Tag: Nick Thomas-Symonds

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-03-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost to the public purse was of closing down the General Social Care Council.

Alistair Burt

The function for the regulation of social workers in England was transferred from the General Social Care Council (GSCC) to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) on 1 August 2012.

The final set of accounts from the GSCC show that the total cost to the public purse of closing down the Council was £16.5 million. The HCPC also received £1.4 million to support it take on the functions for the regulation of social workers in England. Therefore, the total cost was £17.9 million.

On the assumption that the costs of the GSCC remained broadly similar, the Department estimated that the closure of the GSCC saves £13.5 million each year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-05-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of funding the collection of modern exposure data on occupational carcinogens.

Justin Tomlinson

HSE has participated in a European Commission funded pilot project exploring the development of a database to capture data on occupational exposures to hazardous substances in workplaces, see: http://www.hazchematwork.eu/. The pilot is expected to report later this year.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2015-12-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what arrangements his Department plans to put in place for new patients who wish to access drugs included in the Risk Sharing Scheme for the supply of disease modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis, glatiramer acetate and beta interferon after funding for that scheme ceases.

George Freeman

Colleagues are in discussion with NHS England colleagues to plan for a smooth transition from the end of the Scheme in England, and with colleagues in the Devolved Administrations in respect of Multiple Sclerosis services in their countries.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-03-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost to the public purse was of winding up the College of Social Work.

Alistair Burt

The Government agreed to make a grant payment of £225,000 to the College of Social Work for the 2015-16 financial year, to enable completion of existing projects and provide an orderly transfer of functions and resources to other organisations by September 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-05-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive on pro-active inspection of the management of work-related psychosocial risk.

Justin Tomlinson

I have regular meetings with senior HSE officials where key priorities are discussed, including tackling work related ill-health.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2015-12-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department plans to publish the year 10 data for the Risk Sharing Scheme for the supply of disease modifying treatments for multiple sclerosis.

George Freeman

The Government expects the conclusions from the year 10 results of the Multiple Sclerosis Risk Sharing Scheme to be published in a recognised academic journal in late 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of cases being dealt with by the courts which could be resolved through a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution.

Mr Shailesh Vara

No estimate has been made of the number of the cases being dealt with by the courts which could be resolved through a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution.

The Government however fully supports, and encourages, alternative dispute resolution in a number of ways, including mediation, early conciliation, and other alternatives to court.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-05-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with (a) his EU counterparts and (b) other stakeholders on proposed changes to the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (2004/37/EC); and if he will make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson

DWP Ministers have not held such discussions. However there have been extensive discussions at official level with EU counterparts and with a wide range of stakeholders on the proposed changes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2015-12-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department has taken to seek the views of pensioners on (a) his Department’s policies and (b) housing for older and vulnerable people since the closure of the UK Advisory Forum on Ageing.

Brandon Lewis

The United Kingdom Advisory Forum on Ageing closed on 1 December 2015. The Department of Communities and Local Government will continue to engage with older people and their representative bodies through existing mechanisms and forums.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will break down the £22 million spent by his Department on recruiting presenting officers to support his Department in personal independent payment and employment and support allowance tribunals.

Justin Tomlinson

The vast majority of the £22m, which will be spent over three years, will be used for Presenting Officer salary costs, with a small proportion for Learning and Development, communications and start up project costs.