Asked by: Will Quince (Conservative - Colchester)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to tackle non-compliance of train companies related to the provision to passengers of information relating to their rights required under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
It is the responsibility of train operators to ensure they are compliant with their legal obligations and, as service providers, that their customers are made aware of their rights to compensation or other redress in cases of service failure or disruption. Train operators’ own compensation schemes provide the main means of redress for passengers.
My Department has worked with the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), industry and consumer groups to identify actions to improve passenger awareness of their rights to claim compensation, including all options open to them. The ORR has also been working with the Rail Delivery Group and individual train operators over the last year to raise their awareness of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (CRA) and their obligations under it.
The ORR is currently reviewing train operators’ compliance with the rules around how refunds must be paid under the CRA.
Asked by: Will Quince (Conservative - Colchester)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to consult with local authorities on whether they can make more places available under Section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
On February 8, the Government announced that we will transfer the specified number of 350 children to the UK under section 67 of the Immigration Act following consultation with local authorities on capacity. We ran a full consultation process, with regional events in every part of England, one in Scotland and one in Wales. Over 400 local authority representatives attended the regional events. Any further places offered by local authorities will be gratefully received, and we will use them to fulfil our existing commitments, including ensuring a fairer distribution of children between local authorities through the National Transfer Scheme.
In July 2016 the Government significantly increased the funding it provides to local authorities who look after unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Local authorities now receive £41,610 per annum year for each unaccompanied asylum-seeking child aged under 16 and £33,215 per annum for unaccompanied asylum-seeking child aged 16 and 17. This represents a 20% and 28% increase in funding respectively. In addition, the Government went further and also increased the funding it provides to local authorities for those young people who turn 18 and go on to attract leaving care support by 33%. We will be working with local authority partners to conduct a review of our funding rates and remain fully committed to maintaining the current rates.
Asked by: Will Quince (Conservative - Colchester)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that children outside of formal camps in Greece and Italy are assessed for relocation to the UK under the Dublin Regulation and Section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
We have seconded an expert to Greece to support these efforts, and are working in conjunction with the Greek authorities, UNHCR and NGOs to identify children whose best interests may be served by a transfer to the UK under section 67 of the Immigration Act, pending the publication of the basis on which the transfers will be made.
In Italy, our long-standing secondee is also working closely with the Italian authorities. Our secondees are also working to support the timely and efficient operation of the Dublin Regulation, in order to ensure that children with close family in the UK can be reunited. Furthermore, the UK has established a £10 million Refugee Children’s Fund to support the needs of vulnerable refugee and migrant children arriving in Europe.
Asked by: Will Quince (Conservative - Colchester)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the eligibility criteria for the 150 remaining places announced under Section 67 of the Immigration Act 2016, and for any further transfers to the UK, will prioritise individual vulnerability and the best interests of children.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
We will announce in due course the basis on which further children will be transferred from Europe to the UK, where it is in their best interests, under section 67 of the Immigration Act to the specified number.
Asked by: Will Quince (Conservative - Colchester)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to proactively identify unaccompanied refugee children and vulnerable families in Greece and Italy who can be brought to join family members in the UK; and what use her Department has made of the discretionary powers under the Dublin III Regulations to take charge of such children and families.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
We are working with the Greek and Italian authorities, UNHCR and non-governmental organisations to identify children from Greece and Italy who may qualify for transfer to the UK. We have seconded an expert to Greece to support these efforts, in addition to our long-standing secondee in Italy. We have established a dedicated Home Office Dublin Regulation team to lead on family reunion cases for unaccompanied children.
We will consider all requests from Member States, including Greece and Italy, to take responsibility for unaccompanied asylum seeking children or other family members where there are grounds to do so under the Dublin Regulation.
Asked by: Will Quince (Conservative - Colchester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that every hospital that has a maternity unit has a bereavement suite.
Answered by Philip Dunne
All bereaved parents should be offered the same high standard of care and support in an appropriate environment.
I am pleased that, thanks in part to this Government’s investment of £35million, nine out of ten maternity units have dedicated bereavement rooms.
Next month I am hosting a roundtable with charities and colleagues to discuss these important issues in greater detail.
Asked by: Will Quince (Conservative - Colchester)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department will publish the new Tobacco Control Plan.
Answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
The Government is developing a new tobacco control plan, which will be published shortly.
Asked by: Will Quince (Conservative - Colchester)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many full-time, non-reservist (a) doctors and (b) nurses are employed by (i) the Army and (ii) his Department.
Answered by Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
As at 1 October 2016, there were the following numbers of personnel:
Profession | Army | Total All Services |
Trained full-time, non-reservist doctors | 321 | 612 |
Trained full-time, non-reservist nurses (including healthcare assistants) | 784 | 1,380 |
Also, as at 1 October 2016, there were 243 civilian doctors (medical practitioners and consultants) and 396 civilian nurses (including healthcare assistants).
Asked by: Will Quince (Conservative - Colchester)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what priority he plans to accord to the future status of EU nationals in the UK during negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by David Jones
The Prime Minister was clear in her speech that she wants to guarantee the status of EU citizens already in Britain, and our nationals in the EU, as early as she can. She told other EU leaders that we could give people the certainty they want straight away, and reach such a deal now. Resolving this challenge as soon as possible is the right and fair thing to do. Other EU leaders recognise the importance of reaching a reciprocal deal. This includes the Polish Prime Minister Szydlo who discussed this with the Prime Minister in November.
Asked by: Will Quince (Conservative - Colchester)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve disability awareness among bus drivers on the use of a ramp when required for disabled passengers.
Answered by Andrew Jones
I am committed to building transport networks that work for everyone, including ensuring that disabled people have the same access to transport services as other members of society.
We are currently developing best practice guidance in delivering disability awareness training. This has been informed by engagement with disabled people and the bus industry, and aims to ensure that bus drivers have the knowledge and skills to provide passengers with the appropriate assistance they need, including the use of ramps for wheelchair users.