The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average processing time is for cases handled by the Complex Casework Directorate.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The information requested on average processing time for cases handled by Complex Casework is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Hurd on 2015-11-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what information her Department holds on the global cost of lost economic activity due to blindness and low vision.
Grant Shapps
There are a limited number of studies that estimate the lost productivity from all avoidable blindness. However, there have been some studies to assess the impact of specific causes of visual impairment and blindness. For example, it has been estimated that trachoma alone causes US$3-6 billion in lost productivity per year across affected countries. DFID is supporting the prevention and treatment of trachoma in a number of highly endemic countries.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2015-12-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the NICE Quality Standard for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis treatment is implemented in all NHS bodies.
Jane Ellison
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published a quality standard for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in January 2015. This sets out the markers of high quality in the care of people with IPF and is designed to drive up standards and to reduce inequalities and variation.
NHS England commissions some services for patients with IPF as part of its specialised services remit. Its respiratory interstitial lung disease (adult) service specification, which includes IPF, sets out what it expects to be in place so that providers can offer evidence based, safe and effective services. This specification is currently being reviewed to ensure it includes the most up to date guidance on IPF including the recently published NICE quality standard. Commissioning of rehabilitation, oxygen services and acute admissions for exacerbations are covered by local commissioning arrangements.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-01-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will ask NHS England to publish the (a) work completed by, (b) current work programme of and (c) future topics that are due to be considered by the Clinical Reference Group on Vascular Disease.
Jane Ellison
It is for NHS England to determine what information it publishes in relation to the work of the Clinical Reference Groups (CRGs) and it has advised that the CRG work programmes will not be published. However, it has provided the following information on the work of the CRGs on interventional radiology and vascular disease respectively.
The CRG on interventional radiology has, in conjunction with the hepatobiliary and cancer programmes, produced clinical policy on selective interventional radiotherapy (SIRT), and the commissioning through evaluation programmeon SIRT to collect further evidence on effectiveness.This work is continuing.
The CRG’s current work programme is to support work across the medical and surgical CRGs where policy and service specifications include interventional radiological procedures.
The role of CRGs across specialised imaging, interventional radiology and Positron emission tomography–computed tomography is being reviewed. Once this is agreed, the work programme for 2016/17 will be developed.
NHS England has previously published a service specification and polices for vascular disease, which can be found at:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/spec-services/npc-crg/group-a/a04/
It has also developed quality metrics.
The CRG on vascular disease work programme for 2015/16 includes:
– reviewing policies in line with changing practice;
– revision of the service specification has been produced;
– assessing specialised providers against the key quality indicators within the service specification; and
– working with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence on technology appraisals relating to specialised vascular services.
NHS England is currently working with stakeholders to identify potential areas to be included within the 2016/17 work programme for the CRG on vascular disease.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Lewis on 2016-02-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assistance his Department gives to former service personnel who are approached by officers of the Police Service of Northern Ireland investigating allegations of criminal behaviour during the Troubles; whether such assistance is given before or after that person has been charged; and if he will make a statement.
Penny Mordaunt
In accordance with its normal policy, the Department funds the provision of legal advice to current or former Service personnel whose conduct in the course of their duties in Northern Ireland is being investigated by the police with a view to possible prosecution. This support includes the services of a barrister wherever necessary. The support will be available from the point at which the individual is notified that the police wish to interview him or her as a suspect, which will of course be before any charge, and will continue until the determination of the proceedings. In addition, the Department works closely with Regimental Associations and other Service and veterans’ welfare organisations to ensure the provision of appropriate pastoral support.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2016-03-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the Nigerian government on the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
James Duddridge
Religious freedom in Nigeria is protected by the Nigerian Constitution. Boko Haram seeks to undermine this constitutional provision by attacking all Nigerians who do not subscribe to its extremist views. It has committed atrocities against people of all faiths, including Christians and Muslims, with the majority of those killed having been Muslims. We regularly discuss with the Nigerian Government at the highest levels our concern about the threat Boko Haram poses to communities of different faiths and ethnicities. We will continue to work with the Nigerian Government, non-governmental organisations and civil society to improve the security situation and human rights for all in Nigeria.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-04-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to prevent the emotional abuse of women.
Karen Bradley
The Government has introduced a new offence of coercive or controlling behaviour in an intimate or family relationship which came into force on 29 December 2015. The offence carries a maximum of 5 years imprisonment. Guidance for professionals on the new offence was issued on 5 December 2015.
The new offence will mean victims who experience coercive and controlling behaviour that stops short of serious physical violence, but amounts to extreme psychological and emotional abuse, can see their perpetrators brought to justice. Criminalising domestic abuse demonstrates this Government’s commitment to tackling all forms of abuse and improving the protection available to victims.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2016-05-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) UK military personnel and (b) RAF Typhoons are currently deployed on NATO’s Baltic air policing mission.
Mr Julian Brazier
140 UK military personnel and four RAF Typhoon aircraft are currently deployed on NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Phil Boswell on 2016-06-20.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with Minister of the Scottish Government on the proposed Apprenticeship Levy.
Greg Hands
We are working with the Scottish Government and the other devolved administrations to ensure they can get their fair share of the levy and, as far as possible, to develop a system for administering the levy which complements the skills and apprenticeship policies of each of the devolved administrations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many successful prosecutions have been made for cases involving breast ironing in each of the last five years.
Dr Phillip Lee
The information is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.