Tag: Virendra Sharma

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-06-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2016 to Question 39301, what systems are in place for departments and funds spending official development assistance (ODA) to provide accurate and timely information on their ODA spending to her Department.

Mr Nick Hurd

All departments or funds spending official development assistance (ODA) are responsible for ensuring they provide accurate and timely information on their ODA to the Department for International Development (DFID). DFID provides on-going support on data collection, and collates the information for in-year monitoring of ODA and the final reporting of UK ODA statistics.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2015-12-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 23 November 2015 to Question 16399, what discussions he has had with the Accelerated Access Review team on biosimilars medicines; and whether he has been given assurance that the final report will make specific recommendations on their use.

George Freeman

In accordance with the terms of reference the Accelerated Access Review is not excluding any particular type or class of medicine, but is creating a framework through which to accelerate access for National Health Service patients to innovative health technologies including biosimilar medicines where appropriate.

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

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) policy and (b) other responsibilities are of each special adviser in his Department.

Harriett Baldwin

The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers sets out the role of special advisers and describes the range of activities they may undertake. Copies of the Code of Conduct are available in the Libraries of the House and on-line at

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 Secretary of State for Health, what his Department’s wellness strategy is.

Jane Ellison

The Department has a health and well-being programme developed in partnership with trade union representatives, staff networks and the sports and social club.

The Department signposts staff to sources of help and support, such as the employee assistance programme, occupational health provider and its own bank of mental health first-aiders.

The content and impact of the programme is kept under review by a stakeholder group made up of representatives from the department and external partners, such as the Charity for Civil Servants and the Corporate Alliance Against Domestic Violence.

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

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

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Department is committed to the health and wellbeing of its staff and has developed a wellbeing strategy with a ‘5 steps to improve wellbeing’ approach.

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

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

Michael Fallon

Special Advisers provide policy, political, and communications advice to Ministers, across the business of the Department in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

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

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

Mike Penning

The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers sets out the role of special advisers and describes the range of activities they may undertake. Copies of the Code of Conduct are available in the Library of the House and online at

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 2016-03-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has sought advice on the re-classification of powerful handheld lasers as offensive weapons since 14 February 2016; whether she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to so classify those lasers in the current Parliament.

Mike Penning

The sale and use of laser pointers is an issue that cuts across a number of Government Departments, including the Home Office, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Department of Health and the Department for Transport.

The Home Office is working closely with the other interested Departments and we are looking at a number of options.

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.