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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the progress of UK firms in reducing their contribution to climate change.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Since 2003, the UK has had the least energy intensive economy in the G7. In its recent progress report, the Committee on Climate Change set out provisional figures for 2014 [1] which indicate that industrial output grew while energy consumption and emissions fell. The Government response [2] to the CCC report provides further assessment of progress towards reducing emissions from all sectors, including business.

    However, there is still significant untapped energy efficiency potential in the business sector, estimated at 45TWh in 2020, representing around 10% of current business energy use. On 28 September Government launched a consultation reviewing the business energy tax landscape that will seek to better exploit this potential, reducing energy costs and improving productivity, while minimising administrative burdens. For energy intensive industry, following publication of the 2050 Industrial Decarbonisation and Energy Efficiency Roadmaps in March, the Government is working with sectors to develop action plans to enable industry to contribute to our decarbonisation targets while remaining competitive in the international marketplace.

    [1] https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/reducing-emissions-and-preparing-for-climate-change-2015-progress-report-to-parliament/

    [2] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/committee-on-climate-changes-2015-progress-report-government-response

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  • Crispin Blunt – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Crispin Blunt – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Crispin Blunt on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in what form he expects the results of the renegotiation of the UK’s membership of the EU to be presented (a) by the European Council and (b) by the Government to the electorate.

    Mr David Lidington

    At the conclusion of any deal, the public will rightly expect Ministers to set out the results of the renegotiation, how the relationship with Europe has been changed and if – and how – those changes address their concerns. As the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the member for Tatton (Mr Osborne) said in June, the Government will publish assessments of the merits of membership and the risks of a lack of reform in the European Union, including the damage that that could do to Britain’s interests.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to review the adequacy of NHS physiotherapy service provision; and if he will make a statement.

    Alistair Burt

    The Department has not undertaken a review of NHS physiotherapy service provision. However, scoping work has started regarding the ability for patients to self-refer to musculoskeletal physiotherapy within primary care.

    The provision of physiotherapy, as for all health services is decided by local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and it will take into account the needs of the population overall. The CCG’s decisions are underpinned by clinical insight and knowledge of local healthcare needs. As such, provision of services will vary in response to local needs.

    As defined in the NHS Constitution, patients have the right to expect to be seen and treated within national operational standards ensuing timely diagnosis and treatment, equality of care and patient choice.

    The 18 weeks commitment is a universal right. This commitment should be delivered for every patient, in every specialty and in every organisation unless the patient chooses otherwise or it is not in their best clinical interest.

    In June this year, NHS England, Monitor and the Trust Development Authority jointly wrote to CCG Accountable Officers and Clinical Leaders and Chief Executives of NHS Providers setting out the changes to the Referral to Treatment operational standards and reporting arrangements. A copy of that letter, which outlines the changes in more detail, is attached.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Greg Mulholland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2015 to Question 11615, on Everolimus, when he expects that a timetable for publication will be agreed.

    George Freeman

    NHS England is currently developingtwo policies for the provision of Everolimus – one for the Tuberous Sclerosis forComplex Related Renal Angiomyolipoma andone for SubependymalGiant Cell Astrocytoma (SEGA).

    Once completed, each policy will need to be considered by the relevant clinical panels, the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group and the Specialised Commissioning Oversight Group. It is anticipated that this process will be completed over the coming months and that the policies are likely be published early in the new year.

  • Luciana Berger – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Luciana Berger – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what public information campaigns his Department funds on perinatal mental illness; and how much such campaigns cost.

    Alistair Burt

    Perinatal mental illness is an important topic area covered by the Start4life NHS Information Service for Parents (ISP) which is led by Public Health England. The service includes information about health and wellbeing and includes short videos on how to spot the signs of perinatal mental illness and how to seek further help.

    Advice is also included in emails at key stages of pregnancy and post birth for both parents.

    The Start4Life ISP was developed as a universal NHS-branded resource to help provide support and advice for expectant and new parents. The service provides regular emails and text messages during pregnancy and for the first three years of a child’s life.

    The total Start4life ISP programme budget in 2014/15 was £2 million and in 2015/16 it is £2.3 million. This is used to promote a range of relevant health messages for new parents and parents to be through the Information Service for Parents, the Start4Life website and other channels including materials for healthcare professionals to use with families, online advertising and social media.

    Information is also available online via NHS Choices and can be found here:

    http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/feeling-depressed-after-birth.aspx

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  • Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to prevent young people from being forced in to arranged marriages overseas.

    Karen Bradley

    The UK is a world-leader in the fight to stamp out forced marriage, with our Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) leading efforts to combat this brutal practice. The FMU can provide support and assistance to anyone in the UK at risk, and to British nationals overseas. The Unit works with our High Commissions and embassies overseas to assist with protection and repatriation of vulnerable victims.

    o To date, over 800 Forced Marriage Protection Orders have been made to prevent people from being forced into a marriage and to assist in repatriating victims;

    o In 2014, the FMU gave advice or support related to a possible forced marriage in 1,267 cases.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will take steps to reduce aid spending in countries with their own space programme.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    No UK aid money is spent on helping developing countries put people in space. We already take the growing ability of emerging economies like India and China to finance their own development programmes into account in reviewing our aid relationship with such countries.

    Through the ongoing Bilateral Aid Review, we will decide which countries will receive bilateral funding and how much. We will use a range of criteria to determine allocations to countries, including the level and persistence of extreme poverty in the country and the ability of the government of that country to finance its own development needs.

  • Jess Phillips – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Jess Phillips – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance or direction his Department has given on the amount of time that inmates at Foston Hall Prison, Derbyshire, should spend outside their cells; and what monitoring of such time his Department carries out.

    Caroline Dinenage

    At Foston Hall, prisoners are expected to spend 6.25 hours a day out of their cells in order to take part in work, training or education opportunities thatsupport their rehabilitation. This daily activity structure was implemented on 31 August 2015 andis monitored at local, regional and national levels.

    In addition to the activity structure, as with all prisons in England and Wales, there is a statutory requirement to give prisoners 30 minutes in the open air on a daily basis. There is also an agreement with National Offender Management Commissioners which applies to all prisons in their Service Level Agreements, that prisoners should receive 2.5 hours per week PE. These national requirements are also in place at Foston Hall

  • Greg Mulholland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Greg Mulholland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to tackle vehicle parking on pavements.

    Andrew Jones

    Local authorities are best placed to assess the need for pavement parking controls in their area and the effectiveness of any restrictions in place. It would be for the relevant traffic authorities to conduct an assessment of legislation specific to London.

    Last year this Department received around a thousand communications from Guide Dogs campaigners in support of two Private Members’ Bills on pavement parking. Departmental officials met with Guide Dogs officials as recently as 13 October this year.

    Local authorities already have the powers to introduce enforceable pavement parking restrictions where they consider it appropriate. My Department’s guidance to local authorities makes clear that, during the appraisal of their parking policies, an authority should consider whether pavement parking is problematic in any part of its area. If it is, and is not covered by an existing Traffic Regulation Order, the authority should consider amending the existing Order or making a new one. We have issued councils with authorisation to place specifically designed traffic signs without the need for Whitehall approval.

  • Steve Rotheram – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Steve Rotheram – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Rotheram on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit claimants there have been in (a) Liverpool, Walton constituency and (b) Liverpool city region since that policy’s implementation.

    Priti Patel

    The information requested can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics.

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