Tag: Steve McCabe

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-03-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2016 to Question 29831, on how many occasions his Department has provided advice and support upon request from local authorities who wish to undertake post-implementation value for money assessments.

Mr Marcus Jones

None. However, carrying out post-implementation reviews is an established practice of good policy making for both local and central government.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-04-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 21 March 2016 to Question 31226, how his Department monitors local authorities for compliance with their obligation under the (a) Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 and (b) Local Government Transparency Code 2015.

Mr Marcus Jones

My Department has recently completed compliance testing of local authorities with the Local Government Transparency Code 2015, which entailed checking the websites of 103 authorities, a 25% sample of authorities to which the Transparency Code applies, for the data they are required to publish. We are currently analysing the initial results, including to ascertain whether where expected information has not been found on an authority’s website this is an accurate reflection of the authority’s circumstances or due to non-compliance.

Principal local authorities will not be required to comply with the provisions of the Local Audit and Accountability Act until 1 April 2018 [and Health and smaller bodies from 1 April 2017]. Compliance is currently monitored by Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd, a transitional body appointed to manage existing audit arrangements until they expire.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-04-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 18 April 2016 to Question 33625, when he plans to publish the policy review of the supported housing sector.

Justin Tomlinson

The Supported Accommodation evidence review is currently underway and we expect to publish the review report shortly. Alongside this work, as part of our policy review, we will continue to work with and listen to all relevant stakeholders, including the supported housing sector in order to develop a workable and sustainable funding regime.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-05-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent estimate he has made of the annual cost to the NHS of high-risk pregnancies caused by patients going abroad for IVF treatment.

Jane Ellison

The Government has not made an assessment of the annual cost to the National Health Service of high risk pregnancies caused by patients going abroad for in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Multiple births are the single biggest risk to the health and welfare of children born following fertility treatment and present significant health risks to mothers and babies. Over recent years, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has worked to drive down multiple birth rates whilst maintaining consistent treatment success rates.

To minimise the risk of multiple pregnancies, there has been a growing trend for IVF providers to only transfer one embryo, even when more are available, in patients who have a good chance of successful treatment. Elective single embryo transfer is the most effective way of reducing multiple pregnancies. The HFEA has advised that most clinics have shown significant progress in reducing multiple births without compromising pregnancy rates. In 2008 nearly one in four IVF births resulted in a multiple birth but now, with a concerted multiple births reduction policy, this number is one in six.

Although progress has been made, this number is still higher than the rate in conceptions that do not involve assisted reproduction treatment. The overall goal is to reduce multiple births to one in ten.

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.

Information about CCGs approach to commissioning or compliance with the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidelines regarding IVF services is not collected centrally.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-05-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 4 May 2016 to Question 36039, on fertility: medical treatments, which services NHS England commissions centrally.

George Freeman

NHS England is responsible for directly commissioned services which include not only specialised services, but also offender and military health services, as well as primary care services such as optometry and dentistry.

A complete list of Prescribed Specialised Services for 2016/17 can be found in the attached document.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-06-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress his Department has made on returning to political negotiations to end the conflict in Yemen; and what assessment he has made of the effect of the UK’s support for the Saudi-led coalition on achieving this aim.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The UK supports the Saudi Arabian-led Coalition military intervention in Yemen, which came at the request of legitimate President Hadi to deter aggression by the Houthis and forces loyal to the former president Saleh. Saudi Arabia and the Coalition have played a crucial role in this endeavour. Peace talks are now the top priority. During the Foreign Secretary’s visit to the Gulf in late May and early June, all countries reassured of their commitment to finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Yemen. The UK is working closely with the UN to encourage the Yemeni parties to engage in good faith in the peace talks in Kuwait and respect the ceasefire which started on 10 April. Through the cross-government Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, we are providing £1.05 million (over 2 financial years) to the UN Special Envoy’s office to bolster UN capacity to facilitate the peace process, and are also supporting work to broaden the dialogue to include women and other under-represented groups.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-06-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2016 to Question 37474, how many full-time equivalent officials of his Department are responsible for any debt collection activity that the CMS system is undertaking to ensure that former Child Support Agency child maintenance arrears are received.

