The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-02-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the proportion of starter homes that will be wheelchair accessible.
Brandon Lewis
Starter Homes like all new homes, will ahve to meet Building Regulations’ access requirements which ensure reasonable provision for people to gain access to and use, the dwelling and its facilities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department takes to advise HM Revenue and Customs when an individual is moved from the employment and support allowance work related activity group into the support group.
Priti Patel
The Department does not automatically share information on moves between the work related activity group and the support group with HM Revenue and Customs.
At the end of each financial year the Department reports to the HM Revenue and Customs details of the tax code operated, the total amount of taxable benefit paid and the total amount of tax deducted for that tax year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding has been allocated to improve local transport infrastructure in Easington constituency in each of the next five years.
Mr Robert Goodwill
Easington constituency in County Durham is in the area covered by the North East Combined Authority and North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). The Combined Authority receives annual capital allocations for Highways Maintenance and Integrated Transport and it is for the Combined Authority and Durham County Council to decide how much of this funding is spent in Easington Constituency.
The North East LEP has been awarded Local Growth Funding for two schemes in the Easington constituency. The proposal to construct a new station at Horden has been allocated £3.3 million and the package of five junction improvements on the A1 and A19, which includes a scheme at the A19/A182 Seaham Murton Interchange, has been allocated £19.0 million.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-05-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a jobseeker’s allowance claimant can be sanctioned for failing to attend an interview at an unspecified time.
Priti Patel
Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants can incur a sanction if they fail to participate in an interview, without good reason. However, in accordance with the Jobseeker’s Allowance legislation, where a claimant is required to participate in an interview, they must be notified, of the time and place of that interview.
Therefore, Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants cannot be sanctioned for failing to attend an interview at an unspecified time.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on pharmacy services in (a) the North East, (b) County Durham and (c) Easington constituency of the Government’s proposed changes to the budget for community pharmacy.
David Mowat
The proposals on which we have consulted will apply throughout England.
Our proposals are about improving services for patients and the public and securing efficiencies and savings. The Government believes these efficiencies can be made within community pharmacy without compromising the quality of services or public access to them.
We have been consulting on the introduction of a Pharmacy Access Scheme, which will provide more NHS funds to certain pharmacies compared with others, considering factors such as location and the health needs of the local population.
In addition we are providing a further £112 million to ensure that an additional 1,500 pharmacists join general practices by 2020. This initiative includes coverage of the three regions referenced.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2015-10-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the potential numbers for junior doctors who may leave the NHS should a new contract for that role be imposed.
Ben Gummer
The Government has received a number of representations from individuals and on behalf of organisations about the introduction of a new junior doctors contract.
The proposals are for a fairer contract that will maintain average earnings and will not require juniors to work longer. It will also put in place improved safeguards for patients and doctors that go beyond those in legislation (and go beyond those in the current contract) that will reduce maximum working hours which will not be the case in other countries. On 28 October, the Government also committed to protect the pay of all junior doctors working safe hours in the transition to a new contract, and appealed to the British Medical Association (BMA) to return to negotiations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2015-11-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many operators in the North Sea have yet to submit a safety case assessment to the Health and Safety Executive for the purposes of compliance with the provisions of the EU Directive on the safety of offshore oil and gas operations.
Justin Tomlinson
As of 11 November 2015, forty-four operators of oil and gas installations have yet to submit a safety case for one or more installations to the Offshore Safety Directive Regulator for assessment. This is in line with an agreed transition schedule which is due for completion by 18 July 2018.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2015-12-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Government’s response of February 2015 to the consultation entitled Arrangements for the Transfer of Commissioning Responsibilities for Renal Dialysis and Morbid Obesity Surgery Services from NHS England to Clinical Commissioning Groups, what information has been provided to clinical commissioning groups in anticipation of the transfer of responsibilities for obesity surgery in April 2016.
George Freeman
Due to feedback during the consultation for the proposal, the responsibility for commissioning renal dialysis services is not transferring to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in April 2016.
NHS England is supporting the transfer of commissioning responsibilities for obesity surgery services to CCGs by providing technical and operational guidance to commissioners, including undertaking a stocktake of Tier 3 and Tier 4 interfaces within regions to assist CCGs. This guidance is in development. Communications are also supported through national and local meetings between NHS England and CCG representatives on shared issues within the commissioning agenda.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-01-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of progress by the UK maritime sector in establishing a single promotional body.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The recommendation in the Maritime Growth Study concerning the establishment of a single promotional body was directed at industry.
We understand that discussions in respect of this recommendation are currently taking place within industry and we await the outcome of those discussions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-02-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to ensure that local authorities meet their obligation under the National Planning Policy Framework to meet the housing needs of disabled people requiring wheelchair accessible homes.
Brandon Lewis
Local authorities are best placed to understand the housing needs in their area. We expect them to work closely with key partners and their local communities in deciding what type of housing is needed.
National policy sets out clearly the need for local authorities to plan for the housing needs of all members of the community and that planning should encourage accessibility. The introduction of optional requirements for accessibility in the Building Regulations provides local authorities with the tools needed to ensure that new homes are accessible and that in particular the needs of disabled people are met.
Local authorities are held accountable for their housing delivery via their Local Plans which are tested by local independent planning inspectors and are scrutinised via yearly Authority Monitoring reports which set out progress on delivery against Local Plan targets. In addition local authorities must determine individual decisions in line with the development plan and other material considerations, such as the National Planning Policy Framework and having regard to viability considerations.