Julian Huppert

Liberal Democrat - Former Member for Cambridge

First elected: 6th May 2010

Left House: 30th March 2015 (Defeated)


Julian Huppert is not a member of any APPGs
Home Affairs Committee
12th Jul 2010 - 30th Mar 2015
Draft Defamation Bill (Joint Committee)
24th Mar 2011 - 12th Oct 2011
Human Rights (Joint Committee)
26th Jul 2010 - 23rd May 2011


Division Voting information

Julian Huppert has voted in 939 divisions, and 31 times against the majority of their Party.

26 Jan 2015 - Infrastructure Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 14 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 33 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 52 Noes - 308
26 Jan 2015 - Infrastructure Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 15 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 26 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 245 Noes - 293
15 Dec 2014 - Firefighters’ Pension Scheme (England) - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 8 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 34 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 261 Noes - 313
26 Sep 2014 - Iraq: Coalition Against ISIL - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 47 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 524 Noes - 43
13 May 2014 - Consumer Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 2 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 38 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 228 Noes - 281
10 Mar 2014 - Care Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 37 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 13 Noes - 276
22 Jan 2014 - Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Bill - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 10 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 37 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 310 Noes - 278
4 Dec 2013 - Energy Bill - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 45 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 318 Noes - 236
6 Nov 2013 - Amendments to Bills (Explanatory Statements) - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 5 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 13 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 23 Noes - 142
29 Aug 2013 - Syria and the Use of Chemical Weapons - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 10 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 32 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 272 Noes - 285
17 Jul 2013 - Organ Transplants - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 41 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 301 Noes - 203
17 Jul 2013 - Organ Transplants - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 3 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 40 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 300 Noes - 202
11 Jun 2013 - Children and Families Bill - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 45 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 219 Noes - 303
4 Jun 2013 - Energy Bill - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 16 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 29 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 267 Noes - 290
7 Mar 2013 - Justice and Security Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 4 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 27 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 222 Noes - 13
4 Mar 2013 - Justice and Security Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 37 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 225 Noes - 298
4 Mar 2013 - Justice and Security Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 37 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 0 Noes - 0
4 Mar 2013 - Justice and Security Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 8 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 40 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 231 Noes - 296
4 Mar 2013 - Justice and Security Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 39 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 227 Noes - 295
21 Jan 2013 - Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 5 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 35 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 307 Noes - 243
21 Jan 2013 - Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 9 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 36 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 305 Noes - 246
8 Jan 2013 - Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 41 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 324 Noes - 268
13 Mar 2012 - Health and Social Care Bill - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 5 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 42 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 260 Noes - 314
13 Mar 2012 - Health and Social Care Bill - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 6 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 41 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 258 Noes - 314
30 Nov 2011 - Hairdressers Registration (Amendment) - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 9 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 10 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 63 Noes - 67
14 Sep 2011 - Energy Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 12 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 32 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 128 Noes - 278
7 Sep 2011 - Health and Social Care (Re-committed) Bill - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 10 Liberal Democrat Aye votes vs 31 Liberal Democrat No votes
Tally: Ayes - 255 Noes - 304
7 Sep 2011 - Health and Social Care (Re-committed) Bill - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 5 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 41 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 316 Noes - 251
9 Dec 2010 - Higher Education Fees - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 21 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 27 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 323 Noes - 302
9 Dec 2010 - Higher Education Fees - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 21 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 27 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 323 Noes - 302
9 Sep 2010 - UK Armed Forces in Afghanistan - View Vote Context
Julian Huppert voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 29 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 310 Noes - 14
View All Julian Huppert Division Votes

All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Theresa May (Conservative)
(108 debate interactions)
James Brokenshire (Conservative)
(57 debate interactions)
Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton (Conservative)
Foreign Secretary
(56 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Home Office
(363 debate contributions)
Ministry of Justice
(232 debate contributions)
Department for Transport
(184 debate contributions)
Cabinet Office
(103 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Julian Huppert has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
View all Julian Huppert's debates

Cambridge Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Julian Huppert has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Julian Huppert

20th March 2015
Julian Huppert signed this EDM on Tuesday 24th March 2015

PROTESTS IN DETENTION CENTRES

Tabled by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
That this House notes with serious concern that protests, demonstrations and hunger strikes by detainees have taken place in detention centres around the country, including Harmondsworth Detention Centre; and calls on the Home Secretary to launch an independent public inquiry into the grievances of the detainees which have sparked these …
18 signatures
(Most recent: 25 Mar 2015)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 5
Independent: 1
Green Party: 1
20th March 2015
Julian Huppert signed this EDM on Tuesday 24th March 2015

COVERT SURVEILLANCE OF TRADE UNIONS

Tabled by: John McDonnell (Labour - Hayes and Harlington)
That this House is deeply concerned by the revelations of Peter Francis, former member of the Metropolitan Police Force's Special Demonstrations Squad, in relation to the unit's covert state surveillance of trade unions and their members, including Unison, the Fire Brigades Union, the Communication Workers Union, National Union of Teachers, …
32 signatures
(Most recent: 25 Mar 2015)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 12
Independent: 2
The Independent Group for Change: 1
Green Party: 1
View All Julian Huppert's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Julian Huppert, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


