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Tag: 2016

  • Baroness Cox – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Baroness Cox – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Cox on 2016-04-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the UNHCR decision to cease the provision of services to the Yida refugee camp in Unity State, South Sudan, on 30 June, and what steps they will take to ensure that the human rights of registered refugees who currently reside there are protected.

    Baroness Verma

    The decision to close the Yida refugee camp was taken by the government of South Sudan, therefore we assess that the UNHCR decision to move provision of services as proportionate; and the decision was announced in advance to all refugees. The South Sudanese government, UNHCR and its partners have engaged with refugee leaders over the past 18 to 24 months to manage the closure of Yida and the relocation to new camps at Adjuong Thok and Pamir in the smoothest and most respectful way possible. UNHCR will continue to provide livelihoods support to the Yida community for those who chose to remain. The UK continues to underline that any returns and relocation should remain safe, voluntary and informed, with appropriate service provision to refugees.

  • Alex Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Alex Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2016-05-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to address barriers faced by people with ME in accessing care and support; and if he will make a statement.

    Jane Ellison

    The commissioning of services for people with chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME), is a local matter. To support the local NHS in shaping services for people with CFS/ME, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a clinical guideline on the management of CFS/ME in adults and children, which set outs best practice on the care, treatment and support of people with the condition.

    Although there is no cure for CFS/ME, there are treatments that may help to ease symptoms. The NICE guideline on CFS/ME recommends treatment such as cognitive behavioral therapy and graded exercise therapy approaches, which have the clearest research evidence of benefit. However, the guideline is clear that there is no one form of treatment to suit every patient. Treatment approaches will not be appropriate for all patients and the needs and preferences of patients should be taken into account. Shared decision-making between patients and healthcare professionals should take place during diagnosis and all phases of care. Furthermore, patients should be offered information about local and national self-help groups and support groups for people with CFS/ME and their carers.

    NICE last reviewed the guidance with its stakeholders, including CFS/ME charities during 2013. The review found no update was required. The full guideline may be viewed on the NICE website at the following link:

    www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg53

    “

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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-07-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to minimise bureaucracy for farmers.

    George Eustice

    During the previous Parliament Defra made significant progress in reducing regulatory burdens on all businesses. These were listed in my Written Ministerial Statement of 25 March 2015. Defra continues to take forward reforms to deliver our policy outcomes more efficiently for farmers. The Farm Visits programme was established in July 2015 to reduce the number of farm visits by 20,000 by 2020, reduce the regulatory burden on farmers and improve customer service. The programme has implemented a single helpline for farmers, started to combine inspections where it is beneficial to the farmer, and, in June established the farm visits coordination unit. I also announced in April changes to the arrangements for reporting livestock movements that will significantly reduce burdens for keepers. A Cutting Red Tape review of farm information reporting requirements is also under way whose recommendations will be published in due course.

  • Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-10.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the total value of European Investment Bank loans to local councils in (a) total, (b) Scotland, (c) Northern Ireland, (d) England (e) Wales and (f) each region of England in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr David Gauke

    Answer: The EIB publish all loans made to UK borrowers. The link below provides information on lending volumes to the UK and details on individual UK projects are available on the EIB website.

    http://www.eib.org/projects/regions/european-union/united-kingdom/index.htm

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

    Graham Brady – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Brady on 2015-12-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on average how many patients died in A&E on a (a) Monday, (b) Tuesday, (c) Wednesday, (d) Thursday, (e) Friday, (f) Saturday and (g) Sunday in the last 12 months for which data is available.

    Jane Ellison

    The average (mean) number of patients who died in accident and emergency (A&E) and who attended A&E on a (a) Monday, (b) Tuesday, (c) Wednesday, (d) Thursday, (e) Friday, (f) Saturday and (g) Sunday in 2013-14 is shown in the following table. These figures are taken from the Health and Social Care Information Centre’s Hospital Episode Statistics (HES). Final data for 2014-15 will be published on 28 January 2016.

