Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the National Audit Office Report, Implementing the UK’s exit from the European Union, HC 593, published on 17 November 2017, if he will (a) list the 31 work streams in his Department identified by the National Audit Office in that report, (b) provide summaries of the issues covered and (c) detail the number of Officials of his Department contributing to those work streams.
Answered by Philip Dunne
As indicated in the National Audit Office report, the Department for Exiting the European Union had identified 313 Exit work streams across Government departments, including 31 from this Department. The development of work streams is part of ongoing cross-Government work to develop and assess potential policy options, and to understand the implications of EU Exit.
The report represents a snapshot of the number and type of work stream at the time of publication. Many of these will vary as time goes by, including the Department ones but these will be kept under regular review by all departments. We will not be listing any detail about the Department’s work streams.
We can confirm that we are equipping ourselves with the right people and the right skills across government to make a success of Brexit. This Department has identified the workforce it requires for operational and policy requirements and constantly reviews its capabilities in order to deliver the Government’s commitment to leave the EU and get the very best deal for the United Kingdom.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, with reference to the National Audit Office Report, Implementing the UK’s exit from the European Union, HC 593, published on 17 November 2017, if he will list the 313 work streams across government departments identified by that report.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Department for Exiting the European Union is working closely with all departments to ensure our preparations for exit from and new partnership with the EU are on track. The Department has established a series of arrangements to coordinate departments’ planning and delivery.
As indicated in the National Audit Office report, departments have identified Exit work streams that are used to structure engagement with DExEU. The structure and development of work streams is part of ongoing cross-Government work to develop and assess potential policy options. The number of work streams is being updated regularly but because the nature of this internal work could be sensitive to ongoing negotiations, we will not be publishing the full list.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what consultation he has carried out with (a) NHS trusts, (b) NHS staff and (c) the public of his plans to sell a majority shareholding in NHS Professionals.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The Department announced its intention to sell a majority shareholding in NHS Professionals Ltd (NHSP) in November last year (2016). The Department received a number of expressions of interest following a successful Open Day and a number of responses to pre-qualification documents. The Department is currently in confidential commercial negotiations with interested bidders and cannot comment further on the nature or identity of bids.
The aim of this transaction is to ensure that NHSP has the technology, investment, skills and experience to grow for the benefit of both NHS patients and NHS staff. The staff ‘bank’ model works by offering NHS staff the opportunity voluntarily to undertake extra shifts. This enables staff to earn extra money, working in a familiar environment and within a predictable shift pattern. Bank staff are paid at a rate that is generally close to their permanent pay rate.
The key commercial feature of the potential transaction is that the Company must act to maintain a business model based on supplying high quality healthcare staff at low margins, to NHS clients. Breach of this principal would give the Department the right to repurchase its shares. The new majority shareholder would run and control the Company, but the minority stake retained by the Department would allow it to benefit from future increases in the value of the Company and also give the Department a seat on the board and oversight of its plans and operations.
In 2014 a stakeholder engagement process was undertaken by the Department and NHSP about the future of NHSP which involved talking to NHS trusts and various stakeholders in the Department of Health, NHS Employers and NHS Improvement.
NHS Professionals’ NHS clients, staff, representative unions, and registered NHS ‘bank workers’ have been kept advised of the potential sale process since its commencement in July 2016. Prior to the announcement in November 2016 on the intention to sell, an email was shared with all NHS Professionals staff explaining the nature of the process. This information was also shared with trades unions representing staff, with whom prior meetings had also been held.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many expressions of interest he has received from potential joint venture partners in NHS Professionals; and what the names of those partners are.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The Department announced its intention to sell a majority shareholding in NHS Professionals Ltd (NHSP) in November last year (2016). The Department received a number of expressions of interest following a successful Open Day and a number of responses to pre-qualification documents. The Department is currently in confidential commercial negotiations with interested bidders and cannot comment further on the nature or identity of bids.
The aim of this transaction is to ensure that NHSP has the technology, investment, skills and experience to grow for the benefit of both NHS patients and NHS staff. The staff ‘bank’ model works by offering NHS staff the opportunity voluntarily to undertake extra shifts. This enables staff to earn extra money, working in a familiar environment and within a predictable shift pattern. Bank staff are paid at a rate that is generally close to their permanent pay rate.
The key commercial feature of the potential transaction is that the Company must act to maintain a business model based on supplying high quality healthcare staff at low margins, to NHS clients. Breach of this principal would give the Department the right to repurchase its shares. The new majority shareholder would run and control the Company, but the minority stake retained by the Department would allow it to benefit from future increases in the value of the Company and also give the Department a seat on the board and oversight of its plans and operations.
In 2014 a stakeholder engagement process was undertaken by the Department and NHSP about the future of NHSP which involved talking to NHS trusts and various stakeholders in the Department of Health, NHS Employers and NHS Improvement.
NHS Professionals’ NHS clients, staff, representative unions, and registered NHS ‘bank workers’ have been kept advised of the potential sale process since its commencement in July 2016. Prior to the announcement in November 2016 on the intention to sell, an email was shared with all NHS Professionals staff explaining the nature of the process. This information was also shared with trades unions representing staff, with whom prior meetings had also been held.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what future contractual mechanisms he proposes to ensure that NHS Professionals meets the staffing needs of NHS trusts and delivers value for money to the taxpayer.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The Department announced its intention to sell a majority shareholding in NHS Professionals Ltd (NHSP) in November last year (2016). The Department received a number of expressions of interest following a successful Open Day and a number of responses to pre-qualification documents. The Department is currently in confidential commercial negotiations with interested bidders and cannot comment further on the nature or identity of bids.