1 Urgent Question tabled by Julian Huppert

Tuesday 6th May 2014

2 Adjournment Debates led by Julian Huppert

Friday 21st January 2011
Monday 8th November 2010

2 Bills introduced by Julian Huppert


The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to prevent the charging by letting agents of above–cost fees; to provide that the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 and Estate Agents Act 1979 apply to letting agencies; to facilitate the establishment by councils of landlord and property accreditation schemes; to establish a housing ombudsman service for tenants in the private rented sector; to require the Secretary of State to undertake a review of the legislation applying to the private rented sector; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Wednesday 12th March 2014

The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to enable local planning authorities to require the granting of planning permission prior to the demolition or change of use of premises or land used or formerly used as a public house or local independent shop, to enable local planning authorities to require the granting of planning permission if premises or land will be used for a supermarket; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading: House Of Commons
Tuesday 10th July 2012

Julian Huppert has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
12 Other Department Questions
18th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent steps he has taken to encourage asset owners to do more to engage with investee companies as part of their stewardship duties.

The Government has taken a variety of significant steps to promote stewardship and engagement on the part of institutional investors. A key focus has been to work closely with the investment industry on initiatives involving both institutional investors and asset managers, acknowledging that while some institutional investors engage directly with companies, many others delegate to asset managers to engage on their behalf.

Specific achievements include:

  • a strengthening of the Stewardship Code to emphasise engagement on companies’ long-term strategy;
  • the creation of an Investor Forum to improve the amount and effectiveness of collective engagement by key institutional investors;
  • the development, by the National Association of Pension Funds, of a new Stewardship Disclosure Framework to encourage asset managers to report on their activities and to enable investors to hold them to account.

The Government has comprehensively reformed the legislative framework for corporate reporting to boost transparency on company directors’ remuneration and ensure annual reports are more focused on long-term company strategy. In this way we are encouraging companies to report the information which is relevant to long-term stewardship investors.

The Law Commission’s report on the fiduciary duties of investment intermediaries, commissioned by the Government, concluded that fiduciary investors such as pension scheme trustees should consider whether and how to engage with companies to promote their long-term success, either directly or through their investment managers. The Government is now taking forward the Law Commission’s recommendations in a number of areas, including by consulting currently on whether the Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment) Regulations 2005 should be amended to require trustees to state their policy on stewardship with reference to the Stewardship Code.

This work has been part of a broader commitment – in response to the Kay Review of equity markets - to address the longstanding concern that short-termism has impeded the creation of sustainable value by British companies. The Government published a comprehensive progress report on the implementation of the Review in October 2014. This is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/367070/bis-14-1157-implementation-of-the-kay-review-progress-report.pdf

The Government is now undertaking further work in a number of areas, including:

  • supporting the work of the Financial Reporting Council to monitor how signatories to the Stewardship Code are delivering against their commitment;
  • supporting the work of the Association of Member Nominated Trustees (AMNT) to develop “Red Line Voting” – an initiative which will enable pension schemes and other investors to adopt common voting positions on a range of governance issues; and research to examine how shares are held by institutional and individual investors – to provide an insight into how the Government can encourage greater investment engagement.
25th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make it his policy to increase the level of student maintenance loans in areas where the cost of living matches or exceeds the London average to the level of such loans in London.

Decisions on support for tuition and living costs support are taken on an annual basis.

The Government announced in a Written Ministerial Statement on 12 March 2014 the Maintenance Grant for academic year 15/16 would be maintained at 14/15 levels. Maximum loans for living costs for new and continuing full-time students will be increased by forecast inflation for 2015/16, 3.34%. The student support package for 16/17 will be announced in due course.

4th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Competition and Markets Authority is conducting an investigation into allegations of cartel behaviour by banks in (a) foreign exchange markets and (b) other capital markets.

I am unable to comment publicly on any activity the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) may or may not be conducting into allegations of cartel behaviour in this area, including any intelligence it may have received or reviewed in relation to any particular allegations.

The CMA has been setup up by the Government as the UK’s independent competition authority and has extensive powers to pursue cartel and criminal behaviour. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will also obtain concurrent competition powers in financial services on 1 April 2015.

As examples of the extensive powers available to the CMA and the FCA, the FCA has publicly stated that it is currently conducting an investigation relating to trading on the foreign exchange market and in November last year issued record levels of fines on banks in relation to their activities in the foreign exchange market.

13th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to ensure that students undertaking a level 6 diploma in professional dance are consistently regarded as being in higher or further education for the purpose of housing benefit and access to student loans and financial support.

An Upper Tribunal of HM Courts and Tribunal Service affirmed in July 2013 that, for the purposes of Housing Benefit, all courses of Level 4 and above were courses of higher education, and students undertaking a Level 6 Diploma in professional dance are not eligible for Housing Benefit. This decision was to be disseminated to all Local Authorities to ensure any Housing Benefit payment discrepancies would cease.

For the purposes of Higher Education student support, a course must be designated in accordance with the relevant Education (Student Support) Regulations. A key eligibility requirement is that a course should lead to an award granted by a body with UK degree awarding powers. These Level 6 Diplomas are not granted by such a body and therefore are not eligible for HE student funding.

