Tag: Greg Mulholland

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many Individual Funding Requests have been granted in each of the last 10 years.

George Freeman

Prior to 1 April 2013, individual funding requests (IFRs) were the responsibility of local primary care trusts and information was not collected centrally.

NHS England holds information relating to IFRs made in relation to the prescribed services it has commissioning responsibility for. This data is available from April 2013 when the organisation was formally established. NHS England does not hold information relating to IFRs submitted to clinical commissioning groups.

From April 2013 to September 2015, NHS England approved 978 IFRs. All IFR requests are considered in-line with NHS England associated policies which can be found on its website and accessed via the following link:

www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/policies/gp/

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in devolved administrations on standardising the decision-making process for individual funding requests.

George Freeman

No such discussions have taken place. The arrangements in place for handling individual funding requests in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are a matter for the relevant devolved administration.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of staff morale in NHS England.

George Freeman

NHS England has regularly surveyed staff opinion and experience since it was established in 2013. The most recent staff survey was conducted in July 2015 and was open to all employees of the organisation. 66% of all employees responded to the survey and the overall morale and engagement score was 63% positive.

Informed by feedback from the staff surveys, NHS England launched a programme of work to enhance staff engagement and diversity, build skills and capabilities and improve business processes, as the survey identified these as issues that impact upon staff morale and satisfaction levels.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which local authorities are receiving Prevent strategy funding; and if she will publish the formula used for allocating such funding.

Mr John Hayes

Prevent priority areas are identified through a process which assesses information from police and other partners. We do not provide a breakdown of specific Prevent priority areas for reasons of national security. Each priority area receives funding for a Prevent coordinator, and is supported by the Home Office to deliver projects which address specific local risks. Following commencement of the Prevent duty on 1 July 2015 we have allocated all non-priority local authorities in England and Wales £10,000 to support implementation of the duty.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the threat level of the group Britain First.

Karen Bradley

The Police’s National Domestic Extremism and Disorder Intelligence Unit (NDEDIU) has a role in monitoring and gathering intelligence on groups where they pose a criminal threat from domestic extremism or public disorder. If any illegal activities are taking place, the police will take the necessary action. The Governments Countering Extremism Strategy focuses on all forms of extremism, not least the hate inspired and racially motivated nature of far right and Neo-Nazi extremists.

As yet, no specific assessment of the threat from Britain First has been carried out.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential suffering felt by badgers through gaseous methods of slaughter.

George Eustice

In August 2013, we commissioned new research into alternative methods of culling badgers.

The first step involved reviewing and updating the ‘Review of effectiveness, environmental impact, humaneness and feasibility of lethal methods for badger control’ published in 2005. The review was completed in September 2013.

Following research carried out as a result of Lord Zuckerman’s review in the 1980s, we would not support the use of hydrogen cyanide gas due to humaneness concerns. However, we are considering potential humane alternatives.

In October and November 2013 we carried out initial trials of nitrogen-filled foam to analyse its dispersal in an artificial sett-like environment. These trials did not involve the use of active setts or tests on live animals.

Further research is now planned into the use of carbon monoxide as a potential sett-based means of humane culling.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which policies of other countries he has assessed with regards to the gassing of badgers.

George Eustice

Carbon monoxide gas has been used successfully in the United States and Australia to control a range of species including burrowing rodents, rabbits and larger mammals such as coyotes and foxes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to establish a statutory system of guardianship to support victims of child trafficking.

Karen Bradley

The Modern Slavery Bill, published on 10 June 2014, includes an enabling clause
which provides a statutory basis for child trafficking advocates and their
functions including the circumstances and conditions under which a person may
act as an advocate.

The clause provides the Secretary of State with a power to make arrangements so
that specialist child trafficking advocates are available to support and
represent children who there is reason to believe may be victims of
trafficking. It also allows for requirements on public authorities to
co-operate with and provide information to these advocates.

Trials of the child trafficking advocates scheme will commence in summer 2014.
The trials will be independently evaluated both at six months and on
completion. A report on the findings will be laid before Parliament.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to recognise child trafficking as a separate offence to adult trafficking.

Karen Bradley

The most effective way to protect child victims of trafficking is to have a
general offence, which applies to both adults and children. The Modern
Slavery Bill contains a general human trafficking offence, which does not
require prosecutors to prove the age of the child, as this can lead to practical
problems during prosecutions. Targeting a child will, however, be an
aggravating factor for sentencing purposes, and the human trafficking
offence in the Modern Slavery Bill will carry a maximum sentence of life
imprisonment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2014-06-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion of 25 November 2013, Official Report, column 20W, on bovine tuberculosis, whether his Department has since commissioned any research about the safety, humaneness and effectiveness of gassing badgers.

George Eustice

In August 2013, we commissioned new research into alternative methods of culling badgers.

The first step involved reviewing and updating the ‘Review of effectiveness, environmental impact, humaneness and feasibility of lethal methods for badger control’ published in 2005. The review was completed in September 2013.

Following research carried out as a result of Lord Zuckerman’s review in the 1980s, we would not support the use of hydrogen cyanide gas due to humaneness concerns. However, we are considering potential humane alternatives.

In October and November 2013 we carried out initial trials of nitrogen-filled foam to analyse its dispersal in an artificial sett-like environment. These trials did not involve the use of active setts or tests on live animals.

Further research is now planned into the use of carbon monoxide as a potential sett-based means of humane culling.