Tag: Cat Smith

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2016-06-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress the Government has made on rebalancing the UK’s inland water quotas to smaller, specific locally-based fishing communities.

George Eustice

The Government regularly reviews its quota allocation policy. In recent years it has permanently realigned unused quota from Producer Organisations and allocated the first 100 tonnes, plus 10% of any remaining uplift in quota resulting from the introduction of the Landing Obligation, to the small-scale inshore fleet.

These changes equate to over 1500 tonnes, or an additional £3 million worth of fish, for the small-scale fleet in 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2015-11-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with NHS trusts and NHS employers on proposals to allow Ministers to cap union facility time contained in the Trade Union Bill.

Ben Gummer

There are no current proposals to cap trade union facility time although the Trade Union Bill includes a reserve power to do so if it is deemed appropriate. Ministers have not held any discussions with National Health Service trusts and NHS employers about this.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2016-01-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, for what reasons his Department has not included a trans woman as an advisor to its review on trans prisoners.

Caroline Dinenage

The terms of reference for the review of the care and management of transgender offenders were published on 8 December. The review is in its early stages. We are in the process of identifying a wide range of stakeholders with whom to engage and are keen to hear from all those with an interest. A copy of the terms of reference are available at:

(https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/review-into-the-care-and-management-of-transgender-offenders).

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2016-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many (a) local and (b) main post offices were open at the end of (i) April 2015 and (ii) January 2016.

George Freeman

Provision of the post office network is the operational responsibility of the Post Office.

I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to you on this matter. A copy of her reply will be placed in the libraries of the House.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to reduce the waiting time to receive an electric wheelchair through NHS Wheelchair Services after being determined eligible to receive one.

Alistair Burt

No data is currently available in relation to waiting times for wheelchairs for 2014-15. A new national data collection has been introduced (from July 2015) to all clinical commissioning groups to allow for transparency and benchmarking their services. Data has so far been published for quarter 2 and quarter 3 2015/16. However, this is a new collection and does not yet provide an opportunity to draw national or regional comparisons.

The new dataset is part of the work that NHS England is taking forward in partnership with service users, carers and others to lay the foundations for improvement across the country. A tariff for wheelchairs will enable commissioners to move away from simple contracts, and so increase efficiency and better align resources with service users’ needs; support and resources for clinical commissioning groups will help them improve their commissioning of wheelchair services.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2016-04-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his US counterpart on LGBT rights in North Carolina and Mississippi.

Mr Hugo Swire

Our Consul General in Atlanta raised our concerns with the North Carolina Commerce Secretary on 19 April. We have amended our Travel Advice for the United States to reflect legislative changes on LGBT rights in North Carolina and Mississippi . This Government is opposed to all forms of discrimination. We are committed to ensuring that all LGBT people are free to live their lives in a safe and just environment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2016-06-06.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she has taken to implement the Government’s policy on increasing the involvement of women’s civil society in the development of government policy.

Caroline Dinenage

I greatly value the expertise of women’s civil society and the Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities and I have met with many representatives since taking on our current roles. My officials also frequently consult the women’s sector on policy issues, including policy development, to ensure we benefit from the knowledge and understanding of relevant experts – for example on issues such as the gender pay gap, flexible working and gender diversity of company boards.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2015-11-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of proposals to allow Ministers to cap union facility time contained in the Trade Union Bill on (a) staff morale, (b) productivity and (c) patient safety in the NHS.

Ben Gummer

There are no current proposals to cap tradeunion facility time although the Trade UnionBill includes a reservepower to do so if it is deemed appropriate.The Department has not assessed the effect on staff morale, productivity and patient safety should this power be implemented and has no evidence that they would be affected.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2016-01-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to monitor the number of trans prisoners; and what definition his Department uses of a trans person.

Caroline Dinenage

As the Minister for Prisons, Andrew Selous MP, committed to the House on 20 November 2015, NOMS is currently looking at ways to facilitate the collection and recording of information relating to transgender status as part of our wider review of care and management of transgender offenders. This is within the restrictions of the GRA which means if someone has a GRC they don’t have to disclose former gender. The Equality Act 2010 clearly sets out the definition.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2016-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many staff from Crown Post Offices that were franchised in 2014 and 2015 (a) transferred to employment with a franchise partner and (b) reached settlement agreements with the Post Office to leave its employment.

George Freeman

Post Office Limited runs and manages its directly managed Crown post offices. Arrangements for employees of these offices and changes to the Crown network are the operational responsibility of the Post Office.

I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the Chief Executive of Post Office Limited, to write to you on this matter. A copy of her reply will be placed in the libraries of the House.