Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress he has made on the development of a state-backed indemnity scheme for GPs.
Answered by Philip Dunne
We recognise that the rising cost of indemnity cover is a source of concern for GPs. That is why, in October 2017, the Secretary of State announced that the Government would develop a state-backed indemnity scheme for general practice in England. This complex piece of work is at an early stage. We are working with GP representatives and others to develop our plans over the next 12-18 months.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the 2014 National Study of Health and Wellbeing data will be made available through the UK data service for secondary research.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
A version of the dataset has been transferred to the United Kingdom data service. NHS Digital anticipates it will be made available for researchers to apply for within the month of November 2017, subject to the Independent Group Advising on the Release of Data for NHS Digital recommending approval of the proposed terms and conditions for release.
Individual researchers will then need to apply for access to the data and these applications will be reviewed by NHS Digital. NHS Digital has applied additional disclosure control measures to ensure the privacy of individuals is protected while looking to ensure maximum use to be made of these valuable, publicly funded data collections.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department or its agencies have submitted any bids for Libor funding in any of the last five years.
Answered by Philip Dunne
Libor funding guidance states that only the following types of organisation are eligible to apply:
- a registered charity;
- a Community Interest Company; or
- an Armed Forces unit with a Unit Identification Number (UIN).
Information and guidance about Libor applications can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/libor-funding-applications
All successful Libor bids can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/armed-forces-covenant-libor-fund-successful-projects
and
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department has made on the formal review of the Debt and Mental Health Evidence Form which was announced by the Prime Minister in January 2017.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The Department is working with the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute to review the practice of general practitioners (GPs) charging patients for completing Mental Health Evidence Forms. The review was launched at a roundtable discussion at No. 10 in July and a review group has been established with representation from the financial and credit sectors, GPs and the debt advice sector. The review is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has reviewed the Law Commission's review of the Mental Capacity Act and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
Answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
The Department is considering the Law Commission’s report and recommendations and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take following the removal of the target allocation for public health spending to assist (a) Plymouth City Council and (b) others disadvantaged in public health spend allocations to move towards fair share allocations.
Answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
The Department for Communities and Local Government consulted recently on whether the public health grant should be replaced by income from local authorities’ retained business rates. We will review the question of target allocations of funding for public health in the light of the outcome of that consultation.