Tag: Parliamentary Question

Lord Freyberg – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Freyberg on 2015-11-30.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of stage 2b cancer or higher patients in (1) tertiary, and (2) secondary, care centres were tested by NHS England in 2014 for genetic mutations that can confer resistance to targeted cancer therapies, in particular (a) AR amplification mutations, (b) ESR1 activation mutations, (c) PIK3CA mutations, (d) KRAS activation mutations, (e) EGFR amplification and activation mutations, (f) KRAS activation mutations, and (g) EGFR amplification and activation mutations.

Lord Prior of Brampton

NHS England has not, to date, undertaken a direct comparison of the English and French health systems in respect of genetic testing practice for cancer.

NHS England does not hold data on the percentage of stage 2b, or higher, cancer patients in secondary and tertiary centres who were genetically tested. Detailed information on the clinical circumstances, or reasons, for referral for genetic testing for individual patients is not currently collated on a national basis.

NHS England does not consider business cases from individual National Health Service trusts in relation to the adoption of new genetic tests. Instead, NHS England considers national clinical commissioning policy proposals on the eligibility of a particular test, or treatments to be made available in the presence of particular genetic markers. These are considered and where agreed, funded consistently across England for services falling within NHS England’s direct commissioning responsibilities.

Examples include the separate policies (published in July 2015) confirming eligibility for Ivacaftor for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in the presence of certain gene mutations, and confirming eligibility for testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, respectively. Copies of the policies are attached.

In addition, the UK Genetic Testing Network currently presents new genetic testing proposals to NHS England for funding consideration based on the conclusions of their assurance programme. These are considered, alongside other new policy proposals, as part of the annual funding prioritisation process, where there is a net annual investment to be made to support their adoption.

Information on the average turnaround time for cancer genetic tests is not currently collated, or analysed, nationally. However, NHS England will be undertaking a procurement exercise in the coming months to support the strengthened provision of genetic testing across England. This includes more consistent reporting of activity and other performance indicators, including the timeliness of reporting on receipt on referrals. The supporting national service specification, setting out the standards required of commissioned providers, has been the subject of a recent public consultation.

01/01/2023
Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-01-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 January 2016 to Question 21337, for those claimants who will see a change, what the average weekly change will be for those claimants who will see a change in their universal credit.

Priti Patel

It is not possible to accurately estimate this information as many people’s earnings vary from month to month. This means we do not have a viable data set on which to answer the question.

01/01/2023
Charles Walker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charles Walker on 2016-02-03.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will discuss with the Chief Executive of HSBC that bank’s application of money laundering rules to hon. Members of both Houses of Parliament and their immediate and extended families; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin

Under the UK’s Money Laundering Regulations 2007, the meaning of a politically exposed person does not include an individual who is or has been entrusted with a prominent public function by the UK. The Fourth Money Laundering Directive, which will be transposed into national law by June 2017, makes no distinction between the prominent functions by the UK and third countries. However, the Government’s view is that the Directive permits a risk-based approach to the identification of whether an individual is a politically exposed person and, when identified, the Directive enables the application of different degrees of enhanced measures to reflect the risks posed. We will be setting out this view in our consultation which will be published shortly.

This change should not prevent any Member of this House, or any other individual in this category, from gaining or maintaining a UK bank account. I regularly raise these issues with banks and the regulator and we encourage the banks to implement these measures domestically in the most risk-based manner possible.

01/01/2023
Toby Perkins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Toby Perkins on 2016-02-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if it will make it his policy to require bus operators to install audio-visual announcements of bus stops on all public buses.

Andrew Jones

Accessible on-board information helps a wide range of passengers, including those who are visually impaired, to feel comfortable and confident when taking the bus.

Traditionally however, systems providing automatic next stop announcements have proven expensive to fit and maintain, meaning that mandating their use would place a disproportionate financial burden on the bus industry.

My Department has supported initiatives to develop innovative and low-cost approaches to providing such information, as well as providing Better Bus Area funding for local authority schemes to equip vehicles with audio/visual equipment.

Many operators are already recognising the benefits of on-board information for all their customers, and I would encourage others to do the same.

01/01/2023
Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect on consumers of businesses issuing seven-day legal procedure notices with invoices.

Nick Boles

In response to the Law Commissions’ report on Consumer Redress for Misleading and Aggressive Practices in March 2012, the Government introduced an amendment to the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 giving consumers new powers to pursue civil redress for misleading and aggressive practices.