The Department continues to provide funding through the Dance and Drama Awards scheme for a small number of dance and drama higher vocational Diplomas.

16th Dec 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to protect the independence of the Enlarged Board of Appeal of the European Patent Office.

Officials in the UK Intellectual Property Office are closely and actively involved in discussions relating to the Boards of Appeal of the European Patent Office (EPO), including the Enlarged Board. It is the UK Government position that the Boards of Appeal should be independent of the executive of the EPO, and be seen to be so. This view is shared by other EPO member states and we expect proposals to make this clearer to be considered by the Administrative Council, the Office’s supervisory body, in March 2015.

2nd Dec 2014
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether the Government plans to proceed with the first of the two consultations before the end of autumn 2014 to add caste as an aspect of race into the Equality Act 2010 in accordance with the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013.

We are currently considering the form and timing of the public consultation in the light of ongoing caste discrimination litigation in the Employment Appeal Tribunal. We will await the outcome of the judgment before deciding in what form to issue the public consultation

3rd Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the security of the electricity supply for (a) businesses and (b) data centres in winter 2014-15.

On 28 October, National Grid published its annual Winter Outlook 2014 report, which analyses the current level of security of electricity supply in Great Britain. This includes an estimate of peak electricity demand for this winter, but no separate assessment is published for businesses or data centres.

In order to ensure security of supply for all businesses, households and industry, National Grid announced it will procure 1.1GW of additional de-rated capacity through Supplemental Balancing Reserve (SBR) and Demand Side Balancing Reserve (DSBR) for the winter of 2014/15.

DECC supports the decisive action taken by National Grid and Ofgem which will mean we have secure electricity supplies, even with further unexpected outages or a very cold winter.

28th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of potential relationships between employee wellbeing, productivity and levels of absenteeism.

The Department published an analysis of the relationship between worker wellbeing and business performance on 29 October. It finds that workplaces with "very satisfied" employees had higher labour productivity, higher quality of output, and higher overall performance. It also cites other research that finds a correlation showing absenteeism falls as worker wellbeing increases. This analysis can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/worker-wellbeing-and-workplace-performance.

28th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to encourage employer best practice in relation to employee wellbeing.

To support employers to take up best practice, the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), working with my department, has published online guidance to managers on the practical steps they can take to enhance the wellbeing of their staff. This guidance was drawn from material gathered in research into the relationship between worker wellbeing and business performance published by my department on 29 October 2014. This can be found at: www.acas.org.uk/workplacewellbeing.

That research shows that workplaces with “highly satisfied” employees have higher labour productivity, higher quality of output, and higher overall performance. I continue to support private sector led initiatives such as Engage for Success. More information can be found about Engage for Success at: www.engageforsuccess.org.

30th Jun 2014
To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, what progress she has made on modernising marriage certificates.

I have discussed modernising marriage certificates with the Home Secretary and we are currently considering a range of options. The content of marriage registers has not changed since civil marriage was introduced in 1837, so it's right that we look at whether it still meets our needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure courses equivalent to those on the list of prescribed courses in the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 are not excluded from Higher Education Funding Council for England funding by virtue of coming into existence following the introduction of that Act.

Our higher education reforms have transferred money from Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) block grant to support Government backed loans which students now use to pay fees at the institution of their choice. The most recent figures show that, for the first time, the majority of HE funding is now determined by the choices students make rather than coming directly from Government. In this context, we have no plans to extend HEFCE's statutory funding remit.

Students are able to take a range of qualifications for which they can access higher education student support, 24+ advanced learning loans, or professional and career development loans. We are currently looking at a number of options to ensure that we have effective progression pathways to support the development of higher level skills, particularly at levels 4 and 5. This includes having the right supporting funding mechanisms in place to deliver quality and value for money.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to improve cross-departmental working on promotion of the UK's arts and health sector in order to improve mental health care and wellbeing.

I recently chaired a roundtable meeting on arts and health, which was attended by the co-chairs of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Arts, Health and Wellbeing, representatives from academia and health and Government officials, including from the Department of Health. DCMS will continue to work closely with the Department of Health on the promotion of the UK's arts and health sector in order to improve mental health care and wellbeing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to implement the recommendations of the Arts on Prescription 2010-2012 report produced by the charity Arts & Minds.

The Arts & Minds charity is doing important work within the arts and health sector. I recently held a roundtable meeting on arts and health focusing on some of the issues raised in the Arts on Prescription report which the Executive Director of Arts & Minds attended. Health initiatives like the Arts on Prescription scheme have the potential to result in cost savings across health and social care and health practitioners and other relevant authorities should give careful consideration to the recommendations.

16th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many primary school teachers in each parliamentary constituency in the East of England have a science degree.

The following table provides the headcount number and percentage of all regular teachers[1] in service in primary schools in each constituency in the East of England with a degree in a science subject in November 2013. This is the latest information available.

