Tag: Lord Blencathra

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Blencathra on 2016-04-28.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will name those businesses that are known to have changed the terms and conditions of their low-paid workers in order to recover some of the costs of paying an increased minimum wage; and what steps they plan to take to discourage businesses from taking such steps.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe

The Government believes that it is essential for employers to ensure that their reward packages are competitive, in order to retain and develop the staff who are fundamental to their success. In a growing economy, the National Living Wage should represent an opportunity to invest in talented staff and improve productivity.

The Government does not plan to operate a formal scheme to name employers who change employees’ terms and conditions. But we will continue to be clear that reducing wider remuneration packages and blaming the National Living Wage is short-sighted and not in the spirit of the introduction of the National Living Wage.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Blencathra on 2016-06-06.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to make third party insurance compulsory for all cyclists who are making deliveries for Deliveroo and other commercial bicycle delivery companies.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

We have no plans to make insurance compulsory for cyclists. We encourage all cyclists to take out some form of insurance. In fact, many cyclists do through membership of cycling organisations, such as Cycling UK.

Bicycle couriers who work for Deliveroo are self-employed and therefore are still personally liable and responsible for choosing whether or not to have insurance and for ensuring that the insurance is appropriate for them.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Blencathra on 2016-09-05.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many civil servants, and of what rank, work in EU units or sub-departments within all UK Government ministerial departments.

Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen

The Department for Exiting the European Union has responsibility for overseeing preparations for the withdrawal of the UK from the EU and conducting these withdrawal negotiations in support of the Prime Minister. In doing this it is working very closely with other government departments.

Workforce planning is primarily the responsibility of each individual department to determine and therefore the information requested is not held centrally.

The Civil Service constantly reviews its capabilities in order to deliver the Government’s agenda and following the EU referendum decision it is critical for the Civil Service to ensure it has the right skills and capabilities to deliver its manifesto commitments and consider all the implications of the EU exit.

Cabinet Office is working with all departments across the Civil Service to better understand their resourcing requirements following the decision to exit the EU.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Blencathra on 2016-10-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many UK civil servants, and of what grade, who work in units, directorates or sub-departments within the FCO are charged with EU policy formulation, advising on EU policy or enforcing EU policy.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

Staff in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s (FCO) Europe Directorate lead on providing advice to FCO Ministers on European Union (EU) and EU-related issues. However, staff in other Directorates in London, as well as staff in our diplomatic missions around the world, also on occasion work on EU or EU-related issues. It is not possible, therefore, to give precise figures.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Blencathra on 2015-11-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received about the funding provided by the Department of Health to Action on Smoking and Health in the last five years.

Lord Prior of Brampton

All grants awarded to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) in the last five years have been awarded under Section 64 powers. There are a range of different circumstances under which it would not be appropriate or represent best value for money to run a competed scheme. The grants awarded to ASH have been assessed as most appropriate for the non-competed route.

The assessment of any grant application for funding from ASH is undertaken by members of the Tobacco Control policy team. Following this assessment, the Grants Hub makes a decision regarding whether or not to approve the application. These policy assessments contain policy advice to Ministers and so are not made public. Approvals are required from Ministers and from HM Treasury or are subject to a Departmental approval process that has been agreed with HM Treasury.

To identify relevant representations the Department has received would result in disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Blencathra on 2016-04-28.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they have not prosecuted the reported 350 Jihadis who have returned to the UK and are suspected of having fought in Syria or Iraq.

Lord Keen of Elie

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has successfully prosecuted 35 cases involving 54 defendants who have returned to the UK and are suspected of having fought in Syria and / or Iraq. It currently has 13 such ongoing prosecutions involving 30 defendants. The Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland (PPSNI) is also dealing with one ongoing Syria-related prosecution. If there is evidence that people are going abroad to engage in terrorist activity, they can be arrested and prosecuted. They can also be arrested and prosecuted if they return to the UK. There are a wide range of offences that can be used to prosecute such individuals but each case has to be considered individually on its merits and whether an arrest or prosecution can take place will depend on the evidence available. If the police refer a case to the CPS, they consider whether the test in the Code for Crown Prosecutors is met. That is, whether there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence and, if so, whether it is in the public interest to prosecute.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Blencathra on 2016-06-10.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the opinion paper by the National Obesity Forum and the Public Health Collaboration Eat Fat, Cut the Carbs and Avoid Snacking to Reverse Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes, whether they plan to revise NHS and Public Health England campaigns that discourage the consumption of dairy products, including full-fat milk, butter, cream and cheese.

Lord Prior of Brampton

Public Health England does not plan to revise its campaigns and dietary advice in light of the recent opinion paper published by the National Obesity Forum and the Public Health Collaboration.

Government advice continues to encourage consumption of dairy products as part of a healthy, balanced diet in line with the Eatwell Guide; advising people to choose lower fat varieties of milk and dairy products where possible, due to the evidence that high intakes of saturated fat are associated with raised blood cholesterol and cardiovascular risk.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Blencathra on 2016-09-05.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the letter to the Times of 17 August by doctors of the Federation of Specialist Hospitals suggesting that some EU doctors will leave the UK, and the statement on the same day by the Royal College of Surgeons that EU doctors are three times more likely than other foreign doctors to face disciplinary action for inadequate command of English and that patients lives are being put at risk, what plans they have to advertise for doctors in Canada, Australia and New Zealand and other fluent English speaking countries.

Lord Prior of Brampton

It is not for the Government to become involved in the advertising and employment of clinical and healthcare staff. Local healthcare organisations, with their knowledge of the people they serve, are best placed to plan and employ a workforce based on clinical need and sound evidence.

It is vital for patient safety that all doctors and dentists practising in the United Kingdom have the necessary English language skills.

Under the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive (MRPQ) regulatory healthcare bodies, including the General Medical Council and the General Dental Council, are required to recognise primary and specialist medical qualifications gained in an European Economic Area (EEA) doctor’s home member state.

National Health Service employers are expected to carry out local checks, which are compliant with European Union Law, to ensure that EEA applicants have the right skills needed to carry out their job, including the appropriate level of English language. The revision to the MRPQ Directive states that language controls must be proportionate to the activity to be pursued.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Blencathra on 2016-10-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many UK civil servants, and of what grade, who work in units, directorates or sub-departments within the Treasury are charged with EU policy formulation, advising on EU policy or enforcing EU policy.

Lord Young of Cookham

Staff within the longstanding International and EU group lead on providing advice to Ministers on EU and EU related issues.

Staff within other groups throughout the Treasury also provide advice or analysis on EU issues as required, including policy formulation and enforcement.

HM Treasury do not routinely capture information about each employee’s specific work. Given the interactions between EU policy and other work, it would not be possible to give an accurate figure.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Blencathra on 2015-11-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any grant has been provided to Action on Smoking and Health in the last five years other than through grants under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, and if so, what was the nature and value of each grant.

Lord Prior of Brampton

All grants awarded to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) in the last five years have been awarded under Section 64 powers. There are a range of different circumstances under which it would not be appropriate or represent best value for money to run a competed scheme. The grants awarded to ASH have been assessed as most appropriate for the non-competed route.

The assessment of any grant application for funding from ASH is undertaken by members of the Tobacco Control policy team. Following this assessment, the Grants Hub makes a decision regarding whether or not to approve the application. These policy assessments contain policy advice to Ministers and so are not made public. Approvals are required from Ministers and from HM Treasury or are subject to a Departmental approval process that has been agreed with HM Treasury.

To identify relevant representations the Department has received would result in disproportionate cost.