The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2014-04-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many HSA4 forms submitted in each month since 2010 are pending completion.
Jane Ellison
The information is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-04-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he will answer question 188564 tabled on 13 February 2014 for Answer on 24 February 2014, and question 188387 tabled on 12 February 2014 for Answer on 26 February 2014.
Mr Philip Dunne
I responded to the hon. Member today.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karen Lumley on 2014-04-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to encourage car manufacturers to manufacture cars powered by road fuel gases for the UK market.
Michael Fallon
We want the UK to be at the forefront of the design, development, manufacture and use of low emission vehicles, delivering economic growth opportunities and contributing to the decarbonisation of road transport.
As part of the Automotive Industrial Strategy, Government and industry will invest around £1 billion over the next 10 years in an Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) to research, develop and commercialise the next generation of low carbon technologies. The APC is technology neutral, so can support new road fuel gas technologies if they offer significant low carbon advantages. This investment will secure up to 30,000 jobs. The Government will allocate £100 million for ULEV-specific research and development for the period 2015-2020 as part of the £500m OLEV package. This represents an increase of over 20% in support from the previous package (which was £82m over the period 2010 – 2015).
We have also allocated £4m to ensure the UK has the gas refuelling facilities HGVs need to support our freight and logistics operators in their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of their business.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-04-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what mechanisms his Department has in place to monitor standards in care homes for the elderly.
Norman Lamb
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the 2008 Act) all providers of regulated activities, including National Health Service and independent providers, have to register with the CQC and meet a set of requirements of safety and quality.
The CQC is currently introducing a new system of inspection of social care providers. This new system of inspection will be structured around five key questions that matter most to people – are the services safe, caring, effective, well-led and responsive to people’s needs. The new inspections will make more use of people’s views and will use expert inspection teams involving people who have personal experience of care. The CQC has been piloting this new approach in 252 of social care providers since April 2014.
The Department is also working with the CQC to develop fundamental standards, which will set out the line below which care should never fall – they will be requirements that all providers of health and social care registered with the CQC must meet. The CQC will be able to take action including prosecution where providers are not meeting these standards. These fundamental standards will apply to all registered providers across health and adult social care.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-04-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce a maximum charge for homecare and other non-residential social services.
Norman Lamb
Through the Care Bill we are making the biggest change to the care and support system in more than 65 years. The Bill reforms what people pay for care and support and how they pay to create a system that is a fair partnership between people needing care, their families and tax-payers.
The reforms will place a cap on lifetime care costs. This means that people will no longer face the possibility of catastrophic care costs, providing peace of mind and enabling them to plan for their future. New regulations and guidance on how to financially assess people will ensure that, while they are contributing towards the cost of their care, they will only pay what they can afford.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nic Dakin on 2014-05-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will ensure that North Lincolnshire Council has first refusal for the acquisition of the Kirtin in Lindsey base.
Mr Mark Francois
There is no such principle. In accordance with Treasury guidelines the Department is required to achieve best value for money in the sale of each site.
In the case of Kirton in Lindsey, following the aborted sale to the Homes and Communities Agency, the MOD decided to proceed straight to the open market. The department will be happy to receive a tender from North Lincolnshire District Council to be considered along with all other bids in fair and open competition.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2014-05-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2014, Official Report, column 714, on physical and mental health (parity of esteem), if he will collect and publish mental health spending data for (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) future years.
Norman Lamb
NHS England currently collects and publishes information about mental health spending via its Programme Budgeting Data collection and published expenditure data for 2012-13 on 21 February 2014. This is available on its website at:
www.england.nhs.uk/resources/resources-for-ccgs/prog-budgeting
We are working with NHS England to support its plans to develop the Programme Budgeting Dataset for 2013-14 to provide a more meaningful analysis of expenditure on mental health conditions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2014-05-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities take into account the effect of planning decisions on neighbouring authorities when making those decisions.
Nick Boles
The Government’s reforms enshrine the Local Plan as the cornerstone of the planning system. We have confidence that local authorities will show the leadership necessary to work together in order to produce Local Plans that are effective and deliverable on important cross-boundary matters. My Department has also published an on-line set of planning guidance, which includes new advice to local authorities on the Duty to Co-operate across local authority boundaries. Furthermore, adjacent authorities are consulted on planning applications which are likely to affect land in their area, and in making its decision, the determining authority must consider all representations made.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Colwyn on 2014-05-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment NHS England has made of the effectiveness of Local Area Teams in commissioning NHS dental services since April 2013.
Earl Howe
We are informed by NHS England that the Direct Commissioning Assurance Framework, which was published in November 2013, sets out the methodology for how NHS England can demonstrate effective use of public funds in commissioning safe, high quality and sustainable services within available resources
The assurance process is evidence-based and draws on a wide range of information and indicators to assess how well services are being commissioned. The evidence used includes local insight from area teams and wider National Health Service functions. A finance and performance delivery dashboard is also used and dental data is an important component of this. Through this process, NHS England is able to ensure that the delivery of NHS dental services is monitored as an important component of the assurance process and that any concerns are addressed promptly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will raise at the UN the prospects of severe famine in South Sudan.
Lynne Featherstone
The UK is extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in South Sudan. The ongoing conflict, which has led to the displacement of over 900,000 people within the country, limited the ability of people to plant their crops, and disrupted trade and local markets. There is concern that those in conflict-affected states will experience famine later this year.
The UK is taking a leading role in responding to the crisis. We have so far contributed £20 million to the United Nations and International Non-Governmental Organisations for emergency humanitarian assistance inside South Sudan. We are considering additional support. We will continue to take every opportunity, including in the United Nations, to raise our concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation.