Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential benefits and risks of commercial mobile networks providing the emergency services communications network.

    James Brokenshire

    The potential benefits and risks have been considered in detail as part of the
    Outline Business Case, which recommended this direction of travel and was
    approved by the emergency services, lead departments and the devolved
    governments of Wales and Scotland during March 2014. These risks and issues
    will be updated as the Full Business Case is developed during the procurement
    phase, which was launched on 14 April 14.

  • John Leech – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    John Leech – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Leech on 2014-05-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many full-time equivalent staff were employed by strategic health authorities in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and how many such staff worked specifically in cancer networks.

    Jane Ellison

    The information requested on staffing levels is not held centrally. Prior to 1 April 2013, staffing levels for both clinical networks, including cancer networks, and strategic health authorities, including staff working specifically in cancer networks, were a matter for local National Health Service organisations.

    NHS England does not employ people to work on disease-specific policy areas. It is structured according to five domains of the NHS Outcomes Framework. Only National Clinical Directors (NCD) are employed to work on specific conditions. There is one NCD for cancer employed on a 0.4 full-time equivalent basis. It is likely that most directorates will have roles contributing to improved outcomes for people with, and at risk of cancer, but NHS England does not record staff time in a way which would make this quantifiable.

  • Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2014-05-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had on ways of improving awareness of transient ischaemic attacks on the part of (a) GPs, (b) staff in A&E departments and (c) other health staff.

    Jane Ellison

    NHS England is responsible for improving awareness of transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs) amongst front-line health staff. In addition, both the recent Act FAST campaign conducted by Public Health England and the Stroke Association campaign launched last week will improve awareness of TIAs amongst professionals and the public alike.

    The provision of timely access to TIA clinics has greatly improved over recent years and more patients are having carotid surgery in a timely fashion than ever before. However, we recognise that there are still improvements to be made and part of the work of reorganising and modernising stroke services involves ensuring that TIA care is of the highest quality.

  • James Duddridge – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    James Duddridge – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by James Duddridge on 2014-05-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports the Government has received on the Zakhele Remand Centre in Swaziland.

    Mark Simmonds

    We have not received any specific reports about the Zakhele Remand Centre. However, we remain concerned by the human rights situation in Swaziland, including restrictions to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. We call on the Swazi government to respect the human rights of all detainees and the independence of the judiciary. We will continue to work with international partners including the EU, US, Commonwealth and the South African Development Community (SADC) to exert international pressure for change.

  • Virendra Sharma – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Virendra Sharma – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the proportion of deaths from (a) liver disease and (b) viral hepatitis which were preventable in the last year for which figures are available.

    Jane Ellison

    Liver disease registered as the underlying cause of death, accounts for 2% of all deaths in England and 3% if all mentions are counted. Viral liver disease is registered for less than 0.1% of all deaths.

    The main liver viral hepatitides are; A, B, C, D, E. Occasionally, other viruses cause hepatitis. Most people with hepatitis clear the virus after an acute infection. Death from acute viral hepatitis is very rare, a very small number of patients will be referred for liver transplantation. A proportion of deaths from chronic hepatitis B maybe preventable by vaccination and treatment. A proportion of deaths from chronic hepatitis C may be preventable by antiviral therapies. A significant proportion of hepatitis B and C is acquired outside the United Kingdom and therefore it is important to identify people carrying the viruses and offer treatment and vaccination to the close contacts of people with chronic hepatitis as appropriate.

  • Roger Godsiff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Roger Godsiff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will take steps to encourage all UK clothing companies which use suppliers in Bangladesh to join the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh.

    Mr Alan Duncan

    Over 160 companies, including many well-known British brands and retailers, have now signed up to the Accord on Fire and Building Safety, a ground-breaking, legally binding agreement between international unions and clothing companies. Signing up to the Accord shows that they are serious about their responsibilities in ensuring the safety of all those people in Bangladesh that make their clothes.

    DFID has used every opportunity, such as the Westminster Debate on 30 April, my recent visit to Bangladesh, communications around the Rana Plaza anniversary, and meetings with retailers and buyers to call for companies to take responsibility for the working conditions of all those that make their clothes and to contribute to the Rana Plaza Trust Fund for the victims of the factory building collapse.

  • Bill Wiggin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Bill Wiggin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assistance his Department provides for small independent schools making applications for free school status; and if he will take steps to increase such assistance.

    Mr Edward Timpson

    The Department for Education provides comprehensive guidance for all free school applicants on the criteria that successful applications need to meet. The Department also provides a grant to the New Schools Network to provide free expert support to applicants to develop their free school application.

  • Frank Field – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Frank Field – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Written Statement of 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 1WS, on higher education (student support), what estimate he has made of how many prospective students will no longer be eligible for the disabled students’ allowance once the changes set out in the statement are introduced; and what steps he plans to take to support those prospective students.

    Mr David Willetts

    Disabled students will continue to receive support through a combination of disabled students’ allowances (DSAs) and reasonable adjustments made by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Each student’s needs are unique. Some will receive more support through reasonable adjustments than previously experienced. Written guidance will be available.

    It is not possible to make an accurate estimate of how many prospective students will no longer be eligible for DSAs as many students receive more than one type of support.

    Current DSA recipients and disabled students applying for DSAs in 2014/15 will not be affected by these changes in 2015/16.

  • Margaret Ritchie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Margaret Ritchie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he last met the Chair of the College of Emergency Medicine; what subjects were discussed at that meeting; and if he will make a statement.

    Jane Ellison

    The last meeting between my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and the Chair of the College of Emergency Medicine was held on 2 April 2014. At that meeting, their views on the health system, and emergency medicine in particular, were discussed.

  • Mike Hancock – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Mike Hancock – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Hancock on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in (a) Portsmouth South constituency and (b) Hampshire who applied to the jobseeker’s allowance hardship regime were (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful in each of the last three years.

    Esther McVey

    This data is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.