Tag: Judith Cummins

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Judith Cummins on 2016-06-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to place incentives into NHS dentistry contracts to encourage NHS dentists to practice in areas with significantly above average numbers of oral and dental health issues.

Alistair Burt

NHS England has a duty to commission services to improve the health of the population and reduce inequalities, and also a statutory duty to commission primary dental services in order to meet local need.

While some local access difficulties remain overall access continues to increase with the latest access data showing 30 million patients were seen by a dentist for National Health Service care in the 24 month period ending 31 March 2016. This is 1.8 million more patients than May 2010.

The Government is determined to increase the focus on improving oral health particularly in high needs groups. The Department is working with NHS England to test a new NHS dental contract focusing on improving oral health. 82 prototypes are testing the best balance of incentives to prevent disease and treat disease where present. In addition, NHS England will test new ways to improve children’s oral health in 10 high need areas.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Judith Cummins on 2016-07-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have waited longer than (a) three, (b) six and (c) 12 months for a work capability assessment from the date of making a claim for employment and support allowance in Bradford South constituency in each of the last three years.

Penny Mordaunt

Information on Employment and Support Allowance, outcomes of Work Capability Assessments and Mandatory Reconsiderations are published at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/statistics.

Constituency level information is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Judith Cummins on 2016-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of trends in the level of home ownership among young people in Bradford since 2010.

Brandon Lewis

The department does not produce local authority level estimates of home ownership and cannot therefore make an assessment of trends in the level of home ownership among young people in Bradford.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Judith Cummins on 2016-07-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to increase the energy efficiency of private rented sector dwellings.

Mr Nick Hurd

The Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property)(England and Wales) Regulations 2015 requires that all landlords of domestic (and non-domestic) privately rented property in England and Wales ensure that, from 1 April 2018, their properties reach at least an energy performance rating of E before granting a tenancy to new or existing tenants, unless a prescribed exemption applies.

The Department is currently developing guidance documents to assist landlords in complying with their obligations under the regulations, and to support enforcement authorities in fulfilling their duties.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Judith Cummins on 2016-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential effect of the provisions of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 on the total stock of affordable homes in Bradford.

Brandon Lewis

The Housing and Planning Act will help more people buy their own home and ensure that we are making best use of our social housing stock. It will also get the nation building homes faster, by giving house builders and decision makers the tools and confidence to deliver more homes.

The Act sets out that planning authorities have a duty to promote the supply of starter homes and the starter homes requirements in the planning system. Local authorities will still be able to seek other forms of affordable housing in addition to the starter homes requirement where it would be viable.

The impact assessment for the Housing and Planning Bill can be found here:

http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2015-16/housingandplanning/documents.html

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Judith Cummins on 2016-07-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of dwellings in the UK have an EPC rating below band E; and what proportion of measures installed under the Energy Company Obligation have been in dwellings with an EPC rating below band E.

Gavin Barwell

On 29 July 2016, 5% of dwellings in England and Wales where an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) has been produced are rated band F and 2% are rated band G.

Information on the proportion of measures installed under the Energy Company Obligation carried out in dwellings with an EPC rating below band E is not held centrally.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Judith Cummins on 2016-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to improve road connectivity between Bradford and its wider region.

Andrew Jones

The Government is committed to improving transport links across the North and Bradford, as a key partner in the Leeds City Region, has access to the biggest Growth Deal allocation agreed in 2014 which will provide up to £781m for the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund through Local Growth Fund and Gain Share up to 2035. The fund will allow Bradford to access funding for the schemes they need to benefit the city and improve connectivity between Bradford and the rest of the North.

In addition to this local investment, the Road Investment Strategy will tackle delays for commuters on the strategic road network between Bradford, Leeds and Manchester. This includes improving the M62/M606 Chain Bar Interchange where congestion is a major issue, and the planned Smart Motorway scheme for junctions 20-25 of the M62 will increase capacity, reduce congestion and improve safety.

To support this work, the 2016 Budget announced a further £161 million to accelerate the transformation of the M62, as part of building the Northern Powerhouse.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Judith Cummins on 2016-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential economic benefits to Bradford of improvements to rail connectivity in and around the Bradford area.

Andrew Jones

The Government recognises the economic benefits of investing in transport and is committed to spend £13 billion on transport in the north of England which through the new franchises will provide more than 500 brand-new carriages, the removal of the outdated and unpopular Pacer trains, room for 40,000 extra passengers at the busiest times, and more than 2,000 extra services a week.

As part of the North of England programme we are investing in journey time, capacity and connectivity improvements to give passengers more and faster services to and from Bradford.

Specific improvements in improving connections to and from Bradford include:

• A new direct link to Wakefield, Sheffield, Chesterfield and Nottingham as part of the Northern Connect network, with at least 10 services per day in each direction operated by brand new diesel trains.
• One additional train per hour between Bradford Interchange and Leeds.
• Later trains to Bradford from Leeds.
• One extra train per hour to Manchester, with a significantly enhanced evening service and double the current hourly frequency on Sundays.
• New direct links to Liverpool, Chester, Warrington and Manchester Airport, with an hourly service to each using brand new trains as part of the Northern Connect network.
• Increased frequency on Sunday services from Bradford to Skipton and Ilkley, with hourly trains
• Six additional trains to/from London.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Judith Cummins on 2016-07-07.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he plans to take to reduce in-work poverty.

Damian Hinds

Work is the best route out of poverty, which is why this Government is focused on getting people into employment. Since 2010, 2.5 million more people are in work and average household incomes are at a record high.

We are reforming the tax and benefit system to ensure work will always pay more than a life on benefits. That is why we are raising the tax-free personal allowance to £11,500 in April 2017, meaning 1.3m individuals will have been taken out of income tax altogether since 2015. This enables people to keep more of what they earn. We are also introducing Universal Credit which is designed to reduce poverty, ensure work pays and strengthen incentives to progress in work.

We have introduced the National Living Wage for workers aged 25 and above, representing a pay rise of £900 this year for a full time workers on the minimum wage.

The Government is also providing additional support for families by increasing childcare funding within UC from 70% to 85% of eligible costs, introducing Tax Free Childcare and extending free early years childcare for working parents from 15 to 30 hours.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Judith Cummins on 2016-07-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he plans to take to reduce disparities in spending on culture and the arts between London and cities in the North of England.

Mr Edward Vaizey

Arts and culture has a hugely positive impact on people’s lives and we are committed to broadening access to the arts across the whole country.

Arts Council England are increasing the percentage of Lottery funding distributed outside London from 70 per cent to 75 per cent including over £30 million from their Ambition for Excellence fund that will be spent outside of the capital.

Our Culture White Paper – the first strategy for the sector in more than 50 years – sets out how we will increase access across the country and ensure arts and culture are open to all.