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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Fiona Bruce – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Fiona Bruce – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what strategy his Department has for ensuring that as many people as possible who wish to die at home are able to do so.

    Ben Gummer

    The Department commissioned a Review of Choice in End of life Care in 2014 which considered the choices most important to people approaching the end of life, including on where to receive care and die. The Review published its report earlier this year setting out a vision for enabling greater choice. The Department is working with NHS England on how best to achieve this vision and will be setting out its response to the Review later this year.

  • Mark Field – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Mark Field – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Field on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to mark Anti-Slavery Day 2015; what steps she is taking to increase awareness of the growth of modern day slavery; and if she will make a statement.

    Karen Bradley

    Increasing awareness of modern slavery is vital. As part of a wider programme of events being run by Non-Governmental Organisations, the Home Secretary attended the Human Trafficking Foundation’s Anti-Slavery Day Media Awards on 15 October, where she presented awards to recognise awareness-raising work by the media and voluntary sector. The Minister for Preventing Abuse and Exploitation on the same day attended an awareness-raising event at a London school.

    This month we will commence Modern Slavery Act provisions to strengthen protections and support for victims. This includes a presumption about age provision to ensure that potential child victims receive specialist support without delay; updated guidance on identifying and supporting victims; and protections for Overseas Domestic Workers who are identified as victims of modern slavery. Subject to Parliamentary approval of the relevant regulations, we also intend to implement the new transparency in supply chains duty for major businesses to disclose what steps they have taken to ensure that their business and supply chains are slavery-free and to publish guidance to help business comply. On 1 November we will bring into effect a statutory duty for specified public bodies to notify the Home Office of any victims of modern slavery that they encounter, which will help to shine a light on this hidden crime. The Government will also publish its annual report on the scale and nature of modern slavery and the UK’s response to it, and the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s first ever strategic plan will be laid before Parliament.

  • Fiona Bruce – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Fiona Bruce – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the prevalence of elder abuse by family members in England and Wales.

    Karen Bradley

    We recognise that people of all ages may be subjected to domestic abuse. We are committed to ensuring the police and other frontline agencies have the tools they need to respond effectively. On 3 March 2015, domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour became specific offences under the Serious Crime Act.

    In October 2015, new guidance on investigating domestic abuse was published by the College of Policing which includes abuse of older people. New training for the police on domestic abuse has been developed and piloted in Hertfordshire; and the College is reviewing risk assessment tools used by officers. In addition, for the first time all police forces must flag all domestic abuse incidents as crimes.

    The Crown Prosecution Service updated its domestic abuse legal guidance in December 2014. This includes advice for prosecutors on elder abuse. E-learning is also being finalised for prosecutors on this issue.

    In addition, the Care Act 2014 heralds a significant step change for adult safeguarding in England by placing it on a statutory footing and providing a greater focus on the prevention of abuse and neglect and on the desired outcomes of the individual in question.

  • Stephen Gethins – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Stephen Gethins – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the risk of famine in Yemen; and what assessment she has made of the possible humanitarian implications of famine in the Middle East and North Africa.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    The UN World Food Programme has warned that Yemen is “one step away from famine”. Over 12 million people – almost half of the population – are struggling to find enough food to eat. Of those, 6 million people are facing severe food shortages. In Hodeidah city alone, UNICEF have warned that 96,000 children are starving and at risk of dying. The ongoing conflict continues to affect imports of commercial and humanitarian supplies – especially essential fuel, food and medicines – into Yemen and the distribution of food to those who need it most.

    The UK is one of the largest donors to the crisis in Yemen and has announced £75 million to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, focused on the most urgent life-saving needs. UK aid is providing vital medical supplies, water, food and emergency shelter, as well as supporting UN work to co-ordinate the international humanitarian response.

