Asked by: Neil Carmichael (Conservative - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to promote the training of HGV drivers; and what steps he is taking to encourage young people to enter the logistics industry in support of the manufacturing, engineering, food production and retail sectors.
Answered by Claire Perry
We have received representations from the logistics industry about a shortage of HGV drivers. We are currently having discussions with other Departments and stakeholders in logistics to see what can be done to boost the number of drivers entering the industry. The Skills Funding Agency already provides funding to support driver training courses.
Asked by: Neil Carmichael (Conservative - Stroud)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to promote patient choice.
Answered by George Freeman
We are committed to patients having greater choice and control over their healthcare, as this can help drive up standards and improve patient care.
We believe that patient empowerment is vital to the National Health Service in the 21st century. This Government is committed to continuing to develop digital platforms to enable this to happen, such as My NHS and the NHS e-Referral Service.
Asked by: Neil Carmichael (Conservative - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's report on Improving Permanence for Looked After Children, published in September 2013, what assessment she has made of the evidence from case studies cited on page 40 of that report, that local authorities can make significant financial savings through effective support for a child returning home from care; and if she will take full account of that evidence in her forthcoming response to the consultation on looked-after children.
Answered by Edward Timpson
In 2013 the Department for Education consulted on a range of proposals to improve permanence for looked after children. The Department will take into account a range of evidence, including the financial case for improved practice in local authorities, to deciding how best to proceed and will publish a formal response later this year. The Government has also commissioned the National Children’s Bureau and the Centre for Child and Family Research at Loughborough University to deliver an action research project. The project is working with frontline practitioners and families to support improved practice in returning children home, and includes a focus on developing cost-effective services that help support children to return home successfully from care.
Asked by: Neil Carmichael (Conservative - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to improve and maintain flood defences along the Severn Estuary.
Answered by Dan Rogerson
During this financial year the Environment Agency will invest £380,000 in maintaining flood defences and structures on the Severn Estuary in Gloucestershire. An additional £2 million will be invested to repair flood defences and structures damaged during the winter floods.
The Severn Estuary Flood Risk Management Strategy identified a need for around £58 million of funding in Gloucestershire over the next 100 years to maintain or improve flood defences in the Estuary.
Asked by: Neil Carmichael (Conservative - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what conclusions he has drawn from the 3D Printer Project Report for enriching teaching across STEM and Design subjects in schools.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The schools involved in the 2012-13 pilot 3D Printer Project explored innovative ways of teaching STEM subjects, stimulating pupil interest and enriching the curriculum. Participating schools explored the potential benefits and challenges of using this technology in the curriculum and some shared their experiences with other schools wishing to introduce 3D printers. As set out in the report, feedback confirmed that 3D printers have significant potential as a teaching resource and can have a positive impact on pupil engagement and learning.
In October the Secretary of State for Education commissioned a further 3D Printer Project, working with the Design and Technology Association and 42 teaching school alliances, to further develop our understanding of the educational opportunities offered by 3D printers. Like the pilot project, it is exploring new ways of teaching STEM subjects using a 3D printer, but with an emphasis on using it in ways that enhance learning over other approaches. The schools involved will develop and deliver continuous professional development (CPD) on using a 3D printer to teach STEM subjects to teachers across their teaching school alliances. We plan to make the best of the STEM teaching and CPD resources developed by the participants available to schools across England.