Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the effect of transferring the costs of upgrading or replacing the UK's nuclear deterrent from the Ministry of Defence to another Government accounting department; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The like for like replacement of the nuclear submarine fleet is at the heart of the most recent SDSR and the funding settlement that accompanied it at SR15.
The Government has no plans to transfer the costs of upgrading or replacing the UK's nuclear deterrent from the Ministry of Defence to another Government accounting department at this time.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Bus Services Act 2017, when he plans to issue the guidance and regulations on audio-visual next stop announcements.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Bus Services Act 2017 incorporates powers to introduce an Accessible Information Requirement, mandating the provision of audible and visible information on local bus services in Great Britain.
We are currently working with stakeholders to develop the detail of the requirement, including timescales for its implementation, with a view to consulting publicly in 2018. Following consideration of the consultation responses, we expect to publish Regulations and accompanying guidance when the Parliamentary timetable permits.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to increase penalties for drivers of internal combustion engine vehicles who park in bays reserved for electric vehicle charging.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Secretary of State is responsible for parking penalties outside London, where local authorities can already penalise the parking of vehicles in restricted places with penalties of up to £70. There are no plans to raise them at present.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the efficacy of music therapy as a treatment, and whether he plans to extend its availability on the NHS.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has considered the contribution that music therapy can make as a treatment, and has made recommendations relating to its use in a number of clinical guidelines, including those on psychosis and schizophrenia in children and young people, and on supporting people with dementia.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the efficacy of music therapy in increasing students' educational attainment.
Answered by Nick Gibb
We have not made an assessment on the efficacy of music therapy in increasing students’ educational attainment.
Research shows however that Music education may have a positive cognitive impact, particularly amongst primary school pupils (Huat See, and Kokotsaki, 2017).
Music education is a statutory element of the National Curriculum in key stages 1-3.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what cost-benefit analysis his Department carried out on the measures to restrict pavement parking in the Pavement Parking Bill 2015.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department for Transport did not undertake a formal cost-benefit analysis of the measures contained in the Pavement Parking (Protection of Vulnerable Pedestrians) Bill 2015-16. The Department does not routinely undertake cost-benefit analysis of Private Members’ Bills.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to update the regulatory provisions governing nuclear waste in light of recent natural science evidence concerning the health effects of low-ionizing radiation.
Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford
Regulatory provisions for radioactive substances activities, including the accumulation and management of radioactive waste, are contained in Schedule 23 of the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016.
On 5 October the government published draft updates to Schedule 23 in “Consultation on Revised requirements for radiological protection: regulation of public exposures and the justification of practices”. The proposals are based on current scientific evidence, as reflected in the latest safety standards issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the requirements of the corresponding Euratom Basic Safety Standards Directive, which enters into force in 2018.
The public consultation closed on 15 November. Once the consultation responses have been considered, and subject to parliamentary timetables, updated regulations will be laid before this House in 2018.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to review the sanctions available to GP practices against patients who repeatedly do not attend appointments.
Answered by Steve Brine
The National Health Service Constitution states that patients are responsible for keeping appointments or cancelling them within a reasonable time. At present there are no sanctions available for general practitioner practices to manage repeated failure to attend appointments. There are no plans at present to review this.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of patients who do not attend hospital appointments in each of the last 12 months.
Answered by Philip Dunne
This information is not held centrally.
Asked by: Iain Stewart (Conservative - Milton Keynes South)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Revenue and Customs applies a de minimis limit for investigating allegations of fraud.
Answered by Mel Stride - Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not apply a de minimis limit to the investigation of fraud.