The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Healey on 2016-01-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of the total area of the direct commissioning site at Old Oak Common has planning permission for housing development.
Brandon Lewis
The planning process is ongoing for these sites. This will be completed in due course working closely with the local communities and local authorities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-02-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve the diagnosis and treatment of lipoedema.
Jane Ellison
No such analysis has been made.
There are several different treatments available for the management of lipoedema such as compression therapy, exercise and massage. There is limited evidence on the efficacy of liposuction for the treatment of lipoedema, and it is not routinely available on the National Health Service.
In May 2014, the Royal College of General Practitioners, in partnership with the charity Lipoedema UK, developed and published an e-learning module for general practitioners on the diagnosis and management of lipoedema. The module was endorsed by the Royal College of Nursing and can be found at the following link:
elearning.rcgp.org.uk/course/info.php?id=146&popup=0
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michael Dugher on 2016-02-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what meetings (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department have had with representatives of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee since May 2015.
Alistair Burt
Ministers and officials in the Department meet with representatives of the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee (PSNC) on a regular basis to discuss issues such as drug reimbursement, remuneration and service developments and amendments to legislation. We have been in discussions with the PSNC since December 2015 regarding the Government’s proposals for community pharmacy in 2016/17 and beyond.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2016-03-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the change in capacity of GPs to conduct their NHS Health Check obligations resulting from changes in funding for those obligations in the last 12 months.
Alistair Burt
There are no statutory obligations for general practitioners (GPs) to provide the NHS Health Check. The programme is one of the mandated public health functions of local authorities in England. They are responsible for making provision to offer an NHS Health Check to eligible individuals aged 40-74 years once every five years. It is for local authorities to decide on the provider for the NHS Health Check. They can commission a combination of providers including pharmacies and community trusts, as well as GP practices.
Public Health England has recently commissioned a stocktake of the NHS Health Check to understand how best to support local implementation of the programme. The results will be published later this year.
Since local authorities became responsible for providing the NHS Health Check, we have seen year on year improvement in the number of people accessing the NHS Health Check, with an additional 100,000 checks received during 2014/15. A recent national evaluation has also shown that people from deprived communities are benefiting the most.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to (a) identify and (b) take action against unregistered schools.
Edward Timpson
We have been working closely with Ofsted and local authorities to identify unregistered schools, and the Chief Inspector has powers to make unannounced visits to any institution that he suspects is operating unlawfully as an independent school. We have also given Ofsted additional resources so that they can go out to locate and investigate unregistered schools and draw up a programme for inspecting them to collect evidence to support prosecutions.
Institutions that are suspected of operating as unregistered schools receive a very clear warning from the Department that it is a criminal offence and that they must cease operating immediately.
To raise awareness, we have published two statements setting how we regulate and intervene in independent schools and details of when we will take legal action against unregistered schools.
The statements were announced by the Secretary of State on 19 January 2016, as part of a package to protect children from extremism. The announcement, the press release and the statements are available on GOV.UK at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/nicky-morgan-speaks-about-tackling-extremism;
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-drive-to-protect-children-from-spell-of-twisted-ideologies; and
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulating-independent-schools
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-05-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 9 May 2016 to Question 36326, what representations she has received from (a) schools and (b) trades union representatives on the ability of academy trusts to charge teachers for car parking services on school grounds; and if she will make a statement.
Edward Timpson
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Glyn Davies on 2016-06-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to support British steelmaking.
Anna Soubry
This Government has taken unprecedented action to help our steel industry.
We’re cutting electricity costs by hundreds of millions, tackling unfair trade and are the first EU country to introduce new flexibility in public procurement.
We have also offered an unparalleled package of support to secure the long term future of Tata Steel’s UK operations.
That is what the steel industry has asked for and that is what we are delivering.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Natalie McGarry on 2016-09-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps his Department has taken to encourage investment and growth in the number of jobs in Glasgow East constituency.
David Mundell
The UK Government is investing £500 million in the Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal, part of £1 billion of public investment that is being taken forward in partnership with the Scottish Government.
The Deal will deliver 3 labour market projects including a £9 million employment scheme that will work with 4000 people in receipt of Employment Support Allowance and assist at least 600 in to sustained work. A £15 million integrated employment programme will work with 15,000 young people (aged 16-24) over the next three years, helping 5,000 in to sustained work.
A new centre for Business Incubation and Development has been established in Glasgow with £4 million of City Deal funding and this is now providing support for growing small to medium sized enterprises.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 2015-10-27.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the total cost to the public purse of their appeal against the High Court’s ruling in R v The Secretary of State for Justice [2014] EWHC 2365 (Admin).
Lord Faulks
As a matter of principle this Government believes that individuals should have a strong connection with the UK in order to benefit from the civil legal aid scheme. We believe that the residence test we have proposed is a fair and appropriate way to demonstrate that strong connection. We have therefore pursued an appeal against the High Court’s judgment in this case.
The total costs to the public purse of pursuing this appeal can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2015-11-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the economic benefits to local communities on the reopening of the Todmorden Curve rail link.
Andrew Jones
The reinstatement of this rail link was promoted by Lancashire County Council with support from the Regional Growth Fund. It has enabled the reintroduction of direct rail services between Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley to Manchester Victoria after 40 years, reducing journey times by 20 per cent, and delivering much needed economic benefits to East Lancashire.