Tag: Daniel Zeichner

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the reasons for the difference between the number of grants taken up to be used to buy plug-in vehicles and the number of grants taken up to be used to install home charge points.

Mr John Hayes

Only those with off-street parking or a garage are eligible for the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme which funds a dedicated home chargepoint. Some plug-in vehicle owners may only have on-street parking and be charging their vehicles at work or using the public charging network. A small number may be charging their vehicles at home using an existing domestic socket.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-09-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to Written Statement WS368 of 8 December 2015, when the review into the care and management of transgender offenders will be published.

Dr Phillip Lee

The review into the care and management of transgender prisoners will be published shortly.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-11-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to respond to the report by the Law Commission on tax; and private hire services, published in May 2014.

Andrew Jones

The Government is currently considering the Law Commission’s comprehensive report on reforming taxi and private hire vehicle legislation. In line with the protocol that exists between the Government and the Law Commission, the Government will formally respond to the Law Commission and announce its intentions once this scrutiny is completed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-11-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of how much UK households spent on taxi and private hire vehicle journeys in 2013-14.

Andrew Jones

The average weekly expenditure per household on ‘taxis and hired cars with drivers’ was an estimated £1.10 in 2013, the latest year for which figures are available. By way of context, the equivalent figure in 2008 was also £1.10.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-11-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the traffic commissioners in enforcing bus service reliability and punctuality.

Andrew Jones

The Department for Transport has regular discussions with the Senior Traffic Commissioner and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (who provide evidence to the Traffic Commissioners on bus punctuality) on bus punctuality enforcement issues. I am pleased to note that in England 83% of non-frequent bus services ran on time in 2014/15 compared to 80% in 2009/10.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-11-24.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph DISP 2.8.4 of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Handbook, if he will direct the FCA to amend its policy on the application of the six year rule in exceptional circumstances to enable the Financial Ombudsman to consider cases in which important evidence emerges after that six year period.

Harriett Baldwin

This is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) who are independent from Government.

The question has been passed on to the FCA. The FCA will reply directly to the Honorable Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-12-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to increase the role of children’s centres in supporting expectant parents and improving integrated working among antenatal support services.

Mr Sam Gyimah

All children’s centres must provide access to health services – either by providing the services or by providing advice and assistance on gaining access to services. Local authorities and local health commissioners have statutory duties to consider providing services through children’s centres to ensure that families get access to the services they need. The transfer of responsibility for public health services to local authorities in October this year provides new opportunities for local areas to configure health services to best effect.

The Department of Health has been working with local authorities in order to ensure sharing regular and timely updates of live birth data between NHS trusts and children’s centres and have mapped out a process for putting in place appropriate arrangements to support a national solution.

Children’s centres can also have a key role in delivering integrated reviews, which check a child’s health and educational progress at age two.

Future policy on the role of children’s centres in supporting expectant parents and improving integrated working among antenatal support services will be informed by the planned consultation on the future of children’s centre services, which is due to be launched shortly. The consultation will offer parents, prospective parents, carers, local authorities and key stakeholders the opportunity to influence and drive what we expect from children’s centre services and where we see them having the greatest impact.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-12-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 2 of the Government response to the Fifth Report from the Transport Committee, Session 2013-14, on Access to transport for disabled people, HC870, whether he plans to review his Department’s Inclusive Mobility guidance in 2015.

Andrew Jones

This Government plans to review the Inclusive Mobility Guidance during 2016. We are working with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) to assess what information should go in this publication and how to make it used and useful to a wide audience.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-01-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of people diagnosed with myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome were referred to a specialist within three months in the last 15 months.

Jane Ellison

The commissioning of services for people with myalgic encephalopathy/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) is a local matter for National Health Service clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). CCGs are best placed to commission services to meet the needs of local populations, taking into account the best available evidence.

To support CCGs to deliver high quality CFS/ME care, in 2007 the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) produced the guidance Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (or encephalopathy): Diagnosis and management of CFS/ME in adults and children. The guidance sets out best practice in the diagnosis, care, treatment and support of people with CFS/ME.

Regarding specialist referral, the guidance advises that any decision to refer a person to specialist CFS/ME care should be based on their needs, the type, duration, complexity and severity of their symptoms, and the presence of comorbidities. The decision should be made jointly by the person with CFS/ME and the healthcare professional. Referral to specialist CFS/ME care should be offered within six months of presentation to people with mild CFS/ME, within 3–4 months of presentation to people with moderate CFS/ME symptoms and immediately to people with severe CFS/ME symptoms.

The Department does not hold information on what proportion of people diagnosed with CFS/ME were referred to a specialist within three months in the last 15 months.

The guidance can be found at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg53.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-01-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many more modern, safer pedestrian crossings he expects to be introduced as a consequence of the revision in 2014 of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions.

Andrew Jones

Provision of pedestrian crossings is the responsibility of local traffic authorities. While the Department provides advice on designing crossings, decisions on what type to provide are for local authorities to make, taking into account local circumstances such as road layout, pedestrian numbers and traffic speeds.

This will remain the case when the revision of the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) comes into force, planned for Spring this year. However, I would note that Pelican crossings are not included in the new TSRGD, meaning that it will not be possible to install any new ones after the new regulations come into force. Any pelican crossings already in place can remain until the equipment reaches the end of its life.