Tag: Bridget Phillipson

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2015-11-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will publish guidance for higher education institutions on how Student Opportunity Fund monies are allocated.

Joseph Johnson

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) is responsible for decisions on how the student opportunity fund is allocated to higher education institutions, and for publishing associated guidance.

The Government issues a grant letter to HEFCE outlining Government’s priorities for expenditure through the teaching grant, including on widening access. This will take account of the announcements made in the Spending Review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-01-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2015 to Question 19489, when the Buses Bill will be introduced into Parliament.

Andrew Jones

The Buses Bill is currently being drafted. The precise time of its introduction will be dependent on Parliamentary business.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-02-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the safety of the family court estate for victims of domestic abuse during cases involving child contact.

Caroline Dinenage

HMCTS takes the issue of security within its courts extremely seriously and has in place a robust security and safety system to protect all court users, and the judiciary, in every family court. Risk assessments are carried out regularly by court managers and assured by security and safety professionals to ensure adequate protection measures are in place. These measures include inter-agency agreements to ensure the safety and security of victims and witnesses when attending court, such as support and escorts into the building and – where possible – alternative entry and exit routes and separate waiting rooms.

There are also court security officers in place who have legislative powers to protect all those in the court building. Security measures include mandatory bag searches, the use of modern security searching equipment and surveillance cameras, and panic alarms in hearing rooms. Our security standards are continually reviewed to ensure they are effective, proportionate and effectively mitigate against the risks posed to court users, including victims of domestic abuse.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-05-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he makes of the proportion of women with endometriosis who do not receive the correct (a) diagnosis of and (b) treatment for that condition.

Jane Ellison

The information requested is not collected centrally.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-10-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to improve participation rates in extended school activities of primary school pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Edward Timpson

We want to ensure that all young people get the best start in life, with the opportunity to receive the knowledge and skills, the right advice at the right time, and great, challenging life-shaping experiences that will ensure their future success. We know that effective schools personalise their support for disadvantaged pupils, which can include the use of extended school activities. Schools are free to use the funding they receive, including through the pupil premium, to offer these activities. We have committed to protecting the pupil premium at current rates for the duration of this Parliament, providing £2.5billion of additional funding this year alone to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils.

The Department for Education does not collect information on the amount of funding schools receive from parental contributions for extended school activities or how this affects levels of participation in such activities. It is for schools to set their charging and remission policy. Any charges for extended services cannot exceed the cost of the provision, and in setting their charging policy schools can determine the circumstances where they will remit or partially remit any charges.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2015-11-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 3 (d)(a) of the North East Devolution Agreement, what funds the Government will provide for phase 2 of the Metro.

Andrew Jones

The Spending Review 2015, as announced last week by my Right Honourable Friend, The Chancellor of the Exchequer, confirmed that a total of £120m has been allocated by way of capital grant, for the five year period 2016-2017 to 2020-2021, for Metro reinvigoration phase 2.

This represents total central government funding of £317m to support asset renewals on the Metro since 2010 and will allow Nexus to plan with certainty its programme of works over the next five years.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-01-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 December 2015 to Question 19988, what progress he has made on finalising monitoring arrangements; and if he will support monitoring of the use of public transport and investment in the North East’s bus and rail networks as part of those arrangements.

James Wharton

The Government is working with the North East Combined Authority on the implementation plan for its devolution deal, which will cover monitoring arrangements. The devolution deal will create an elected mayor, who will be directly accountable to local people and will have powers over transport among other things. It is for the future mayor to decide how to monitor transport policy, and for local people to hold the mayor and the Combined Authority to account.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has allocated funding to defend a legal challenge against his decision to impose a new junior doctors contract.

Ben Gummer

The Department has an allocated budget to fund the legal services it requires, which would include funding for any challenge in relation to the junior doctors’ contract.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-05-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what is the average time taken for women with endometriosis to receive that diagnosis.

Jane Ellison

The information requested is not collected centrally.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-10-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect the availability of childcare provision of extended schools has had on reducing (a) the gender pay gap, (b) child poverty, and (c) workless households in England.

Caroline Dinenage

The evaluation of the extended schools programme suggested that extended services, which are not limited to childcare, may help overcome or ameliorate the effects of child poverty and workless households by allowing parents to work, or work more hours. Research by others, such as the Women’s Business Council, suggests that affordable, flexible childcare is key to enabling women to participate in the labour market, if they want to.