Tag: Michelle Donelan

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Donelan on 2016-01-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of whether the Shia in Bahrain accept the Al Khalifa government as the legitimate government of that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Governance of Bahrain is a matter for all political parties in Bahrain. That is why we encourage all political parties, including Al Wefaq who boycotted elections in November 2014, to engage constructively in political dialogue in order to reach an inclusive political settlement. 14 out of 40 MPs are independent Shia who chose to stand and were elected in 2014 elections. 3 of these are women.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Donelan on 2016-03-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what work his Department is undertaking to support people with mental health conditions who are subject to the personal independent payments assessment process.

Justin Tomlinson

Claimants identified as having mental health issues can access additional support at any point in the assessment process. At the new claim stage: if they do not return their claim form, we will arrange for the claimant to be referred directly to the assessment provider for their assessment without the need for completing the form. At the assessment stage: we would support any claimant with mental health issues to have company with them for their assessment.

Additionally, Atos and Capita both employ Mental and Cognitive Champions to provide advice and support to their health assessors on conditions and disabilities affecting mental, cognitive and behavioural function. We also work closely with disability organisations to develop training and increase awareness of these conditions amongst health assessors.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Donelan on 2016-04-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to introduce driving tests for drivers who have previously passed that test (a) who are over 70 year old and (b) every 20 years.

Andrew Jones

The Department for Transport considers that medical fitness and practical competence, not age, are the relevant factors in deciding if a driver can continue to hold a licence. The rules for drivers renewing a license at the age of 70 are designed to be fair and proportionate, and there are no plans to change them.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Donelan on 2016-06-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the age requirements for the driving test were last reviewed.

Andrew Jones

The minimum age for driving tests were last reviewed in 2010 following a widespread public consultation in 2009 on changes to the driver licensing and testing regime. The possible changes included amongst others, minimum ages, medical requirements, driving licence security and driving test vehicle requirements. The Government currently has no plans to alter minimum ages.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Donelan on 2016-01-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the number of political prisoners in Bahrain; and if he will make representations to the government of Bahrain calling for the release of such prisoners.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We regularly discuss human rights and reform with the Government of Bahrain – including at the biannual UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group meeting which was most recently held in November 2015. If we have specific concerns around convictions or sentencing, we raise these with the Government of Bahrain as part of our wider dialogue on human rights and reform.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Donelan on 2016-03-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employment and support allowance claimants with (a) Parkinson’s disease, (b) rheumatoid arthritis, (c) motor neurone disease, (d) multiple sclerosis and (e) cystic fibrosis have been (i) placed in the support group, (ii) placed in the work-related activity group and (iii) found fit for work since 2008; and what statements have been made to current claimants of employment and support allowance to inform them that they will not be affected by changes.

Priti Patel

The information requested is shown in the table below.

Initial assessments	Cystic Fibrosis	Spinal Muscular Atrophy	Parkinson’s Disease	Multiple Sclerosis	Other Rheumatoid Arthritis
SG	900	1,200	1,700	8,000	3,600
WRAG	100	100	700	2,700	3,500
FFW	100	–	600	1,900	4,300
Repeat assessments
SG	500	300	1,100	7,500	4,600
WRAG	100	–	500	2,200	3,900
FFW	–	–	100	400	1,200
IBR assessments
SG	600	200	1,300	15,500	6,200
WRAG	100	–	300	2,600	5,000
FFW	–	–	–	300	1,200

Notes:

1. Figures from October 2008 – June 2015.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. “-“denotes nil or under 50.

The Department has stated throughout the passage of the Bill that current claimants will not be affected and these statements are in the public record.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Donelan on 2016-04-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a bicycle highway code.

Andrew Jones

Sections 59 – 82 of the Highway Code cover “Rules for Cyclists” which includes sections on road junctions, roundabouts and crossing the road. In addition Annex 1 of the code “You and your bike” covers information and rules about you and using your bicycle on the road. There are no plans to publish a cycling specific excerpt of the Highway Code. To help cyclists further, the Department is providing £50 million over the next four years to support Bikeability cycle training in schools in England (outside London). This funding will help to increase children’s road awareness, encourage active travel and improve future motorists’ empathy for more vulnerable road users.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Donelan on 2016-06-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department has made on improving cancer survival rates.

Jane Ellison

Cancer survival rates are at a record high and we are on track to save an estimated 12,000 more lives a year for people diagnosed between 2011 and 2015. However, there is more to do, and NHS England is leading the implementation of the recommendations of the Independent Cancer Taskforce to save a further 30,000 lives a year by 2020.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Donelan on 2016-01-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what grounds the discharge of youths from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is based on school years rather than date of birth; and if he will change the basis for discharge from CAMHS.

Alistair Burt

There is no central requirement for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) to use a school year rather than age as a threshold for transition.

In December 2014 and January 2015, NHS England published new service specifications for commissioners, giving guidance and best practice on transition from CAMHS to adult services (or elsewhere). These specifications intentionally do not stipulate an age threshold for transition but states that transition should be built around the needs of the individual, not focussed on age.

The Future in mind report recognised that transition at aged 18 years of age is not always appropriate and that there should be flexibility around age boundaries, in which transition is based on individual circumstances, rather than absolute age, with joint working and shared practice between services to promote continuity of care.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Donelan on 2016-03-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of how many people in each (a) region and (b) constituent part of the UK will be affected by changes to personal independence payments: aids and appliances; and what support he plans to give to those affected.

Justin Tomlinson

As confirmed by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State in his statement to the House on 21 March, the proposed changes to PIP will not be going ahead.

We spend around £50bn every year on benefits alone to support people with disabilities or health conditions, with spending on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) having increased by more than £3 billion since 2010. The government is committed to talking to disabled people, their representatives, healthcare professionals and employers to ensure the welfare system works better with the health and social care systems and provides help and support to those who need it most.