Name of Constituency

Number of Teachers with Science Degree[2]

Number of Teachers with a Qualification Recorded[3]

Percentage with a Science Qualification

Confidence Interval[4]

Percentage of Teachers with Qualification Recorded

Basildon and Billericay

20

379

5.3

+/-

2.3

92.7

Bedford

17

327

5.2

+/-

2.4

95.1

Braintree

32

411

7.8

+/-

2.6

95.8

Brentwood and Ongar

22

354

6.2

+/-

2.5

90.8

Broadland

25

376

6.6

+/-

2.5

95.2

Broxbourne

38

526

7.2

+/-

2.2

97.4

Bury St. Edmunds

31

348

8.9

+/-

3.0

91.1

Cambridge

43

380

11.3

+/-

3.2

96.7

Castle Point

16

329

4.9

+/-

2.3

92.9

Central Suffolk and North Ipswich

39

423

9.2

+/-

2.8

91.4

Chelmsford

30

452

6.6

+/-

2.3

96.4

Clacton

17

245

6.9

+/-

3.2

92.8

Colchester

31

476

6.5

+/-

2.2

94.8

Epping Forest

18

338

5.3

+/-

2.4

86.9

Great Yarmouth

41

389

10.5

+/-

3.1

93.3

Harlow

27

401

6.7

+/-

2.5

92.4

Harwich and North Essex

28

385

7.3

+/-

2.6

93.7

Hemel Hempstead

40

507

7.9

+/-

2.3

94.6

Hertford and Stortford

46

541

8.5

+/-

2.4

97.3

Hertsmere

30

487

6.2

+/-

2.1

96.2

Hitchin and Harpenden

48

610

7.9

+/-

2.1

98.2

Huntingdon

42

508

8.3

+/-

2.4

96.6

Ipswich

39

505

7.7

+/-

2.3

89.1

Luton North

39

649

6.0

+/-

1.8

93.5

Luton South

31

508

6.1

+/-

2.1

92.2

Maldon

23

327

7.0

+/-

2.8

90.8

Mid Bedfordshire

20

366

5.5

+/-

2.3

97.6

Mid Norfolk

47

380

12.4

+/-

3.3

94.3

North East Bedfordshire

23

389

5.9

+/-

2.3

94.9

North East Cambridgeshire

42

409

10.3

+/-

2.9

93.8

North East Hertfordshire

41

510

8.0

+/-

2.4

95.9

North Norfolk

35

284

12.3

+/-

3.8

92.5

North West Cambridgeshire

40

600

6.7

+/-

2.0

95.7

North West Norfolk

18

349

5.2

+/-

2.3

86.4

Norwich North

27

348

7.8

+/-

2.8

93.8

Norwich South

32

373

8.6

+/-

2.8

94.7

Peterborough

36

607

5.9

+/-

1.9

97.0

Rayleigh and Wickford

25

383

6.5

+/-

2.5

92.5

Rochford and Southend East

35

445

7.9

+/-

2.5

93.1

Saffron Walden

33

459

7.2

+/-

2.4

91.3

South Basildon and East Thurrock

23

472

4.9

+/-

1.9

94.6

South Cambridgeshire

40

531

7.5

+/-

2.2

96.5

South East Cambridgeshire

45

506

8.9

+/-

2.5

96.9

South Norfolk

33

434

7.6

+/-

2.5

96.2

South Suffolk

40

367

10.9

+/-

3.2

93.4

South West Bedfordshire

29

396

7.3

+/-

2.6

94.1

South West Hertfordshire

39

548

7.1

+/-

2.2

98.6

South West Norfolk

32

385

8.3

+/-

2.8

92.8

Southend West

21

358

5.9

+/-

2.4

91.1

St. Albans

44

562

7.8

+/-

2.2

96.2

Stevenage

35

487

7.2

+/-

2.3

98.2

Suffolk Coastal

36

358

10.1

+/-

3.1

89.9

Thurrock

34

527

6.5

+/-

2.1

91.2

Watford

41

540

7.6

+/-

2.2

97.1

Waveney

36

425

8.5

+/-

2.6

89.7

Welwyn Hatfield

43

536

8.0

+/-

2.3

97.8

West Suffolk

29

394

7.4

+/-

2.6

88.5

Witham

29

355

8.2

+/-

2.8

94.2

Total East of England

1,896

25,264

7.5

+/-

0.3

94.1

Total England

18,795

227,513

8.3

+/-

0.1

95.5

Source: School Workforce Census

[1] Includes qualified and unqualified teachers.

[2] Includes teachers with a first or higher science degree but excluding those with a science PGCE where no record of a science degree exists and those with a BEd in sciences.

[3] Those recorded with a qualification (degree or higher, Bachelor of Education, Post-Graduate Certificate in Education, Certificate in Education, other qualification at NVQ level 4 or higher, relevant non-UK qualification) in any subject, (the total in the sample from which the rate is calculated).

[4] The range within which we can be 95% confident that the true value exists.

26th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much extra funding, over and above that provided to school sixth forms, her Department provides to sixth form colleges to cover their VAT costs.

The Department for Education does not cover the VAT costs of sixth form colleges. To do this in full would cost around £30 million each year.

25th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the amount of VAT paid by sixth form colleges in the UK in each of the last three years.

