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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Derek Twigg – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Derek Twigg – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Derek Twigg on 2015-12-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to promote compliance by clinical commissioning groups with the NICE Quality Standard on Autism.

    Alistair Burt

    The Department issued new statutory guidance in March this year for local authorities and National Health Service organisations to support the continued implementation of the 2010 Autism Strategy, as refreshed by its 2014 Think Autism update. This sets out what people seeking an autism diagnosis can expect from local authorities and NHS bodies.

    The Department has also discussed with NHS England the difficulties that people on the autistic spectrum can have in getting an appropriate diagnosis in a timely manner. With support from the Department, NHS England and the Association of Directors of Social Services will undertake a series of visits to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to discuss good practice in meeting the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Quality Standard 51 Autism, and those that do not, with the aim of supporting more consistent provision. The Quality Standard, which applies to children, young people and adults, recommends that there should be a maximum of three months between a referral and a first appointment for a diagnostic assessment for autism. We expect the NHS to be working towards meeting the recommendations.

    We understand that NHS Halton CCG is working on improvements to the paediatric neurological pathway which incorporates children with autism. This will see the Child Development Centre (CDC) in Halton become a single access point of assessment for the most complex children. It is expected that the CDC will ensure that the first appointment for a child referred to them is well within the three months recommended by NICE.

    The service commissioned by Halton CCG will also comply with NICE guidelines by ensuring that the appropriate mix of clinicians is available for a multi-disciplinary assessment, which also includes Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

    In regard to adults, NHS Halton CCG is currently meeting its statutory requirements with autism by purchasing a diagnostic service on a cost per case basis from our provider of mental health services, 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. The CCG is working with other partners who receive the same service from the same provider with a view to pooling resources to commission a diagnostic and post diagnostic service.

  • Lord Bradley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Bradley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradley on 2016-01-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to introduce fluoride into the water of the North West of England.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    There are currently water fluoridation schemes in the North West of England serving parts of Cumbria and Cheshire.

    It has been the policy of successive governments that decisions on water fluoridation are best taken locally. The Health and Social Care Act 2012 gave powers to upper tier and unitary local authorities to make proposals in relation to fluoridation.

  • Martyn Day – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Martyn Day – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-02-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if the Prime Minister will make it his policy to devolve responsibilities for the North Sea oil industry to the Scottish Government.

    David Mundell

    The UK Government does not intend to devolve responsibility for the North Sea oil industry.

    The Smith Commission Agreement, agreed by all of Scotland’s main parties, was clear on the powers that would be devolved to the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Ministers, and the Scotland Bill, currently before Parliament, delivers these powers in full.

    The Smith Commission agreed that all aspects of the taxation of oil and gas receipts and the licensing of offshore oil and gas extraction would remain reserved.

  • Kelvin Hopkins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Kelvin Hopkins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kelvin Hopkins on 2016-03-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of the rail network that will be driver-only operated by (a) 2020 and (b) 2025.

    Claire Perry

    Staffing levels are generally a matter for railway operators, as we believe that they are best placed to determine how to meet the needs of their passengers. Therefore, no such estimate has been made.

  • David Mackintosh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    David Mackintosh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Mackintosh on 2016-04-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his international counterparts on progress in the campaign against Daesh.

    Michael Fallon

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Wythenshawe and Sale East (Mike Kane), Bracknell (Dr Phillip Lee), Faversham and Mid Kent (Helen Whately) and Newark (Robert Jenrick).

  • David Anderson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    David Anderson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2016-05-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government has taken to implement the health and safety requirements set out in EU Directive 2013/35/EU on the exposure of workers to risks arising from electromagnetic fields.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The Government has been working for the last three years to transpose the requirements in EU Directive 2013/35/EU by 1 July 2016. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has worked closely with industry, trade associations, unions and other affected parties in developing an implementation approach which ensures workers are properly protected and employers are not subject to unnecessary burdens.

    Formal public consultation gave strong support for transposing the Directive’s requirements into standalone regulations, the Control of Electromagnetic Fields at Work Regulations 2016, which are tightly focused on areas not covered by existing legislation.

    In conjunction with stakeholders, HSE has developed practical and clear guidance for employers on complying with the new regulations and managing risks from electromagnetic radiation. This will be published to coincide with the introduction of the Regulations on 1 July 2016.

  • Stephen Phillips – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Stephen Phillips – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Phillips on 2016-06-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to dual the A17 between Newark and Sleaford.

    Andrew Jones

    The A17 forms part of the local road network and is the responsibility of Lincolnshire County Council and Nottinghamshire County Council. Responsibility for maintenance of the road rests with the relevant Local Highway Authority. Plans for future improvement and requests for funding are matters for the relevant Local Highway Authorities to put forward to their relevant Local Enterprise Partnerships.

  • Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department holds on how many babies were born by the side of the road in England in each of the last six years.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    NHS Digital advises that the information requested is not collected.

  • Douglas Carswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Douglas Carswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-11-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to improve parliamentary oversight of the Security Service.

    Mr John Hayes

    The Justice and Security Act 2013 has already significantly strengthened the Parliamentary oversight of the Security Service and the other intelligence agencies. The Act expanded the powers of the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) by enabling it to oversee operational activities of significant national interest retrospectively, and denying Agency heads the ability to withhold information from the Committee on the grounds of sensitivity. Significant additional resources have also been provided to the ISC.

  • Gareth Johnson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Gareth Johnson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Johnson on 2015-12-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve services for people with coeliac disease; and if he will make a statement.

    Jane Ellison

    The treatment of coeliac disease is a lifelong gluten-free diet. It is therefore important clinicians understand the symptomatic picture of the condition and the investigations required to support an appropriate diagnosis. It is also important that patients who are diagnosed with coeliac disease are given suitable advice and support about how to manage their diet accordingly and can be referred to specialist services if clinically appropriate.

    To support NHS services in the diagnosis, treatment care and support of children and adults with coeliac disease, in September 2015 the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence updated its best practice guideline Coeliac disease: recognition, assessment and management. The new guideline sets out seven recommendations to improve services for coeliac patients and includes implementation advice for the local NHS on the provision of the laboratory testing and interpretation of results and access to healthcare professionals trained to give specialist dietetic advice in relation to coeliac disease. The guidance can be found at the following link

    www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng20