Tag: Ian Austin

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-02-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what equality assessment his Department has undertaken on the introduction of fixed recoverable costs in clinical negligence cases; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Gummer

The consultation stage assessment for the introduction of fixed recoverable costs for clinical negligence is work in progress. The Department has established a working group to look at the impact of the proposal on equalities, health inequalities and families. Membership (which has not been finalised) currently includes representatives of claimant lawyers, defence lawyers, patients and the National Health Service. We will also seek views on the impact of the policy on equalities, health inequalities and families within the consultation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2015 to Question 16115, if he will make it his policy to collect centrally data on Flexible Support Funding spent on childcare support.

Priti Patel

The Flexible Support Fund is used at the discretion of Jobcentre Plus District Managers and Work Coaches to support people back into work. Given this is a localised, discretionary fund we do not, and do not have plans to, create additional bureaucratic reporting on how the fund is spent.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-03-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many applications to the Healthy New Towns programme were made from each local authority area.

Jane Ellison

The Department does not hold information on the applications to the Healthy New Towns programme.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-04-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to offer childcare services to grandparents that care for grandchildren.

Priti Patel

The Government recognises the crucial role that working grandparents play in providing childcare and supporting working families. We have therefore announced plans to extend shared parental leave and pay to working grandparents, and will consult on these later this month.

In addition, all grandparents who are the kinship or responsible carers for children are already able to access a universal free early education entitlement place for any three or four year old in their care, and grandparents may also be able to access a free early education place for any two year old in their care if they are eligible.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the potential effect of Skills Funding Agency proposals to reduce 16-18 apprenticeship funding on the finances of apprenticeship providers.

Robert Halfon

The aim for an employer-led system has been clear for some time. Our 2020 Vision Document published in December 2014 made clear the need for providers to respond to employer demand.

With the introduction of the apprenticeships levy, employers will directly purchase their own apprenticeship training – choosing the apprenticeship training they want to purchase and negotiating on price. This means we have to simplify the funding system to encourage employers to recruit more apprentices of all ages and from all backgrounds, including young people.

As a result of the levy we will be investing £2.5 billion in apprenticeships; that’s double what was spent on apprenticeships in 2010-11.

Our funding proposals will introduce a simpler pricing system with a maximum cost for each type of apprenticeship, regardless of age or location. We do not want to dis-incentivise employers from taking on young apprentices so we’re evening out the costs of each apprenticeship, and employers won’t have to pay more to give a 16 to 18-year-old their first step on the career ladder. We are also progressively withdrawing frameworks as standards become available so the funding difference for frameworks is a transitional issue.

We are also proposing to give employers and training providers an extra £1,000 each for every 16-18 year old apprentice they take on. Providers will need to adapt but we’re making sure there is more money going in overall.

We’ve published these proposals well in advance of the new system coming in so that providers have time to prepare. The new funding model will only apply to new apprenticeship starts after May 2017, so providers will continue to benefit from stability in funding for apprentices already in the system. The current survey on the draft proposals concluded on 5^th September, and feedback will inform the final policy which we aim to publish in October.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with police forces and police and crime commissioners on heroin distributed in their areas in line with her Department’s policy set out on page 31 of the Modern Crime Prevention Strategy, published by her predecessor in March 2016.

Brandon Lewis

The Modern Crime Prevention Strategy, which highlighted the value of supervised injectable diamorphine/heroin in reducing crime, was launched by Home Office Ministers at the International Crime and Policing Conference on 23 March whose attendance included a large number of representatives from the criminal justice system. Police and Crime Commissioners and police forces wishing to explore issues relating to heroin assisted treatment are encouraged to engage with the relevant local authorities which commission drug and alcohol treatment in their areas.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department sought legal advice in advance of redrafting the Building Bulletin 100 guidance relating to sprinkler systems in school buildings; and what assessment her Department made of that advice.

Nick Gibb

We are currently consulting on updating the Fire Safety Design for Schools – Building Bulletin 100 (BB100) guidance as it is nearly 10 years old. However, there is no change to the policy regarding the installation of sprinklers in new school buildings, and the requirement for a proper fire risk assessment to determine the need for sprinklers in new schools is consistent with the BB100 guidance from 2007.

All new schools are assessed on a case-by-case basis for fire safety and, where it is concluded that sprinklers must be fitted to protect property or keep children safe, they will be. All schools must comply with building and fire safety regulations.

As there has been no change in policy, no legal advice was required in the development of the draft updated BB100 guidance.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-12-14.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of (a) the current proportion of total UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) revenues raised from Birmingham Airport and (b) what proportion of total UK APD will be generated at Birmingham Airport if Scotland halves its APD rates.

Damian Hinds

Air Passenger Duty is payable by airlines and not on a per airport basis. Therefore HMRC does not collect the data to produce a reliable estimate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-01-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will discuss with the retailer Amazon banning the sale of zombie knives in the UK.

Karen Bradley

The Government continues to work with the police and partners to ensure we reduce violence and knife crime, and in the year ending June 2015, knife crime recorded by the police was 17% lower than 2010. We are aware of concerns about zombie knives and we are currently considering representations including the letter of 13 January from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the West Midlands and on 21 January from the prospective mayoral candidate for London Zac Goldsmith. A reply will be sent shortly and we will offer to meet with the PCC.

We are currently considering what action to take against the prevalence of zombie knives on our streets. We are talking to retailers, including Amazon, about the action they can take. There are strict laws on the sale of knives to under 18s and on how knives can be marketed. We are concerned about any knives being carried in public especially if used to threaten and inflict violence. It is a criminal offence to possess a knife in public without good reason, and if a person is convicted a second time they now face a minimum mandatory custodial sentence following the introduction of this change by the Government in July 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-02-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the amount of EU funding her Department received in each of the last three years.

Mr Sam Gyimah

For the period December 2013 to July 2015 (2007-2013 European Social Fund programme extended to 2015), £71 million of ring fenced European Social Fund monies was available to provide support for young people aged 14-19 who were not in education, employment or training or, who were at risk of being so. The funding was administered by the Skills Funding Agency on behalf of the Education Funding Agency.