The Department for Education funds sixth form colleges in England, not in the rest of the UK. We estimate that the total cost of VAT for sixth form colleges in England has been approximately £30 million for each of the last three years.

25th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on VAT paid by sixth form colleges.

Officials at the Department for Education have had discussions with officials at HM Treasury regarding VAT paid by sixth form colleges. There are no plans to change existing policy.

15th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to provide help to missing children.

In January 2014 the Department for Education published revised statutory guidance on children missing from home or care.[1] This sets out the steps that local authorities and their partners should take to prevent children going missing and to protect them when they do. The guidance is clear that within seventy hours of a missing child being found, the council should offer them an independent return interview to uncover information that will help protect children from:

  1. The risk of going missing again.
  2. The risks they may have been exposed to while missing.
  3. The risk factors in their home.

[1] www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-who-run-away-or-go-missing-from-home-or-care

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will issue to schools specific guidance on removing asbestos from premises.

The guidance from the Health and Safety Executive is that, if asbestos is undamaged and unlikely to be disturbed, then it is usually safer to leave it in place and to manage it as required by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. If asbestos is found to be in an unsealed, damaged or poor condition, then it should be repaired, sealed, enclosed or removed using trained personnel. The Department for Education has no plans to issue school-specific guidance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to ensure long-term capital funding for sixth form colleges.

The 2013 Spending Round confirmed the levels of capital funding that the Department for Education will receive between 2015 and 2021. This settlement will enable the Department to develop a long-term approach, allowing us to consider making allocations over a number of years, which would help schools, sixth-form colleges and their responsible bodies to plan with greater confidence.

I am clear that in future years our funding should be better targeted to where it is most needed, and it is for this reason that the Department is currently collecting up to date information on the condition of school buildings, including sixth-form colleges, through a comprehensive survey. This survey is due to be completed by the summer and it is our intention that the results will be used to inform the allocation of capital maintenance funding from 2015-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to provide capital funding for sixth form colleges to enable them to provide free school meals to disadvantaged pupils.

We are making available approximately £75 million revenue funding over the course of the 2014-15 and 2015-16 financial years to enable sixth-form and further education colleges to provide free meals to disadvantaged 16- to 18-year-old students.

We will publish advice on the funding and implementation of this policy shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what criteria were used to calculate the levels of area cost adjustment used for sixth form colleges in (a) Cambridgeshire and (b) Oxfordshire; and how frequently those criteria are reviewed.

Area cost adjustments for 16-19 education and training are based on the differing wage costs across England, as indicated by the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The same area cost index is used for sixth form colleges as for all other post-16 institutions in England that are funded by the Department for Education. It is also used for education and training for adults funded by the Skills Funding Agency.

The current area cost index was developed in 2002 by the Learning and Skills Council and has been reviewed on several occasions since then. Initially Cambridgeshire did not have an area cost adjustment, but in 2008 there was a specific review of the area cost adjustment for the county, which considered a range of factors and gave Cambridgeshire an uplift of 2% for the academic year 2009/10 and all years subsequently. The uplift for Oxfordshire is 7%.

The whole post-16 funding formula was reviewed in 2012, and we decided at that stage not to make any changes to area cost adjustments.

30th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to implement the Natural Capital Committee's Third Report's (a) recommendations on a 25-year plan to improve and protect natural capital and (b) other recommendations.

The Government will be providing a response to the Natural Capital Committee’s third State of Natural Capital report in the second half of 2015. Government officials are now analysing the package of recommendations put forward by the Natural Capital Committee so ministers can be comprehensively briefed post-election.

19th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an assessment of the merits of introducing an exemption for compostable plastic bags from the single use carrier bag charge; and if she will meet representatives from the compostable plastic bags industry to discuss such an exemption.

The draft legislation on the carrier bag charge includes a requirement to review existing standards for the biodegradability of lightweight plastic material. The review will report to Parliament by 5 October this year on whether there is an appropriate industry standard for an exemption from the charge, and if so, how it would be implemented. Industry and academic experts are working with the Department on this review. The Government is looking for a standard that will tackle biodegradability in different littered environments as well as in managed waste streams. The composting industry is represented on the Stakeholder Advisory Group and we will be taking account of their views along with those of other stakeholders.

15th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the loss of state funding by the ACRE Network on that organisation's ability to deliver support to rural communities.

We value the work that the ACRE Network does at the local level to ensure the rural voice is heard and to inspire community action. Future funding is being carefully considered and no final decision has yet been made. No assessment has therefore been prepared.

15th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will consult representatives from the compostable plastic bags industry as part of her Department's review of industry standards for the biodegradability of plastic material; and on how many occasions (a) Ministers and (b) officials have met representatives of (i) oxo-biodegradable and (ii) compostable plastic bag companies in the last 12 months.

Neither I nor any of my Defra Ministerial colleagues have met representatives of either the oxo-biodegradable or compostable bag industries in the last 12 months.

At the official level, I set up a Stakeholder Advisory Group in September last year, which will be consulted as part of the review of industry standards for the biodegradability of plastic material. The Stakeholder Advisory Group met twice last year and includes Government officials as well as representatives of the Renewable Energy Association (who represent the compostable bag companies), the Oxo-biodegradable Plastics Association, academics and a number of other industry stakeholders such as the British Plastics Federation and the Plastics and Films Association. We expect that this group will meet on three further occasions this year.

