Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to improve the identification of and support for speech, language, and communications needs, as part of the Green paper on transforming children and young people's mental health provision.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Government introduced, through the Children and Families Act 2014, a framework for ensuring that children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including those with speech, language and communication needs (SLCN), are identified early and receive the support they require to succeed in education and successfully move into independent adult life.
For a number of years, the Department has also funded I CAN, on behalf of The Communication Trust, and several other organisations, to produce materials for use by schools and colleges. These materials and resources are freely available online on the SEND and Education Training Foundation Gateways.
The Department of Health and Social Care is also working with the Department and Public Health England to enable early years professionals to identify and support children’s early speech, language and communication needs.
The Department is currently considering the responses to the consultation on the green paper ‘Transforming Children and Young People’s Mental Health Provision’. It will be determined how new mental health support teams, proposed in the green paper, can work with other professionals such as speech and language therapists, including support of delivering schools responsibilities for pupils with SEND. The aim is to improve identification of mental health needs, and to provide more comprehensive support for their full range of needs.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will list the number of registered diabetics in each clinical commissioning group area.
Answered by Steve Brine
Information is not available in the format requested.
The number of patients aged 17 or over with diabetes mellitus, by clinical commissioning group in England for 2016-17 can be found in the attached table.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
What recent assessment she has made of the level of growth in the Northern Ireland economy.
Answered by Karen Bradley
This government has presided over a period where Economic output in Northern Ireland continues to rise, and the export market has rapidly expanded. Unemployment levels are close to an all-time low, and 52,000 more people are in work compared to 2010. The recent announcement by Bombardier is yet another example of growth in the economy.
In my engagements across Northern Ireland I am consistently impressed by the talent and expertise on offer. However, there are crucial economic challenges to address and a restored Executive is essential to make the key strategic decisions needed to advance the Northern Ireland Economy.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to tackle cyclists cycling on pavements.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Cycling on the pavement (“footway”) is an offence under Section 72 of the Highways Act 1835. Enforcement is a matter for the Police who are able to issue a Fixed Penalty Notice of £50 or can choose to prosecute offenders with a maximum fine of £500.
Like all road users, cyclists have a duty to behave in a safe and responsible manner, and this is reflected in the Highway Code's rules for cyclists.
On 9 March the Department published a Call for Evidence into how to improve road safety for pedestrians and cyclists, in order to support the Government ambition to make cycling and walking a natural choice for shorter journeys.
This consultation is open until 1 June and is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/cycling-and-walking-investment-strategy-cwis-safety-review
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Department for Education:
What steps his Department is taking to improve support for children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Answered by Nadhim Zahawi
We have been strengthening the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities system through the biggest programme of reforms in a generation. We have legislated to improve the system and have invested £341 million since 2014 to help ensure the reforms make a real difference. We will continue to build on this, so that every child has the chance to fulfil their potential.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
What recent assessment he has made of diplomatic relations with Oman.
Answered by Alistair Burt
2017 was a very positive year for UK-Oman relations. As the Foreign Secretary made clear on his visit in December, Oman is a friend and a longstanding British ally with shared interests across diplomatic, economic and security matters. We are working more closely than ever across these fields.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the ability of South Sudan to maintain its vaccine programme after the global polio eradication initiative in that country has been wound down.
Answered by Rory Stewart
South Sudan has been polio free since June 2009. The UK supports the eradication of polio globally through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), which has reduced polio cases by more than 99% since its launch in 1988. In preparation for the world to be certified polio-free and the corresponding ending of GPEI funding, GPEI is supporting countries to plan for this transition and ensure that investments made to eradicate polio contribute to future health goals. Given the fragile situation, South Sudan has been selected as one of 16 countries who are receiving additional in-country technical assistance for transition planning and the UK-led Health Pooled Fund, South Sudan’s largest health programme, is improving access to healthcare including routine immunisations for children. For South Sudan to remain polio-free, these efforts are focussing on increasing vaccination coverage and maintaining essential surveillance systems.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will list by police force area the (a) number of officers of superintendent rank or above in each local force and (b) proportion of each local police force's warranted strength that is of superintendent rank or above.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The Home Office collects and publishes statistics on the number of police officers employed by each police force in England and Wales on a bi-annual basis. These data are published in the ‘Police workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletins, which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-31-march-2017
Data on the number of police officers by rank and by police force area, as at 31 March each year, can be found in the Open Data Tables accompanying the main release: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/629362/open-data-table-police-workforce.ods
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of expected traffic volumes on the M1 between junctions 21 and 22 in Leicestershire over the next 10 years.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The section between junction 21and 21a is busy because of the confluence between strategic traffic on the M1, regional flows between the M1 and M6 using the M69 and local traffic accessing Leicester.
There has been no specific 10 year assessment made of traffic volumes on the M1 between J21 - 22. However, the M1 section between J19 – 23a is the 8th busiest area within the London to Scotland East route strategy, and the 84th nationally.
Asked by: Edward Argar (Conservative - Charnwood)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he or Ministers of his Department have had with representatives of the (a) insurance, (b) mortgage and (c) banking industry on updating their standard terms and conditions to reflect increased life expectancy and later retirement and pension ages.
Answered by Steve Barclay - Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Treasury Ministers meet regularly with representatives from the insurance, mortgage and banking industries on a variety of issues. However, there have been no discussions of the effect that increased longevity might have on the terms and conditions for financial products. The terms and conditions of products are a commercial matter for firms. If firms’ terms and conditions are incorrect or could be misleading to consumers, this is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority.