Tag: Clive Efford

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Efford on 2016-01-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will request that Southeastern Trains and Network Rail explain the reasons for disruption to services at London Bridge on 4, 5 and 6 January 2016; and if he will publish the responses of those organisations to that request.

Claire Perry

Network Rail has informed me that problems with signalling equipment caused delays to some Southeastern services via London Bridge on 4, 5 and 6 of January. On the morning of 4th January, a track circuit failed near Cannon Street. On the evening of 5th January a track circuit failed on the line to Charing Cross and Network Rail was not able to rectify the fault until the morning of the 6th.

Network Rail and Southeastern worked together to ensure the issues were rectified as quickly as possible and passenger disruption was minimised.

I remain committed to ensuring disruption is kept to a minimum while we continue the vital Thameslink Programme works to improve capacity and reliability through one of the busiest rail routes in Europe.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Efford on 2016-03-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to ensure that bodies undertaking anti-doping investigations in UK sport have access to the most up-to-date science and technology; and if he will make a statement.

David Evennett

UK Anti-Doping’s dedicated Science and Medical team work closely with the Drug Control Centre at King’s College London and others to research new substances and methods of using performance enhancing substances, as well as provide expertise in helping to develop new detection methods.

Under the World Anti-Doping Code, UK Anti-Doping can store samples for up to 10 years to allow retrospective testing of samples as new testing methods are developed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Efford on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of whether the award to Circle Holdings plc of the contract to provide musculoskeletal services in Greenwich will affect the Sustainability Transformation Plan for two elective orthopaedic centres in London; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne

The procurement of local health services by means of competitive tendering is a matter for the local National Health Service.

We are advised that NHS Greenwich Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) undertook a review of the provision of musculoskeletal (MSK) services in the area in 2014, involving local general practitioners (GPs), secondary care clinicians, other MSK clinicians and patient groups. The CCG took account of this exercise in confirming its commissioning intentions for an integrated MSK service pathway. The CCG subsequently held a GP clinical commissioner-led provider engagement event on 2 March 2016 to seek feedback on the clinical service specification and the proposed contractual model.

We understand that, as part of the procurement process, the MSK Programme Board was fully apprised of the Our Healthier South East London initiative, the predecessor to the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) in respect of elective orthopaedic centres.

We are advised that the Invitation to Tender (ITT) developed as part of the procurement exercise explicitly stated the aspirations of these two initiatives, in addition to the proposed implementation timeline. When submitting their bids, all prospective providers were required to confirm their understanding and acceptance of the planned new model of in-patient care. Patient choice continues to apply with regard to both this local procurement and the South East London STP proposals on elective care centres.

We understand that the ITT issued to potential service providers, was divided into sections, with each section allocated a weighting. The financial weighting was designed to ensure that the selection of the preferred provider was driven by clinical quality scores whilst remaining within the CCG’s published financial envelope. The detailed clinical service specification will be used to hold the provider to account within the format of the NHS national standard contract.

Health Ministers have not received any representations from local health practitioners in Greenwich with regard to the provision of MSK services in the area.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Efford on 2016-10-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2016 to Question 48022, how he monitors the performance of clinical commissioning groups and health service providers on their delivery of the Getting it right first time requirements; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne

Getting it Right First Time (GIRFT) was a recommendation in Lord Carter’s report on Hospital Productivity published in February 2016. NHS Improvement is responsible for delivering the recommendations of that report. It is accountable to the Secretary of State for Health for the delivery of the overall programme and the Secretary of State regularly reviews progress. NHS Improvement has provided an update on its plans for delivering and monitoring performance in individual clinical commissioning groups and health service providers.

The orthopaedic GIRFT pilot was led by the programme lead Professor Tim Briggs. The GIRFT team mined nationally available data sources and produced a report for each provider of orthopaedics in England that included a consolidated view of all available data and metrics pertaining to each provider’s clinical and financial performance at a service line/individual specialty level. Professor Briggs then visited every trust in England to discuss their data in order to reflect on variation in clinical practice, management approach and variations in procurement. The reports benchmark providers nationally and explore how clinical evidence is considered and informs practice. This is a highly detailed approach facilitating an extensive understanding of the links between practice, outcome and cost drivers, which in turn enabled a series of recommendations to be developed benefitting quality of care and finances of both providers and commissioners. Following the provider level reports and visits, a national report and recommendations were produced. The Model Hospital will provide a platform for an ongoing series of dashboards to track performance against key performance metrics. The GIRFT team will be working closely with NHS England’s RightCare programme which is aimed at commissioners to align their work to achieve joint objectives.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Efford on 2016-01-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will request representatives of the British Embassy to attend the public hearing in the case of the imprisoned academic Miguel Angel Beltran scheduled for January 2016 in the city of Bogota.

