Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Jeff Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jeff Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeff Smith on 2016-06-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 26 May 2016 to Question 37876, what (a) number and (b) proportion of total penalty charge notices issued for invalid medical exemption certificates between January 2015 and December 2015 were subsequently retracted when the patient proved their right to exemption.

    Alistair Burt

    Between January and December 2015, a total of 34,142 penalty charge notices were issued to patients declaring they held a valid medical exemption certificate, which the National Health Service Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) was unable to verify. This equated to 7.92% of all penalty charge notices issued.

    During the same period, a total of 9,170 of these were subsequently retracted when the patient proved their right to exemption. This equated to 26.86% of all penalty charge notices issued for medical exemption certificates.

    Often the reason the penalty charge notice is retracted is because the patient has not informed the NHSBSA of a change of address or surname. This means the record of the medical exemption does not match the patient information on the prescription form. If a patient provides details of a valid medical exemption certificate, the penalty charge notice is retracted and the medical exemption record is updated to ensure further notices are not issued in error.

    Following the introduction of prescription charge exemption checking, it became apparent some people receiving penalty charge notices had a qualifying medical condition, but had not applied for a medical exemption certificate. In response, a new process was introduced in early spring 2015. This means that if someone submits a valid application for a medical or maternity exemption certificate within 60 days from date of the penalty charge notice, the outstanding penalty charge is cancelled but the prescription charge is still recovered.

  • Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions the Government has had with EU member state representatives on Horizon 2020 grant applications continuing to be evaluated on merit alone during the period for which the UK remains a member of the EU.

    Joseph Johnson

    The application process for Horizon 2020 is administered by the European Commission. UK participants can continue to bid for competitive Horizon 2020 EU research funding while we remain a member of the EU. We will work with the Commission to ensure payment when funds are awarded. The Treasury will underwrite the payment of such awards, even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU. This applies to all UK participants with direct agreements with the Commission who meet the terms of the grant.

    The Commission has made it clear that proposals from, or including, UK applicants must be treated in the same way as applications from other Member States while the UK remains a member of the EU.

  • Roger Godsiff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Roger Godsiff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2016-10-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2016 to Question 47784, if she will make it her policy that changes to environmental protections deriving from EU legislation should be made through primary legislation.

    Dr Thérèse Coffey

    The Government is considering future arrangements for existing EU legislation. We look forward to working with the industry, rural communities and the wider public to shape our plans for a future outside the EU.

    As I said in my previous answer, any future changes in the law will be subject to full scrutiny and proper Parliamentary debate.

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-11-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on the introduction of a 10 year firearms licence.

    Mike Penning

    The Home Office has received representations from one organisation on the introduction of a 10 year firearms licence.

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Andrew Gwynne – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much (a) his Department, (b) Public Health England, (c) NHS England and (d) each non-departmental public body spent on downloading apps for smartphones and similar devices in each of the last five years.

    Jane Ellison

    Information about the cost of downloading apps for smartphones and similar devices in the Department and its arm’s length bodies for each of the last five years is in the tables below.

    The National Institute for Care and Excellence (NICE) is unable to provide a response to this question as it would incur disproportional cost to establish whether this information is held. We don’t have a separate expense code that would enable an easy search of this type of expenditure.

    Health Education England do not collect this data. Applications are usually purchased by the individual and claimed back through expenses.

    Organisation

    Cost

    Department of Health

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    Care Quality Commission

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    Health and Social Care Information Centre

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    Health Research Authority

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    Human Tissue Authority

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    Monitor

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    NHS England

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    Public Health England

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    Health Research Authority

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    NICE is unable to provide a response to this question as it would incur disproportional cost to establish whether this information is held. We don’t have a separate expense code that would enable an easy search of this type of expenditure.

    Health Education England do not collect this data. Applications are usually purchased by the individual and claimed back through expenses.

  • Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in what circumstances his Department can terminate the (a) Southern, (b) Thameslink and (c) GTR contracts early.

    Claire Perry

    Whilst Southern and Thameslink are used as operating names by the franchisee, they are in fact part of the GTR franchise, which operates the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) Franchise.

    Schedule 10.2 of the TSGN Franchise Agreement (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/488198/tsgn-franchise-agreement.pdf p.506) specifies how this franchise can be terminated by the Department.

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

    Lord Bradshaw – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

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

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, if they privatise or lease railway stations, they will ensure that convenient facilities are maintained on such stations for their primary purpose of serving passengers.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    Network Rail is exploring new models for station management and ownership with the goal to bring improvements for both passengers and the communities they serve. They have engaged Citigroup as advisors to consider a range of potential options but no decisions have been taken at this early stage. Any decisions on such potential future options will take account of the ‎findings of Nicola Shaw’s report into the longer term shape and financing of Network Rail.

  • Kevin Brennan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Kevin Brennan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2016-03-16.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the proportion of (a) domestically produced and (b) imported steel that was procured by each government department in each year since 2010.

    Matthew Hancock

    This information is not held centrally.

    All departments are now required to implement the new guidelines, published on 30 October last year, which set out how government buyers should source steel for major projects so that the true value of UK steel is taken into account in major procurement decisions.

  • Gerald Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Gerald Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gerald Jones on 2016-04-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of a UK withdrawal from the EU on the UK’s digital industries.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The UK is home to a thriving digital sector, worth £118.3 billion and equivalent to 7.3% of UK GVA. 43% of the UK tech sector’s total exports go to the EU.

    Digital Single Market reforms could be worth £330 billion a year to the EU economy. This is a clear example of how the single market benefits the UK digital industries.

    The Government’s position is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-06-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has carried out a rural proofing assessment of the likely effects of measures contained in the Bus Services Bill.

    Andrew Jones

    The general and specific impacts of the Bill’s provisions are included in a number of Impact Assessments, which will be published shortly. The impact assessments include a ‘rural proofing assessment’.