Tag: Tracey Crouch

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tracey Crouch on 2014-04-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will bring forward from 42 weeks the period for inducing labour in at risk expectant mothers.

Dr Daniel Poulter

The induction of labour is a clinical decision for healthcare professionals. These decisions are based on the latest available evidence and take account of the risk and other clinical factors for each individual pregnancy.

To assist healthcare professionals, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published clinical guidelines on the induction of labour, which are available on the NICE website at:

www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/12012/41256/41256.pdf.

The NICE guidelines advise that women with uncomplicated pregnancies should usually be offered induction of labour between 41+0 and 42+0 weeks.

Women can be deemed high risk for a multitude of reasons. Each reason will carry its own set of criteria for delivery. It is not possible to say that induction for all at risk pregnancies should be brought forward as these should be reviewed according to individual needs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tracey Crouch on 2014-04-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he is satisfied with the current levels of recruitment to midwifery; and what steps he is taking to encourage recruitment of midwives.

Dr Daniel Poulter

Health Education England are working with NHS England to ensure that sufficient midwives and other maternity staff are trained and available to provide every woman with personalised one-to-one care throughout pregnancy, childbirth and during the post natal period.

Since June 2012 there are over 6,000 more midwives in training to qualify over the next three years. The latest figures show there are 21,888 qualified midwives (full time equivalent) working in the NHS in England.

It is the responsibility of local NHS organisations to assess the health needs of their local communities and ensure they have the right staff, with the rights skills to deliver high quality and safe care.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tracey Crouch on 2014-04-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many individuals have been awarded a war disablement pension for mesothelioma since 1994; what estimate he has made of the number of former members of the armed forces who have gone on to develop mesothelioma; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is unable to provide the number of individuals awarded a War Disablement Pension (WDP) for Mesothelioma since 1994 in the time scale requested. However, as at 31 March 2013, 50 individuals were in receipt of a WDP for a recorded condition of Mesothelioma.

The MOD has no estimated data of former personnel with Mesothelioma.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tracey Crouch on 2014-04-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the changes in quarantine due to be implemented in December 2014 will help prevent commercial dealers fraudulently using the Pet Travel Scheme; and if he will make a statement on the steps being taken to improve enforcement in this area.

George Eustice

A new EU pet travel Regulation comes into effect on 29 December 2014 and introduces a number of measures which will strengthen enforcement regimes, in particular. For example, pets being prepared for travel after the 29 December 2014 will be issued with a new style pet passport that will be harder to forge or tamper with. New rules governing the movement of more than five pets will be introduced together with a new requirement for all EU countries to carry out some compliance checks on pets moving between EU member states. A 12 week minimum age for rabies vaccination will also be applied across the EU which will assist compliance checking and restrict the movement of very young animals. The fundamental requirements of the scheme (including microchip, rabies vaccination, pet passport and a waiting period) will remain the same and non-compliant animals will continue to be either placed into quarantine, re-exported or, as a measure of last resort, euthanased. Defra will continue to work closely with its operational partners to clamp down on the illegal puppy trade and prosecute those responsible.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tracey Crouch on 2014-04-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effects of puppy trafficking on the welfare of the UK dog population.

George Eustice

A comprehensive risk assessment carried out in 2011prior to the UK’s harmonisation with the EU Pet Travel Scheme concluded that the risk of an animal with rabies coming into the UK is very low and the risk of rabies being passed from a pet to a person is lower still. The details of this assessment are available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/a-z/rabies/. This risk assessmentconsidered how the risk of rabies introduction from all countries would change based on (a) where the rules are followed with 100% compliance and (b) where the rules are followed with varying degrees of less than 100% compliance. The risk assessment also incorporated both intra-EU and third country movements and its conclusions are valid for animals moving under both the EU Pet Travel Scheme and commercial movements as the risk mitigation measures are the same for both categories.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tracey Crouch on 2014-04-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to help older people with their housing needs; and if he will make a statement.

Kris Hopkins

The Government is committed to increasing the supply of suitable housing for older people and also to helping people to live independently at home for longer.

The Government is improving choice for those who wish to move by providing £315 million between 2013-14 – 2017-18 through the Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund. Phase I of the fund was announced last year and will deliver more than 3,500 affordable homes for older people and adults with disabilities or mental health needs. The successful bids for Phase II of the programme, which aims to stimulate development in the wider private market, will be announced later this year.

The National Planning Policy Framework asks local planning authorities to assess the full housing requirements in their area and plan for a mix of housing based on demographic trends and the needs of different groups in the area, including older people. The planning guidance advisesthat local planning authorities should count housing provided for older people, including residential institutions in Use Class C2, against their housing requirement. The approach taken, which may include site allocations, should be clearly set out in the Local Plan. Copies of the Framework and the guidance have been placed in the Library of the House.

To help extended families, the Government introduced in April a 50 per cent council tax discount on family annexes. We have also made amendments to the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations, exempting from the levy those wanting to extend their own homes, or install residential annexes within their own property boundary.

The Department for Communities and Local Government is providing funding of £785 million between 2011-12 – 2014-15 for the Disabled Facilities Grant which is administered by local authorities in England and provides adaptations to the homes of disabled people to help them to live as independently as possible in their own home. A further £220 million will be made available in 2015-16.

Since 2011-12, the Government has funded FirstStop with over £2 million to provide a national information and advice service to older people, their families and carers on housing, care and finance.