In addition, officials have met representatives of oxo-biodegradable firms on two occasions in the last 12 months to provide feedback on unsuccessful applications for funding under the Small Business Research Initiative. Officials have also met representatives of companies manufacturing compostable bags on three occasions in the last 12 months.

17th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what projects in Africa with an agro-ecological component have been funded by her Department (a) directly and (b) indirectly in the last three years; and what criteria her Department uses for deciding which projects to fund under the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition.

DFID is directly and indirectly supporting a wide range of work that has an agro-ecological component, from soil and water conservation and land use management to climate resilience and conservation agriculture. We are working in a number of African countries, supporting programmes like the Community Land Use Fund in Mozambique and programmes for soil and water conservation such as the Karamoja Resilience programme in Uganda. DFID’s global climate change and agriculture food security research programme is building the evidence base for how better to deliver agro-ecological approaches, while the Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Programme supports farmers to adapt agricultural systems to be climate resilient. The full range of our programmes can be found on the Development Tracker.

The UK has committed £600m to the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition. Of this £480m is for pre-existing programmes in the six DFID partner countries participating in the New Alliance, and £75m is a contribution to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme. These pre-existing programmes satisfied the following criteria: (i) they occur in one of the DFID partner countries participating in the New Alliance (Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Ghana, Malawi and Nigeria); and (ii) they include components on food security, agriculture and nutrition. The UK’s new financial support to the New Alliance of £45m has focused on “enabling actions” that support agriculture, food security and nutrition – specifically, the development of policy instruments, technology and innovation, and risk management.

18th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what predictions are made by the National Transport Model from 2015 onwards for the (a) average number of trips and stages made annually per person in England and (b) average length of trips by transport mode in the (i) low, (ii) medium and (iii) high growth scenarios.

Forecasts of trip by mode and distance were last published by the Department in Road Transport Forecasts 2011 at

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/4243/road-transport-forecasts-2011-results.pdf

The Department has more recently in 2013 produced estimates for the whole of GB using the National Transport Model (NTM). The trip information has not been published but is set out in the tables below.

Average Trips per person annually by mode (GB, RTF13 central forecast)

Annual trips

Walk

Cycle

Car Driver

Car Pgr

Bus

Rail

Total

2015

307.4

22.1

447.6

231.8

86.3

24.4

1,119.7

2020

302.4

21.1

465.3

225.8

80.0

23.7

1,118.2

2025

298.0

20.1

483.8

219.0

73.3

22.9

1,117.2

2030

295.7

19.9

491.6

214.0

71.2

23.4

1,115.8

2035

291.4

20.5

500.8

212.4

66.4

23.1

1,114.6

2040

290.2

20.5

507.0

211.8

64.0

23.7

1,117.2

Average length of trips by mode (GB, RTF13 central forecast)

miles

Walk

Cycle

Car Driver

Car Pgr

Bus

Rail

Total

2015

0.8

2.5

9.0

9.9

7.8

24.7

7.0

2020

0.8

2.4

9.1

10.0

7.9

24.7

7.1

2025

0.8

2.3

9.2

10.1

8.1

24.6

7.2

2030

0.8

2.3

9.2

10.1

8.0

24.7

7.3

2035

0.8

2.2

9.2

10.1

8.2

24.7

7.3

2040

0.8

2.2

9.2

10.1

8.5

24.8

7.4

Notes on the tables:

  • These are for personal trips based on main mode of travel. The NTM does not produce mode information for different stages of the same trip.
  • These forecasts are based on the central forecast in the Road Traffic Forecasts 2013 (see https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/road-transport-forecasts-2013. NTM forecasts of trips by mode for the high and low demand scenarios have not been produced.
  • The NTM Road Traffic Forecasts should not be viewed as what we think will actually happen in the future, or what we want the future to look like. They are based on our understanding of the way people make travel choices, the expected path of the key drivers at the time the forecast is made and assume no change in government policy beyond that already announced.
  • The forecasts do not account for the Departments Cycling Delivery Plan, as this is still in development.
  • The NTM is not the Department’s primary forecasting tool for Rail. Therefore the forecasts may not match with Rail forecasts the Department has published elsewhere.

15th Oct 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to give permission to (a) Transport for London and (b) any local authority to introduce adcance stop lines at temporary traffic lights.

Advanced Stop Lines are currently permitted for use at permanent signal junctions only. The revisions to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions scheduled for March 2015 will allow their use with temporary traffic lights, but there will be practical issues to consider as many are only in place for a short time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) patients, (b) healthcare professionals and (c) the general public understand the new drug driving offence.

Paragraphs 10.2 and 10.3 of the summary of the responses to the consultation on the proposed drugs and their limits sets out the steps the Department proposes to take in communicating the new drug driving offence. The summary is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/drug-driving-proposed-regulations

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number of passenger rail journeys that have been double counted because passengers have used multiple franchises to complete a single journey.

