Tag: Roger Godsiff

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department takes into account reports produced or evidence submitted by non-governmental human rights organisations in deciding on claims for asylum made on the grounds of political persecution or a risk to someone’s life.

James Brokenshire

In reaching decisions on asylum claims, caseworkers have access to a wide range of published country of origin information produced by the Home Office, which includes reference to reports produced or submitted by national or
international human rights organisations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total value of contracts his Department has with private sector providers was in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Claire Perry

Since January 2011, as part of the Government’s transparency programme, details of procurement opportunities, tender documents and contracts worth over £10,000 are published online on Contracts Finder (https://www.gov.uk/contracts-finder). The Crown Commercial Service (CCS) also publishes details of its contracts on its web site (http://ccs.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/).

“

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2015-02-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2015 to Question 222916, what the total cost to Birmingham City Council will be of funding the Independent Improvement Panel.

Kris Hopkins

As indicated in the Panel’s Terms of Reference agreed with the City Council, it will be supported by a secretariat provided jointly by Birmingham City Council and the Department for Communities and Local Government, and the expenses it incurs will be shared equally by the City Council and the Department.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the total value of contracts his Department has with private sector providers was in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Alun Cairns

As a small Government Department we use the buying power of larger government departments to procure services, primarily the Ministry of Justice, and we do not therefore possess the information requested.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the total value of contracts his Department has with private sector providers was in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Mr David Lidington

Between January 2010 and January 2015 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has let the following contracts over £10,000 with private sector providers in each calendar year.

2010 £ 263.0m

2011 £ 84.6m

2012 £ 103.2m

2013 £ 263.7m

2014 £ 102.5m

2015 £ 3.7m

Since authority to enter into contracts is devolved to directorates in the UK and our network of posts, we cannot provide data for contracts under £10,000 without incurring disproportionate cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the cost of increasing the other funeral expenses category of the social fund funeral payments scheme in line with inflation since the level was set at £700 in 2003.

Steve Webb

There has been no estimate as we do not know what people would have claimed if the limit was higher. However, it is vital that the Government ensures that any scheme funded by the taxpayer is managed properly and the money spent wisely. The funding offered from both Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments and Budgeting Loans continues support towards the cost of a funeral, including necessary costs in full, whilst maintaining a fiscally viable fund.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total value of contracts his Department has with private sector providers was in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Dr Daniel Poulter

Information held by the Department shows the total value of contracts with private sector providers was for each of the financial years for which we have records available at a proportionate cost:

Financial Year	Value of Contract
2011/12	£365,621,061
2012/13	£428,405,616
2013/14	£245,882,759
2014/15	£156,256,479

The above figures include all spend that either currently is or was previously under contract with the third party commercial providers of the Department.

Information for 2010/11, whilst being available, is not in a format to answer the question without the Department incurring disproportionate costs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information his Department provides on (a) the average cost of a funeral and (b) potential sources of financial support for a funeral to families of the recently deceased who are in receipt of state benefits.

Steve Webb

My department does not hold information on the average cost of a funeral. However the average funeral expenses payment for 2013/14 was £1,347.

My department provides financial support towards a funeral to those on certain state benefits via Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments and Budgeting Loans.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2015-02-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the oral evidence to the Health Committee of Dame Fiona Caldicott, 21 January 2015 to Question 705, what assessment he has made of whether patients who opt out of the care.data scheme will be excluded from NHS services such as bowel screening and e-referrals.

Dr Daniel Poulter

The process for objecting (‘opting out’) will be communicated during the care.data pathfinder stage and will apply to the use of identifiable general practitioner data for purposes beyond direct care. The care.data Programme team is working closely with clinical commissioning group pathfinder practices to ensure that it is understood that the opt-out should not impact upon the sharing of information for direct care.

The care.data Programme team is working closely with the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), NHS England and the Department in relation to ‘type 2 objections’. Appropriate communications will be agreed before starting communication activity in pathfinder areas.

For those people who have made an existing ‘type 2 objection’, the HSCIC is committed to ensuring no patient suffers any adverse impact on their direct care through an inappropriate implementation of an objection. This means that information flows to support services such as cancer screening, electronic prescriptions and e-referrals are currently flowing and will continue to do so.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-07-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to restrict the use of antibiotics on farms to the treatment of sick animals.

George Eustice

The EU Veterinary Medicinal Products Directive is the core legislation which sets out the framework for controls on veterinary medicines, including veterinary antibiotics, within EU Member States. The European Commission is expected to publish proposals for the revision of the EU legislative framework later this year.

The Government’s position is that any changes to the EU legislation, including changes to controls on veterinary antibiotics, should be evidence based and take into account the potential impact on animal health and welfare.