    Weekday

    Average (mean) deaths in A&E department

    Average (mean) attendances at A&E

    Monday

    59.3

    55,212.7

    Tuesday

    54.0

    49,660.8

    Wednesday

    56.0

    48,667.0

    Thursday

    53.7

    48,600.3

    Friday

    55.6

    47,932.3

    Saturday

    55.8

    48,614.6

    Sunday

    57.1

    50,202.9

    Source: (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre

    Notes:

    1. The table shows the mean of A&E attendances, and the mean of A&E attendances where the patient died in the department, by weekday for 2013-14. The HES A&E database is recorded at attendance level, not patient level.

    2. The data cannot be described as an average number of people as the same person may have had more than one A&E attendance within the time period presented.

    3. The data excludes planned follow-up attendances.

  • Tom Tugendhat – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Tom Tugendhat – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Tugendhat on 2016-01-27.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department has taken to ensure transparency of commission and other charges levied by financial advisers during the sale of financial products to individuals.

    Harriett Baldwin

    Adviser remuneration is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Through the Retail Distribution Review (RDR), introduced at the end of 2012, the FCA has taken a number of steps to ensure that adviser remuneration on retail investment business is disclosed in advance of any services required. Product providers no longer have any influence over the remuneration received for advising on investments. Where commission remains on investments sold prior to the RDR, this will have been disclosed as required by the rules in force at the time the product was sold.

  • Craig Whittaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission

    Craig Whittaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2016-02-19.

    To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, when he expects the Local Government Boundary Commission for England to next review the (a) ward and (b) councillor arrangements in metropolitan districts in West Yorkshire.

    Mr Gary Streeter

    The Local Government Boundary Commission for England informs me that arrangements for both wards and councillors are recommended through its electoral review procedure.

    The Commission further informs me that Leeds City Council is in the early stages of an electoral review to consider the number of councillors elected to the authority in the future and the ward boundaries which will accommodate those elected members. None of the other metropolitan districts in the West Yorkshire area are part of the Commission’s programme of electoral reviews for the next twelve months. The Commission’s programme of reviews for the following year will be agreed in autumn 2016.

    There are three reasons why a local authority could become part of the Commission’s programme of electoral reviews. First, the Commission assesses levels of electoral inequality across all local authorities in England on an annual basis. Where the Commission determines that there are high levels of variances between wards or electoral divisions, namely where some councillors represent many more – or many fewer – voters than the average for the authority, it will initiate an electoral review to address the imbalances.

    The Commission will also carry out a review at the request of a local authority. Since 2011, the Commission has carried out 48 electoral reviews of councils that have asked the Commission to intervene. The majority of requested reviews have been initiated by authorities that have asked the Commission, in particular, to consider the total number of councillors elected to the council.

    Thirdly, the Commission will intervene where it believes that an electoral review will help an authority deliver effective local government. Such reviews have been conducted in Stoke-on-Trent, Doncaster and – currently – in Birmingham where an independent report recommended that an electoral review should take place.

  • Gloria De Piero – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Gloria De Piero – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gloria De Piero on 2016-03-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprenticeships were (a) started and (b) completed in each (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) region of England and Wales in each of the last five years.

    Nick Boles

    Information on Apprenticeship starts and achievements by parliamentary constituency and region, in England, is published as a supplementary table (first link: starts, second link: achievements) to a Statistical First Release (third link).

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/493777/apprenticeships-starts-by-geography-learner-demographics-and-sector-subject-area.xls

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/504335/apprenticeships-achievements-by-geography-learner-demographics-and-sector-subject-area.xls

    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/learner-participation-outcomes-and-level-of-highest-qualification-held

    The Department does not collect further education information relating to the devolved administrations.

    “

  • Lord Luce – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Luce – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Luce on 2016-04-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government in what way the criteria for the regulation of financial services vary between the UK and British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    The regulation of financial services are domestic responsibilities of the governments of the Crown Dependencies and the Overseas Territories. As part of the EU internal market for financial services, the UK Government and Government of Gibraltar regulate financial services in line with their own domestic and EU law. Other British Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies’ governments regulate financial services in line with their own domestic law, and are encouraged by the UK to meet internationally agreed standards.

  • Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-05-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 12 May 2016 to Question 37016, what assessment he has made of the change in the number of full-time equivalent paramedics employed by the London Ambulance Service over the last three years.

    Ben Gummer

    We are advised by London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (LAS) that during 2015/16, it recruited 717 frontline staff. In doing so, LAS achieved its recruitment target and filled all its available frontline posts.