The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2016-01-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the value is in each financial year of each service contracted out by Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Group.
Jane Ellison
The data requested are not centrally available. This is a matter for Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Group.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Metcalfe on 2016-02-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what (a) human resources, (b) communications, (c) grant administration, (d) building and estates management and (e) other administrative functions are shared by the seven research councils; and which such services are delivered independently by each research council.
Joseph Johnson
The seven Research Councils currently operate their own corporate functions, with separate Human Resources, Finance, Communications and IT operations.
The Research Councils are working with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on a new digital grants system and common technology platform.
The Research Councils share a number of services including a main campus in Swindon at Polaris House; access to the London base of the Medical Research Council (MRC); and Internal Audit and Assurance functions, which are hosted by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). BBSRC also operate the estates and facilities management of Polaris House.
All seven Councils have their transactional HR, finance, payroll, systems and grants administration provided by UK Shared Business Services and six of the seven Councils share a pension scheme and its administration, with MRC running its own pension scheme.
The Government is implementing Sir Paul Nurse’s report, which recommended an evolution of the Research Councils into a formal organisation with a single Accounting Officer. Sir Paul advised that a new Research UK body could support the whole system to collectively become more than the sum of its parts, including by simplifying transactional operations, reducing the burden of administration currently placed on each individual Research Council, and enabling a stronger focus on multi-disciplinary research. We also want to strengthen collaboration between the research base and the commercialisation of discoveries in the business community and this is why we are looking to integrate Innovate UK into Research UK. Innovate UK will retain its clear business focus and separate funding stream.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-03-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the performance of the current data collection infrastructure and its capability to collect real world data in the way outlined in NHS England’s plans for a new Cancer Drugs Fund; and if he will make a statement.
George Freeman
Public Health England’s (PHE) National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service is the only national patient-level data source that collects data including outcomes on the whole care pathway on all patients diagnosed with cancer in England. Data are collected from all National Health Service trusts include information on Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy.
There is presently no agreement between NHS England and PHE to provide outcome information on patients receiving Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) funded treatments, on a regular basis. However, PHE and NHS England are currently in discussion to establish a dedicated resource to provide routine and bespoke information and analysis, and this could include defined outcome analyses on the CDF.
The Accelerated Access Review (AAR) is also looking at ways to better harness data to support the assessment, adoption and reimbursement of innovative treatments, and discussions are ongoing around the scope for aligning the revised CDF with the AAR recommendations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2016-04-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how he has assessed that EU Directive 41/2003 has been properly implemented in respect of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
Mr Marcus Jones
We are satisfied that the national legislative framework governing occupational pension schemes, including the local government pension scheme in England and Wales, is consistent with EU Directive 41/2003. I will place a copy of the Government’s transposition table for the Directive in the House Library.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nic Dakin on 2016-05-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 2.28 of the White Paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere, published in March 2016, how her Department plans to determine which universities will be able to establish a centre of excellence in initial teacher training.
Nick Gibb
The Government’s White Paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere, confirmed that we intend to use a new set of quality criteria to determine how initial teacher training (ITT) places are allocated to training providers in future, ensuring that training is concentrated with the highest-quality providers. On the basis of these criteria, which will include factors such as the quality of trainees recruited, the quality of the training programmes, and the quality of outcomes for trainees, we will designate some providers as Centres of Excellence. We expect to set out further details of the quality criteria that will apply for the 2017/18 training year, and which providers will be designated as Centres of Excellence, when we confirm the methodology for allocating places, which is currently under discussion.
The Department for Education has actively been engaging the ITT sector in discussions about the proposals in the White Paper, including the establishment of ITT Centres of Excellence. Engagement to date has included a series of roundtable discussion events for university- and school-led providers and their representative bodies, such as the Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET) and the National Association of School-Based Teacher Trainers (NASBTT).
We expect to confirm the allocations methodology for 2017/18 after further consultation with providers and their representative organisations over the summer, in time for the start of recruitment in the autumn term.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-07-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will ensure that the UK continues to have access to EU security agreements and policing protocols used to combat terrorism following withdrawal from the EU.
Mr Ben Wallace
The Government continues to work closely with European partners, as with other international allies, to combat the threat from terrorist groups. That includes strong bilateral cooperation and the continued use of a range of EU tools that contribute to keeping our citizens safe. Following the referendum, the UK retains its rights and obligations as a full member of the EU, up to the point at which we exit.
The Government is clear that effective cooperation with EU Member States on security and policing in order to combat terrorism will continue to be a UK priority, and key partners have confirmed their commitment to continue to work closely in an area where the UK has played a key role in advancing European capability.
As part of the exit negotiations, we will need to consider the full range of options to ensure effective cooperation after the UK leaves the EU. This will include taking into account the evolving nature of the terrorist threat we face.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-10-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent representations she has received on schools covering costs on behalf of parents and the ensuing parental debt.
Edward Timpson
The department does not hold data from which to supply the information requested.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-10-28.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people have accessed the Pension Wise service through the (a) face-to-face service provided by the Citizens Advice Bureau and (b) telephone service provided by the Pensions Advisory Service to date.
Harriett Baldwin
The government committed to providing free, impartial guidance through Pension Wise, to help people make informed and confident decisions about how they use their defined contribution pension savings in retirement. It is available online, via the telephone and face to face. As of 29 October 2015, there were over 20,000 completed appointments for face to face guidance and 9,000 completed appointments for telephone guidance as well as over 1.7 million visits to the website.
Pension Wise runs exit surveys of those who have completed an appointment It is not mandatory for a user to complete an exit survey. The government is committed to being open and transparent with Pension Wise data and will be making core data readily available by placing it on the government performance platform this autumn. The data will be in the public domain and updated regularly. HM Treasury is working with Pension Wise delivery partners to provide the level of detail that we require for reporting purposes.
The Financial Conduct Authority, in line with its remit to protect consumers and ensure markets function in consumers’ interests, is monitoring developments in the retirement income market closely and has committed to take action where consumers are coming to harm or where the market is not operating competitively.
The government recognises that people may wish to consult different sources of information before reaching a decision about their retirement income. In addition to Pension Wise, The Pension Advisory Service (TPAS) provides independent, impartial information and guidance about pensions, free of charge, to members of the public. The Money Advice Service also provides free and unbiased information and guidance on all money matters.
A number of pension providers offer financial guidance. Individuals can also access regulated advice from an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). HM Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority are jointly considering how financial advice could be made more accessible and affordable for consumers through the Financial Advice Market Review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2015-11-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the effects of court closures between 2010 and 2015 on access to justice.
Mr Shailesh Vara
Effective access to justice has been maintained between 2010 and 2015. Access to justice is not just about proximity to a court.
We have secured over £700m of funding to invest in our courts and tribunals. We have worked closely with the senior judiciary to develop a plan for investing this in reforming the courts and tribunals so they can deliver swifter, fairer justice at a lower cost. This will include digitisation and modernisation of our IT infrastructure. This will mean court users can attend hearings remotely, and not be inconvenienced by having to take a day off work to come to court. It will also mean victims of crime can give evidence from somewhere they feel safe.
We are committed to providing alternative ways for users to access our services, including the use of other civic buildings and extending video conferencing facilities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Menzies on 2015-12-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to support the development of additional new nuclear reactors.
Andrea Leadsom
New nuclear power offers low carbon, affordable, and reliable energy to keep the lights on – which is our top priority.
I can tell my Honourable Friend that the Department is focussed both on engaging with the 6 individual new nuclear proposals from developers, and also supporting the exciting future prospects for small modular reactor technology.