Tag: Parliamentary Question

Virendra Sharma – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-03-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive on the illegal dog trade.

George Eustice

The Government takes the illegal movement of dogs seriously and it is committed to working with the Devolved Administrations, delivery bodies, enforcement agencies and non-government organisations to tackle this issue.

Whilst there have been no recent Ministerial meetings on the illegal movement of dogs, Defra’s Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) has recently discussed the issue with his Devolved Administration counterparts, including the Northern Ireland CVO.

Additionally, there have been discussions on this issue between other Defra officials and officials within the Northern Ireland Devolved Administration.

January 1, 2023
Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-04-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on the University of Bristol study of the mortality rates of people with learning disabilities in NHS care, commissioned by NHS England and announced on 18 June 2015.

Alistair Burt

The University of Bristol has appointed the programme team who will oversee the mortality review programme and has consulted with interested parties on the methodologies and approaches to be used. A pilot review programme is underway in the North East and Cumbria which will be used to inform how the programme operates as it is rolled out. A plan is now in place to roll out the review across all regions of England between now and 2018, with pilots starting in other parts of the country during 2016/17. Additional resources have been made available to support regions in this work.

January 1, 2023

Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-06-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the Answer of 12 May 2016 to Question 36974, on Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many policy staff are based at each of those 14 locations.

Anna Soubry

The number of employees of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) headquarters, working in policy roles as at 31 May 2016, are shown in the table below. Some details have changed since the Answer of 12 May 2016 to Question 36974 because of staff movements and people leaving under Voluntary Exit schemes.

Policy staff includes all people working in policy directorates as well as those directly involved in the policy making process including, for example, Private Office, analysis, external communications, and legal services (other than those that operate on a local basis such as prosecutors and investigation offices). It excludes corporate functions such as Finance, HR, Digital and Commercial, and regionally based staff such as BIS Local.

Location	Number of employees
Billingham Queensway House, West Precinct, Billingham TS23 2NF	1
Birmingham Victoria Square House, Victoria Square, Birmingham B2 4BU	1
Bristol 2 Rivergate, Bristol BS1 6EH	5
Cambridge Eastbrook House, Shaftsbury Road, Cambridge CB2 8DU	1
Cardiff Companies House, Crown Way, Cardiff CF14 3UZ	31
Coventry Cheylesmore House, Quinton Road, Coventry CV1 2WT	1
Darlington Queensway House, West Precinct, Darlington TS23 2NF	5
Gateshead St George’s House, Kingsway, Gateshead NE11 0NA	2
Leeds 1 City Walk, Leeds LS11 9DA	1
London 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0ET	1363
Manchester 3 Piccadilly Gate, Store Street, Manchester M1 2WD	2
Nottingham Apex Court, City Link, Nottingham NG2 4LA	4
Sheffield 2 St Paul’s Place, 125 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 2FJ	222
Warrington/Daresbury Daresbury Laboratory, Keckwick Lane, Warrington WA4 4AD	10

January 1, 2023

Alex Chalk – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Chalk on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve coordination of bed allocation for adult in-patient treatment for patients with eating disorders.

Nicola Blackwood

The Five Year Forward View for Mental Health report published in February 2016 set out the start of a 10 year journey for the transformation of the National Health Service care and a shift towards prevention. The proposed mental health pathway and infrastructure development programme in the report envisages a referral to treatment pathway for eating disorders (adult mental health) being published in 2018/19.

In the Autumn Statement 2014 increased funding of £150 million over the next five years was announced to improve services for children and young people with mental health problems in England. Particular emphasis was placed on improving services for people with eating disorders.

As part of the planning processes, specialised commissioning teams review the needs of service for patients and where possible reflect provision. There is currently significant attention on eating disorders, primarily focussing on Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service but this will extend to the adult pathway of care shortly with the expectation of revised National Institute for health and Care Excellence Guidelines in April 2017. A prime focus of the work on eating disorders is about the improved provision of out of hospital care so patients are only admitted to a bed when clinically required.

January 1, 2023
Jess Phillips – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-10-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to increase diversity in apprenticeships.

Robert Halfon

We want to increase the quality and quantity of all apprenticeships, including for those from a black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) background.

We have publically committed to increasing the number of BAME apprentices by 20% to 11.9% overall by 2020, from just under 10% in the last parliament. Targeted campaigns and a network of 18 employer diversity champions are driving progress. In 2014/15, 10.6% of those starting an apprenticeship were from a BAME background.

We have taken action through our marketing campaign ‘Get in Go Far’ to ensure that there is clear representation from BAME apprentices. Research undertaken prior to the campaign ensured that it could reach a diverse audience. The employer diversity champions are committed to sharing good practice and raising awareness of apprenticeships amongst employers.

Research has been commissioned to explore potential barriers that BAME applicants for apprenticeships face so that we can provide support to improve the success rates of this group. We have started detailed analysis of apprenticeship data to identify areas of under-representation and areas of potential for growth. We are currently developing options to take forward.

January 1, 2023
Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-10-30.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, in what circumstances major Government programmes are exempted from the requirement for Gateway Reviews.

Matthew Hancock

The Major Project Portfolio for each Department is agreed by the Department, the Major Projects Authority and the relevant HM Treasury spending team. Each programme on the portfolio is subject to an agreed schedule of approvals and assurance, which will normally include Gateway Reviews. There is no provision for formal exemption.

A Project Assessment Review is conducted either instead of or in addition to Gateway Reviews, and allows for specific terms of reference to be tailored to meet the assurance needs of the particular Government Major Project.

January 1, 2023
Kevan Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what timetable he has set for the introduction of the Rapid Strike brigade as set out in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Mr Philip Dunne

The two Strike Brigades will provide a rapidly deployable agile force, with enhanced range, speed, protection and firepower, significantly enhancing the UK’s ability to respond to international crises.

As previously announced on 3 September 2014 by My right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary (Michael Fallon) (Official Report, column 19WS) a contract has been awarded to deliver 589 Ajax vehicles. Detailed allocation plans have yet to be finalised. Fielding of Strike Brigades will start from 2018, delivering an initial operating capability in 2021 and moving towards Full Operating Capability from 2025.

January 1, 2023
Tom Elliott – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Elliott on 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to increase public awareness of the need for holidaymakers to take out travel insurance.

James Duddridge

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 12 January 2016 to Parliamentary Question 21029. Encouraging the take-up of adequate travel insurance through our ‘Know Before You Go’ communications campaign which will remain a priority in 2016.

January 1, 2023
Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-01-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the £35,000 minimum income threshold on the numbers of migrant workers in the adult social care workforce who will be eligible to stay in the UK from April 2016 onwards.

Alistair Burt

Skills for Care, the partner in the sector skills council for social care, in England, collects information on the adult social care workforce in England.

Skills for Care estimates show that between 1,500 and 2,500 migrant workers in adult social care regulated professional roles may not have an income sufficient for settlement. However, the vast majority of these roles are registered nurses who are exempt from the requirement to earn £35,000 whilst the role is or has been on the shortage occupation list.

January 1, 2023
Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the proportion of starter homes that will be wheelchair accessible.

Brandon Lewis

Starter Homes like all new homes, will ahve to meet Building Regulations’ access requirements which ensure reasonable provision for people to gain access to and use, the dwelling and its facilities.

January 1, 2023