Tag: Baroness Randerson

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-11-10.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect Transport for Greater Manchester to announce the new contractor for the smart-ticketing scheme previously awarded to ATOS, and when they expect such a scheme to be introduced.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

This is a commercial matter for Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM). The Government has no involvement in any negotiations between TfGM and any prospective new contractors.

The introduction of any smart ticketing scheme will depend on the progress made by TfGM in appointing any new contractor.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-12-03.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to reform or strengthen the role of Traffic Commissioner.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The Department for Transport published its review of the role of the traffic commissioners this year. This recommends that we continue with the commissioners in their present form.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-02-08.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the administration of the Apprenticeships Levy will function in order to fund work-based learning and vocational training in (1) Wales, (2) Scotland, and (3) Northern Ireland.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe

We are continuing discussions with the devolved administrations about a fair allocation of funding from the proceeds of the Apprenticeship Levy.

Education and skills policy, including apprenticeships, is a devolved matter.

It is for the devolved administrations of Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to determine how they manage and fund apprenticeships.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-05-23.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Department for International Development will support the Global Health Sector Strategy on Viral Hepatitis 2016–2021 at the forthcoming World Health Assembly.

Baroness Verma

The UK Government welcomes the development of this strategy for preventing, diagnosing and treating viral hepatitis. DFID works very closely with the Department of Health and we have a joint delegation to the World Health Assembly.

DFID supports improving the access to clean and safe water and hygiene promotion to reduce the risk of transmission of hepatitis A and E. We are the largest donor to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which increases access to immunisation in low income countries. This includes protection against hepatitis B. The UK supports UNITAID, which is working to improve access to better diagnostics for Hepatits C and we are supporting the Clinton Health Access Initiative to reduce prices and increase access to new treatments. In addition DFID supports comprehensive harm reduction programmes and strategies through its support to the Global Fund, which help reduce transmission of both HIV and Hepatitis C.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-09-13.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to take forward the recommendations of the West Anglia Taskforce to examine timetable improvements to reduce rail journey times on the West Anglia Main Line between London, Stansted and Cambridge.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The Department for Transport is carefully considering the recommendations of the draft report of the West Anglia Taskforce, particularly the interactions with the commitments made as part of the new East Anglia franchise. However, the recommendation to establish an “action group” has already been taken forward.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-11-10.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to introduce mandatory training on disability awareness for bus drivers, and if so, when.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

We do not plan to mandate disability awareness training for bus drivers at this time. Disability Awareness Training remains available to all drivers as part of the periodic Certificate of Professional Competence training syllabus and the industry has reported that virtually all drivers have now undertaken the training.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-12-03.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what incentives and performance targets exist to encourage HM Prison Service to improve rates of testing for hepatitis C among prisoners.

Lord Prior of Brampton

Improving the proactive detection, surveillance and management of infectious diseases in prisons is a shared priority for the National Offender Management Service, NHS England and Public Health England, as described in the Second National Partnership Agreement published earlier this year. A copy is attached.

Included within this work programme is implementation of the blood-borne virus (BBV) opt-out testing programme for people in prisons, which includes testing for Hepatitis C virus infection as well as Hepatitis B virus and HIV.

The ambition is to have BBV opt-out testing in all adult prisons in England by end of the financial year 2016-17.

While there are currently no financial incentives or direct performance targets, performance in this activity is measured by NHS England through the collection of data via the Health & Justice Indicators of Performance. The data are used by NHS England commissioners to performance manage healthcare providers in prisons.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-02-08.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their strategy for rolling stock specifies the need for new diesel rolling stock to serve the rail lines not specified for electrification, and if so, how will they ensure that an adequate supply of new diesel rolling stock is manufactured and procured.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The success of the railways today, with additional services, greater passenger demand and significant Government investment, means that there will be a need for the future deployment of new or cascaded diesel units.

We believe that the franchising programme delivers the best solution for bidders to specify rolling stock to meet the required outputs. A proportion of the available quality points from the franchise evaluation are dedicated to plans for rolling stock. This means that bidders have every incentive to look for solutions, including new, when providing trains for a franchise.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-05-23.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why NHS England has decided to restrict hepatitis C treatment, with providers subject to a financial penalty if they do not keep within specified numbers, despite those treatments being approved as cost-effective by NICE.

Lord Prior of Brampton

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) specifically requires Operational Delivery Networks (ODNs) to prioritise hepatitis C patients on the basis of highest unmet clinical need, as part of a progressive rollout of treatments over the next five years.

NHS England is funding providers to treat patients at the rate outlined in NICE’s guidance, Technology Appraisals 363, 364 and 365, apportioned to local ODNs based on local health needs. Copies of these Technology Appraisals are attached.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-09-13.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in setting up an action group to develop schemes for journey time improvements with the new East Anglia franchise operator, as recommended by the West Anglia Taskforce in order to support growth along that route.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The first meeting of the West Anglia Main Line Action Group took place on 13 September, with representatives of the rail industry and stakeholders along the line. Good progress was made on how the group will work together going forward in order to support growth along the route.