Asked by: Andrew Bingham (Conservative - High Peak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many registered midwives were employed per 1,000 births in (a) 1980, (b) 1990, (c) 2000, (d) 2010 and (e) the latest year for which figures are available.
Answered by Dan Poulter
There are now 1,158 additional whole time equivalent registered midwives compared to 2010. The following table shows the number of registered midwives per 1,000 births for each of the years requested.
Number of registered midwives per 1,000 births in England as at 30 September for each specified year
1980[1] | 1990 | 20002 | 20102 | 20132 | |
Registered midwives per 1,000 births | 21.0 | 29.7 | 30.7 | 29.1 | 31.9 |
Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre
Notes:
1 Prior to 1982, midwife data is taken from the Health and Personal Social Services Statistics for England (HPSSS). Data from HPSSS contains hospital-based staff only and is therefore not comparable with later years.
2 A new system of occupation coding for NHS non-medical staff was introduced in 1995. The new codes classified staff according to what they do rather than the terms and conditions under which they are employed. Figures based on new occupation codes are not directly comparable with those based on the old payscale classification, therefore figures since 1995 are not directly comparable with earlier years.
3 Figures are calculated on the numbers of all still and live births in England for each specified year.
4 Figures are calculated on the full time equivalent number of registered midwives. Midwife data is as at 30 September each year.
5 Figures are rounded to one decimal place.
6 These statistics relate to the contracted positions within English NHS organisations and may include those where the person assigned to the position is temporarily absent, for example on maternity leave.
Asked by: Andrew Bingham (Conservative - High Peak)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the availability of safe, affordable areas for heavy goods vehicle drivers to park and rest at night and access to toilet facilities and good quality food; and if he will take steps to ensure that capacity in such facilities is in line with demand.
Answered by Claire Perry
A survey conducted for the Department in 2010-11 found there were over 270 parking areas within five kilometres of the Strategic Route Network, including Motorway and Trunk Road Service Areas. Facilities varied but most offered toilets and food. The survey also found that parking areas were on average full to 61% of capacity, while 41% of heavy goods vehicles were parked elsewhere.
It is Government policy that the provision of parking areas is a matter for local authorities and the private sector, who are best placed to judge local traffic conditions and needs. Parking charges are also a matter for the commercial judgement of parking operators but all Motorway Service Areas are required by the Department to offer two hours’ free parking to all vehicles.
Asked by: Andrew Bingham (Conservative - High Peak)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the integrity of the marketing of IVA products; and what steps his Department is taking to regulate that practice.
Answered by Jo Swinson
BIS officials regularly discuss the operation of Individual Voluntary Arrangements with creditors, advice bodies and others with an interest in the process and a Protocol is in place to help raise standards in this area.
Where an insolvency practitioner appears to be connected to any instance of inappropriate marketing, this could be a breach of the Code of Ethics for insolvency practitioners and is referred to the appropriate authorising body. The Insolvency Service also considers whether if companies are giving misleading or inaccurate information, action to wind them up in the public interest would be appropriate. In 2013, eight companies were wound up in the public interest because of concerns about misleading marketing.
Regulation of advertising rests with the Advertising Standards Authority.
Asked by: Andrew Bingham (Conservative - High Peak)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many (a) large scale, (b) small scale and (c) micro-scale hydroelectric schemes are in operation in (i) the High Peak, (ii) England and (iii) the UK.
Answered by Amber Rudd
The table below shows the number of hydroelectric schemes in the High Peak, England and UK, as at the end of 2012. Data as at the end of 2013 will be available on 25 September 2014. DECC does not distinguish between small and micro-scale hydro-electricity.
High Peak | England | UK | |
Large-scale (>5 MW) | 0 | 1 | 55 |
Small-scale (>= 5 MW) | 6 | 205 | 614 |
England and UK total hydro figures in Renewable electricity in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the regions of England in 2012, Energy Trends September 2013, available at:
Asked by: Andrew Bingham (Conservative - High Peak)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of the UK's (a) total and (b) renewable energy generating capacity is provided by hydroelectric power stations.
Answered by Amber Rudd
At the end of 2014 Q1, hydro-electricity represented 8.2 per cent of UK renewable electricity capacity, and 1.8 per cent of all generating capacity.
Source:
Hydro and renewable electricity capacity from table ET 6.1, available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-trends-section-6-renewables
Total generating capacity (end-2012) from table DUKES 5.12, available at:
Asked by: Andrew Bingham (Conservative - High Peak)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that foreign drivers are subject to the same penalties as British drivers upon failure to produce relevant CPC documentation.
Answered by Claire Perry
All professional drivers of lorries, buses and coaches from EU member states are required to produce the relevant CPC documentation when requested by enforcement officers. I can confirm that non-UK drivers from EU member states are subject to the same penalties as their British counterparts should they fail to do so.
Asked by: Andrew Bingham (Conservative - High Peak)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of village or neighbourhood plans; and how many such plan have been lodged and accepted.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
Neighbourhood planning, for the first time, gives residents and individuals in businesses the opportunity to produce neighbourhood plans that have real statutory weight in the planning system and grant planning permission for development they want to see through neighbourhood development orders (including community right to build orders). Over 1,100 communities have taken the first steps towards producing a neighbourhood plan for their area and there has been overwhelming support for neighbourhood plans at the 27 local referendums held so far. The first 19 neighbourhood plans are now in force (made) and are part of the development plan for the area. Planning applications will be determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
Asked by: Andrew Bingham (Conservative - High Peak)
Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Overseas Business Risk service is better shared with and promoted to businesses looking to export.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The Overseas Business Risk (OBR) service is promoted as part of UK Trade and Investment’s (UKTI) overall offer to UK businesses looking to develop their exports. This is done through UKTI’s network which includes International Trade Advisers, Sectoral and Overseas teams. Promotion material, such as UKTI’s First Class Export Pack, also aims to ensure UK business is aware of the service alongside outreach events and the use of social media. The OBR country pages on the GOV.UK domain are refreshed on a regular basis to provide up-to-date intelligence to UK business. A Joint Advisory Group, with very senior business representation, contributes to the development and promotion of this service.
Asked by: Andrew Bingham (Conservative - High Peak)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department gives on the weight that should be given to a neighbourhood or village plan that has been submitted to a planning authority when considering planning applications.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
Planning applications are determined in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. An emerging neighbourhood plan may be a material consideration. The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the weight that may be given to emerging plans in decision taking. We have set out in planning guidance where circumstances may justify the refusal of planning permission on the grounds that an application would be premature in relation to the emerging Local or neighbourhood plan. Any weight a relevant policy could carry in determining a planning application remains with the decision maker.
Asked by: Andrew Bingham (Conservative - High Peak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the number of fybromyalgia sufferers in the UK.
Answered by Norman Lamb
The Department has made no estimate of the number of fibromyalgia sufferers in the United Kingdom. As the condition is poorly understood and there is not specific diagnostic test, it is difficult to make a reliable estimate
Although there is no cure for fibromyalgia, some treatments can ease symptoms and support improved quality of life for patients. The treatments offered will depend on the severity of a patient’s condition, but may include: pharmacological pain relief; physiotherapy; dietary and exercise advice; counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy; and self-management programmes which aim to give patients the skills and confidence to manage their conditions more effectively. There are also a number of NHS Trusts that offer specialist fibromyalgia clinics, such the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath, which patients can access on referral from the clinician responsible for their care.
In each of the last three years, the Department’s National Institute for Health Research has spent £0.1 million on fibromyalgia research.