Mr Hugo Swire

The British Embassy was notified by the Colombian authorities in August 2015 of the detention of Professor Miguel Angel Beltran, who is held at La Picota prison in Bogotá.

The United Kingdom cannot interfere in the judicial process of another country. We take every opportunity to encourage the Colombian authorities to allow access for all to legal representation, a fair trial without prejudice and minimise delays.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Efford on 2016-04-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what enforcement action is being taken by (a) the police and (b) Trading Standards against secondary ticketing operators offering tickets for the UEFA European Football Championships for sale through their websites to customers based in the UK; and under what legislation such action is being taken.

David Evennett

The Police are responsible for enforcing the football ticketing provisions of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 that apply to England and Wales. Trading Standards Services are responsible for enforcing the secondary ticketing provisions of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and other relevant consumer protection legislation. Suspected or actual breaches of such legislation should first be reported via the Citizens Advice consumer helpline, following which Citizens Advice may refer cases to Trading Standards Services for appropriate action. The Government does not hold information centrally on the use of these enforcement powers or the number of penalties issued.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Efford on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the 46th Report of the Public Accounts Committee, Session 2014-15, HC971, what steps he has taken to ensure that the public purse is not exposed to any losses in circumstances in which Circle Holding plc fails to fulfil its contractual obligations in the delivery of musculoskeletal services in Greenwich; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne

The procurement of local health services by means of competitive tendering is a matter for the local National Health Service.

We are advised by NHS England that NHS Greenwich Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has taken all reasonable steps to protect the public purse with regard to the contract for the provision of an integrated Musculoskeletal (MSK) service in Greenwich, which it awarded to Circle Health.

The contract is governed by the General Conditions of the NHS national Standard Contract, which require the service provider and commissioner to indemnify each other in respect of any losses.

With regard to contract expiry or termination, the conditions also provide for the protection of commissioners from excess costs (and their administration) incurred in procuring the services from another party, for a period of six months from termination.

We are also advised by NHS England that as part of the procurement process undertaken by Greenwich CCG, parties bidding to provide an integrated MSK service in Greenwich were required to provide a mobilisation plan within identified timescales, in line with the scope of service.

We understand that the CCG and Circle Health hold weekly mobilisation meetings to track Circle’s progress and to monitor the implementation and transition of the service up to the go-live date and the post go-live transition.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Efford on 2016-10-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 17 October 2016 to Question 48024, what steps his Department is taking to monitor the costs to health service providers of tendering for contracts and the implications for paying for patient services; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne

We do not collect information on which providers have been awarded contracts or the costs to providers of tendering for contracts, but commissioners are required to publish information on the contracts they award.

The NHS Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition (No2) Regulation 2013 to requires Monitor, now working with the NHS Trust Development Authority as NHS Improvement, to ensure that choice and competition operate in the best interests of patients, that procurement decisions by commissioners achieve the best results, and that all providers are treated fairly.

In making judgements on which services to commission, clinical commissioning groups should take all possible steps to ensure that they are buying the best services for patients from the best providers available. It remains for commissioners to decide how best to procure services in the interests of their patients while seeking best value for taxpayers.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Efford on 2016-01-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Colombian authorities about reducing the practice of locating military bases in rural villages.

Mr Hugo Swire

The government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) reached a number of agreements in September 2015, which I welcomed at the time. These agreements included one on rural development.

I also welcomed the commitment made by both sides to sign a final peace deal by the end of March 2016. We continue to offer advice to the government of Colombia on implementation of the Peace Process and the potential role of the military in the post conflict phase.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Efford on 2016-04-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential risks to safety and security posed by the selling of tickets via websites to UK-based customers for the European Football Association Championships in the secondary ticketing market.

David Evennett

It is an offence for an unauthorized person to sell a ticket for a designated football match via the internet under section 166A of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. The Government expects companies in the secondary market to comply with the law.

Professor Michael Waterson is chairing an independent Review of consumer protection measures applying to the re-sale of tickets for music, sporting or cultural events in the UK through secondary ticketing facilities. In supporting Professor Waterson in carrying out his Review, my officials have had discussions with their counterparts in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Home Office about online re-sale of football tickets.

The Department agrees with the Football Association that fans of the home nations participating in the Euro 2016 Football Championships should purchase tickets through authorised channels. Such channels include UEFA’s Euro 2016 ticket resale platform.

The safety and security of the Euro 2016 Football Championships is a matter for the French Government and UEFA. The UK Government co-operates closely with France on matters of policing and security.