Tag: Antoinette Sandbach

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Antoinette Sandbach on 2016-07-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, by what date (a) clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are required to submit and (b) NHS England is required to approve sustainability and transformation plans for maternity services; and when he expects the NHS to publish its annual rating on the provision of CCGs maternity services.

Mr Philip Dunne

Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) are being developed by health and social care organisations located across local areas referred to as ‘footprints’. Whilst clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are key stakeholders in the footprints, STPs represent the combined view of the organisations in the area also including National Health Service providers and local government.

The March STP guidance to footprints stressed the importance of responding to 10 key priority areas which included maternity. On the 30 June there was a checkpoint for STPs. Footprints are at different starting points, and so the degree of detail that has been provided in the 30 June STP checkpoint varies. At present, managerial conversations regarding the submission are being held between the national bodies and representatives from each footprint. Footprints will be expected to submit a final plan in October. Final STPs and operational plans will be expected to set out how Mandate priorities will be delivered, including improvement to maternity services, before being agreed.

The CCG Improvement and Assessment Framework will rate CCGs on the provision of maternity services annually. The first results of the first assessment will be published soon.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Antoinette Sandbach on 2016-02-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of a lack of bovine TB vaccine on the spread of bovine TB in the areas that border Wales.

George Eustice

Following advice from Public Health England on the need to prioritise available stocks for humans, the Government has taken the decision to suspend attempts to source BCG vaccine for the Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme and other private badger vaccination deployment projects in England until the supply situation is resolved. This follows the decision of the Welsh Government to do the same. Our long-term research to develop an oral TB vaccine for badgers and an effective TB vaccine for cattle is not expected to be affected by the current supply issue.

The Government is continuing to take strong action to deliver a long-term plan to eradicate the disease and protect the future of the UK’s dairy and beef industries. The comprehensive strategy includes strengthening cattle testing and movement controls, improving biosecurity on farm and when trading, and badger control in areas where TB is rife. Bovine TB policy is a devolved matter but my department liaises closely with the Welsh Government on matters of common interest, including the impact of the current hiatus in badger vaccination in both England and Wales.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Antoinette Sandbach on 2016-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what work HS2 Ltd has carried out in Eddisbury constituency since 17 July 2013 on mapping unmapped (a) pipework, (b) brine wells and (c) other brine extraction infrastructure.

Mr Robert Goodwill

No field mapping has been carried out except two successive (2014 and 2015) HS2 LiDAR surveys of the route in Cheshire.

HS2 Ltd has commissioned from a mining engineer (in consultation with the Cheshire Brine Subsidence Compensation Board) a study of the saltfield, including the location of known brine wells.

HS2 Ltd has consulted with brine/salt extraction stakeholders in the Eddisbury constituency, including Tata Chemicals Europe Ltd. and Compass Minerals UK Ltd.

Following a route decision in autumn 2016 HS2 Ltd will begin production of a full Environmental Impact Assessment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Antoinette Sandbach on 2016-07-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether HS2 Ltd has used (a) InSAR surveys and (b) other survey methods to survey ground movements on the proposed route of phase 2B of HS2 between Crewe and Manchester/Leeds.

Andrew Jones

HS2 Ltd has not commissioned any satellite (InSAR) surveys nor (to date) any purchase of existing/historical data or bespoke analysis of that.

HS2 Ltd has carried out two Lidar surveys of the proposed route of phase 2B of HS2 between Crewe and Manchester, with a view to comparing the two datasets to appraise ground movements in the time between the two surveys. This is work in progress. Other available Lidar data (made available by the Environment Agency) has been used to manually appraise ground movements of specific locations in the saltfield.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Antoinette Sandbach on 2016-02-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of reduced milk prices on dairy farmers.

George Eustice

The latest forecast of Farm Business Incomes for 2015-16 indicates that average incomes are expected to fall on dairy farms to £46,500. This reflects the impact of lower milk prices which started to fall in March 2014. It is important to note the wide variation in milk prices with some farmers receiving considerably more or less than the average. Reductions in milk price have been offset slightly by increased milk production together with reduced input costs, particularly feed.

We understand the pressures facing dairy farmers and have taken action to ease their cash flow problems. The £26.2 million aid package we secured for the UK from the European Commission and paid out in November and December provided some relief to hard-pressed farmers.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Antoinette Sandbach on 2016-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on whether there have been any meetings between HS2 Ltd and King Street Energy Ltd to discuss the proposed gas storage project near Northwich.

Mr Robert Goodwill

According to the Department for Transport’s records, representatives from HS2 Ltd met with King Street Energy on 25 September 2013 and 22nd May 2014 to discuss interactions with the proposed HS2 route.

A further meeting between HS2 Ltd and King Street Energy is scheduled to take place later this year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Antoinette Sandbach on 2015-10-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make it his policy to reopen the Government’s Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme.

Mr Edward Vaizey

The Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme, which has supported thousands of small businesses, is now closed as the funding has been fully allocated. Any decision regarding new funding is subject to the forthcoming Spending Review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Antoinette Sandbach on 2016-02-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps the Secretary of State is taking to ensure supermarkets are not breaching the industry code of practice by delaying payments to suppliers and demanding extra fees.

Anna Soubry

The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) is responsible for enforcing the Groceries Supply Code of Practice (the Code). The GCA is independent from Government. The current Adjudicator is Christine Tacon.

The Government fully supports the GCA. We were very pleased to see the recent report of her investigation into Tesco. The GCA found Tesco had breached the Code by delaying payments to its suppliers and she made recommendations to ensure future compliance with the Code.

The GCA’s investigation and report sent a clear message to all supermarkets subject to the Code that she will accept no less than the principle of fair dealing demanded by the Code. It put the industry on notice that any breach of the Code is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Antoinette Sandbach on 2015-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether alpacas are routinely tested for the presence of bovine tuberculosis.

George Eustice

There is no statutory bovine TB surveillance testing regime for alpacas except for post-mortem inspection of any that may enter the food chain. Defra has, however, worked with the British Alpaca and Llama Societies on the design and promotion of a TB testing regime that includes voluntary routine surveillance. A call for views on control of bovine TB in non-bovine farmed animals, including camelids, is currently in progress and will run until 20 November.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Antoinette Sandbach on 2015-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that peak noise measurements are used by HS2 Ltd when developing proposals on the night use of High Speed 2.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Phase One of HS2 includes predictions of maximum sound levels from HS2 trains on residential properties. This has informed the noise mitigation provided as part of the scheme. The maximum acceptable sound levels at night are set out in Information Paper E20.

Phase Two will undertake an EIA that will include predictions of maximum sound levels from HS2 trains.