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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Sarah Wollaston – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Sarah Wollaston – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sarah Wollaston on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will review the adequacy of the sentences available under the Cancer Act 1939 for people convicted of fraudulently advertising offers to treat cancer.

    Jane Ellison

    The Department last consulted on changes to the Cancer Act 1939 in 2006, and subsequently to this a Legislative Reform Order came into force in October 2008.

    We do not currently have any plans to review the adequacy of the sentences available under the Act for people convicted of fraudulently advertising offers to treat cancer.

  • Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance he has issued on the use of glyphosate to (a) national park authorities and (b) managers of public parks in urban areas; and if he will make a statement.

    Dan Rogerson

    Detailed guidance on use is provided by conditions of use on individual product labels. This is supplemented by The Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products, which provides guidance to all users on the safe and effective use of pesticides, including glyphosate.

  • Chris Williamson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Chris Williamson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Williamson on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential costs and benefits of bringing forward legislative proposals similar to those in the US Servicemen’s Readjustment Act 1944.

    Anna Soubry

    We have made no assessment of legislative proposals along these lines. We have robust measures in place to prepare our Service personnel for civilian employment as well as addressing any accommodation, welfare, health and domestic needs and concerns. As Lord Ashcroft highlighted in his recent review of transition arrangements, these measures ensure that the vast majority of Service leavers make a successful transition to civilian life.

    All Service leavers are entitled to resettlement assistance from the Ministry of Defence funded Career Transition Partnership (CTP), and around 85% of those who use the CTP are employed within six months of leaving. In addition, all Service leavers are entitled to housing and financial advice and, through the Officers Association or the Regular Forces Employment Association, lifetime job finding support.

    While in Service, our personnel can receive skills, qualifications and experience accredited to nationally recognised standards to ease the transition back into the civilian work place. In addition, we provide financial support to conduct vocational as well as professional advancement.

    We also support a range of schemes to help veterans and their families secure appropriate accommodation. For information about the guidance and support the Department provides, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 April 2014, (Official Report, columns 442-3W) to the hon. Member for Windsor (Mr Afriyie).

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Deputy Prime Minister

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Deputy Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use in Northern Ireland of prize draws to increase voter registration.

    Greg Clark

    No direct assessment has been made by the Cabinet Office of the use of prize draws to improve electoral registration in Northern Ireland.

    However, we have learnt from the experience of Northern Ireland and used it to inform the development of Individual Electoral Registration (IER) in Great Britain. Unlike the transition to IER in Northern Ireland in 2002, in Great Britain data matching is being used to confirm the majority of current electors on the existing register without them having to make a new application. The Government has also provided £4.2 million funding which has been shared between five national organisations and all 363 local authorities in order to promote voter registration, particularly amongst under-registered groups.

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what use his Department has made of the National Wellbeing Index introduced by the Office for National Statistics in formulating policy since the introduction of that Index in 2011; and what policies his Department has introduced to improve national wellbeing as defined in that Index since 2010.

    Dan Rogerson

    There is no National Wellbeing Index, but the Office for National Statistics has developed a dashboard of measures to monitor wellbeing, both subjective and objective, and in a number of domains.

    The most Defra relevant measures are:

    Where we live domain

    5.3 Accessed natural environment at least once a week in the last 12 months.

    Environment Domain

    10.2 Protected areas in the UK.

    10.4 Household waste that is recycled.

    It is too early to be able to show a large number of policies which have been influenced by the data, particularly when the statistics are experimental, but there is still a lot of ongoing work. In terms of my department’s policy work on wellbeing and the general approach, Defra officials provided written evidence for the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) Inquiry on Wellbeing initiated last year. This evidence was co-ordinated by the Cabinet Office and submitted on behalf of Government. The evidence document can be found here:

    http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/environmental-audit-committee/wellbeing/written/1069.pdf

    “

  • Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training (a) Atos staff and (b) staff of his Department are given in mental health for the purposes of assessing whether claimants are fit for work.

    Mike Penning

    All healthcare professionals receive training in mental health issues as part of their induction training, are required to engage in a programme of continuing medical education which includes modules on mental health issues, and have access to Mental Function Champions.

    Atos training and guidance materials are regularly reviewed and external experts including the Royal College of Psychiatrists are involved in quality assurance.

    All healthcare professionals are monitored to ensure that their work meets the required quality standards. If a problem is identified, the healthcare professional may be required to undertake tailored training, which may involve training in mental health issues if required.

    DWP staff receive training in respect of decisions concerning medical or disability issues, including mental health. Specifically learning is provided on:

    • understanding the WCA descriptors
    • gathering evidence from the claimant and medical professionals
    • using the evidence to apply the descriptors and determine capability for work.

    Within the learning emphasis is placed on the on-going support available to Decision Makers from Atos Healthcare to interpret and understand medical information.

    In the Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment published in December 2013, Doctor Litchfield made a number of recommendations related to training in mental health which have been accepted subject to further scoping work.

  • Gareth Thomas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Gareth Thomas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Sir John Holmes independent medal review began; when that review is due to be completed; whether any preliminary reports from that review (a) have been published and (b) are due to be published; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Francis Maude

    I refer the hon. Member to the my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s statements on 30 April 2012, (Official Report), Column Ref: 55WS and 17 July 2012 (Official Report) Column Ref 132WS.

    An announcement will be made once the full set of reviews is complete and has been approvedin the usual way.

  • Richard Burden – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will commission an assessment of the Australian Compulsory Third Party Insurance system, through which premiums are paid as part of vehicle registration for its potential applicability in the UK.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    No. It is sometimes suggested that a system of centrally funded third party insurance could be introduced in this country. However, insurers have said that a change to such a system would lead to a general increase in premiums, especially for the more careful driver.　 This is because under such a system a vehicle would have to be insured for all possible drivers, including those considered to be in high risk categories.

  • Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment his Department has made of advances in the treatment of melanoma.

    Jane Ellison

    NHS England has published a service specification for adult skin cancer services which sets out what the National Health Service must have in place to offer high quality skin cancer treatment, care and support. Embedded in this is the best practice guidance on skin cancer published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

    Improving Outcomes for People with Skin Tumours, including Melanoma published by NICE in 2006 and updated in 2010, sets out best practice for clinicians in the diagnosis, treatment care and support of patients with skin cancer, including melanoma.

    NICE is also planning to develop a skin cancer quality standard. Quality Standards are important in setting out to patients, the public, commissioners and providers what a high quality service should look like and they play a key role in helping to drive up standards of care.

    Making significant progress in ensuring people have access to the right treatment when they need it, including drugs and treatments recommended by NICE, is an objective for NHS England with regard to cancer under the mandate.

  • Nigel Evans – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Nigel Evans – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of passport applications made in the last 12 months have been processed within (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 15 working days.

    James Brokenshire

    Her Majesty’s Passport Office sets out expected turnaround periods for the
    handling of passport applications based on the type of application and the location from
    which the application has been made. Straighforward applications are expected
    to be dealt with within three weeks and non-straightforward applications within
    six weeks. A minimum period is set out for dealing with overseas applications
    on a country by country basis. Details of expected turnaround periods are set
    out at www.GOV.UK.

    In the period from June 2013 to May 2014, 44.9% of straightforward passport
    applications were processed within 5 working days, 90.6% within 10 working days
    and 99.2% within 15 working days.

    In the same period, 24.3% of non straightforward passport applications were
    processed within 5 working days, 59.8% within 10 working days and 79.6% within
    15 working days.