government is fully engaged in these discussions and expects them to result in improved labelling of meat and dairy products in due course.

    We have been pressing for mandatory origin labelling on dairy products, in particular lightly processed dairy products such as butter, cheese and cream but have met with some resistance from the European Commission. We will continue to press for these improvements.

    .

  • Keith Vaz – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Keith Vaz – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-03-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the relative accessibility of (a) Spirit Healthcare’s Empower type 2 diabetes education course and (b) the DESMOND programme for diabetes patients in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

    Jane Ellison

    The Department has made no such assessment.

    NHS England advises that Spirit Healthcare’s Empower course will be as accessible as the current DESMOND programme. The Empower course will be available in a range of locations across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, including general practitioner practices, community centres and faith venues. The provider will be responsive to demand and local need to ensure that the courses are offered where required by patients and referring health care professionals.