Tag: Peter Kyle

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2016-03-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans for the statutory guidance for local authorities, entitled Post-16 transport to education and training, next to be reviewed to take account of the raising of the education and training participation age to 18; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Sam Gyimah

The statutory guidance for local authorities on post-16 transport was updated in February 2014; it is reviewed annually and updated if necessary. The updated guidance includes information on the raising of the participation age, along with a link to local authority guidance on participation.

The statutory responsibility for transport to education and training for 16- to 19-year-olds rests with local authorities who we expect to make reasonable decisions about the support they offer based on the needs of their young people, local transport infrastructure and the resources they have available.

Most young people have access to some kind of discount or concession on bus or train travel, either from their local authority, local transport providers, or from their school or college. The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund is also available to support young people with the costs associated with attending education or training, and transport is the biggest single area of expenditure for which this fund is used.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2016-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of Better Care Fund funding was allocated to social care in England in the first quarter of 2015-16.

Alistair Burt

The information requested is not collected nationally. The overall size of the Better Care Fund (BCF) in 2015-16 is £5.3 billion. A published analysis of the BCF plans indicated that local areas were planning to allocate £2.3 billion to social care (43% of total planned expenditure) over 2015-16.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2016-06-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether a provider would need to achieve an Excellent rating in (a) one, (b) two or (c) three of the Teaching Quality, Learning Environment and Student Outcomes and Learning Gain categories in order to achieve an overall Excellent rating under the Teaching Excellence framework.

Joseph Johnson

A provider’s performance in the three areas of Teaching Quality, Learning Environment, and Student Outcomes and Learning Gain will not be subject to individual ratings. Assessors will make a holistic assessment, considering all three areas, in order to award a single TEF rating for the provider.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the Sussex Area Review of post-16 education and training is planned to be published.

Robert Halfon

As confirmed in the Area Review Guidance published in March 2016, we will publish the area review reports once each review has completed. We expect to publish the Sussex area review report in the near future.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2015-11-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he was made aware of the project undertaken by South East Coast Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust in winter 2014-15 relating to prioritisation of NHS 111 calls.

Jane Ellison

Departmental officials were first notified of a project which was run between December 2014 and February 2015 in the south of England on 23 October 2015 by Monitor, the independent health sector regulator.

We are advised that Monitor is taking action with South East Coast Ambulance Service Foundation Trust regarding concerns about the project and the regulator is working with the Trust now to identify the negative impact this project could have had on patients. It is Monitor’s function to undertaken such investigations independently of the Department where there are no immediate patient safety issues. Monitor and Departmental officials regularly discuss such issues on a routine basis.

As part of regulatory action, Monitor advises it has asked the trust to carry out a detailed independent review of the impact the project had on patients. Monitor has asked the Trust to do this with the help of an external expert, who the regulator will select. The full details of what the review will look at and how long it will take are being worked on by the trust and Monitor, including consideration of publication of the review finding.

In March, NHS England convened a risk summit meeting involving all partners following the suspension by South East Coast Ambulance Service of their unofficial call-handling project. It was agreed that NHS England would undertake an external investigation. The report of the investigation was published by NHS England today and is attached.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2015-11-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on recipients of the expiry of the Small Business Rate Relief scheme at the end of March 2016; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Marcus Jones

The Government is continuing to consider representations, which included business rates reliefs, to inform decisions on reform of the business rates system. The Government has confirmed the review will conclude by the end of the year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has for the future of the homelessness prevention grant.

Mr Marcus Jones

Decisions around locally funded services will be set out in the provisional Local Government Settlement, which we intend to announce before recess.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2015-12-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the relationship will be between the new Institute for Apprentices and the industry-led body that will administer the Apprenticeships Levy.

Nick Boles

It is our intention that the independent Institute for Apprenticeships (IfA) will be established by April 2017. The Institute will approve apprenticeship standards and safeguard apprenticeship quality.

The body will not be responsible for the operational functions associated with funding of apprenticeships and the administration of the levy. These will be fulfilled by the Government’s operational agencies.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2016-01-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the economic effect of delays to rail services into London Victoria from the Sussex coast in the last 12 months.

Claire Perry

No estimate has been made, though officials are considering how to do so.

Customers on this part of the rail network haven’t always received the service they deserve. When we awarded the franchise through our robust competitive process we bought a plan to deliver a high quality service for passengers which will deliver more services, more capacity and three new fleets of trains on the Govia Thameslink Railway. None of this comes without short term challenges as a result of this significant four year programme of transformation. We believe that this plan alongside the Government’s investment in the Thameslink programme will deliver the improvements passengers deserve.

I am concerned about ensuring passengers receive the best possible service during the present crucial works on this part of the rail network. Shortly after the election I set up the South East Quadrant Taskforce, which I continue to chair. This group, which includes Network Rail and Govia Thameslink Railway, is absolutely committed to making improvements and, crucially, to making sure that rail customers see the benefits of these improvements.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2016-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the apprenticeship levy on the charity and voluntary sectors.

Nick Boles

A key part of the Government’s commitment of 3 million apprenticeships starts in England by 2020 is to ensure that quality apprenticeships are available at all levels and in all sectors. This will give people the widest opportunity to participate in high quality programmes to improve their skills and give employers, including charities and voluntary organisations, the skilled workforce they need to grow and improve productivity.

The apprenticeships levy will only be paid by those with an annual pay bill of more than £3 million. This is 2% of all employers. We will continue to engage with charity and voluntary sectors in the development and implementation of the apprenticeship levy.