Tag: Douglas Carswell

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to encourage police forces to enable private security firms to provide community security services.

Mike Penning

The Community Safety Accreditation Scheme, established by the Police Reform Act 2002, seeks to engage those working in community safety, including private companies, to be involved in reducing crime and disorder alongside the police.

Chief constables may accredit employees of an organisation that provides community safety and security services with certain powers. Decisions about accreditation are for Chief Constables locally.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-10-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to publish the details of commercial arrangements with and training offered by the College of Policing to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Mike Penning

The College of Policing sets standards of practice and is the professional body for those working in policing. In common with other organisations, the College does not routinely publish details of commercial contracts and has no plans to do so. In relation to international assistance, the College works closely with the Home Office, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other partners across government. It provides as much information as possible under the Freedom of Information Act, including the total income it has received from international activity.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-10-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans his Department has to publish the Memorandum of Understanding with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, signed in September 2014.

Andrew Selous

The Information Commissioner’s Office has upheld the decision not to publish this Memorandum of Understanding. That correspondence can be found here: https://ico.org.uk/media/action-weve-taken/decision-notices/2015/1432375/fs_50579089.pdf.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-10-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to publish the Memorandum of Understanding with the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, signed in March 2014.

James Brokenshire

The Home Office does not publish security co-operation agreements with international partners as to do so would undermine bilateral relations and prejudice our ability to conduct work under these agreements.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to increase the number of practice staff working in GP surgeries in North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group.

Dr Daniel Poulter

There are now 36,294 full-time equivalent general practitioners (GPs) working and training in the National Health Service, an increase of 1,051 (3.0%) since September 2010 and a commitment to train and retain 5,000 additional GPs by 2020.

NHS England is working with the North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group, and Health Education East Of England to increase the number of practice staff working in GP surgeries across north east Essex.

NHS England is also working with the Royal College of General Practitioners, and the British Medical Association nationally to produce a 10 point action plan to increase the size of the general practice workforce, which this Government has supported with £10 million of funding.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to increase the number of GPs in North East Essex.

Dr Daniel Poulter

There are now 36,294 full-time equivalent general practitioners (GPs) working and training in the National Health Service, an increase of 1,051 (3.0%) since September 2010 and a commitment to train and retain 5,000 additional GPs by 2020.

NHS England has commissioned a project specifically for the Tendring area to review the current local workforce capacity and options to correct any deficiencies in GP workforce capacity.

NHS England, Health Education England (HEE), the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the British Medical Association’s (BMA) GP committee are working together nationally to ensure that we have a skilled, trained and motivated workforce in general practice. In January, NHS England announced a further £10 million investment to expand the general practice workforce.

HEE is also working with NHS England, the BMA and RCGP to standardise a funded scheme which allows GPs to return to United Kingdom general practice following a career break. We expect this to be launched nationally at the end of March 2015. 43 doctors have already completed this scheme.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure that more diagnostic tests are carried out at Clacton Hospital.

Jane Ellison

The provision of local health services is a matter for local National Health Service organisations. NHS North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) advises that Clacton Hospital provides some diagnostic testing for the local population, but the variety of tests that can be effectively provided is limited. More specialised diagnostic tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging or invasive tests such as angiography or endoscopy, have to be carried out at Colchester Hospital. They are not available at Clacton Hospital either because of a lack of physical space for the facilities within the hospital or because it is not clinically appropriate for the tests to be carried out in a community hospital. Clacton Hospital has no clinical theatre space. No emergency medical cover is available should a patient become seriously unwell following an invasive diagnostic test.

The CCG states that demand for diagnostic services is exceptionally high and it is considering how they could be provided within community settings to reduce waiting times. This might include direct access to some tests through general practitioner (GP) referral. This would enable the GP to receive a definitive test result for the patient, before referring on to secondary care where necessary. The CCG believes this would help to reduce waiting times and make access to the service easier for local people.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to reduce waiting times for diagnostic tests at Clacton Hospital.

Jane Ellison

The provision of local health services is a matter for local National Health Service organisations. NHS North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) advises that Clacton Hospital provides some diagnostic testing for the local population, but the variety of tests that can be effectively provided is limited. More specialised diagnostic tests, such as magnetic resonance imaging or invasive tests such as angiography or endoscopy, have to be carried out at Colchester Hospital. They are not available at Clacton Hospital either because of a lack of physical space for the facilities within the hospital or because it is not clinically appropriate for the tests to be carried out in a community hospital. Clacton Hospital has no clinical theatre space. No emergency medical cover is available should a patient become seriously unwell following an invasive diagnostic test.

The CCG states that demand for diagnostic services is exceptionally high and it is considering how they could be provided within community settings to reduce waiting times. This might include direct access to some tests through general practitioner (GP) referral. This would enable the GP to receive a definitive test result for the patient, before referring on to secondary care where necessary. The CCG believes this would help to reduce waiting times and make access to the service easier for local people.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make representations to Network Rail and Abellio Greater Anglia on introducing a higher frequency of train services on the line between London Liverpool Street and Clacton, particularly at weekday peak travel times.

Claire Perry

The Hon Member is aware that the Department is currently running a public consultation to help inform how we specify the next East Anglia franchise, which is due to commence in October 2016. All of the responses will be carefully considered before any decisions are taken and we will publish a stakeholder briefing document summarising the views represented to us and the consultation’s conclusions when we issue the invitation to tender for the franchise. The Hon Member is invited to submit his representations to the consultation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to improve Clacton railway station.

Claire Perry

Any such improvements would be for the station operator to suggest. The Government believes that operators are better placed than central Government to react to the demands of their customers.