Tag: Nick Thomas-Symonds

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-06-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of people diagnosed with lung diseases.

George Freeman

Data on the number of people diagnosed with lung diseases in not available. However, the British Lung Foundation estimates that more than 12 million people in the United Kingdom are affected by lung disease, (of which eight million people have asthma, just over a million have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and more than 150,000 have interstitial lung disease.)

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to seek the views of pensioners on (a) his Department’s policies and (b) dementia since the closure of the UK Advisory Forum on Ageing.

Alistair Burt

We are committed to continuing to listen to and act on the wishes of older people. For example the Department plans to carry out an engagement programme with stakeholder groups representing older people as part of the forthcoming Carer’s Strategy.

The Government is clear that dementia remains a priority and will implement the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2020 in full to make sure that dementia care, support, awareness and research are transformed by 2020. The 2020 Challenge aims to build on the achievements of the Prime Minister’s challenge on dementia 2012-2015.

The Department continues to engage with a range of people with dementia and carers including stakeholders who represent them in both delivering the Prime Minister’s Challenge 2012-2015 and in developing and implementing the Prime Minister’s Challenge 2020. The Department also works closely people with dementia and carers through its work with the Dementia Action Alliance.

The Department has funded a number of projects on dementia education and training which have worked directly with people with dementia, in order to better understand the training needs of the staff who support and care for them.

More generally through the Health and Care Voluntary Sector Strategic Partner Programme, the Department, NHS England and Public Health England are already able to work directly in partnership with well-connected voluntary sector organisations. The programme provides a way for policy makers to reach thousands of voluntary and community sector organisations. Many of these groups whom support and represent older people within their communities through the extensive depth and reach of the partners’ networks. This helps to ensure that the voice of small voluntary and community sector organisations is in direct contact with national bodies at the heart of decision making. Age UK is one of the 22 strategic partners, ensuring that older people’s needs are strongly represented.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether unemployed 18 to 21 year olds will be referred to specialist employment support providers under the Youth Obligation from 2017 if they are unemployed after one year of claiming benefits.

Priti Patel

We will be introducing the Youth Obligation for all 18-21 year olds who are claiming Universal Credit and are in the All Work Related Activity Conditionality Group from April 2017.

They will receive intensive support from Day 1 of their claim. After 6 months, if they have not found employment, they will be expected to apply for an apprenticeship, a traineeship, gain work-based skills employers value, or go on a work placement to give them the skills they need to get on in work.

The detailed policy design is still under development. We will make further announcements over the coming months as we develop the policy detail.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-09-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of NHS England’s clinical policy prioritisation process for specialised services on the provision of treatment to patients in the devolved nations; and if he will make a statement.

David Mowat

As health is a devolved function, it is for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to make decisions about how they prioritise funding for specialised treatments. NHS England’s clinical policy prioritisation process relates solely to the direct commissioning responsibilities of NHS England and predominantly affects patients in England.

However, NHS England works closely with the three devolved nations, particularly through the Rare Diseases Advisory Group (of which the three devolved nations are members), whose function is to provide advice to NHS England and the devolved nations on the commissioning of highly specialised services. The devolved nations are also observers on the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group, which advises NHS England on which specialised services should be prioritised for funding.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to seek the views of pensioners on (a) his Department’s policies and (b) concessionary travel since the closure of the UK Advisory Forum on Ageing.

Andrew Jones

Since the final meeting of the UK Advisory Forum on Ageing in September we have continued to consider the priorities of older people and to consult with relevant organisations where appropriate.

We are working with the Disabled People’s Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) to revamp the Department for Transport’sAccessibility Action Plan, which was initiated for the first time under the Coalition government, to meet the growth in demand for a more inclusive transport system as a result of an aging population.

We have also met with the National Pensioners’ Convention (NPC) at “round table” events for the upcoming Buses Bill, and welcome engagement with all organisations representing older people regarding policies including the national bus concession.

The national concession provides almost ten million older and disabled people with free off-peak bus travel throughout England, helping them to maintain their independence and remain active in society. This Government has committed to maintaining this national concession through this Parliament.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to ensure the early referral of ex-offenders on day one of release onto specialist employment support provision under the proposed work and health programme from 2017.

Priti Patel

The details of the policy for referral criteria and eligibility for the Work and Health Programme are still in development and we are looking to ensure that claimants with different circumstances receive the right support at the right time.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-09-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to meet patient representatives to discuss the outcomes of the NHS England clinical policy prioritisation process for specialised services.

David Mowat

In July 2016 NHS England laid out its provisional investment plans for specialised services. However, owing to a current court case regarding pre-exposure prophylaxis these decisions are not yet finalised.

As the decisions are still subject to change, Ministers have not yet arranged meetings to discuss the final outcomes.

However Ministers continue to receive and respond to correspondence from a range of correspondents on the provisional investment decisions.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to seek the views of pensioners on (a) his Department’s policies and (b) winter fuel allowance since the closure of the UK Advisory Forum on Ageing.

Justin Tomlinson

The UK Advisory Forum on Ageing closed on 2^nd December 2015. Since then the Department has continued to work with older people, employers, the financial services industry and other stakeholders on issues such as simplifying automatic enrolment into workplace pensions, the introduction of the new State Pension, and fuller working lives. For example, the Department has conducted structured research into the attitudes of people over 50 to fuller working lives, the new State Pension, and Class 3A Voluntary National Insurance Contributions. The Department is also working with the Money Matters Working Group of the Age Action Alliance on increasing take-up of benefits by older people, and especially take-up of Pension Credit.

With specific regard to the Winter Fuel Payment, the Government has committed to help provide dignity and security in retirement by protecting it and other pensioner benefits, such as free bus passes, for the lifetime of this Parliament. Where issues arise linked to older people and fuel poverty, both the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Energy and Climate Change are active members of the Safe, Warm Homes Working Group of the Age Action Alliance, which is a valuable forum for both developing both policy and innovative ways of delivering support and advice to older people.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-03-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 17 March 2016 to Question 30986, what estimate his Department has made of the number of children who will be lifted out of poverty as a result of universal credit before any effect on employment.

Priti Patel

This Government is committed to eliminating child poverty and transforming the life chances of the most disadvantaged children and families.

We know that work is the best route out of poverty, and Universal Credit is designed to strengthen incentives for parents to move into and progress in work. Ignoring the impact that Universal Credit has on incentivising work and raising the incomes of families is inappropriate.

The impact of Universal Credit cannot be considered in isolation– it is a key component of a broader strategy to move Britain to a higher wage, lower welfare, lower tax society.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of NHS England’s decision not to fund second stem cell transplants on the long-term outcomes of patients.

Nicola Blackwood

Decisions related to the commissioning of National Health Service treatments in England are made by NHS England using a published process that involves an impact assessment. The Department has not made any further assessment of the decision related to the commissioning of second stem cell transplants.