Tag: Jim Cunningham

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what statistics his Department collects on shark populations in and near UK waters.

George Eustice

Defra continues to fund the collection of biological, distribution, and abundance data on sharks through dedicated fisheries surveys. We also work very closely with non-governmental organisations, such as the Shark Trust, which also keep valuable records.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-02-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what data his Department holds on long term outcomes for children who stammer.

Dr Daniel Poulter

Ensuring the most appropriate treatment for a child with a stammer is a decision for the judgement of the clinician, drawing on their professional training, their ongoing professional development, and the advice provided by the relevant professional body.

The quality of care would be monitored by the provider, through clinical audit and other performance assurance, and by the relevant regulator of the provider (such as the Care Quality Commission), and the professional regulator (such as the Health and Care Professions Council, which regulates speech and language therapists).

Information is not collected centrally on long-term outcomes for children who stammer.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-07-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding her Department has allocated to aid Palestinian citizens who have been injured, orphaned, made homeless and lost their livelihoods as a result of Israel’s recent air strikes; and whether she plans to keep the level of such funding under review in the light of future developments in that conflict.

Mr Desmond Swayne

DFID is one of the biggest donors to the Gaza crisis, providing over £17 million of emergency aid since the current conflict began. The level of funding is being kept under constant review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-06-27.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Government departments use (a) Pearson VUE and (b) Pearson Professional Centres for delivering tests; and if he will provide details of each such use.

Mr Francis Maude

This is information is not held centrally.

Civil Service Resourcing do not use Pearson VUE and Pearson Professional Centres.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-07-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if she will take steps to increase maintenance loans for university accommodation in respect of (a) students in places with expensive accommodation costs and (b) other students.

Greg Clark

The Government announced an increase of 3.34% to maximum maintenance loans for the 2015/16 academic year earlier this year. This increase will apply to all rates of maintenance loan, including the higher rate loan for students living away from home and studying in London, where living costs (including those for accommodation) are generally higher.

Decisions on student support arrangements for higher education courses are taken on an annual basis. The Government will review student support arrangements for the 2016/17 academic year in 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-09-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received from groups representing junior doctors on a new junior doctors’ contract.

Alistair Burt

Two letters have been received from the chairman of the British Medical Association (BMA), Dr Mark Porter in response to the Secretary of State’s request for the BMA to re-enter negotiations with NHS Employers for a new junior doctors’ contract. Dr Porter also raised the issue of the junior doctors’ contract in a meeting with the Secretary of State on 10 September. In addition, 12 correspondents have identified themselves as doctors in training and have written directly.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-06-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which office in his Department or its arms length bodies has responsibility for the oversight of outsourcing QTS numeracy and skills tests to Pearson VUE.

Mr David Laws

The skills tests for prospective teachers were developed under a contract let by the Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) to Pearson VUE in 2009. The Teaching Agency took over responsibility for oversight of contract management in 2012 when the TDA was abolished. Since November 2013, responsibility has rested with the Standards and Testing Agency, an executive agency of the Department for Education.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-07-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the turnover of head teachers has been in state-funded schools in each year since 2010.

Mr David Laws

The information requested is not available for teachers in specific grades.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-09-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects the new junior doctors’ contract to be published; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt

After the British Medical Association (BMA) left negotiations in October 2014, the Government asked the independent Doctors and Dentists Review Body (DDRB) to make recommendations on a new contract for junior doctors. The DDRB report published on 16 July considered evidence from employers, Government, the British Medical Association (BMA) and other interested parties and made recommendations on a new pay structure for doctors and dentists in training.

The Secretary of State accepted the recommendations of the DDRB as the basis for implementing a new contract and invited the BMA to re-enter negotiations to take forward the recommendations with NHS Employers. Although the DDRB accepted the principles of the reforms there remained significant work to finalise and agree the details of the contract and it was expected that these would be agreed between the parties on the basis of a negotiation. It is disappointing that on 13 August the BMA announced that it would not re-engage in negotiations based on the independent report and absented itself from participating in making important design decisions on the new contract.

The Government cannot accept that a Trade Union should have a veto on making changes to an outdated employment contract that the BMA agreed urgently needed reform. The Department has therefore asked NHS Employers to take forward the work of developing a new employment contract without the BMA. NHS Employers are arranging to consult with junior doctors and other interested stakeholders directly and will shortly launch a series of roadshows across the country. The Government would still welcome the BMA re-entering the negotiation.

The new contract will prioritise safe care by strengthening safeguards on doctors’ working hours and reward junior doctors more fairly for the work they do. No financial savings will be made from implementing the new contract. It will be finalised in the new year and is due to be implemented from August 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-06-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations he has received regarding Pearson VUE’s delivery of QTS numeracy and skills tests.

Mr David Laws

There have been representations made by individuals and candidates regarding Pearson VUE’s delivery of the skills tests. These representations have been in relation to technical issues encountered by candidates at the time of sitting the test and requests for appeals where candidates feel there have been exceptional circumstances which should result in another attempt at the test in question being permitted. All representations of this nature are fully investigated by the Standards and Testing Agency.