The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kilclooney on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether levels of VAT in the UK can be reduced without the approval of the EU.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
Member States have full autonomy over VAT within an agreed EU framework. Member States can apply a standard rate of VAT no lower than 15 per cent and apply a reduced rate of VAT no lower than 5 per cent.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-04-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children in England on a child protection plan have been (a) referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and (b) received treatment from CAMHS in each of the last five years.
Alistair Burt
This data has not been collected centrally. However, in February this year for the first time the Health and Social Care Information Centre began collecting a range of data about children and young people’s use of secondary mental health services via the new Mental Health Services Dataset. This includes data on whether children and young people using services are, or have been, subject to a child protection plan. Data quality and quantity will take time to build, but we expect a range of national reports to be developed during the course of 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Reynolds on 2016-05-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people are currently being treated in Assessment and Treatment Units.
Alistair Burt
At the end of April 2016 for inpatients with a learning disability and/or autism, the average length of stay was 1,095 days. The total number of inpatients was 2,565. 415 were diagnosed with autism only and 555 patients had a learning disability and autism (Learning Disability Services Monthly Statistics, April 2016).
The average weekly cost for inpatient care was £3,563 per week in September 2015 (Learning Disability Census: England 2015)
Both the Learning Disability Services Monthly Statistics and the Learning Disability Census provide data on people with learning disabilities and/or autism spectrum disorder receiving inpatient care commissioned in England.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-07-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on EU students wishing to study in UK universities.
Joseph Johnson
The UK has a long established higher education system that supports, and therefore attracts, the brightest minds, at all stages of their careers. Existing rules on EU and other EEA students remain in force. Future arrangements for EU students wishing to study in the UK will need to be considered as part of wider discussions about the UK’s relationship with the EU.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-09-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the UK plans to provide any assistance or reconnaissance intelligence for airstrikes against Daesh conducted as part of the Syrian Counter Terror agreement made by the US and Russia on 9 September 2016.
Mike Penning
The UK supported US efforts to reach agreement with Russia to reinstate a cessation of hostilities in Syria and will continue to work for the restoration of a credible cessation of Hostilities. The UK was not, however, a party to the US-Russia arrangement which was a purely bilateral one. While the UK would have considered seriously any requests received, we were not asked for either assistance or reconnaissance intelligence for its implementation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-01-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department keeps a record of former employees of the Ministry of Defence who are now serving in foreign militaries.
Mark Lancaster
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) holds records of former employees of the MOD who have applied to serve in foreign militaries under the Business Appointments process. However, it is not known if these individuals went on to take up the appointment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Teresa Pearce on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of railway station ticket offices that will be closed by (a) 2020 and (b) 2025.
Claire Perry
The Ticketing and Settlement Agreement protects the opening hours of Ticket Offices. If an operator wishes to make such changes to Ticket Office opening times, there is an industry process to follow.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many orders for major surface warships have been made since the last General Election.
Earl Howe
None.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2016-04-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many contracts relating to (a) secure training centres and (b) prisons MTC Novo have been awarded; and how many such contracts that firm is currently under consideration for.
Andrew Selous
The Ministry of Justice holds contract information related to (a) secure training centres and (b) prisons, and can confirm that MTCnovo Limited have been awarded one contract associated with Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre. At present MTCnovo Limited are not under consideration for any further secure training centre or prison contracts.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-05-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to maintain the level of funding for specialist nurses.
Ben Gummer
It is Health Education England’s (HEE) responsibility to ensure that there is sufficient future supply of staff, including those needed in specialist fields, to meet the workforce requirements of the English health system.
HEE publishes an annual Workforce Plan which is built upon the needs of local employers, providers, commissioners and other stakeholders who, as members of its Local Education Training Boards (LETBs), shape the 13 local plans.
The Workforce plan is predominately an aggregate of the local LETB plans, but the final national plan is only agreed with the advice and input of its clinical advisory groups and Patients’ Advisory Forum, as well as the Royal Colleges and other stakeholders.
Once staff are qualified, it is for individual employers to ensure their staff remain up to date with, or acquire, specialist skills to provide safe and effective patient care through Continuous Professional Development and provide sufficient funding locally to ensure this occurs.