Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-09-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the closure of accident and emergency services at Burnley Hospital.

    Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen

    No such assessments have been made. The provision of accident and emergency (A&E) services at the Royal Blackburn Hospital is a matter for the local National Health Service. The NHS in East Lancashire has established an A&E delivery board to oversee system performance and the effective delivery of urgent and emergency care locally.

    Ministers consult weekly with NHS Improvement and the Care Quality Commission about A&E performance.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-11-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications of UN Security Council Resolution 2249 (2015) for the legality of airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    There is a clear legal basis for further military action against ISIL in Syria. The legal basis of the Coalition’s activity against ISIL in Syria has been, and continues to be, the inherent right of self-defence recognised in Article 51 of the UN Charter. The legality of potential UK strikes against ISIL in Syria would also be based on the right of self-defence. The right of self defence may be exercised individually where it is necessary for the UK’s own defence, and collectively in the defence of our friends and allies.

    UN Security Council Resolution 2249 provides clear and unanimous political endorsement by the international community for the military action being taken by the Coalition.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many full-time equivalent staff are employed by the Fit for Work service as case managers; and whether the Government plans to increase this number.

    Justin Tomlinson

    At 30th November 66.7 full-time equivalent staff are employed by the Fit for Work Service as case managers in England and Wales and 24.8 in Scotland. It is expected that numbers will increase in line with demand.

  • Stuart C. McDonald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Stuart C. McDonald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stuart C. McDonald on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the Government plans to endorse the Safe Schools Declaration; and whether it plans to encourage other states to endorse that Declaration.

    James Duddridge

    The intention of the Safe Schools Declaration is for countries to support the Guidelines for Protecting Schools and Universities from Military use During Armed Conflict.

    While we welcome the spirit of the initiative, we have concerns that the Guidelines do not mirror the exact language and content of International Humanitarian Law. We consider that the full implementation of International Humanitarian Law provides the best protection for civilians in all situations of armed conflict. The UK, along with the US, France, Australia and other countries, were therefore not able to sign the Safe Schools Declaration in Oslo in May 2015.

  • Lord Clement-Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Clement-Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Clement-Jones on 2016-02-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on patients of the pause in listing new drugs accessible through the Cancer Drugs Fund introduced in June 2015.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    We have made no such assessment.

    As part of its work to reprioritise the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) in 2015-16, NHS England took the decision not to consider new drugs for inclusion on the national CDF list.

    NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recently consulted on draft proposals for the future direction of the Fund. The consultation outlined a new system, fully integrated into the NICE appraisal process, where the CDF becomes a transitional fund – with clear criteria for entry and exit.

    Clinicians continue to be able to apply for cancer drugs not on the national CDF list through the Individual Cancer Drugs Funding Request procedure.

  • Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-03-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding the Government has allocated to cycling schemes in each year since 2010.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    In the five financial years from 2010/11 to 2014/15, the Department for Transport has provided: £63m to Cycling England, £94m to the Cycle Ambition Cities and National Parks fund, £30m to the Linking Communities/Cycle Rail fund, £12m to Links to Schools, £44m to Bikeability cycle training and £35m to the Cycle Safety fund. Between 2011 and 2015, the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) also provided 28% of its budget, or £151m, to cycling projects. Overall between 2011 and 2015 funding was more than doubled compared to the previous administration.

    For 2015/16, a further £15m will be invested in Cycle Rail, £11m in Bikeability and £64.5m in LSTF projects; £15m was also invested in the second phase of the Cycle Ambition City programme. Looking forward, a further £99m will be invested in the Cycle Ambition Cities, £50m in Bikeability and £100m via the Road Investment Strategy.

    Long-term funding is also available for cycling from the Integrated Transport Block, Highways Maintenance Block, and the Local Growth Fund, where around £270m is already planned by Local Enterprise Partnerships for cycling infrastructure.

  • The Lord Bishop of Coventry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The Lord Bishop of Coventry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry on 2016-04-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assurances they have sought from, and been given by, the government of Iraq that Iraqi security forces and affiliated militias involved in counter-Daesh efforts abide by international humanitarian law and are held accountable for any violations thereof.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    We consistently underline with the Government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government the importance of ensuring that all security forces respect International Humanitarian Law, human rights and fundamental freedoms.

    We are concerned by reports alleging that the Iraqi Security Forces, Kurdish Security Forces, Iraqi Popular Mobilisation Forces and militias have committed human rights abuses and violations.

    Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi has committed to investigating allegations of human rights abuses and violations and holding those responsible to account. He has also consistently intervened in security operations to prevent civilian casualties and damage to property.

    The Kurdistan Regional Government has undertaken to investigate all allegations made against Kurdish Security Forces. The Kurdistan Regional President Masoud Barzani has recently issued a decree which emphasised the importance of the Kurdish Peshmerga abiding by international and national legal principles.

    We will continue to call on states and non-state actors engaged in armed conflict to respect International Humanitarian Law and act in accordance to their obligations under it.

  • Patrick Grady – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Patrick Grady – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-05-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to his oral statement of 19 April 2016, Official Report, column 782, how much of the £10 million in support for Libya will be counted towards (a) the Official Development Assistance target of 0.7 per cent of GNI, (b) the NATO defence spending target of 2 per cent GNI and (c) jointly towards both targets.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    I can confirm that the vast majority of the £10 million allocated under the Conflict, Stability, and Security Fund (CSSF) for Libya in 2016/17 will qualify as Official Development Assistance (ODA). It is likely that some of the allocation for Libya – whether ODA or non ODA – will count towards the NATO defence spending target of 2 per cent of Gross National Income, but we would expect this to be small. It will not be possible to provide precise figures until the end of the financial year.

  • Nicholas Soames – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Nicholas Soames – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2016-06-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which NHS trusts operate in West Sussex; and what the responsibilities are of each such trust.

    Jane Ellison

    NHS England and the three local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in Mid and West Sussex (Coastal West Sussex CCG; Crawley CCG; and Horsham and Mid Sussex CCG) are responsible for commissioning a comprehensive health service for patients in this area.

    The CCGs in this area are able to commission services from a range of providers, depending on the services they require. The following Trusts operate in West Sussex, and the websites describe the specific services they provide:

    – Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust:

    https://www.bsuh.nhs.uk/departments/

    – Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation:

    http://www.westernsussexhospitals.nhs.uk/services/

    – Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust:

    http://www.qvh.nhs.uk/our-services/

    – Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust:

    http://www.sussexcommunity.nhs.uk/services/all-services.htm

    – Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust:

    http://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/find-service

    – South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust:

    http://www.secamb.nhs.uk/our_services.aspx

    – Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust:

    http://www.surreyandsussex.nhs.uk/our-services/a-z-of-services/

    “

  • Lord Aberdare – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Aberdare – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Aberdare on 2016-09-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the finding of the recent British Red Cross research report Are prehospital deaths from trauma and accidental injury preventable? that up to 59 per cent of pre-hospital deaths from injury, many of them occurring on UK’s roads, could have been prevented with basic first aid, whether they are considering making attendance at a first aid course mandatory in order to acquire a driving licence in the UK.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    There are no plans to make attendance at a first aid course mandatory to acquire a driving licence. It would restrict people’s mobility and access to jobs and education that a driving licence often unlocks.

    Driver’s knowledge of first aid is already tested as part of the driver theory test and many professional drivers take first aid training. The Department is providing support for a not-for-profit training programme for drivers in administering first aid.