The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2015-01-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of 111 referrals to A&E departments in NHS hospitals in Sussex over the Christmas and New Year period in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15.
Jane Ellison
The information is not available in the format requested.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2015-01-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of new cases of historic child abuse which have come forward in the last 12 months; and what recent assessment she has made of the capabilities of police forces to deal with such cases.
Lynne Featherstone
Child sexual abuse is a reprehensible crime which this government is determined to stamp out. We have been clear that if anyone has been a victim of child sexual abuse, or knows of someone who has been a victim, then they should
report it to the police so that it can be thoroughly investigated. The Home Office does not collate statistics on the number of historic cases of child abuse being reported. The resourcing for individual operations investigating child sexual abuse is an operational matter for the relevant Chief Officer.
Operation Hydrant is the national policing response to the oversight and co-ordination of all child abuse investigations concerning persons of public prominence or those offences which took place historically in institutional
settings. Overseen by the National Policing Lead for Child Protection and Abuse Investigations, Operation Hydrant is responsible for the production of best practice guidance for Senior Investigating Officers (SIOs) investigating
relevant allegations.
The College of Policing has also produced Authorised Professional Practice (APP) for forces on Managing complex child abuse investigations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2015-01-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what instructions or guidance officials of her Department have given to members of the Independent Inquiry Panel into child sexual abuse about speaking in public about the work of that Panel.
Lynne Featherstone
Before the panel began its substantive work, and the secretariat was fully established, limited guidance was offered to those panel members who needed it.
Panel members are now supported by their own independent secretariat and Counsel. The secretariat will have its own procedures on speaking in publicabout the work of the Inquiry, although we would expect any procedures to respect the
confidentiality of meetings held with survivors.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2014-04-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which children’s services departments have instituted the role of Principal Social Worker; and how many people each such department employs.
Mr Edward Timpson
The Department for Education does not hold this information. Local authorities are responsible for the recruitment and deployment of social workers, including those they appoint to the Principal Social Worker role.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will take steps to liaise with the Secretary of State for Health over publication of reports into historic child abuse.
Mr Edward Timpson
Officials from the Department for Education are already working closely with other relevant departments to ensure that there is a consistent approach to investigations into allegations of historical child abuse, including on the publication of reports.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2014-04-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress he has made on the Social Work Practice pilots; and which local authorities are taking part in those pilots.
Mr Edward Timpson
The Social Work Practices pilot concluded in 2012. In November last year the Government commenced Part 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 2008 to allow all local authorities to explore new models of provision if they wish to.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what public speeches the Chief Social Worker for Children and Families has made since taking up her post; and where those speeches are published.
Mr Edward Timpson
Since starting as the Chief Social Worker for Children and Families in September 2013, Isabelle Trowler has spoken at a wide range of events. In particular she has made presentations to and engaged in discussion with more than 2,500 social workers to support and challenge the profession and spoke at the National Fostering Association conference on 13 May 2014. Isabelle’s presentations are not published.
As the Chief Social Worker for Children and Families, Isabelle provides independent expert advice to Ministers on social work reform. She meets my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, and other Ministers in the Department for Education frequently to discuss her ideas for social work reform and to provide policy advice.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2014-04-10.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what fiscal steps he is taking to help pensioners on low incomes.
Mr David Gauke
Supporting pensioners is a key priority for this Government. Due to the triple lock, the full basic State Pension has increased this month to £113.10 a week – a cash rise of £2.95. This is around £8.50 a week higher than it would have been if it had been uprated only in line with average weekly earnings growth since the start of this Parliament.
We have also passed through the cash rise, due to the triple lock, to the minimum guarantee in Pension Credit. This ensures that the poorest pensioners also benefit.
This Government also continues to protect universal pensioner benefits, such as Winter Fuel Payments, free eye tests and prescriptions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he has taken to speed up payments by public bodies and private concerns to small businesses; and what recent assessment he has made of average payment times.
Matthew Hancock
We announced further reforms to public procurement on 30 May to speed up payments by public bodies to small businesses. These include improvements to e-invoicing, procurement processes and greater powers for Ministers to investigate complaints raised by the Cabinet Office’s ‘mystery shopper scheme’.
We have also announced new legislation that will require larger businesses to report on their payment performance and practices. Increasing transparency and driving openness is at the heart of building a more responsible payment culture that UK businesses need to thrive.
Recent research suggests that UK businesses experience an average 17 day delay to payment of invoices. This is a reduction in the past two years but a figure that is still too high and is holding back investment and growth.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2014-04-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many responses were received to his Department’s consultation on extending civil partnerships to opposite sex couples.
Mrs Helen Grant
There have been almost 11,500 responses to the consultation on the future of civil partnership in England and Wales. We are now considering them and will publish a summary in due course.