The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Winnick on 2016-05-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to reply to the letter of 4 April 2016 from the hon. Member for Walsall North regarding the Manor Hospital, Walsall.
Ben Gummer
I responded to the hon. Member’s letter of 4 April on 29 April.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Simon Hoare on 2016-06-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with Public Health England on the effect of the revised Eatwell Guide on milk and dairy consumption by children.
Jane Ellison
The Eatwell Guide is suitable for everyone over the age of five years to follow and intends to assist the population in choosing a varied and balanced diet to meet government dietary recommendations (such as those for calcium).
Departmental officials were observers on the External Reference Group that advised Public Health England on methodological approaches to refreshing the Eatwelll Guide. Government advice continues to encourage consumption of dairy products as part of a healthy, balanced diet for all age groups.
An external reference group was convened to consult with stakeholders during the development of the Eatwell Guide. This group comprised representatives from health, dietetic and nutrition professions (including those with expertise in child nutrition). It also included the voluntary sector and industry (including the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board who represented the dairy industry). The group advised on potential methodologies to inform the sizes of the food group segments in the new Eatwell Guide whilst also providing routes for wider engagement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-09-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many deaths by suicide have been recorded in England among people within (a) seven days, (b) 14 days and (c) one month of being released from prison for each year since 2010.
Nicola Blackwood
This information is not held centrally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2016-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the opinions of e-cigarette users and people who use other reduced risk products are represented at the WHO conference on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in November 2016.
Nicola Blackwood
The Government has engaged with a wide range of stakeholders to inform its negotiating position with other Parties attending the Conference of the Parties for the Framework on Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), including users of e-cigarette and other novel products. The Government recognises that e-cigarettes can help some smokers quit and the evidence indicates that they are considerably less harmful to health than cigarettes. However, they are not risk free and it is essential that we do not encourage smoking and continue to protect children from the dangers of nicotine. This is a position firmly grounded on the evidence base.
The United Kingdom is a world leader in tobacco control and as such has already implemented the majority of the FCTC’s provisions and taken further action in line with its non-binding guidelines, for example introducing Standardised Packaging. There are few further guidelines being developed by the FCTC and the focus of the Convention is now on full and comprehensive implementation by all 180 Parties. We therefore do not expect the outcomes of the forthcoming Conference of the Parties to significantly alter our tobacco strategy, but will continue to offer our support and experience to help other countries fully implement the provisions of the Treaty, especially low and middle income countries.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-11-06.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 30 October 2015 to Question 13346, if he will make it his policy to introduce a dedicated team at the tax credit office in Preston constituency to deal with tax credit cases referred to them by hon. Members.
Mr David Gauke
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) already has three units which deal specifically with representations from hon. Members in relation to their constituents’ concerns: a dedicated MP hotline for Tax Credits, an MP complaints team that deals with tax credit complaints, and an HMRC Ministerial correspondence team.
The dedicated MP hotline is a telephone helpline to assist MPs, MEPs, MSPs, Welsh Assembly Members and their staff when dealing with constituents’ Tax Credit issues. Advisors deal with around 11,500 calls per year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2015-12-07.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received from (a) the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington and (b) the Labour Party on reform of EU state aid rules; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Gauke
The Chancellor receives a large number of representations on a wide range of issues including both the EU Budget and EU State Rules. As has been the case with previous administrations, it is not normal practice to release details of such representations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2016-01-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the implications of the proposed extension of the Business Impact Target as set out in the Enterprise Bill for the work of (a) the Environment Agency, (b) the Forestry Commission, (c) the Marine Management Organisation, (d) Natural England, (e) the Water Services Regulation Authority and (f) the Farriers Registration Council; and what such discussions she has had on (i) the Food Standards Agency, (ii) the Gangmasters’ Licensing Authority and (iii) the Groceries Code Adjudicator insofar as those bodies relate to her Department’s responsibilities.
George Eustice
My Rt. Hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Business, will shortly issue a public consultation seeking views on the statutory regulators proposed to be brought within scope of the Business Impact Target, with a view to introducing the necessary secondary legislation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-02-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people living in the Akrotiri and Dhekelia RAF Sovereign Base Areas have applied for asylum since October 1998; how many such applications have been (a) accepted and (b) rejected; and how many such people have been removed from the Sovereign Base Areas.
Penny Mordaunt
Since 1998 and up until October 2015, 67 People have applied for asylum in the Sovereign Base Areas (SBA), 29 of those were accepted as recognised refugees and 38 asylum claims were rejected.
In October 2015 a group of 115 migrants arrived in RAF Akrotiri, 46 of those migrants temporarily resident in the SBA have lodged asylum claims that are being considered by the SBA Administration. As at 12 February 2016, six have been recognised as refugees by the SBA Administration and 15 have been issued asylum rejection letters. In total 85 migrants are no longer in the SBA. Those remaining who are not eligible for asylum will be liable for deportation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-03-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when his Department will provide substantive Answers to Questions 25366 and 25426 submitted on 2 February 2016.
Mr Edward Vaizey
The PQs have now been answered.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-04-08.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many workers his Department estimates will be financially worse off as a result of the recent increase in the minimum wage.
Damian Hinds
The introduction of the National Living Wage on April 1st marked a pay rise for low paid workers across the UK. Our objective is for it to reach over £9 by 2020. This means an employee aged 25 or over working full-time on the National Minimum Wage will earn over £4,200 a year more by 2020 in cash terms, or £3,800 after taking into account inflation. 2.9m low wage workers are expected to benefit directly, and up to 6m could see a pay rise as a result of a ripple effect up the earnings distribution.
The independent Office for Budget Responsibility estimated that the NLW would have, in their words, only a “fractional” effect on unemployment. And taking into account the NLW, the OBR forecast that employment would rise by 1.1 million by 2020.