Tag: Jim Cunningham

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has carried out of the ability of road infrastructure to meet future demand; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones

The Road Investment Strategy (RIS) published in December 2014 sets out how £15.2 billion is being invested between 2015 and 2021 to improve the Strategic Road Network (SRN) – motorways and major ‘A’ roads in England. The RIS takes into account a range of possible outcomes for the future, underpinned by broad evidence which the Department will continue to build on and review. This includes an assessment of the trends that are likely to have a significant impact on road use and what these trends mean for traffic volumes on the SRN.

On the local road network it is for local highway authorities to make assessments of need and consider improvements.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to review the adequacy of public transport options in the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones

Local transport authorities across England are responsible for public transport in their local areas, as has been the case under previous Administrations. This includes the development of policies relating to local transport, including public transport, and the preparation and publication of a local transport plan. In the Metropolitan area of the West Midlands, this responsibility sits with the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority.

In the 2015 Summer Budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced £5million for Midlands Connect, a partnership of Local Authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships from across the Midlands, to develop its transport vision and strategy for transforming transport connectivity across the region in order to drive economic growth. Officials from the Department for Transport continue to work with Midlands Connect and the partnership launched their approach to this task today.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the contribution of the agricultural industry to total UK carbon dioxide emission levels in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Rory Stewart

Defra works closely with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) to identify carbon dioxide emissions from agriculture. We provide detailed farm statistics that DECC feeds into the UK Green House Gas Inventory, which contains the UK’s official reported greenhouse gas estimates.

The Inventory indicates that:

• Only around 1% of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions in the UK are attributed to agriculture, these relate mainly to fuel use. Since 1990 there has been an overall decline in estimated carbon dioxide emissions from agriculture.

• CO₂ emissions from agriculture as a proportion of the UK total have fluctuated over the last 5 years between 1.0% and 1.2%. CO₂ emissions from agriculture are lower in 2013 compared to 2009 by around 6%.

• CO₂ emissions make up a very small portion of agriculture emissions (around 9-10%).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to review the safety of roads and highways in the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Jones

The Department for Transport has not undertaken a review of safety of the roads of highways in the West Midlands as this is a matter for the local highway authorities and Highways England.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of trends in the diagnosis levels of inflammatory bowel diseases in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison

The two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis only affects the large intestine whereas Crohn’s disease affects the whole of the digestive system.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance indicates that ulcerative colitis has an incidence in the United Kingdom of approximately 10 per 100,000 people annually, and a prevalence of approximately 240 per 100,000. This amounts to around 146,000 people in the UK with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. In addition to this, there are currently at least 115,000 people in the UK with Crohn’s disease.

The Department does not hold information on diagnosis levels in Wales specifically; this is a matter for the devolved administration.

NICE published Crohn’s Disease Management in Adults, Children and Young People in October 2012 and Ulcerative Colitis Management in Adults, Children and Young People in June 2013. These set out best practice in the management of these conditions.

Treatment for both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis is largely directed at symptom relief to improve quality of life, rather than cure. Management options include drug therapy, dietary and lifestyle advice and, in severe or chronic active disease, surgery. The aims of drug treatment are to reduce symptoms and maintain or improve quality of life.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate his Department has made of the economic benefit of investment in the arts over the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey

The Government recognises the important contribution the arts makes to the economy, For every £1 of gross value added generated by the arts and culture industry, an additional £1.43 of gross added value is generated in the wider UK economy (The Contribution of the Arts and Culture to the National Economy,Centre for Economics and Business Research). Activities within arts and culture can provide direct employment to commercial creative industries organisations – the number of jobs in the creative industries sector is now 1.8 million.

It is important to note that the contribution of arts is not just about the economic benefits, and there is also considerable evidence that culture has the capacity to improve health and wellbeing, educational attainment, and community cohesion.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of NHS treatment options for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison

The two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis only affects the large intestine whereas Crohn’s disease affects the whole of the digestive system.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance indicates that ulcerative colitis has an incidence in the United Kingdom of approximately 10 per 100,000 people annually, and a prevalence of approximately 240 per 100,000. This amounts to around 146,000 people in the UK with a diagnosis of ulcerative colitis. In addition to this, there are currently at least 115,000 people in the UK with Crohn’s disease.

The Department does not hold information on diagnosis levels in Wales specifically; this is a matter for the devolved administration.

NICE published Crohn’s Disease Management in Adults, Children and Young People in October 2012 and Ulcerative Colitis Management in Adults, Children and Young People in June 2013. These set out best practice in the management of these conditions.

Treatment for both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis is largely directed at symptom relief to improve quality of life, rather than cure. Management options include drug therapy, dietary and lifestyle advice and, in severe or chronic active disease, surgery. The aims of drug treatment are to reduce symptoms and maintain or improve quality of life.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of crowded airspace on British military assets operating in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Fallon

UK air assets are operating in Iraq as part of the coalition to counter ISIL. The traffic within this airspace is jointly managed by the coalition and the Government of Iraq to ensure that both military and civilian aircraft continue to operate safely.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the Russian intervention in Syria; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We remain committed to seeking a political solution to the conflict. Russia’s intervention in Syria, including targeting the moderate opposition, has complicated an already difficult situation. We are actively engaging with international partners to address this and to reinvigorate a political process that leads to a solution based on the principles of the Geneva Communiqué.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to better identify pyramid schemes involving UK nationals; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Boles

The Department has no plans to identify pyramid selling schemes.

The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs) regulate how traders market and promote goods and services to consumers by prohibiting unfair commercial practices, such as the use of misleading actions or aggressive commercial practices. Establishing, operating or promoting a Pyramid scheme, where the intention is that a consumer receives compensation primarily from the introduction of other consumers into the scheme, rather than from the sale or consumption of products, is a banned practice under the CPRs. Enforcement of the CPRs is by local authority trading standards services.

Alleged breaches of the CPRs should be reported, in the first instance, to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 08454 04 05 06 (https://www.adviceguide.org.uk/). The helpline offers a free service advising consumers on their rights and passes on details of complaints to Trading Standards services where appropriate.

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