The aim of this transaction is to ensure that NHSP has the technology, investment, skills and experience to grow for the benefit of both NHS patients and NHS staff. The staff ‘bank’ model works by offering NHS staff the opportunity voluntarily to undertake extra shifts. This enables staff to earn extra money, working in a familiar environment and within a predictable shift pattern. Bank staff are paid at a rate that is generally close to their permanent pay rate.
The key commercial feature of the potential transaction is that the Company must act to maintain a business model based on supplying high quality healthcare staff at low margins, to NHS clients. Breach of this principal would give the Department the right to repurchase its shares. The new majority shareholder would run and control the Company, but the minority stake retained by the Department would allow it to benefit from future increases in the value of the Company and also give the Department a seat on the board and oversight of its plans and operations.
In 2014 a stakeholder engagement process was undertaken by the Department and NHSP about the future of NHSP which involved talking to NHS trusts and various stakeholders in the Department of Health, NHS Employers and NHS Improvement.
NHS Professionals’ NHS clients, staff, representative unions, and registered NHS ‘bank workers’ have been kept advised of the potential sale process since its commencement in July 2016. Prior to the announcement in November 2016 on the intention to sell, an email was shared with all NHS Professionals staff explaining the nature of the process. This information was also shared with trades unions representing staff, with whom prior meetings had also been held.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the timetable is for selling a majority shareholding in NHS Professionals.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The Department announced its intention to sell a majority shareholding in NHS Professionals Ltd (NHSP) in November last year (2016). The Department received a number of expressions of interest following a successful Open Day and a number of responses to pre-qualification documents. The Department is currently in confidential commercial negotiations with interested bidders and cannot comment further on the nature or identity of bids.
The aim of this transaction is to ensure that NHSP has the technology, investment, skills and experience to grow for the benefit of both NHS patients and NHS staff. The staff ‘bank’ model works by offering NHS staff the opportunity voluntarily to undertake extra shifts. This enables staff to earn extra money, working in a familiar environment and within a predictable shift pattern. Bank staff are paid at a rate that is generally close to their permanent pay rate.
The key commercial feature of the potential transaction is that the Company must act to maintain a business model based on supplying high quality healthcare staff at low margins, to NHS clients. Breach of this principal would give the Department the right to repurchase its shares. The new majority shareholder would run and control the Company, but the minority stake retained by the Department would allow it to benefit from future increases in the value of the Company and also give the Department a seat on the board and oversight of its plans and operations.
In 2014 a stakeholder engagement process was undertaken by the Department and NHSP about the future of NHSP which involved talking to NHS trusts and various stakeholders in the Department of Health, NHS Employers and NHS Improvement.
NHS Professionals’ NHS clients, staff, representative unions, and registered NHS ‘bank workers’ have been kept advised of the potential sale process since its commencement in July 2016. Prior to the announcement in November 2016 on the intention to sell, an email was shared with all NHS Professionals staff explaining the nature of the process. This information was also shared with trades unions representing staff, with whom prior meetings had also been held.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress he has made on his plans to sell a majority shareholding in NHS Professionals.
Answered by Philip Dunne
The Department announced its intention to sell a majority shareholding in NHS Professionals Ltd (NHSP) in November last year (2016). The Department received a number of expressions of interest following a successful Open Day and a number of responses to pre-qualification documents. The Department is currently in confidential commercial negotiations with interested bidders and cannot comment further on the nature or identity of bids.
The aim of this transaction is to ensure that NHSP has the technology, investment, skills and experience to grow for the benefit of both NHS patients and NHS staff. The staff ‘bank’ model works by offering NHS staff the opportunity voluntarily to undertake extra shifts. This enables staff to earn extra money, working in a familiar environment and within a predictable shift pattern. Bank staff are paid at a rate that is generally close to their permanent pay rate.
The key commercial feature of the potential transaction is that the Company must act to maintain a business model based on supplying high quality healthcare staff at low margins, to NHS clients. Breach of this principal would give the Department the right to repurchase its shares. The new majority shareholder would run and control the Company, but the minority stake retained by the Department would allow it to benefit from future increases in the value of the Company and also give the Department a seat on the board and oversight of its plans and operations.
In 2014 a stakeholder engagement process was undertaken by the Department and NHSP about the future of NHSP which involved talking to NHS trusts and various stakeholders in the Department of Health, NHS Employers and NHS Improvement.
NHS Professionals’ NHS clients, staff, representative unions, and registered NHS ‘bank workers’ have been kept advised of the potential sale process since its commencement in July 2016. Prior to the announcement in November 2016 on the intention to sell, an email was shared with all NHS Professionals staff explaining the nature of the process. This information was also shared with trades unions representing staff, with whom prior meetings had also been held.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for limited leave to remain were granted with no recourse to public funds in each year from 2010 to 2016.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
I am sorry but this information is not held in the format requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications to lift no recourse to public funds terms were granted in each year from 2010 to 2016.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
I am sorry but this information is not held in the format requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Heidi Alexander (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many UK residents with limited leave to remain with no recourse to public funds subsequently made an application to have the no recourse to public funds terms lifted in each year from 2010 to 2016.
Answered by Robert Goodwill
I am sorry but this information is not held in the format requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.