Asked by: Fiona Onasanya (Independent - Peterborough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what his policy is on police forces passing to his Department information on victims of trafficking offences who are in the UK unlawfully in order to facilitate their deportation.
Answered by Nick Hurd
The police priority is to protect victims and investigate crime and forces are extremely careful about doing anything to deter victims from reporting crime. Victims of crime should be treated as victims first and foremost. Each case is considered very carefully but there will be instances where police need to exchange information with the Home Office.
When individuals are found to have no basis in the UK, Immigration Enforcement’s (IE) immediate priority is to ensure that all vulnerable migrants receive the support and assistance they need regardless of their immigration status.
Asked by: Fiona Onasanya (Independent - Peterborough)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what are the minimum standards of (a) physical accommodation and (b) assistance G4S are required to provide to asylum seekers under the terms of their contract with the Home Office.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
All accommodation providers are required to provide safe, habitable, fit for purpose and correctly equipped accommodation that complies with the Decent Homes Standard in addition to standards outlined in relevant national or local housing legislation. Where providers are found not to meet these standards, appropriate action is taken to hold providers to account and resolve concerns.
Accommodation providers are also contractually required to take account of any particular circumstances and vulnerability of those that they transport and accommodate. The definition of vulnerability in the contracts is the same as the one set out in the 2005 Regulations.
The particular circumstances of other supported asylum seekers and their dependants who may have other particular vulnerabilities are also carefully considered, for example because they have care needs or health problems that require a need for a specific type of accommodation or accommodation in a particular location.
Further details regarding these policies can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-accommodation-requests-policy
https://horizon.fcos.gsi.gov.uk/file-wrapper/asylum-seekers-care-needs
https://horizon.fcos.gsi.gov.uk/file-wrapper/healthcare-needs-and-pregnancy-dispersal-guidance
The statement of Requirements for the services delivered by the accommoda-tion providers can be found at;
https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive/contract/503107/
Asked by: Fiona Onasanya (Independent - Peterborough)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he has taken to tackle racism in grassroots football.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
We are committed to combating racism in any sport. Government's sport and physical activity strategy ‘Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation’ has diversity and inclusion at its heart. I continue to meet regularly with decision-makers to check on the progress football is making collectively to tackle discrimination in all its forms. The Department supports the Football Association’s work led by their Inclusion Advisory Board and is committed to investing £2 million, through Sport England, towards Football Association coaching bursary schemes. Grassroots football also receives support from our national sport council, Sport England, who provide free guidance for running a club through its "Club Matters" programme, to help clubs become inclusive. There are 11063 Club Matters registered football clubs.
Asked by: Fiona Onasanya (Independent - Peterborough)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department has taken to support grassroots football organisations in tackling racism.
Answered by Tracey Crouch
Our aim is to get more children and young people playing football and volunteering in the game and the 2018 World Cup in Russia promises to be a great spectacle for inspiring young people to take up and remain in the sport. Through the year-on-year investment, we will be funding grassroots programmes in schools and clubs and in the provision of new facilities and all-weather pitches that encourage greater levels of participation up to, during and after the World Cup.
The Government is committed to ensuring that all children and young people, particularly those who are currently least active or from under-represented groups, have the best opportunities to engage in sport and physical activity.
Asked by: Fiona Onasanya (Independent - Peterborough)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of victim support officers.
Answered by Phillip Lee
Victim Liaison Officers play a key role in supporting victims of crime.
The National Probation Service recently reviewed the number of Victim Liaison Officers. The work was completed in November 2017.
The review we have conducted on the impact of probation reform on the Victim Liaison Officer service has allowed us to robustly assess demand and has led to an increase from 169 to 189 Victim Liaison Officers.
Asked by: Fiona Onasanya (Independent - Peterborough)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of female prisoners.
Answered by Phillip Lee
We are committed to making sure that as many women as possible are effectively rehabilitated in the community, to better protect the public and deliver better outcomes for female offenders and their families. We have committed to producing a Female Offender Strategy, which will set out how we can do more in the community so custody is only used when absolutely necessary.
Asked by: Fiona Onasanya (Independent - Peterborough)
Question to the HM Treasury:
What discussions he has had with Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the potential effect of the roll-out of universal credit on levels of household income?
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
I refer the hon member to my oral answer of earlier today to the hon member for Midlothian (Danielle Rowley).
Asked by: Fiona Onasanya (Independent - Peterborough)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to improve the accessibility and affordability of medicines developed from publicly-funded research.
Answered by Steve Brine
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) assesses medicines on the basis of their value to patients and to the National Health Service. The source of financial support in developing each medicine is not assessed.
The NHS is required by law to ensure that all medicines recommended by NICE are funded within three months, ensuring patient access to cost-effective medicines in England. New medicines are not subject to payments under the voluntary Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme, and NHS England monitors access to innovative medicines via the Innovation Scorecard in recognition of the value this Government places on innovation.
Many countries fund research and development (R&D), often at an early stage. Private companies invest in R&D also. It is not possible to assess the contribution made by public investment or private investment in bringing products to market.
The Government and its partners recently published the response to the Accelerated Access Review which sets out plans to give patients quicker access to life-changing treatments; and, make the United Kingdom the best place in the world for industry to invest and innovate. A total of £86 million of funding has already been committed to make the vision a reality.
Asked by: Fiona Onasanya (Independent - Peterborough)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, for what reason her Department excluded leprosy from UK funding priorities for the neglected tropical diseases programmes.
Answered by Alistair Burt
DFID is a leading donor tackling neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) globally through a range of NTD programmes, activities with the relevant part of WHO and research. DFID works to strengthen health systems, which helps countries to prevent and treat causes of ill health, including leprosy. DFID also funds civil society organisations such as Leprosy Mission England and Wales and LEPRA to diagnose, treat and support those afflicted with leprosy. DFID’s decision to focus on certain NTDs in existing programmes was based on analysis of disease burden, gaps, impact and cost effectiveness.
Our new ASCEND programme to tackle NTDs is being designed to be flexible and could include leprosy if activities can be delivered in an integrated way with focus diseases.
Asked by: Fiona Onasanya (Independent - Peterborough)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which Minister of her Department took the decision to exclude leprosy from the funding priorities for the neglected tropical diseases programmes.
Answered by Alistair Burt
DFID is a leading donor tackling neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) globally through a range of NTD programmes, activities with the relevant part of WHO and research. DFID works to strengthen health systems, which helps countries to prevent and treat causes of ill health, including leprosy. DFID also funds civil society organisations such as Leprosy Mission England and Wales and LEPRA to diagnose, treat and support those afflicted with leprosy. DFID’s decision to focus on certain NTDs in existing programmes was based on analysis of disease burden, gaps, impact and cost effectiveness.
Our new ASCEND programme to tackle NTDs is being designed to be flexible and could include leprosy if activities can be delivered in an integrated way with focus diseases.