Tag: Steve McCabe

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, on how many occasions his Department has found a local authority to be non-compliant with (a) the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 and (b) the 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 2016-04-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of clinical commissioning groups in England are working together on implementation of NICE guidelines on fertility treatment.

Jane Ellison

Information about clinical commissioning groups’ approach to commissioning fertility services is not collected centrally.

The Department has not made any estimate of the proportion of children conceived in the United Kingdom using in-vitro fertilisation relative to those countries mentioned.

The Department has no plans to instruct NHS England to commission fertility treatment centrally. Fertility services do not meet the criteria set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2012 to be nationally commissioned by NHS England.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the extent of the practice among clinical commissioning groups in England of offering only one fresh cycle of 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 35934, on epilepsy: death, when he plans to publish a report containing the information collected from GP clinical systems referred to in that Answer.

Alistair Burt

The Health and Social Care Information Centre publish their reports for indicators that are no longer on the Quality and Outcomes Framework such as EP002 and EP003 on epilepsy. The latest publication was on 22 March 2016 for the year 2014/15. The report can be found here:

http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB18887/qof-1415-Report%20v1.1.pdf

There are no plans to publish data relating to epilepsy deaths.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 4 May 2016 to Question 35935, when he plans to publish the report of the review into the supported housing sector.

Justin Tomlinson

We expect to publish the review report shortly.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-06-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of Gingerbread’s report, Missing Maintenance, published in June 2016; what plans he has to implement the recommendations of that report; and if he will make a statement.

Priti Patel

We are currently considering the recommendations contained in the Gingerbread report, Missing Maintenance. In relation to the recommendation on deductions from joint bank accounts, we have already started taking steps to implement this power and will be launching a public consultation soon on our proposed process to enable deductions from joint bank accounts.

We remain committed to pursuing those parents who do not willingly meet their financial responsibilities to their children. The Child Maintenance Service has a range of effective enforcement powers intended to help ensure all parents fulfil their financial responsibilities towards their children including taking deductions directly from earnings and bank accounts.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-07-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2016 to Question 39643, what plans the Government has to discuss the EU Nature Directive as part of the negotiations on the UK leaving the EU; what the EU Nature Directive’s status will be during those negotiations; and whether her Department plans to retain the implemented measures that relate to the EU Nature Directive after the UK’s negotiated exit from the EU.

Dr Thérèse Coffey

Whilst we are still a part of the EU, the EU framework for our environment remains in place. Defra will continue to ensure the right policies are in place for a cleaner, healthier environment for everyone.

The Government is considering the impacts of the decision to leave the EU, including future arrangements for existing legislation. We have a manifesto commitment to produce a 25 Year Plan for the Environment.

We all now have an opportunity to consider our long-term vision for the environment following the referendum vote.

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

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reasons the proposals in Early Day Motion 278, on Office of Electoral Integrity, are not incorporated into the roles and responsibilities of the Electoral Commission; and if he will take steps to incorporate such proposals in the Electoral Commission’s remit.

Chris Skidmore

The accuracy of arguments advanced in the course of referendum and election campaigns is not subject to regulation.

The Government will consider this and other issues relating to the regulation of political campaigning, following the publication of the Electoral Commission’s report on the administration of the referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union which is expected shortly.

Creating a new body to regulate what candidates and political campaigners could say would have an effect on freedom of speech within the law. Moreover, the proposed regime would be likely to fuel malicious and partisan complaints (and counter-complaints), which would undermine, rather than strengthen, confidence in the democratic process.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of the findings of the NSPCC’s report, Transforming mental health services for children who have experienced abuse: A review of Local Transformation Plans, published in June 2016.

Nicola Blackwood

We appreciate the work done by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) in preparing their report in advance of NHS England’s own qualitative analysis published on 22 August 2016. NHS England also produced a quantitative review in January 2016.

We have an ongoing dialogue with key stakeholders such as the NSPCC to discuss areas of shared interest such as how best we can ensure an effective response to those children and young people who have been abused, including those who have been sexually abused.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-09-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of Government-standard qualifying apprenticeship schemes available when the Apprenticeship Levy comes into force in spring 2017.

Robert Halfon

Employer-led reforms to apprenticeships are replacing existing complex frameworks with short, simple, accessible apprenticeship standards designed by employers according to their skills needs. The existing apprenticeship frameworks will close as the new standards are developed and become widely used, and in March 2016 we began the phased withdrawal of SASE frameworks.

We envisage a migration from apprenticeship frameworks to standards over the course of the Parliament, with as much of this as possible to take place by 2017/18.

So far, 246 new apprenticeships standards have been published. A further 176 new standards are in development, and we expect more to come forward before the Apprenticeship Levy is implemented in spring 2017.