Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proposals are part of the National Security Capability Review on the provision of amphibious over the beach capability without recourse to HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark.
Answered by Harriett Baldwin
The Ministry of Defence is unable to comment on the detail of the National Security Capability Review while it is ongoing. No decisions have yet been taken by Ministers.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress he has made on the development of a state-backed indemnity scheme for GPs.
Answered by Philip Dunne
We recognise that the rising cost of indemnity cover is a source of concern for GPs. That is why, in October 2017, the Secretary of State announced that the Government would develop a state-backed indemnity scheme for general practice in England. This complex piece of work is at an early stage. We are working with GP representatives and others to develop our plans over the next 12-18 months.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which charities have received Libor funding in each of the last five years; and how much funding those charities have received.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
1. LIBOR funding is only committed to the following entities:
· Registered Charities
· Community Interest Companies (CIC)
· Armed Forces Units with a Unit Identification Number (UIN)
Details of LIBOR funding can be found at the following links:
GOV.UK LIBOR Webpages
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/libor-funding-applications
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/banking-fines-to-fund-armed-forces-charity-projects
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/libor-fines-to-fund-armed-forces-charity-projects
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bank-fines-to-be-used-to-support-britains-armed-forces-community
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-armed-forces-charities-to-benefit-from-banking-fines
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/100-million-bank-fines-allocated-by-government-to-good-causes
National Audit Office Report on the ‘Investigation into the management of the Libor Fund’
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which non-charitable entities have received Libor funding in each of the last five years; and how much those entities have received.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
1. LIBOR funding is only committed to the following entities:
· Registered Charities
· Community Interest Companies (CIC)
· Armed Forces Units with a Unit Identification Number (UIN)
Details of LIBOR funding can be found at the following links:
GOV.UK LIBOR Webpages
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/libor-funding-applications
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/banking-fines-to-fund-armed-forces-charity-projects
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/libor-fines-to-fund-armed-forces-charity-projects
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bank-fines-to-be-used-to-support-britains-armed-forces-community
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-armed-forces-charities-to-benefit-from-banking-fines
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/100-million-bank-fines-allocated-by-government-to-good-causes
National Audit Office Report on the ‘Investigation into the management of the Libor Fund’
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much funding will be made available for charities in the upcoming round of Libor funding.
Answered by Elizabeth Truss
The amount of funding which will be made available in the upcoming round of LIBOR grants, ‘LIBOR 2017’, has yet to be confirmed.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much Libor funding has been given to charities which support veterans in each of the last five years.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Ministry of Defence has distributed on behalf of HM Treasury £266 million of the Libor fund by way of four specific grant programmes. Of these, two legacy grant programmes, the £40 million Veterans Accommodation Fund and the £30 million Aged Veterans Fund, benefited veterans exclusively. The legacy £35 million Armed Forces Covenant Scheme and the open £10 million per annum Covenant Fund also support veterans projects as well as projects supporting other sectors of the Armed Forces community. However, HM Treasury have also distributed £467 million in individual grants to support Armed Forces and Emergency Service charities and other good causes. Veterans’ charities will have benefited but the breakdown will not be available until a full review has been completed in 2018. HM Treasury, which administers the individual Libor grants has asked the Covenant Fund team to undertake a full review of the 729 grants awarded by HM Treasury which will include an assessment on the outcomes and impact. Any decisions on the future of Libor funding is a matter for HM Treasury.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of Libor funding outcomes over the last five years; and whether his Department expects Libor funding for military charities to continue beyond 2018.
Answered by Tobias Ellwood
The Ministry of Defence has distributed on behalf of HM Treasury £266 million of the Libor fund by way of four specific grant programmes. Of these, two legacy grant programmes, the £40 million Veterans Accommodation Fund and the £30 million Aged Veterans Fund, benefited veterans exclusively. The legacy £35 million Armed Forces Covenant Scheme and the open £10 million per annum Covenant Fund also support veterans projects as well as projects supporting other sectors of the Armed Forces community. However, HM Treasury have also distributed £467 million in individual grants to support Armed Forces and Emergency Service charities and other good causes. Veterans’ charities will have benefited but the breakdown will not be available until a full review has been completed in 2018. HM Treasury, which administers the individual Libor grants has asked the Covenant Fund team to undertake a full review of the 729 grants awarded by HM Treasury which will include an assessment on the outcomes and impact. Any decisions on the future of Libor funding is a matter for HM Treasury.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the 2014 National Study of Health and Wellbeing data will be made available through the UK data service for secondary research.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
A version of the dataset has been transferred to the United Kingdom data service. NHS Digital anticipates it will be made available for researchers to apply for within the month of November 2017, subject to the Independent Group Advising on the Release of Data for NHS Digital recommending approval of the proposed terms and conditions for release.
Individual researchers will then need to apply for access to the data and these applications will be reviewed by NHS Digital. NHS Digital has applied additional disclosure control measures to ensure the privacy of individuals is protected while looking to ensure maximum use to be made of these valuable, publicly funded data collections.
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department or its agencies have submitted any bids for Libor funding in any of the last five years.
Answered by Philip Dunne
Libor funding guidance states that only the following types of organisation are eligible to apply:
- a registered charity;
- a Community Interest Company; or
- an Armed Forces unit with a Unit Identification Number (UIN).
Information and guidance about Libor applications can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/libor-funding-applications
All successful Libor bids can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/armed-forces-covenant-libor-fund-successful-projects
and
Asked by: Johnny Mercer (Conservative - Plymouth, Moor View)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department has made on the formal review of the Debt and Mental Health Evidence Form which was announced by the Prime Minister in January 2017.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The Department is working with the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute to review the practice of general practitioners (GPs) charging patients for completing Mental Health Evidence Forms. The review was launched at a roundtable discussion at No. 10 in July and a review group has been established with representation from the financial and credit sectors, GPs and the debt advice sector. The review is expected to be completed by the end of the year.