Priti Patel

Where CSA arrears are moved across to the CMS system we will actively pursue collection where the CSA clients fall within three specific scenarios. These include firstly where a re-application has been made to CMS relating to the same case; secondly where the CSA arrears were being paid in the last 3 months prior to being moved over to the CMS system; and finally where a client actively requests we collect them.

Given this approach to the collection of these CSA arrears, they are collected through our business-as-usual processes within our Case Maintenance, Arrears and Enforcement Teams within CMS, where at June 2016 there were 3,256 full time equivalent staff.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-07-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to Office of National Statistics data, Dementia/Alzheimer’s and respiratory disease behind biggest annual increase in deaths since the 1960s, published on 7 April 2016, what assessment he has made of that data on the provision of care for people with long-term care needs.

David Mowat

We are ensuring that the health and care support, that people including those with long term care needs receive, helps to enable them to live healthier and longer lives. For example:

– The 2016/17 mandate to NHS England includes objectives to improve quality of post-diagnosis treatment and support for people with dementia and their carers as well as reducing premature mortality, including reducing early deaths (i.e. deaths under 75) from respiratory illness;

– The NHS Outcomes Framework 2016/17 sets out the Department’s priority areas for the National Health Service and includes reducing early deaths from respiratory disease;

– We have made great strides in the number of people with dementia receiving a diagnosis. Timely diagnosis unlocks the door to appropriate care and treatment; and

– We published the Joint Declaration on Dementia Post-Diagnostic Care and Support; signed by leaders across the health, social care, local government and voluntary sector organisations. It sets out a joint ambition to improve the quality of post-diagnostic care and defines what this should look like.

In February 2015, we also published the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2020 (2020 Challenge) which builds on the achievements of the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia 2012-2015. It sets out that by 2020, we want to see:

– All people with a diagnosis of dementia being given the opportunity for advanced care planning early in the course of their illness, including plans for end of life;

– All people with dementia and their carers receiving co-ordinated, compassionate and person-centred care towards and at the end of life including access to high quality palliative care from health and social care staff trained in dementia and end of life, as well as bereavement support for carers; and

– Greater personalisation in the provision of post-diagnosis services. This means building support around the individual with dementia, their carer and family and providing them with more choice, control and flexibility in the way they receive care and support, regardless of the setting in which they receive it.

In March 2016, we published an Implementation Plan to support the 2020 Challenge. The Implementation Plan sets out the actions partners will take to ensure the commitments in the 2020 Challenge are delivered.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what evidence the Government has submitted to the UN Security Council on alleged acts of genocide by Daesh.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We are not submitting any evidence of possible genocide to the UN Security Council, nor have we been asked to. However, we are working with our partners in the international community to support the gathering of evidence which could be used by courts to hold Daesh to account and bring justice to those who have suffered at the hands of Daesh.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much the UK contributed to the funding of UN special envoys through (a) the UN regular budget, (b) the UN peacekeeping budget and (c) voluntary contributions in each of the last five years.

Alok Sharma

This response answers PQ 44298 and PQ 44301. For the purpose of these PQs we have defined ‘UN special envoy missions’ as Special Political Mission thematic cluster I, which covers special and personal envoys and advisers of the UN Secretary General.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office pays the UK’s assessed contributions for these as a part of our contribution to the UN Regular Budget, which are mandatory under the UN Charter. The UK’s fixed percentage share of the budget for each Special Political Mission was 6.604% during 2011 and 2012, and 5.179% from 2013 to 2015. The peacekeeping budget does not fund Special Political Missions. The UK does not hold a central register of UK voluntary contributions to SPMs.

The table below provides the total number, annual budget and UK contribution to the cluster I SPM for calendar years 2011-2015.

Year Number Total budget (UK contribution) in US$ millions
2015 11 $37.3m ($1.93m)
2014 10 $24.9m ($1.29m)
2013 8 $16.7m ($0.866m)
2012 7 $11.43m ($0.755m)
2011 6 $8.69m ($0.574m)