    Despite severe food shortages, there has not yet been a significant movement of people from Yemen to neighbouring countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Djibouti and Somalia have received the highest number of refugees since the escalation of the conflict in Yemen in March 2015.To improve the living conditions of migrants and refugees from Yemen in Djibouti, the UK is supporting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organisation for Migration with in-kind assistance consisting of shelter kits, water containers, family kitchen sets, blankets, hygiene kits and solar lanterns. The UK is also providing a package of food, health and shelter assistance to refugees from Yemen in Somalia.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the estimated cost is to (a) his Department and (b) Network Rail of unpausing electrification of the Midland Main Line and the North TransPennine route.

    Claire Perry

    Unpausing electrification of the Midland Mainline and the North TransPennine route has not caused the Department to incur any immediate additional costs.

    With regard to Network Rail’s costs, Midland Mainline electrification was in the delivery phase at the time of pause and Network Rail are still working to understand the costs associated with the decision to unpause. The North TransPennine route is still in development and costs were not affected by the decision to recommence electrification.

  • Cat Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Cat Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total cost was of his Department’s Maritime Growth Study, published in September 2015; how many hours staff in his Department worked on that study; and when he plans to respond to its recommendations.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Maritime Growth Study was commissioned by Government, but led on an entirely voluntary basis by an industry chair, Lord Mountevans, who was supported by a secretariat of five full-time officials from my Department. The Study was officially launched in November 2014 and published in September 2015. The total cost of the Study was approximately £390K, the majority of these costs being internal staffing costs for the secretariat. Other officials and analysts contributed their expertise as and when required on a business as usual basis.

    The Government will respond formally to the report by the end of 2015, but is taking immediate action in response to specific recommendations. This includes the establishment of a Ministerial Working Group for Maritime Growth and taking steps to support the improved operation of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) such as appointing a commercial director to lead the UK Ship Register separately from the Agency’s regulatory functions and a business case exploring the costs and benefits of options for more significant reform of the MCA.

  • Kirsten Oswald – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Kirsten Oswald – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what effect the introduction of universal credit will have on the income of those working in a job from which they derive net earnings of less than £110 per week and who are the principal carers for elderly relatives with a disability.

    Priti Patel

    Carer’s Allowance ceases when the claimant earns more than £110 a week. There is not a similar cliff-edge effect in Universal Credit. Carers who combine caring with paid work will continue to have the Carer Element included in the calculation of their overall award for as long as they provide care for at least 35 hours per week for a severely disabled person.

    In Universal Credit, earned income by members of the household is subjected to a work allowance. Different amounts are disregarded from earnings in order to reflect the needs of different types of household and to support the aim that work pays. Carers are entitled to one of these work allowances depending on their family type, although there is not a work allowance specifically for carers.

    Carers who combine work with caring will be able to earn up to their work allowance without their Universal Credit entitlement being affected. If earnings exceed that allowance then the Universal Credit award will reduce gradually as earnings increase.

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

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have had cataract operations due to exposure to sunlight in each of the last five years.

    Alistair Burt

    It is not possible to identify the number of people who have developed a cataract as a result of exposure to sunlight.

  • Diana Johnson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Diana Johnson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) slavery and trafficking prevention orders and (b) slavery and trafficking risk orders have been (i) applied for and (ii) granted since the coming into force of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

    Karen Bradley

    Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Orders (STPO) and Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders (STRO) under the Modern Slavery Act were commenced on 31 July 2015. The police, NCA and Home Office Immigration Enforcement may apply to a Magistrates Court for both types of order. Courts may make a STPO when sentencing an individual for a slavery or human trafficking offence. Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service provides quarterly statistics on applications for all types of orders and information has been published for the period up to June 2015. Information on applications for STPOs and STROs since 31 July 2015 will be published in the next issue of data covering the period July – September 2015.

  • Alan Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Alan Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 12 October 2015 to Question 10602, on which dates he has held meetings with HM Treasury on the potential effects of a carbon price support exemption scheme in Scotland in the last year.

    David Mundell

    There have been a range of meetings on the issues around open cast restoration at Ministerial and Official level. This includes a number of meetings that both myself and colleagues have had with HM Treasury and the Department of Energy and Climate Change over a number of months.