Tag: Jim Cunningham

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish a list of all free schools that are planned to open in September 2014 that still have places available before they reach their planned admission number; and how many places at each such school are currently available.

Mr Edward Timpson

Information about the number of children on roll in free schools will be collected during the January school census and published in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-09-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received from charities and patients’ groups on the future of the Cancer Drugs Fund; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman

The Department has received a number of representations on this issue from a wide range of interested parties including hon. Members, noble Lords, patient representative groups and charities, the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare professionals.

This Government is committed to continuing to invest in the Cancer Drugs Fund which has helped over 72,000 people in England to receive the life-extending cancer drugs that would not otherwise have been routinely available to them.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-01-14.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of tax relief to businesses since 2010.

Mr David Gauke

Tax reliefs are administered by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as part of the tax system. HMRC publishes estimated costs of the principal tax expenditure and structural reliefs. The latest estimates are published on the HMRC website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tax-expenditures-and-ready-reckoners

There are some tax reliefs which businesses can claim where estimates are not yet included in the published estimates above. These reliefs include:

Patent Box: Estimates on the cost of this relief are available within Budget 2013 documentation: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/221895/budget2013_policy_costings.pdf

Theatre Productions Tax Relief: Estimates on the cost of this relief are available within Budget 2014 documentation:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/295067/PU1638_policy_costings_bud_2014_with_correction_slip.pdf

Children’s TV Tax Relief: Estimates on the cost of this relief are available within Autumn Statement documentation: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/384071/AS2014_policy_costings_final.pdf

Oil and Gas Field allowances: The ring fence tax regime for oil and gas does include a number of field allowances, which reduce the tax burden on specific challenging field types, ensuring otherwise economic developments are not uncommercial. Companies continue to pay Ring Fence Corporation Tax (which is higher than the main CT rate) even where income is covered by the field allowance

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which free school projects pre-approved to open in September 2014 have since been (a) cancelled or withdrawn and (b) delayed; and what the pre-opening expenditure was for each such project.

Mr Edward Timpson

Since 2011, 174 new free schools have opened across the country and around a further 80 are on course to open in September 2014. While free school proposers will have a preferred date for opening their school, the Department for Education does not approve projects to open in any specific year.

The projects aiming to open in September 2014 or beyond that have been withdrawn are:

1. Inspirar Academy

2. Marco Polo Academy

3. Oasis Community School Walthamstow

4. On Track Chiltern

5. Phoenix Free School of Oldham

6. The Advance School

7. Transforming Lives for Good

No project was specifically approved to open in September 2014.

Once the costs are finalised, the Department publishes the pre-opening expenditure for each free school project on the Departmental website.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how often he reviews the cost effectiveness of corporate welfare schemes; and what the criteria are for such schemes to be continued.

Matthew Hancock

The Government does not support any corporate welfare schemes.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the size is of the (a) external and (b) internal play area on the (i) temporary and (ii) permanent site of each free school that is (A) open and (B) planning to open in September 2014.

Mr Edward Timpson

The Department for Education does not collect this information and it could only be collated at disproportionate cost.

The Department ensures that every free school has access to sufficient play and sports space either on- or off-site.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations his Department has received from NHS trusts on difficulties experienced in recruiting breast radiologists.

Dr Daniel Poulter

The Secretary of State has not received any representation from National Health Service trusts on difficulties experienced in recruiting breast radiologists.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps the Government has taken to help the 223 girls kidnapped in North East Nigeria.

Mark Simmonds

We remain committed to helping Nigeria to find the schoolgirls abducted from Chibok. On 12 June my Right Honourable Friend, the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), the previous Foreign Secretary, hosted the London Ministerial on Security in Northern Nigeria. At this meeting with Nigeria, her neighbours and other international partners, we agreed a number of further measures designed to help the girls abducted on 14 April by Boko Haram, and the hundreds of others like them. We continue to offer intelligence support to the Nigerian authorities and are also agreeing with them the increased training and tactical support we committed to in London.

We will review progress further at a Ministerial follow up meeting in Abuja in September.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of breast radiologists employed by NHS trusts.

Dr Daniel Poulter

The latest monthly workforce statistics, published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), provides information on the numbers of clinical radiologists working in the National Health Service in England, however it is not possible to break this data down into sub specialties.

There are currently 3,789 (full-time equivalent) doctors with a specialty of clinical radiology working in the NHS, an increase of 15% (497 full-time equivalent) since May 2010.

It is for local employers to determine the workforce based on the needs of their local community and they are best placed to do so.

Health Education England’s Workforce plan confirms an increase in Clinical Radiology training posts by 16 in 2015-16. This continues to build on the 14 additional posts commissioned in 2014-15.

The Society of Radiographers may be able to supply more information on radiographers. Their website is available at: www.sor.org/

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

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how the £1 million pledged by the UK to the UN’s Safe Schools Initiative is being used to ensure that children are being protected.

Lynne Featherstone

DFID is providing technical support to the design and development of the Safe Schools Initiative, as well as working through our existing education programmes in northern Nigeria to ensure safe access to learning. The Safe Schools Initiative was launched in May. The Government of Nigeria are leading on implementation. The aim is to provide a response for the protection of schools and the prevention of future attacks on schools. It will include a combination of school-based and community interventions to create safer environments in which schools can operate, improve school security measures and support provision of safe opportunities for learning.