UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Ian Paisley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Ian Paisley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Paisley on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the introduction of plain packaging of tobacco products on the work of Trading Standards’ officers in combating the trade in illicit tobacco.

    Jane Ellison

    In the Department’s 2012 Consultation on standardised packaging of tobacco products, consultation questions were asked about illicit tobacco. A consultation-stage impact assessment was also published with the consultation.

    Sir Cyril Chantler included a chapter on illicit tobacco in his report on standardised packaging of tobacco and concluded that, ‘I am not convinced by the tobacco industry’s argument that standardised packaging would increase the illicit market, especially in counterfeit cigarettes.’

    The Government will be holding a final, short consultation in which Ministers will ask, in particular, for views on anything new since the last full public consultation that is relevant to the development of this policy, including in relation to illicit tobacco. A further consultation stage impact assessment will be published alongside this.

  • Biography information for Stephen O’Brien – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Biography information for Stephen O’Brien – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Stephen O’Brien on Transport.

    1

    Stephen Hammond

    I can inform my Rt Hon Friend that the documents have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

  • Jeremy Browne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Jeremy Browne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Browne on 2014-04-28.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Crown Estate houses the Crown Estate plans to sell.

    Nicky Morgan

    The Crown Estate operates commercially at arm’s length from the Treasury. The Crown Estate makes commercial decisions in line with the Crown Estate Act 1961 and does not normally discuss them in detail with the Treasury.

  • Biography information for Chi Onwurah – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Biography information for Chi Onwurah – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Chi Onwurah on Cabinet Office.

    1

    Mr Francis Maude

    The Taskforce has recently been reconstituted.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government Actuary’s Department provided Ministers with estimates of additional monies received from extra contributions to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme before 19 March; and if so, if he will publish such estimates.

    Mr David Laws

    The Government Actuary’s Department has provided no such estimate to the Secretary of State for Education.

  • Philip Hollobone – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Philip Hollobone – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Hollobone on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what comparative assessment he has made of high speed broadband coverage between (a) Northamptonshire and other counties and (b) the UK and other EU nations.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    According to the most recent data from Ofcom, in 2013 superfast broadband was available to 73.8 per cent of premises in Northamptonshire, compared with 73 per cent of premises across the UK as a whole. The average speed in Northamptonshire was 17.5Mbps, compared with the UK average of 14.7Mbps. Ofcom’s European Broadband Scorecard published in March 2014 showed that the UK had the highest superfast broadband coverage of the five largest EU Member States.

  • Biography information for Andrew Gwynne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Biography information for Andrew Gwynne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Andrew Gwynne on Health.

    1

    Jane Ellison

    NHS England is currently progressing three commissioning through evaluation (CtE) schemes relating to invasive cardiology. A maximum full year annual budget of £9 million has been allocated, but the period of budget allocation will depend on the final length of the schemes themselves, which will be tailored with the assistance of National Institute for Health Care Excellence (NICE) to capture sufficient evaluative data over the scheme period.

    NHS England has allocated funding to each of the schemes based on early estimates of patient numbers and the key evaluative questions to be answered by the end of each scheme. Patient numbers will need to be contained within these parameters.

    NHS England is currently assessing a significant number of applications from providers who have expressed an interest in acting as a participating centre in each of the three schemes. Once this process is complete, and the selected centres are confirmed, we will be able to complete contractual arrangements and confirm a ‘go live’ date with each centre. Unfortunately we are therefore unable to give a specific date for patient recruitment to start at this stage.

    NHS England expects CtE schemes to typically run for two to three years but the final length of each of the invasive cardiology schemes is not yet finalised as they are being tailored with the assistance of NICE to capture sufficient evaluative data over the scheme period. The length of the schemes may also be influenced by early findings from the evaluation or by the publication of research data exploring similar parameters. The numbers of patients to be seen by each of the schemes is not yet finalised since it will depend on the final tariff negotiated with participating providers, and the length of each scheme.

  • Andy Sawford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Andy Sawford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which local authorities currently do not have enough childcare places available to cater for the 20 per cent most disadvantaged two-year-olds; and what the shortfall is in each such authority.

    Elizabeth Truss

    In February 2014 local authorities reported that around 103,000 two-year-olds were already accessing a funded early learning place. Local authorities are responsible for ensuring that every eligible child, whose parents wish them to take a place, is able to.

  • Tracey Crouch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Tracey Crouch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tracey Crouch on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effects of puppy trafficking on the welfare of the UK dog population.

    George Eustice

    A comprehensive risk assessment carried out in 2011prior to the UK’s harmonisation with the EU Pet Travel Scheme concluded that the risk of an animal with rabies coming into the UK is very low and the risk of rabies being passed from a pet to a person is lower still. The details of this assessment are available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/a-z/rabies/. This risk assessmentconsidered how the risk of rabies introduction from all countries would change based on (a) where the rules are followed with 100% compliance and (b) where the rules are followed with varying degrees of less than 100% compliance. The risk assessment also incorporated both intra-EU and third country movements and its conclusions are valid for animals moving under both the EU Pet Travel Scheme and commercial movements as the risk mitigation measures are the same for both categories.

    “

  • Kate Hoey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Kate Hoey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps officials of the UK Permanent Representation to the EU are taking to ensure that the Government’s objectives are met for the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals under the provisions of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive.

    Jane Ellison

    I raised the issue of the establishment of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements with Tonio Borg, the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, on 10 December 2013, emphasising the importance that any future proposals should be based on science and safety, to allow for the highest safe maximum levels. The nature of the United Kingdom (UK) market and potential impact on availability of thousands of products was underlined. This will be an important issue to raise with the new European Commissioner when appointed.

    Officials at the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union (EU) continue to monitor for any development of proposalsfrom the European Commission for setting maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals under the provisions of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive. Should such a proposal be issued, officials at the UK Representation to the EU will advise and assist the Department in the delivery of the Government’s negotiating objectives.