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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Lord Colwyn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Colwyn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Colwyn on 2014-05-08.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they have to increase the number of dental practices piloting the National Health Service’s new contractual arrangements; and what is the timetable for those reforms to be completed.

    Earl Howe

    Decisions on the detailed shape of the next stage have not yet been taken. The forthcoming engagement exercise on the reforms with the dental community is intended to increase awareness of the process and allow an opportunity for the wider dental community to input.

  • Gregory Campbell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Gregory Campbell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance he has offered to the Nigerian authorities to resolve the continued abduction of girls from the North East of that country.

    Mark Simmonds

    In the days following the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State, Nigeria, we have offered our assistance to the highest levels of the Nigerian government. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), spoke to the Nigerian Foreign Minister on 18 April immediately after the abductions and offered the UK’s assistance.

    On 7 May the Prime Minister, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), spoke to President Jonathan and offered to send a team of UK experts to Abuja. The President accepted and the team, led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), arrived in Abuja on 9 May. The team will provide expertise in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, military mentoring and training, victim support and economic development. Human rights compliance is, and will remain, an essential element of any UK assistance in Nigeria. I visited Nigeria on 14 May, and reiterated our support with President Jonathan.

    We are coordinating closely with international partners. An FCO team was in Washington on 5 May for talks with the US on Nigeria. Our expert team in Abuja will be coordinating closely with a US team also in Abuja. We are also speaking to the French and are encouraging other EU partners to lend their support. Given Boko Haram’s exploitation of Nigeria’s porous borders and indications that some of the girls may have been taken to Cameroon or Chad, we are engaging with Nigeria’s neighbours.

  • John McDonnell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    John McDonnell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John McDonnell on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many employment tribunal cases were presented on the grounds of race discrimination in HM Prison Thameside in the last three years; what the nature was of each complaint; when each such tribunal began and ended; what the outcome was in each such case; and what the cost to the public purse was of defending such cases.

    Jeremy Wright

    The Government is committed to ensuring equality throughout the criminal justice system. Internal complaints procedures and the employment tribunal system enable any allegations of racial discrimination in the workplace to be thoroughly investigated.

    Two staff grievances alleging discrimination have been submitted at HMP Thameside in the last three years.

    The first, which alleged bullying at work, racial discrimination, unfair treatment and victimisation, was received in 12 October 2012. It was considered by the Employment Tribunal at two hearings (October 2013 and in December 2013). The Tribunal dismissed the claim in its entirety in January 2014.

    The second grievance, alleging unfair dismissal, racial discrimination, victimisation and harassment, was received in March 2013. It is currently being considered by the Employment Tribunal.

    Liability for any legal costs in relation to employment cases would fall on the employer.

  • Bill Wiggin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Bill Wiggin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bill Wiggin on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many new members of (a) staff and (b) nursing staff have been taken on by the NHS in North Herefordshire in the last 12 months.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    The information is available neither in the format requested nor specifically for the North Herefordshire area. Wye Valley NHS Trust provides health services across Herefordshire and further afield. 2gether NHS Foundation Trust provides social and mental health care services across Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.

    Information on how many new members of staff and doctors and nursing staff have been taken on by Wye Valley NHS Trust and 2gether NHS Foundation Trust from January 2013 to January 2014 is shown in the following table:

    Joiners between January 2013 and January 2014

    Total NHS staff (excluding Bank, Locums and Trainee Doctors):

    Wye Valley NHS Trust

    336

    2gether NHS Foundation Trust

    162

    of which:

    Hospital and Community Health Service doctors (excluding Locums and Trainees):

    Wye Valley NHS Trust

    9

    2gether NHS Foundation Trust

    8

    Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff:

    Wye Valley NHS Trust

    120

    2gether NHS Foundation Trust

    37

    Source:

    Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), provisional monthly NHS workforce data

    Notes:

    1. Turnover data is based on headcount.

    2. Figures are for staff that have joined from outside each NHS trust.

    Monthly data:

    1. As from 21 July 2010, the HSCIC has published experimental, provisional monthly NHS workforce data (experimental tag has been removed from 24 April 2012)

    2. As expected with provisional data, some figures may be revised from month to month as issues are uncovered and resolved

    3. The monthly workforce data is not directly comparable with the annual workforce census; it only includes those staff on the Electronic Staff Record i.e. it does not include Primary care staff or Bank staff. It also includes locum doctors (not counted in the annual census).

