Tag: Neil Coyle

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what measures he is taking to mitigate the effect of the housing benefit cap in the social sector on homeless people or those at risk of homelessness.

Justin Tomlinson

We announced in a Written Ministerial Statement on 1 March 2016 that a year-long exception would apply for all tenants of supported accommodation in the social rented sector as we await the outcome of our review of the supported housing sector. This means the measure will only apply to these tenancies from April 2017 rather than April 2016, which would include accommodation for homeless provision.

We value the work of the supported housing sector and are working closely with them to ensure that they are supported as effectively as possible, which is why we are awaiting the outcome of a Supported Accommodation research project and subsequent policy review, to ensure support is focused on the most vulnerable, and appropriate groups are safeguarded.

In addition, an enhanced package of Discretionary Housing Payment funding (£870 million over 5 years) will enable Local Authorities to provide support to the most vulnerable claimants.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-05-23.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Home Affairs on the number of pregnant women who have been detained for immigration purposes since central recording statistics on such cases began and the outcomes of their detention.

Karen Bradley

The detention of pregnant women under Immigration Act powers occurs only in very limited situations, either where there is a clear prospect of early removal or in very exceptional circumstances. Very few pregnant women are detained. Central recording of the number of detained women who have disclosed their pregnancy started in August 2015. Options for the collection of wider data on pregnant women is being considered as part of the Immigration Act 2016 implementation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-07-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to his Department has been of administering attendance allowance in each of the last 10 years.

Justin Tomlinson

The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-10-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of how many households affected by Pay to Stay will receive funds from Right to Buy.

Gavin Barwell

The Government believes that, as a matter of fairness, tenants on higher incomes should contribute a fairer level of rent. This might lead to more tenants exercising their Right to Buy, but the two policies are not linked.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-01-20.

To ask the Leader of the House, what events have taken place in the Leader’s Parliamentary Office in 2016; and what the cost to the public purse has been of each such event.

Chris Grayling

Details of Ministerial diaries are published regularly. There has been no public expense to any event held in the office of the Leader of the House of Commons in 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-02-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps the Government is taking to close the higher education attainment gap between BME students and other students.

Joseph Johnson

The Higher Education Green Paper sets out steps the Government plans to take to improve outcomes for students, including BME students. We have consulted on how the Teaching Excellence Framework will recognise the efforts that providers make to improve the access and experience of students from all backgrounds, and the importance of this to the overall student learning experience.

Ministers have also asked Universities UK to establish an expert advisory group on social mobility and higher education to identify what more can be done to address this gap, and other issues concerning social mobility. The group will provide advice to the Minister.

In addition, new guidance from Ministers to the Director of Fair Access (DfA), published on 11 February, asks the Director to continue to address gaps in outcomes, including those for BME groups, through Access Agreements agreed with universities.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-03-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what advice her Department has received from the Migration Advisory Committee on whether nurses should remain in the occupation shortfall list; and when she next plans to issue a revised list.

James Brokenshire

The Migration Advisory Committee will publish its report on nurses shortly. The Government will announce its response once the report is published.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-05-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of his proposals for the future of community pharmacy on care for elderly people.

Alistair Burt

Community pharmacy is a vital part of the National Health Service. We want to see a high quality community pharmacy service that is properly integrated into primary care and public health in line with the Five Year Forward View.

We want to make pharmacists a pivotal part of primary care for all patient groups, including the elderly and vulnerable, by increasing the number who bring their skills to general practitioner (GP) practices, care homes, urgent care and public health settings. We have consulted on how best to introduce a Pharmacy Integration Fund to help transform how pharmacists, their teams and community pharmacy will operate in the NHS, bringing clear benefits to patients and the public.

Our aim is to ensure that those community pharmacies upon which people depend continue to thrive. We are consulting on the introduction of a Pharmacy Access Scheme, which will provide more NHS funds to certain pharmacies compared with others, considering factors such as location and the health needs of the local population.

The community pharmacy proposals for 2016/17 and beyond, on which we have consulted, are being considered in respect to the public sector equality duty, the family test and relevant duties of the Secretary of State under the NHS Act 2006.

An impact assessment will be completed to inform final decisions and published in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-07-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will make an assessment of the effect of the local housing allowance cap on (a) people claiming that allowance in Bermondsey and Old Southwark constituency and (b) local authority finances.

Caroline Nokes

This measure will be introduced in April 2018, where new tenancies have been taken out or existing tenancies renewed from 1 April 2016 (or 1 April 2017 for supported housing). Full impact and equality impact assessments will be undertaken in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to advertise the independence of Crimestoppers to encourage more people, particularly young people, to come forward with information on crime.

Sarah Newton

The Home Office has provided grant funding of £770,500k in this financial year to support the work of Crimestoppers to encourage the public to report information on crime.

In addition, this year we are also working closely with Crimestoppers to support the re-development of their ‘Fearless’ campaign and website which is targeted at encouraging children and young people to report crime, including through work in schools to raise awareness of the risks and consequences of knife crime.