The regulations expressly cover demands for payment from a consumer in full or partial settlement of the consumer’s liabilities or purported liabilities to the trader (regulation 2(1A)). This means that misleading and aggressive practices in respect of such demands could lead to both criminal sanctions as well as private redress.

01/01/2023
Julian Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Lewis on 2016-06-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service personnel were medically discharged from the (a) Royal Navy excluding the Royal Marines, (b) Royal Marines, (c) Army and (d) Royal Air Force in each year since 2010.

Mark Lancaster

Information on the number of UK Regular Armed Forces personnel medically discharged by Financial Year and Service since 2010 is given in the attached.

Defence Statistics release annual updates on medical discharges in the UK Regular Armed Forces as an Official Statistic publication. The next statistical release is due in July 2016 which will present data for financial year 2015-16. The latest report for 2014-15 can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/medical-discharges-among-uk-service-personnel-statistics-index

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01/01/2023
David Simpson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2016-09-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans the Government has to encourage and support graduates in finding a job.

Damian Hinds

Jobcentre Plus is committed to providing a high quality service to all jobseekers and this includes graduates looking for employment in high level sectors.

Jobcentre Plus work coaches personalise the support they provide to claimants to help them find work, based on their individual need and circumstances. They have access to a menu of specialist support designed to assist graduates and professional executives.

From April 2017 we are introducing a new Youth Obligation to ensure that young people aged 18–21 are either earning or learning and are given the support, skills and experience they need to move into and get on in work.

01/01/2023

Michael Dugher – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michael Dugher on 2016-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding per head is received for childcare in (a) Barnsley East constituency, (b) Barnsley, (c) Yorkshire and the Humber and (d) the UK in the latest period for which figures are available.

Caroline Dinenage

Funding for the free early years entitlements is allocated on a local authority basis. In 2016-17[1], the relevant hourly funding rates per child were as follows:

Local authority	Three and four year old entitlement	Two year old entitlement
Barnsley	£3.99	£4.85
Bradford	£5.19	£4.85
Calderdale	£4.15	£4.85
Doncaster	£3.87	£4.85
East Riding of Yorkshire	£4.40	£4.85
Kingston upon Hull, City of	£4.20	£4.85
Kirklees	£4.37	£4.85
Leeds	£4.09	£4.85
North East Lincolnshire	£3.72	£4.85
North Lincolnshire	£4.39	£4.85
North Yorkshire	£4.49	£4.85
Rotherham	£4.07	£4.85
Sheffield	£4.51	£4.85
Wakefield	£4.14	£4.85
York	£3.63	£4.85

In 2016-17, the national average hourly funding rates paid by the Department for Education to local authorities in England is £4.51 for three and four year olds and £5.09 for two-year-olds.

All funding rates for three and four year olds are exclusive of the Early Years Pupil Premium which is an additional funding stream for disadvantaged children.

The figures given above relate to England. Childcare policy for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales is devolved.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dedicated-schools-grant-dsg-2016-to-2017

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01/01/2023

Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-11-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Trussell Trust on the placement of Jobcentre Plus advisers in foodbanks.

Priti Patel

Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches already undertake outreach work every day in local communities. Work Coaches recently began offering back-to-back support in the Lalley Centre in Manchester. Early feedback has been positive. We will reflect on this, and consider if there is potential for expansion

01/01/2023
Baroness Tonge – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2015-11-30.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take to cut off oil supplies to ISIL, and the revenue obtained from them, before they engage in military action in Syria.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The UK has led efforts at the UN to make it illegal for any state, company or individual to trade in oil and oil products with Daesh, including co-sponsoring UN Security Council Resolution 2199 in February 2015. This resolution requires all states to prevent the transfer of economic resources to Daesh. We have worked to ensure that individuals involved in brokering oil deals between Daesh and the Assad regime have been sanctioned by the EU. We work closely, and continually, with allies particularly in the region, to ensure Resolution 2199 is implemented, sanctions are enforced and all smuggling is stopped. We are also working with the private sector to ensure it takes seriously its responsibilities to ensure Daesh cannot access the spare parts and fuel additives it needs for its oil industry to function. On Wednesday 2 December, the democratically-elected House of Commons voted to support UK military action against Daesh in Syria.

01/01/2023