Tag: Richard Fuller

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Fuller on 2016-03-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2016 to Question 23178, if he will announce a date for the introduction of section 165 of the Equality Act 2010.

Andrew Jones

The Government is continuing to actively consider how best to address problems wheelchair users face when using taxis and private hire vehicles, including the possible commencement of Section 165 of the Equality Act 2010.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Fuller on 2016-07-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Nursing and Midwifery Council about the adequacy of their disciplinary and enforcement powers; and what plans he has to reform their fitness to practice arrangements.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the independent body responsible for the regulation of nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom. It is responsible for the way it discharges its statutory duties including in relation to fitness to practise investigations.

The Department has been working with the NMC on a number of proposed legislative changes which will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its fitness to practise processes and officials have regular discussions with the NMC regarding its powers. The Department has recently consulted on these proposed changes and is currently considering the responses received.

The Government is committed to ensuring that professional regulation continues to provide effective protection for patients.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Fuller on 2016-03-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people found to be committing benefit fraud and not prosecuted in court in each of the last two years (a) have repaid monies due in full, (b) are actively making repayments, (c) are in arrears with their repayments and (d) have since been prosecuted for breaching their agreement to pay.

Justin Tomlinson

Information in the form requested for questions a, b and c is not readily available and could only be compiled at disproportionate cost.

In answer to question d, the Department does not hold this information.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Fuller on 2015-11-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on introducing a facility for rolling over funding in her Department’s budget in order to avoid expenditure being concentrated at the end of financial years and to ensure that annual targets for development expenditure are met.

Mr Desmond Swayne

The Department for International Development Secretary of State has not had any discussions with the Chancellor on the introduction of a facility to roll-over funding.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Fuller on 2016-04-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which clinical commissioning groups in England fund (a) no, (b) one, (c) two, (d) three and (e) more than three cycles of IVF treatment.

Jane Ellison

The level of provision of infertility treatment, as for all health services they commission, is decided by local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and will take into account the needs of the population overall. The CCG’s decisions are underpinned by clinical insight and knowledge of local healthcare needs. As such, provision of services will vary in response to local needs.

CCGs have a legal duty to have regard to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. As such, NHS England expects that all those involved in commissioning infertility treatment services to be fully aware of the importance of having regard to the NICE fertility guidelines.

Following a meeting with Fertility Fairness in December 2015, officials from the Department and NHS England is considering options for addressing variation in the prices that CCGs are currently paying for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment.

Information about cycles of IVF treatment is not collected centrally.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Fuller on 2015-11-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will assess the potential merits of providing legal protection to the professional title of veterinary nurse.

George Eustice

Only those individuals who are properly trained, qualified and registered with the regulator, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), may legally undertake veterinary nursing. The Government is aware that concerns have been raised about the legal protection of the use of the term “Veterinary Nurse” and we are in dialogue with the RCVS and others to see how these concerns might be addressed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Fuller on 2016-04-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to reduce the cost of IVF treatment to the NHS in England.

Jane Ellison

The level of provision of infertility treatment, as for all health services they commission, is decided by local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and will take into account the needs of the population overall. The CCG’s decisions are underpinned by clinical insight and knowledge of local healthcare needs. As such, provision of services will vary in response to local needs.

CCGs have a legal duty to have regard to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines. As such, NHS England expects that all those involved in commissioning infertility treatment services to be fully aware of the importance of having regard to the NICE fertility guidelines.

Following a meeting with Fertility Fairness in December 2015, officials from the Department and NHS England is considering options for addressing variation in the prices that CCGs are currently paying for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment.

Information about cycles of IVF treatment is not collected centrally.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Fuller on 2015-12-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to encourage business start-ups and entrepreneurship.

Anna Soubry

The Start-Up Loans scheme supports people wanting to start a business and has provided over 33,500 loans worth over £180 million. The Government is providing further funding to Growth Hubs to help businesses at the local level, as well as cutting taxes on small businesses, extending rate relief and increasing the Employment Allowance.

The latest stats from the ONS show that the number of UK start-ups has reached record levels with some 351,000 new businesses launched in 2014.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Fuller on 2016-04-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the cost of moving Bedford County Court from Shire Hall, St Paul’s Square, Bedford, to the Employment Tribunal building in Howard Street, Bedford.

Mr Shailesh Vara

The enabling works of moving Bedford County Court to the Employment Tribunal building will be subject to a tendering process. The disclosure of any estimate of costs is therefore commercially confidential.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Fuller on 2016-01-19.

To ask the Attorney General, how many prosecutions have been brought under the Fraud Act 2006 in each year since 2009.

Robert Buckland

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the number of prosecutions brought under the Fraud Act 2006. However, records are held showing the overall number of offences charged in which a prosecution commenced in the magistrates’ courts (the distinction being that some prosecutions involved multiple offences). These figures are detailed in the following table:

Year	Number of offences charged under the Fraud Act 2006 in which a prosecution commenced in the magistrates’ court*
2009-10	27,759
2010-11	29,592
2011-12	28,164
2012-13	26,581
2013-14	25,832
2014-15	26,113

* Data Source: CPS management information system

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigates and, where appropriate, prosecutes the topmost tier of serious or complex fraud cases. The SFO charges offences under the most appropriate legislation in each investigation, and not only the Fraud Act.

The number of individuals charged by the SFO for offences under the Fraud Act (2006) is shown in the table below.

Year	Number of individuals charged under the Fraud Act 2006*
2009	5
2010	7
2011	2
2012	2
2013	4
2014	1
2015	6

* This type of casework information for the years prior to 2012 was not collated centrally in the same way and so the information for these years reflects the records from the time.