Asked by: Jason McCartney (Conservative - Colne Valley)
Question
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what plans he has to devolve further powers to rural areas.
Answered by Greg Clark
Devolution to local areas is important to this Government and we have a proud record - the Localism Act, the creation of Local Enterprise Partnerships, the Local Government Finance Act, and the devolution of at least £12bn through Growth Deals which provide all areas the country to build on their economic potential.
The Chancellor also announced further devolution to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which will benefit both rural and urban areas in West Yorkshire including Colne Valley.
Asked by: Jason McCartney (Conservative - Colne Valley)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what comparative assessment he has made of trends in pump petrol prices and oil prices.
Answered by Matt Hancock
Movements in pump prices are primarily driven by crude oil prices; though are also influenced by a range of other factors; including tax, refining capacity, stock levels, distribution costs and retail margins.
The Government has been absolutely clear that it expects changes in crude prices to be passed on fairly to consumers. DECC continuously monitors pump prices, and publish average prices of petrol and diesel every Monday, available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/oil-and-petroleum-products-weekly-statistics.
We have also cut then frozen fuel duty, leaving it 20p lower than previously planned.
DECC analysis has shown that crude price changes are reflected in pump prices and suggests that on average, at a national level, sustained crude price changes are fully passed through into pump prices within 6-7 weeks; though much of the change is passed through earlier. The analysis found no evidence to suggest there is a difference in pass-through times between crude price rises and falls.
Asked by: Jason McCartney (Conservative - Colne Valley)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to raise consumers' awareness of their rights following poor service from fact-checking websites for Government-provided services such as the EHIC card.
Answered by Jo Swinson
As the focal point of delivery of all government-funded consumer advice and information, the Citizens Advice Service is a one stop shop where consumers can find advice about their rights from a team of consumer advice experts but if they feel they have had poor service from a fact checking websites.
Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland can advise on consumers’ rights under the Consumer Protection from unfair Trading Regulations (CPRs). These regulations set out broad rules outlining when commercial practices are unfair. These fall into three main categories:
Consumers can contact Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 03454 04 05 06 or use the website: www.adviceguide.org.uk.
In addition, anyone wishing to report a copycat website can find information on GOV.UK - Avoid and report Internet Scams and Phishing, which provides information for common services affected including tax and passports.
As the member for Colne Valley was advised by my right honourable Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 26th February, the Government is working with search engine providers and others such as the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) to address the problems that can arise from misleading / copycat websites in relation to official government online services.
The Advertising Standards Associations (ASA) has responsibility for ensuring compliance with the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing. Complaints about misleading advertisements can be made through ASA’s website at: www.asa.org.uk.
However, the best place to access official government services remains GOV.UK, the single website for government. Action is taken against websites that pass themselves off as Government sites, or claim to be acting on behalf of the Government when they are not. Last year four search warrants were executed on properties in England. The operation led to the arrest of five individuals and disrupted the operation of at least 25 copycat websites.
Asked by: Jason McCartney (Conservative - Colne Valley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to stop websites charging for (a) the European Health Insurance Card and (b) other services provided for free by the Government.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
The Government is working with search engine providers to address the problem of websites which are misleading to the public. The Government is also leading work with other bodies such as the National Trading Standards Board (NTSB) to raise public awareness of this issue and ensure enforcement action is taken where appropriate.
Gov.uk, the Government's single web domain, is the best place for the public to find information on Government services.
Asked by: Jason McCartney (Conservative - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any changes are planned to the notification system for those pets killed on the strategic road network after the micro-chipping law comes into force in 2016.
Answered by John Hayes
The Highways Agency is aware that the Animal Welfare Act will be amended to reflect the change to compulsory microchipping of dogs by April 2016.
In advance of this change, the Highways Agency is currently assessing the potential merits of amending contracts to understand the implications of including mandatory identification and recording of domestic animals found on the strategic road network, including contacting pet owners where possible and advising relevant registration organisations.
Asked by: Jason McCartney (Conservative - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what procedure exists for notifying owners of pets that are killed on the strategic road network.
Answered by John Hayes
The Highways Agency Network Management Manual (2009) sets out procedures for notifying owners of canines that are killed on the strategic road network for a number of Highways Agency area maintenance contracts. These contracts are due to be phased out which will result in a different approach in dealing with canine fatalities across the strategic road network as the replacement contracts no longer mandate that canine fatalities are scanned, identified or the owners contacted.
Consequently, the Highways Agency is currently assessing the potential merits of amending contracts to understand the implications of including mandatory identification and recording of domestic animals found on the strategic road network, including contacting pet owners where possible and advising relevant registration organisations.
Asked by: Jason McCartney (Conservative - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending contracts with Highways Agency's contractors to include (a) the compulsory scanning of all domestic animals for micro-chip identification, (b) recording pet identifications and (c) contacting the owners of the pet upon the death of a domestic animal on the road network.
Answered by John Hayes
The Highways Agency is currently assessing the potential merits of amending contracts to understand the implications of including mandatory identification and recording of domestic animals found on the strategic road network, including contacting pet owners where possible and advising relevant registration organisations.
Asked by: Jason McCartney (Conservative - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2014 to Question 217116, which clinical commissioning groups were consulted about the proposed changes to the commissioning of renal services; and in what form such consultation took place.
Answered by Jane Ellison
Consultation both with clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and the wider public concerning the transfer of commissioning responsibility of Renal Dialysis from NHS England to CCGs is ongoing.
The Department has launched a public consultation which closes on 9 January 2015. The consultation considers how to transfer commissioning responsibility and what would need to happen to ensure a smooth transition and maintain both service standards and patient safety. All CCGs are invited to comment on the proposed changes.
Some clinical commissioners were consulted in their roles as part of the Task and Finish group, as referenced in my previous answer of 10 December, 217116.
Asked by: Jason McCartney (Conservative - Colne Valley)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, if he will (a) reassess and (b) increase the amount of parliamentary time allocated for Private Members' Bills.
Answered by Lord Hague of Richmond
No. In July 2012 the House voted against a proposal to consider Private Members' bills on Tuesday evenings, following a report from the Procedure Committee on Sittings of the House. In its subsequent report on Private Members' bills, the Committee assessed the timing of consideration for these bills but did not recommend a significant increase in the total amount of time available.
Asked by: Jason McCartney (Conservative - Colne Valley)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2014 to Question 215404, which organisations and individuals were consulted by NHS England when it was developing its proposal to move commissioning of dialysis to clinical commissioning groups; and what the contents were of the submissions received in response to that consultation.
Answered by Jane Ellison
NHS England put its proposals for transferring commissioning responsibility for renal dialysis services and morbid obesity surgery services from NHS England to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to the Prescribed Specialised Services Advisory Group in September 2014. These proposals were developed in partnership with the NHS Commissioning Assembly Task and Finish Group on Specialised Service commissioning. The Task and Finish Group is made of clinical commissioners from around the country.
The Task and Finish group was asked by NHS England to advise on development of proposals for enhancing specialised service commissioning in 2015-16, specifically proposals that would enable improved pathway integrity. NHS England presented the proposed direction of travel for specialised commissioning in 2015-16 to the chairs of Clinical Reference Groups earlier in the year.
NHS England has advised that they are in dialogue with key stakeholders about both the opportunities and challenges of transferring commissioning responsibility for renal services from NHS England to CCGs.