The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2016-09-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the effect of the vote to leave the EU on his policy to provide full seven-day NHS services.
David Mowat
None.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Balfe on 2016-10-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they gave to proposals to regulate retail price promotions on unhealthy foods as part of their Childhood Obesity: A Plan for Action and, if they were not considered appropriate, why not.
Lord Prior of Brampton
In developing Childhood Obesity: A Plan for Action we have been clear that we considered a number of different policies and have focused on the ones that are likely to have the biggest impact on childhood obesity.
The policies in the plan are informed by the latest research and evidence, including from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition report Carbohydrates and Health, Public Health England’s evidence package Sugar reduction: the evidence for action, other Government departments, debates in the House of Commons and various reports from key stakeholders including the House of Commons Health Select Committee.
Current restrictions on the advertising of less healthy food and drink in the United Kingdom are amongst the toughest in the world. Alongside this, we welcome the action taken by forward thinking retailers on promotions. These voluntary actions mean that business can move more quickly and go beyond what regulation would permit.
We are confident that the measures we have announced will make a real difference and estimate that childhood obesity rates could be reduced by around a fifth (330,000) over the next ten years. Though we are clear in our goals and firm in the action we will take, this plan represents the start of a conversation, rather than the final word.
Copies of Carbohydrates and Health and Sugar reduction: the evidence for action are attached.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-11-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the human rights situation in Egypt.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office published its annual Human Rights and Democracy Report on 12 March 2015, which provides an assessment of the situation in Egypt, and is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/country-case-study-egypt
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of redundancy payments arising from meeting the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 target of reducing civilian staff numbers by 41,000.
Mark Lancaster
A number of change programmes are already under way to reduce Ministry of Defence civilian workforce numbers. The remaining savings will be made through new studies that will identify opportunities for more efficient and innovative ways of working.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-01-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what training and professional development is given to (a) doctors, (b) nurses and (c) mental health professionals on managing their own stress levels.
Ben Gummer
It is the responsibility of the professional regulators to set the standards and outcomes for education and training and approve training curricula to ensure newly qualified healthcare professionals are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to provide high quality patient care. This may include training on conflict resolution, empathy, mental self-care and managing own stress.
Health Education England has a leadership role in ensuring the service continues to invest in the ongoing education and training of all staff and a shared responsibility for investing in continuing professional development to promote service innovation and transformation. However, employers are ultimately responsible for continuing professional development of their employees.
Employers also have a responsibility to ensure the wellbeing of their staff.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2016-02-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of prison officers injured on duty in incidents involving new psychoactive substances in the last year.
Andrew Selous
Where injury to prison officers is suspected to be wholly due or due in part to new psychoactive substances, this is noted but the figures are subjective and the connection with NPS cannot be proven. We are piloting mandatory drug testing for new psychoactive substances from this month, and intend to roll it out to all prisons by April 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2016-02-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much child maintenance debt his Department has written off for (a) 1993 and (b) 2003 scheme cases since April 2015.
Priti Patel
£17.3m of Child Maintenance debt was written off between 1 April 2015 and 31 January 2016 following confirmation from the Parent With Care that they did not want the arrears to be collected.
£2.7m was written off where either the Non-Resident Parent or the Parent with Care had died.
A further £0.6m was written off for a variety of reasons including: amount being less than £65 due to the Secretary of State or situations where legislation does not permit recovery.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2016-03-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what he plans the size of the Frigate fleet will be in 2025.
Mr Philip Dunne
The 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review announced that we will maintain our fleet of 19 frigates and destroyers whilst also conducting a concept phase for the design and build of a new class of lighter, flexible general purpose frigate so that by the 2030s there is potential to increase the total number of frigates and destroyers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the Supported Accommodation review on the commissioning of services for vulnerable people.
Brandon Lewis
We understand the importance of ensuring that those people living in supported accommodation, who are generally the most vulnerable members of our society, receive appropriate protections.
My Department, along with the Department for Work and Pensions, have jointly commissioned an evidence review of the supported housing sector. The review will report shortly, and we will continue to work with and listen to providers as part of developing a long-term sustainable funding regime.
In the meantime, we have put in place a one-year exception for all supported accommodation, from the rent reduction measures, and from the Local Housing Allowance cap.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2016-04-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when she expects the regulatory approval processes, including the Generic Design Assessment, to be completed for proposed new nuclear reactors at Wylfa in Wales.
Andrea Leadsom
The regulatory approval process for new nuclear reactors proposed for construction in the UK is run by the UK’s independent nuclear regulators, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the Environment Agency (EA) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW). DECC does not direct or intervene in the assessment process.
Generic Design Assessment of the ABWR reactor proposed for construction at the Wylfa site in Wales is targeted for completion in Q4 2017. Horizon has not yet made applications for site specific regulatory approvals, such as licensing and environmental permits, but DECC expects these to be made in good time, targeting completion for 2018.