Tag: Clive Efford

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.

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, An update on Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust, what the cost is to the public purse of Circle Holdings Plc’s withdrawal from delivery of its contract to run Hinchingbrooke Hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Trust paid no management fee to Circle under the contract. Costs incurred by the Trust as a result of the termination of the franchise were agreed as £130,000 and billed directly to Circle. Costs included recruiting to new Board positions and those filled by Circle partners; an expected increase in the scope of External Audit due to termination of the contract; time of the Department’s Legal and NHS England Estates teams; and removing the Circle branding from the hospital.

During the operation of the franchise agreement, the Trust received £5 million from Circle between 2012 and 2014 – the maximum deficit support payment required under the contract.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of patient involvement in the commissioning process for musculoskeletal services carried out by Greenwich Clinical Commissioning Group prior to the granting of that contract to Circle Holdings PLC; 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 Greenwich Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) undertook the first of its engagement events on the proposed redesign of the musculoskeletal services pathway during November 2013. We understand that this initial engagement enabled the CCG to identify that the existing pathway was felt to be fragmented and complex for patients. In light of that, a new model was proposed in December 2013, and was shared with the public at workshops during 2014.

We are further advised by NHS England that the proposed pathway was outlined in the draft service specification, which was shared with the patient reference group (PRG) during February and March 2016. We understand that the specification was sent to PRG members to cascade to their patient participation groups and other groups of which they are members, such as the Pensioners’ Forum.

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 regarding the status of the investigation into the murder of Benicio Flor Belardo Cazar on 11 October 2015 in La Meseta, Suarez.

Mr Hugo Swire

I was sorry to hear of the death of Benicio Flor Belalcázar. Whilst the United Kingdom cannot interfere in another country’s judicial process, we continue to encourage the government of Colombia in its efforts to prevent violence and threats against human rights defenders, trades unionists, political activists and civil society and to promptly investigate human rights violations.

As I have said to the House on a number of occasions, I am convinced that current efforts to secure peace represent the best prospect for the rights of all Colombians. This Government remains hugely supportive of this process.

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 discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues in other departments on whether breaches of UK laws have occurred as a consequence of secondary ticketing companies offering tickets for sale via their websites to UK-based customers for the European Football Association Championships.

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.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of (a) the performance of Circle Holdings Plc in the delivery of musculoskeletal services in Bedford and (b) whether Circle Holdings Plc is meeting its national access targets; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne

The assessment of the performance of musculoskeletal (MSK) services in Bedfordshire is a matter for the local National Health Service.

Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) advises that it monitors Circle’s performance closely through monthly contract meetings and Service Quality and Performance Reports.

The CCG advises that Circle Clinical Services Limited is the Prime Contract provider for MSK services for over 18s in the Bedfordshire area, and is responsible for managing the whole patient pathway. Circle itself does not provide clinical services to patients as part of this contract, but refers patients on to local hospital and community based providers subject to patient choice. Circle therefore does not submit data on national Referral to Treatment waiting time standards in relation to MSK services in Bedfordshire. Waiting times data is included in the data return from the patient’s hospital or community provider.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with Southeastern railway on the leasing of the current Thameslink rolling stock immediately after new Thameslink trains become available; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Maynard

The Department is exploring the provision of additional rolling stock to Southeastern, in order to lengthen services and increase capacity for passengers. This requires extensive commercial negotiations with Southeastern. We are continuing to work with Southeastern to develop the business case, and an announcement will be made in due course.