    4. There are also new methods of presenting data (headcount methodology is different and there is now a role count). This information is available from September 2009 onwards at:

    www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/provisionalmonthlyhchsworkforce

    Data quality:

    The HSCIC seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where changes impact on figures already published, this is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses.

  • Frank Field – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Frank Field – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was spent on the Universal Jobmatch programme between (a) April and September 2012, (b) October 2012 and March 2013, (c) April and September 2013, (d) October 2013 and March 2014 and (e) April and September 2014.

    Esther McVey

    The Programme expenditure for Universal Jobmatch over the period April 12 to September 14 includes contractual costs as well as internal costs. Any reporting therefore risks being in breach of commercial in confidence agreement.

  • Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-05-07.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his most recent planning assumption is for the last date on which new claims for working tax credit will be accepted.

    Nicky Morgan

    Working Tax Credit is gradually being replaced by Universal Credit. The current Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) planning assumption is that the Universal Credit service will be fully available in each part of Great Britain during 2016, having closed down new claims to the legacy benefits that it replaces, including tax credits. HMRC will continue to work closely with the DWP on the specific process and timing for the closure of new claims to Working Tax Credit.

  • Tim Loughton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Tim Loughton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police information notices were issued in England and Wales, by constabulary area, in each of the last five years; and how many such notices have been revoked.

    Damian Green

    Data on police information notices issued by Police services in England and
    Wales is not collected centrally and is owned by the individual police force
    that issued the notice.

  • Kerry McCarthy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Kerry McCarthy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with (a) the Sultan of Brunei or (b) his representatives on the introduction of sharia criminal law in Brunei.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    We remain concerned about the introduction of sharia criminal law in Brunei and have raised the matter with Brunei on several occasions. I raised the issue with Foreign Minister, Pehin Lim in October 2013. Senior Minister of State, my Rt Hon Noble Friend Lady Warsi, visited Brunei and raised our concerns with HM The Sultan, Foreign Minister Prince Mohamed, the Attorney General and State Mufti on 19 April. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice, my hon Friend the Member for North West Cambridgeshire (Mr Vara), discussed the implementation of sharia with Brunei’s Attorney General at the Commonwealth Law Ministers meeting on 6 May. We set out our concerns at the Universal Periodic Review of Brunei at the Human Rights Council on 2 May. We will continue to raise this issue with the Bruneian authorities.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking and what budget he has allocated to help tackle youth unemployment in (a) Barnsley and (b) South Yorkshire.

    Esther McVey

    The Government are aware of the problems facing young jobseekers in the labour market and have put in place a substantial menu of provision to help them move into work.

    The Youth Contract provides intensive support for all 18-24 year olds. Extra funding is being made available to support the most vulnerable 16 and 17 year olds not in education, employment or training into learning, an apprenticeship or job with training.

    This comprehensive package of support is enhanced by the Flexible Support Fund, which Jobcentre Plus District managers can use to address locally identified skills needs. Also, the Work Programme provides tailored support to those claimants furthest from the labour market.

    Additionally, on the 14th of November, the Deputy Prime Minister announced that funding of £50m Youth Contract under spend would be made available to cities.

    For the Sheffield City Region they received £5m to offer intensive adviser and mentor-led support for young people alongside a specialist training programme aimed at equipping young people with the right skills to match local employer needs.

  • Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will make an assessment of the British Medical Journal editorial Public Health England’s draft report on shale gas extraction: Mistaking best practices for actual practices published on 17 April 2014; and if he will make a statement.

    Jane Ellison

    I have been asked to reply.

    Public Health England (PHE) has considered the British Medical Journal (BMJ) editorial on Public Health England’s draft report on shale gas extraction: Mistaking best practices for actual practices, published on 17 April 2014. PHE’s response to the article was published on-line on 30 April 2014 and can be found here:

    www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g2728?tab=responses

    PHE’s response to the BMJ article states that the conclusion of the report that risks from the process of shale gas extraction will be low if operations are properly run and regulated was a considered judgement. PHE has identified those aspects of operations that are considered to pose the greatest risks. PHE has made a number of recommendations for the control of risks, as have others. If shale gas extraction does take place, PHE will work with regulators to help ensure that environmental monitoring and health surveillance programmes are implemented appropriately. PHE agrees with Kovats et al (Lancet 383, 757-8; 2014) on the potential for Health Impact Assessments (HIA) to play a role in informing policy and local planning processes, considering all issues associated with shale gas extraction which may affect health, including Green House Gas emissions and climate change. PHE will seek to support HIAs and will continue to evaluate evidence on health risks associated with shale gas extraction and related technologies.