The Secretary of State for Transport has made no estimate of the number of rail passenger journeys that have been double counted. The Office of Rail Regulation is responsible for rail passenger usage statistics and may have an estimate. Their contact details are:

Address:

Office of Rail Regulation

One Kemble Street

London

WC2B 4AN

Telephone: 020 7282 2000

Email: rail.stats@orr.gov.uk

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the degree to which his Department has complied with the Public Sector Equality Duty with regard to disabled cyclists.

The Department for Transport considers equality issues in exercising its functions, to comply with the equality legislation and to ensure it understands how its activities will affect different people. While there is no requirement under the Equality Act to carry out Equality Impact Assessment on cycling policy, the Department believes disabled cyclists should not be disadvantaged.

To help local authorities develop infrastructure for cyclists, including disabled cyclists, the Department has produced guidance through Cycle Infrastructure Design (Local Transport Note 2/08). LTN 2/08 can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-transport-notes

18th Mar 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy that trustees of defined benefit pension schemes are required to have a policy on stewardship.

We are currently consulting on potential changes to the Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment) Regulations 2005 which will support and encourage trustees of both defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes to consider their approach to stewardship. This forms part of our consultation, entitled “Consultation on changes to the Investment Regulations following the Law Commission’s report ‘Fiduciary Duties of Investment Intermediaries’” which was published on 26th February 2015. The consultation period ends on 20th April 2015 and it is the intention that a Government response will be published later this year.

25th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review the procedures for notifying his Department of a change of circumstances in the event of hospitalisation when the claimant is incapacitated and unable to contact the Disability Benefits helpline.

The Department has reviewed its procedures for notifying hospital admissions when the customer is incapacitated and unable to contact us themselves.

We have taken account of the fact that there is no reduction in the Benefit paid for the first twenty eight days following admission, where there has been no previous hospitalisation within the preceding twenty eight days. Also, measures are in place so that the report of the hospital admission may be taken from another person, on the customer’s behalf. We have concluded that the procedures already in place are satisfactory.

Mark Harper
Secretary of State for Transport
24th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many recipients of disability living allowance have been required to make repayments to his Department after continuing to claim the benefit whilst hospitalised for medical treatment in 2014-15 to date.

We do not hold the information requested verified to the standards set by the UK Statistics Authority.

Mark Harper
Secretary of State for Transport
27th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people who qualify for attendance allowance are made aware of the scheme and of their eligibility for it.

The department is committed to encouraging older people to take up the benefits they are entitled to and goes to considerable lengths to publicise benefits. Information is available from the department's offices; advice agencies, including local authorities; and leaflets are available from various locations, including post offices and doctors' surgeries. Information about all benefits and how these may be claimed is readily available on the GOV.UK website, or through the DWP Information Line.

Additionally, the department’s National Partnerships Team works with customer representative organisations, both nationally and locally, to provide a wide range of advice and support for older people. Over 300 of these partner organisations operate as an Alternative Office, taking and verifying Attendance Allowance claims on behalf of the Secretary of State. And for those unable to access services through other channels, a visiting service is available to help with information and claims.

Mark Harper
Secretary of State for Transport
20th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to ensure that the shared accommodation rate is representative of the real cost of renting shared accommodation.

On behalf of DWP, the Rent Officer Services, collect evidence of a wide range of achieved rents for each area and use these to set Local Housing Allowance rates, in line with the current policy for Local Housing Allowance uprating.

Currently, increases to Local Housing Allowance rates are limited to one per cent. However, in areas where there have been the greatest divergences between rates and rents, we are increasing rates by up to 4 per cent through Targeted Affordability Funding.

In 2014/15, this meant that 56 out of the 192 Shared Accommodation Rates were increased by 4 per cent. In 2015/16, there will be £95 million available for the Targeted Affordability funding and we will be increasing 63 out of the 192 Shared Accommodation Rates by 4 per cent.

12th Jan 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria are employed to assess applicants for personal independent payments (PIPs); and what steps are being taken to ensure that those in need do not lose access to the payment following the switchover from disability living allowance to PIPs.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is intended to focus support on those individuals who experience the greatest barriers to living an independent life. Entitlement to PIP is primarily assessed by reference to a claimant’s ability to carry out daily living activities or mobility activities. The PIP Handbook (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/348736/pip-handbook-aug-14.pdf) provides greater detail on the entitlement conditions and the assessment criteria.

Existing claimants of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) who were aged 16 to 64 on 8 April 2013, or who reach age 16 after that date, will be asked to claim PIP under programmes of natural and managed reassessment.
Such claimants will continue to receive DLA throughout the period their claim to PIP is being assessed so long as they comply with the claiming conditions. On determination of the PIP claim the claimant’s DLA will continue for a period of 4 weeks before the PIP decision takes effect.

Mark Harper
Secretary of State for Transport
17th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2014 to Question 213576, how many cases are still being dealt by Atos; and what assessment he has made of the effect this will have on waiting times.

As at 30 September 2014 there were around 580,000 cases awaiting Work Capability Assessments at Atos Healthcare (down by 25% since February). These figures do not include cases where the claimant has yet to return the claimant questionnaire.

