Tag: 2016

  • 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 2016-02-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what procurement process was followed to commission Bain and Company to support the vanguard programme in NHS England in deciding how to invest transformation funds; what is the value of that consultancy contract; and how value for money in that contract was established.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) commissioned Bain and Company to support vanguards as an extension to work previously commissioned from the company as part of a programme called Future Focused Finance, an initiative sponsored by the Department of Health and arm’s length bodies. This earlier work for the HFMA had focused on the design of a value-based decision effectiveness tool, piloted in Mid-Cheshire and Liverpool. The HFMA, in partnership with NHS England, commissioned the extension to this work so that the tool could be used to support value-based decision-making in the 2016-17 New Care Models programme.

    Alternatives were not sought from competitors because the vanguard support built on the original Bain and Company work for the HFMA.

    The value of the vanguard support contract is £650,000. Value for money was obtained by negotiation, having been benchmarked with other commissions made by the National Health Service to external health consultancies.

    As part of the contract, Bain and Company will be handing over its approach to NHS England, so that NHS England can support other areas in implementing new care models.

    Bain and Company has not been commissioned to assess evidence to support transformation and potential for replication of new care models in other areas. The company is commissioned to develop and implement a framework that appropriately experienced NHS staff can use to assess such evidence. Intellectual property rights in respect of the framework in the future are assigned to HFMA under the terms of the contract. The NHS is entitled to use the framework free of charge in perpetuity.

    Bain and Company is involved in the development of the tool used to make the assessment, and in the implementation of the process to use that tool. The company is specifically commissioned to help vanguard sites to use the tool and to summarise the resulting value propositions to facilitate decision-making by NHS England.

    No conflict of interest arises as decisions concerning funding allocations for individual vanguards are made by NHS England’s Executive Team and Investment Committee and not Bain and Company.

  • David Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    David Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Morris on 2016-03-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the additional revenue councils will receive from local business rates as a result of devolution deals.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    The Government has announced that, by the end of the Parliament, we will give all local councils new responsibilities in return for keeping 100% of locally raised business rates. In advance of 100% retention, devolution deals are already giving some areas the ability to keep 100% of the actual growth in business rates they achieve above a pre-determined baseline. This will give them an added incentive to grow their local economies and increase their income from business rates.

  • Imran Hussain – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Imran Hussain – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of dengue fever on the development of developing countries.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    Dengue is estimated to place a heavy socio-economic burden on households, health care systems and governments, particularly during outbreaks; however, country-specific reliable estimates of burden of disease and cost data are limited.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-05-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2016 to Question 34946, what the recent meetings held by Ministers and officials of his Department with the motor insurance industry were that were referred to in that Answer and what was discussed at those meetings; and how many meetings he has held with personal injury law firms in the same time period and what was discussed at those meetings.

    Andrew Jones

    I last met with representatives from across the insurance industry on 14 January to discuss a range of issues. These included young driver safety and technology measures which can reduce the cost of insurance and thus reduce incentives to drive without insurance and the implications of a European Court of Justice Judgment on the scope of compulsory motor insurance. In addition I met with the British Insurance Brokers’ Association last summer, shortly after my appointment.

    My officials have regular meetings with representatives from the insurance industry. At these a range of issues have been discussed including young driver safety and technology such as telematics, uninsured driving, the scope of compulsory motor insurance, and driverless cars. Representatives of some parts of that industry have raised with us the issue of Insurance Premium Tax; this is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

    There have been no recent meetings with personal injury law firms regarding motor insurance.

  • David Mackintosh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    David Mackintosh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Mackintosh on 2016-06-28.

    To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent steps she has taken to promote LGBT rights in the workplace.

    Caroline Dinenage

    Improving LGB&T people’s experience at work is a key priority for this government. The Equality Act 2010 provides one of the world’s strongest legislative frameworks to prevent and tackle discrimination, harassment and victimisation in employment, including because of sexual orientation and gender reassignment.

    We also fund the Equality Advisory & Support Service, which provides free information, advice and support on equality and human rights issues to LGB&T people and others who may have been discriminated against at work.

    In addition, we recently published guidance for employers on the recruitment and retention of transgender employees. The guidance contains practical advice, suggestions and ideas to help improve knowledge and understanding about transgender issues in the workplace, and helps employers comply with the law.

    We will continue to engage with LGB&T organisations, employers, trade unions and individuals to understand and address the challenges for LGB&T people in the workplace.

  • Andrea Jenkyns – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Andrea Jenkyns – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrea Jenkyns on 2016-09-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which NHS trades unions have taken strike action resulting in the withdrawal of emergency services.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    In their industrial action that took place on 26-27 April the British Medical Association withdrew the whole of the junior doctor workforce (the group involved in the trade dispute) from providing emergency care. No other trade union has taken such action in withdrawing the whole workforce covered by the trade dispute when they provide emergency care. For example when other National Health Service trade unions took action in 2015, the Royal College of Midwives asked its members in those services to continue working to ensure essential services were maintained rather than expecting senior midwives or obstetricians to provide cover.

  • David Crausby – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    David Crausby – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Crausby on 2016-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average expenditure was per head of local authorities in (a) Bolton and (b) Greater Manchester in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    The average revenue expenditure per head for the financial year 2014-15, the latest available, was £1,675.33 per person for Bolton Council and the average for all local authorities in Greater Manchester was £1,896.10 per person.

  • Baroness Byford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Baroness Byford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Byford on 2016-02-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they collect statistics on the durability of condensing boilers; and if so, how they compare with the types of boilers they have replaced.

    Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

    The Government does not collect statistics on the durability of condensing boilers.

  • Gerald Kaufman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Gerald Kaufman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gerald Kaufman on 2016-03-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she intends to answer the letter dated 18 January 2016 from the Right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs M. Duran.

    Nick Gibb

    My Rt Hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, replied to the Rt Hon Member on 1 February 2016. I have arranged for a copy of the letter to be re-sent to his office.

  • Gareth Johnson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Gareth Johnson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Johnson on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the availability of category C prison spaces in the South East.

    Andrew Selous

    This Government will always ensure that we have enough prison places for those sent to us by the courts. We are investing £1.3 billion to reform and modernise the prison estate to make it even more efficient and focused on supporting prisoner rehabilitation.