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Tag: 2016

  • Baroness Thomas of Winchester – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Baroness Thomas of Winchester – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2016-05-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the medical criteria behind the introduction of a walking distance of 50 metres as part of the assessment for Disability Living Allowance in 1992.

    Baroness Altmann

    No walking distance was set when Disability Living Allowance (DLA) was introduced. The higher rate mobility component of DLA was always intended to be for those disabled people who were unable to walk or virtually unable to walk. The DLA regulations refer to the ability to walk out of doors being limited by reference to four factors; distance, speed, length of time or manner in which progress can be made without severe discomfort.

    The lower rate mobility component was intended for people who are able to walk but need guidance or supervision because of severe mental or physical disability.

    Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which is replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for working age claimants, was developed to provide a more equal recognition of both daily living and mobility needs of those with all disability and impairment types, including physical, mental health, cognitive and sensory.

  • Robert Neill – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Robert Neill – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Neill on 2016-07-13.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to ensure overseas electors receive ballot papers in time to vote in elections.

    Chris Skidmore

    In the last Parliament, the Government amended legislation to make it easier for overseas electors and Armed Forces personnel to vote by post at elections and referendums in the UK. The electoral timetable was lengthened and the restriction on issuing postal votes ahead of the postal vote application deadline removed.

    We continue to keep under review the practical operation of the postal voting process and meet with electoral administrators and their suppliers to identify ways to provide a more effective service, including expediting the delivery of postal votes to overseas electors.

  • Grant Shapps – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Grant Shapps – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grant Shapps on 2016-09-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the next appraisal of the High Speed 2 project is planned.

    Andrew Jones

    The Department is continuing to keep the appraisal of HS2 under review and further updates will be prepared as the programme reaches critical milestones. The Government intends to announce a decision on the route of Phase 2 by the end of the year and this will be supported by an updated appraisal.

  • Ruth Cadbury – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Ruth Cadbury – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ruth Cadbury on 2016-01-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of whether paragraph 20 of Schedule 9 of the Income Support (General) Regulations 1987 accurately reflects the real costs borne by a claimant who takes a boarder into their home.

    Priti Patel

    There has been no such assessment.

  • Graham Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Graham Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2016-02-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with NHS England on the cost of outsourced mental health services.

    Alistair Burt

    We do not hold this information centrally.

    Departmental Ministers regularly discuss a number of mental health issues with NHS England officials, although no discussions specifically about the cost of outsourced mental health services have taken place.

  • Julie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Julie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Cooper on 2016-03-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people waited six weeks or longer for a diagnostic test in Lancashire in 2015.

    Jane Ellison

    This information is not available in the format requested.

    However, NHS England publishes diagnostics waiting times and activity, including performance against the six week target, by clinical commissioning group (CCG) on a monthly basis.

    For 2014-15 and 2015-16 this can be found at the following links in the Monthly Diagnostics Commissioner data under the ‘CCG Summary’ tab:

    https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/monthly-diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/monthly-diagnostics-data-2014-15/

    https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/monthly-diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/monthly-diagnostics-data-2015-16/

    “

  • Carolyn Harris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Carolyn Harris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2016-04-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the progress made by bookmakers in reducing gambling-related harm.

    David Evennett

    This Government has been clear with the whole gambling industry that they are expected to demonstrate they are continuously improving player protection initiatives and evaluating the effects of previous initiatives. The Association of British Bookmakers (ABB) revised its social responsibility Code of Conduct in 2015. On 6 April the industry also launched the multi-operator self-exclusion scheme, which allows customers to self-exclude from all bookmakers at once.

    In January, we published the Evaluation of Gaming Machine (Circumstances of Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2015, which can can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-gaming-machine-circumstances-of-useamendment-regulations-2015. We are considering the findings of the evaluation before deciding if there is a need for further action.

  • Craig Whittaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Craig Whittaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2016-05-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to work with local authorities whose areas experienced flooding over winter 2015-16 in order to support their local high street economy.

    James Wharton

    DCLG launched a funding package in December worth £100 million to directly support flooded householders and businesses by:

    • launching the Bellwin Fund so that local authorities incurring costs over the threshold can apply;
    • making a grant of up to £500 for each household available through local authorities to help with recovery costs;
    • exempting households from paying council tax for the entire time they are out of their home;
    • making a grant equivalent to £2,500 per business available through local authorities to help businesses to recover from loss of trade;
    • and giving business rates relief to those that have had their trading disrupted.

    Our Recovery Package also supports homes and businesses to protect their properties against future floods through the Property Level Resilience Scheme.

    In addition to this bespoke recovery package, we’re taking action to help high streets thrive through a range of targeted tax breaks, sensible planning changes and measures to ensure fairer parking for motorists. At the Budget, we announced the biggest ever cut in business rates in England – worth £6.7 billion over the next five years and cutting business rates for all ratepayers, meaning 600,000 of the smallest businesses won’t have to pay business rates again.

  • Robert Neill – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Robert Neill – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Neill on 2016-07-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to reduce delays processing medical discharges in the Army Health Medical Directorate.

    Mark Lancaster

    As I explained to you in my letter of 21 March, the delays in processing requests for retrospective medical discharges by the Army are due to a shortage of clinicians, but that a new member of staff had been appointed to assist with these reviews. I wrote to you again on 12 July and advised you that the backlog is now being processed and each individual will be informed of the outcome of their review as soon as it is completed.

  • Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-09-15.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress his Department is making on the implementation of the proposed secondary market for annuities.

    Simon Kirby

    To date, the Government has published the following consultation documents in relation to the secondary market in annuities policy:

    Creating a secondary annuity market – March 2015

    Creating a secondary annuity market: response to the call for evidence – December 2015

    Creating a secondary annuity market: tax framework – April 2016

    Creating a secondary market for annuities – secondary legislation – April 2016

    These consultations have now closed. The Government will respond shortly.