Tag: George Howarth

The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Howarth on 2015-11-03.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he expects there to be an announcement on the extension of the Mersey Gateway free travel scheme to residents and businesses in Cheshire; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Hands

As announced at the Summer Budget, we have asked the Department for Transport to look at extending the Mersey Gateway local discount scheme to residents of Chester West & Chester and Warrington, as well as looking at help for small businesses. This work is ongoing.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Howarth on 2016-01-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the decision of China to land civilian planes on Fiery Cross reef in the disputed South China Sea on regional relationships.

Mr Hugo Swire

The landings of Chinese civilian aircraft on Fiery Cross Reef have prompted diplomatic protests in the region and widespread expressions of concern about heightened tensions. The UK opposes any actions likely to increase tensions in the South China Sea and threaten regional stability. We continue to call on all parties to exercise restraint.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Howarth on 2016-10-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much (a) Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospital NHS Trust, (b) St Helens and Knowsley Hospital Services NHS Trust, (c) Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, (d) Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, (e) Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust and (f) Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spent on agency medical staff in (i) 2014-15 and (ii) 2015-16.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Department does not collect data on which specific area of employment provider expenditure was incurred under. Data is however collected in totality for employees under temporary or agency contracts. The total temporary and agency staff expenditure incurred by the six providers for 2014-15 and 2015-16 is shown in the table below.

In addition to payments made for medical staff, the figures in the above table include the costs of temporary and agency workers engaged in other activities, such as employees contracted for provision of other administration and support services.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Howarth on 2015-11-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the additional travel costs likely to be incurred by people not resident in Halton, of commuting using the bridge, arising from the Mersey Gateway Project in the first year that bridge is open.

Andrew Jones

The Department does not hold the information requested.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Howarth on 2016-01-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the terrorism threat level for events at major sports stadiums.

Mr John Hayes

The threat level for international terrorism for the UK is set independently by the Joint Terrorism Assessment Centre (JTAC) and is currently at SEVERE, meaning that an attack is highly likely. It would however, not be appropriate to comment on threat assessments for specific locations.

The Government and police advice to the public is to be alert, but not alarmed by the terrorist threat. The UK’s counter-terrorism strategy, CONTEST, works to improve protective security and preparedness at a range of crowded places sites, including sports stadia, by ensuring businesses have access to high quality protective security advice. This includes advice provided to sports grounds by police specialist Counter Terrorism Security Advisors (CTSAs), and through the National Counter Terrorism Security Office which has provided information about the current threat and guidance on key actions to take to the Sports Ground Safety Association and its partners.

The police regularly review their arrangements at major sporting events to ensure a proportionate response is in place at events, which may include an increase in highly visible officers.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Howarth on 2016-10-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NICE highly specialised technology evaluations are expected to take place over the next two years.

Nicola Blackwood

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently developing guidance on four drugs through the highly specialised technology (HST) evaluation programme which it expects to complete within the next year. NICE has capacity to develop guidance on three HST topics each year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Howarth on 2015-11-03.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assistance he proposes to provide to small businesses in Halton in relation to the completion of the Mersey Gateway Project.

Greg Hands

As announced at the Summer Budget, we have asked the Department for Transport to look at extending the Mersey Gateway local discount scheme to residents of Chester West & Chester and Warrington, as well as looking at help for small businesses. This work is ongoing.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Howarth on 2016-01-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the number of spaces available for disabled people in music venues.

Mr Edward Vaizey

We believe that everyone should have equal access to arts and culture – having a disability should not be a barrier to enjoying Britain’s awe-inspiring cultural treasures. That is why we are working with venues and organisations representing disabled people to identify barriers to access, while at the same time seeing how we can share examples of best practice and what more cultural venues need to do to be accessible to people with disabilities. We support the work of Attitude is Everything, which works with audiences, artists and the music industry to improve deaf and disabled people’s access to live events. I also recently held a roundtable meeting with Justin Tomlinson, Minister for Disabled People, to look at access to cultural venues and events for disabled people.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Howarth on 2016-10-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has held on the devolution of health services in the Liverpool City Region.

David Mowat

As part of the second devolution deal agreed with Liverpool City Region in March 2016, the Government committed to ongoing dialogue with the city region with regards to their health and social care system. The Government welcomes the publication of Liverpool City Region’s Case for Change which clearly set out the challenges faced by that health system and which necessitates a collective focus on prevention and early intervention. The Department and national partners continue to engage with Liverpool City Region with regards to next steps.