Tag: Virendra Sharma

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-05-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the likelihood that the UK would lose access to use of the European Arrest Warrant in the event of a vote to leave the EU.

James Brokenshire

As set out in the Government’s White Paper on the process for withdrawing from the European Union, should the UK leave the EU, any arrangements for future cooperation under measures such as the European Arrest Warrant, would be curtailed. Aside from those States that are not in the EU but are in the Schengen border-free area, there are no precedents for non-Members being able to cooperate with these mechanisms. Even Switzerland, for example, does not have an equivalent to the European Arrest Warrant. Norway and Iceland are negotiating an agreement similar to the EAW, but that includes the option for countries to continue to refuse to surrender their own nationals. Negotiation of that deal started in 2001 and it has not yet entered into force.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-06-20.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will review the rate of VAT levied on over-the-counter medicines; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke

VAT is a broad based tax on consumption, with the twenty per cent standard rate applying to most goods and services.

A zero rate of VAT is applied to drugs provided on prescription and dispensed by a dispensing chemist.

The Chancellor keeps all tax policy under review but has no plans to change the VAT treatment of medicines.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-01-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of delays in the publication of the hepatitis C framework on (a) all people and (b) members of the South Asian population in England with hepatitis C.

Jane Ellison

No such assessment has been made.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-02-23.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department’s wellness strategy is.

Harriett Baldwin

HM Treasury takes the wellness of its staff seriously. Wellness is incorporated within the Treasury’s Health, Safety and Wellbeing policy.

In 2015/16 the following wellness initiatives were given priority:

• reducing levels of sickness absence relating to Mental and Behavioural Disorders (including stress, depression, anxiety) and Musculoskeletal Disorders;

• increasing the usage of the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP); and

  In addition the Treasury has signed up to two key external initiatives:

• the Public Health Responsibility Deal. Every April the Treasury reports to the Dept of Health on the activities carried out to meet the six pledges signed up to; and

• the ‘Time to Change’ pledge. Following this a Mental Wellbeing Network was set up and a range of associated activities take place focusing on improving the mental wellbeing of Treasury employees.

  In addition we support and provide reasonable adjustments for a variety of physical and mental conditions and requirements.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her Department’s wellness strategy is.

Karen Bradley

The Home Office Health and Wellbeing Strategy was launched in February 2015. This sets out three key aims: that every member of staff understands that their health and wellbeing matters; that health and wellbeing is at the centre of change and learning and development programmes and that structural, cultural and demographic factors affecting attendance in the workplace are identified and addressed as appropriate. The strategy is underpinned by a range of modern HR policies and practical advice and services to enhance and promote health and wellbeing such as the employee assistance programme and occupational health services. We also support groups such as ‘Break the Stigma’ and other national mental health campaigns.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what his Department’s wellness strategy is.

Alun Cairns

The Wales Office is not an employer in its own right and staff are subject to Ministry of Justice (MOJ) policies for issues such as wellness.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the (a) policy and (b) other responsibilities are of each special adviser in her Department.

Nick Gibb

All of the special advisers support the Secretary of State and Ministerial team across the full range of departmental business, reflecting the role description set out in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/468340/code_of_conduct_for_special_advisers_-_15_october_2015_final.pdf

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Leader of the House, what the (a) policy and (b) other responsibilities are of each special adviser in his Office.

Chris Grayling

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 29 February 2016, to Question UIN 27946.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-03-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2016 to Question 25277, when he expects the memorandum of understanding to be agreed.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Home Office, Civil Aviation Authority and the Police are currently engaged in discussions regarding the memorandum of understanding, a final document will be agreed and signed by all parties shortly.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-05-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of NHS blood donation services.

Jane Ellison

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is operationally responsible for providing a safe and reliable supply of blood, blood products and expertise to hospitals in England. Each year, donors voluntarily give around 1.7 million units of blood to ensure that hospitals receive the 6,000 blood donations they need every day, to treat patients. There has not been a shortage of blood for many years.

NHSBT recruits around 200,000 new donors each year to replace those who can no longer donate for reasons such as ill health, pregnancy or foreign travel.

To meet an on-going overall drop in demand but a more complex need for specific blood groups, NHSBT is increasing donation from O negative blood donors, A negative platelet donors and donors from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. To increase blood donation, NHSBT recently launched a BAME toolkit to be used by Members of Parliament seeking to increase blood and organ donors in their constituencies.

The toolkit can be found at:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/i5d5f93ppiqys38/AAB_Q44nwfOiRFMYUx9qKlH8a?dl=0

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