From 1 March, MAXIMUS Health and Human Services Ltd. will take over delivery, initially using elements of the Atos infrastructure in order to ensure a smooth and gradual transition between providers. The priority for MAXIMUS will be to deliver the best service possible for claimants, increase the volume of assessments carried out and reduce waiting times.

We are committed to reducing waiting times which is why this Government has awarded the new contract to Maximus.

Mark Harper
Secretary of State for Transport
17th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will take steps to ensure that Atos and its successor provide claimants with an immediate refund on the costs incurred when travelling to that assessment.

Atos Healthcare will refund claimants’ travel expenses within 14 working days of the assessment taking place. There is no process in place to make an immediate refund.

MAXIMUS Health and Human Services Ltd have also committed to paying all travel expenses within the same time limits. This agreement will take effect from 1 March 2015.

Mark Harper
Secretary of State for Transport
5th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2014, Official Report, column 526, whether he has considered making changes to the level of employment and support allowance; how many recipients of that allowance are disabled; and how many recipients of that allowance are doing permitted work.

We are committed to ensuring that the support system offers those who want to work with the right opportunities to reach their potential, whilst continuing to provide appropriate financial support for those who are unable to work.

The information requested on the number of Employment and Support Allowance recipients, who are disabled or doing permitted work, is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Mark Harper
Secretary of State for Transport
5th Nov 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases are still being dealt with by Atos; and what transitional arrangements are in place to deal with cases previously dealt with by Atos.

Atos will continue to undertake all health and disability assessments including the Work Capability Assessments until 28 February 2015 when MAXIMUS Health and Human Services Ltd. will take over the contract. The Department will work closely with MAXIMUS and Atos during the transitional period to ensure a smooth and effective handover of services. The process for claimants will remain the same during transition so claimants should continue to attend their assessments.

Mark Harper
Secretary of State for Transport
26th Sep 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) men and (b) women aged 65 (i) receive and (ii) do not receive additional state pension after a contracted-out deduction is applied.

The number of men aged 65 who receive additional State Pension after a contracted-out deduction is applied, as at September 2013, is 194,900.

The number of women aged 65 who receive additional State Pension after a contracted-out deduction is applied, as at September 2013, is 158,200.

The number of men aged 65 who do not receive additional State Pension after a contracted-out deduction is applied, as at September 2013, is 37,700.

The number of women aged 65 who do not receive additional State Pension after a contracted-out deduction is applied, as at September 2013, is 8,800.

The answer covers additional State Pension and the CoD from 1978-97 only, which is the period for which contracted out deductions applied.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information, Exploitation and Security Directorate, 5% sample.

Notes:

  1. These figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.
  2. The 5% sample data provides some detail not available from the 100% data sources. DWP recommends that, where the detail is only available on the 5% sample data, the proportions derived should be applied to the overall 100% total for the benefit. Figures have been adjusted in line with 100% data.
17th Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to equalise guaranteed minimum pensions.

The Government is working with the industry to support schemes in their obligation to ensure that equal pension benefits are paid to men and women, taking into account the effect of the guaranteed minimum pension.

17th Jul 2014
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many men aged 65 receive additional state pension after a contracted-out deduction is applied.

The number of men aged 65 who receive additional State Pension after a contracted-out deduction is applied, as at September 2013, is 194,900.

Contracted out deductions are applied to additional State Pension where people were contracted out between 1978 and 1997.

Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information, Governance and Security Directorate, 5% sample

Notes:

1. The figure has been rounded to the nearest 100.

2. The 5% sample data provides some detail not available from the 100% data sources. DWP recommends that, where the detail is only available on the 5% sample data, the proportions derived should be applied to the overall 100% total for the benefit. Figures have been adjusted in line with 100% data.

24th Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will review regulations applying to the licensing of the drug Avastin for use in eye conditions, in response to recent research on that drug's safety and efficacy compared to licensed alternatives.

The European framework for licensing of medicines is designed to ensure medicines that are placed on the market have been tested for safety, quality and efficacy and the system confers important benefits for patients and the healthcare system. Avastin is not licensed for the treatment of eye conditions and has not been assessed by the regulatory authorities for the treatment of eye conditions. However, clinicians may decide to use an off label or unlicensed medicine in cases where there is not a licensed medicine available to meet the clinical needs of an individual patient. There are no plans at this time to review the regulations that apply to licensing of medicines.

3rd Feb 2015
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made by the working group established to develop a robust process to support the sustainable long-term commissioning of cancer drugs; when he expects the outcomes of their work to be published; and what steps he will take to reduce variations in access to cancer drugs depending on when an application to the Cancer Drugs Fund is made.

NHS England has advised that its Cancer Drugs Fund Working Party has held its first meeting and discussed its draft principles and terms of reference for its work.

The Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) runs a notification system for drug/indications included on the national CDF list. In order to commence treatment with these drugs, clinicians complete an application online and, where a patient’s needs meet the clinical criteria, they are able to access the drug(s) without any administrative delay. This is an equal system for all if the conditions are met for the drug/indication.

If the drug/indication is not on the national CDF list, an individual CDF request can be made. These are currently assessed on a regional basis. NHS England works closely with the regional teams to ensure consistency in decision making through training, sharing information and the use of a shared database.