Tag: Barry Sheerman

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-01-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of possible links between trafficking of women and girls and the spread of the Zika virus.

Mr David Lidington

We are aware of meetings this week in Geneva of the WHO International Health Regulations Emergency Committee, to consider whether the Zika outbreak should be designated a public health emergency of international concern. We are not aware of a connection being made with human trafficking. Were such a connection substantiated, it would be an added reason for taking firm action to eradicate this crime. Modern slavery is a global crime and requires a strong and collaborative international response. The Government’s Modern Slavery Strategy commits the Government to tackle modern slavery by working with multi-lateral institutions, foreign governments, civil society organisations and faith groups. The Government and the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner have been successful in working with other Governments to include a commitment to end modern slavery in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The UK government successfully pushed for a Commonwealth Heads of Government commitment on this issue. The UK was also the first country in the world to bring in transparency in supply chains legislation, through the 2015 Modern Slavery Act, which requires businesses operating in the UK with a turnover of over £36 million to report annually on what they are doing to prevent modern slavery in their global supply chains.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-03-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to reduce aggressive behaviour among passengers on commercial flights to, from and within the UK.

Mr Robert Goodwill

I and my officials have met and corresponded with industry representatives to discuss the issue of disruptive passengers on a number of occasions over the last year. In particular we have been working closely with airlines, airports, the police and duty free retailers to understand the challenges posed by disruptive behaviour on aircraft and to explore practical steps that can be taken to both reduce the frequency of these instances and to ensure that they are dealt with appropriately when they do occur. We are very supportive of industry’s efforts, including to collating and disseminating best practice and guidance; we will continue to provide assistance where appropriate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-03-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what data his Department collects on premature mortality in people on the autism spectrum.

Alistair Burt

The National Health Service is taking action to increase the health checks and cancer screening programmes for people with learning disabilities, including those who also have autism. In 2015, NHS England commissioned the world’s first Learning Disability Mortality Review Programme to support local areas to review deaths of people with learning disabilities and to use the information to improve service provision so that physical and mental health problems can be identified and addressed. This programme is currently being piloted and will be rolled out more widely in due course.

We would expect that the work of the mortality review as a whole is likely to generate new information on the causes of premature mortality in all people with learning disabilities including many who will also have had autism spectrum disorder.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent representations she has received from local authorities about overprovision of school places in areas where a free school or schools are (a) established or (b) proposed.

Edward Timpson

Regional Schools Commissioners hold regular meetings with local authorities to determine where there is a need for additional school places that could be met through establishing a free school. In addition, the department seeks local authorities’ comments on each new application for a free school and, for applications approved into the pre-opening stage, we seek their views as part of our statutory duty under section 9 of the Academies Act 2010 to assess the impact of establishing a new school on existing schools and colleges.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-04-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent estimate her Department has made of the number of children in Calais who are waiting to be reunited with their families in the UK.

James Brokenshire

There is no official estimate of the number of children in Calais, this is primarily a matter for the French authorities. It is only possible to assess whether an individual has links to the UK that could enable a transfer on family unity grounds once they make an application for asylum in France.

Once an asylum claim is lodged in France the Dublin Regulation procedure requesting the UK to take charge of a child on family unity grounds takes place very quickly, often in a matter of weeks, subject to consideration of the evidence in each individual case. An average time is not available for each of the last three years.

Since February 2016 the UK has accepted 30 family reunification applications from minors in France of which 23 have already been transferred to the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-04-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the potential annual cost to the public purse of exempting all people with long-term medical conditions from prescription charges.

Alistair Burt

We have not made a recent estimate of the cost to the public purse in lost revenue from introducing an exemption from prescription charges for all people with long-term medical conditions. However, the review of prescription charges by Professor Sir Ian Gilmore, which was commissioned by a previous Government and published in 2010, estimated that extending the prescription charge exemption to everyone with a long-term condition would cost £360 to £430 million a year. This is likely to be an underestimate, given the increase in the prescription charge and increasing numbers of prescriptions dispensed since the Review was published. Overall prescription charge revenue for 2014/15, which is the last year for which we have a complete audited figure, was £503.9 million.

A number of prescription charge exemptions are in place, for which someone with a long-term condition may qualify. These include exemptions based on low income, such as certain out of work benefits and the NHS Low Income Scheme, and age. Where someone does not qualify for exemption, Prescription Prepayment Certificates are available. The 3-month and 12-month certificates allow someone to claim as many prescriptions as they need for £29.10 and £104, respectively. Approximately 90% of all prescriptions are dispensed in England without a charge.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-06-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that prospective parents are given adequate and balanced information on (a) living with Down’s Syndrome and its effect on families, (b) the life prospects of people with Down’s Syndrome and (c) community and other support available for people with Down’s Syndrome and their families.

Jane Ellison

If testing during pregnancy indicates the baby will be born with Down’s syndrome, the parents should be offered genetic counselling to allow them to discuss the impact of the diagnosis. They may also be offered an appointment to meet a doctor or other health professional who works with children with Down’s syndrome, who can also tell them more about the condition and answer any questions they may have. This may include information on the support available.

More detailed information for parents is also available from NHS Choices.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-09-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what her policy is on the implementation of Part 2 of the Leveson inquiry.

Matt Hancock

Criminal proceedings connected to the subject matter of the Leveson Inquiry, including the appeals process, have not yet completed. We‎ have always been clear that these cases must conclude before we consider Part 2 of the Inquiry.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-09-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that clinical commissioning groups consider the effect of hospital reconfigurations on (a) other health services, (b) pharmacies, (c) GPs and (d) ambulance services.

David Mowat

In November 2015, NHS England published a good practice guide for commissioners on the NHS England assurance process for major service changes and reconfigurations. This includes information about the involvement of patients and the public as well as other stakeholder engagement and consideration of the impact on other services.

The Government’s four tests for service reconfiguration are: strong public and patient engagement; consistent with current and prospective need for patient choice; clear, clinical evidence base and support for proposals from commissioners.

A copy of the guide can be found at the following address:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/plan-ass-deliv-serv-chge.pdf

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-10-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils with special educational needs in schools in England (a) have an education, health and care plan and (b) are educated in a special school.

Edward Timpson

As of January 2016, the number of pupils with special educational needs in schools for whom local authorities maintain an education, health and care (EHC) plan in England was 59,270; of which, 26,229 were in special schools.

The latest statistics providing the number of children and young people with special educational needs for whom local authorities maintain an EHC plan broken down by establishment type can be found in Table 1 of the ‘Statements of SEN and EHC plans: England, 2016’ statistical first release, which is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statements-of-sen-and-ehc-plans-england-2016

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