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172292

registered interest
date	06/01/2015
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Funerals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that funerals are affordable.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	219784
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/01/2015 answer text <p>As the funeral sector is subject to consumer regulation and many crematoriums and burial plots are the responsibility of local authorities my department cannot influence funeral costs. However, it does operate the Social Fund Funeral Payment scheme which continues to provide help towards a simple, respectful, low-cost funeral for those who are eligible. In 2013/14, over 33,000 awards were made worth £44.4 million, with an average award of £1,347.</p><p> </p><p>This Government has extended the Budgeting Loan provision to include funeral expenses. This helps where a deposit is required up front, or towards the balance of costs that a Social Fund Funeral Payment cannot meet.</p><p> </p><p>This Government has also introduced the measure whereby any arrears of benefit, which were due to the deceased at date of death, are disregarded. This means that such arrears are no longer deducted from the Funeral Payment award.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 13/01/2015 11:21:37 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

171976

registered interest
date	05/01/2015
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	NHS: Innovation
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department made in 2014 on implementing the objectives of the Innovation, Health and Wealth: Accelerating Adoption and Diffusion in the NHS report; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	219701
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/01/2015 answer text <p>We are starting to see very encouraging signs of improvement in the uptake and use of innovation in the National Health Service. Both the Department and NHS England remain committed to driving improvements in health through developing, testing and spreading innovation across the health system. Key developments in 2014 include:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- The NICE Implementation Collaborative has continued to support faster and more consistent access to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommended medicines, treatments and technologies. Significant increases in appropriate usage of drugs covered by this initiative have been demonstrated at a national level.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- The Innovation Scorecard demonstrates that the rate of uptake and utility of new medicines recommended by NICE has significantly increased, particularly for innovative treatments such as Novel Oral Anti-Coagulants (NOACs).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The <em>Five Year Forward View </em>builds on this progress. Through its publication and implementation NHS England and its partners have committed to driving improvements in health through developing, testing and spreading innovation across the health system.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Central Suffolk and North Ipswich answering member printed Dr Daniel Poulter question first answered 12/01/2015 15:20:36 answering member 3932 label Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

171823

registered interest
date	02/01/2015
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Medical Treatments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Minister for Life Sciences' announcement on 20 November 2014 on considering how to speed-up patient access to medicines, devices and diagnostics, what discussions his Department has had with (a) NICE and (b) NHS England on that matter.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	219612
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/01/2015 answer text <p>The review of the pathways for the development, assessment, and adoption of innovative medicines and medical technology will consider how to speed up access for National Health Service patients to cost-effective new diagnostics, medicines and devices. Officials have already had preliminary discussions with both the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and NHS England, and these will continue as the review progresses.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman question first answered 09/01/2015 14:34:15 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

171827

registered interest
date	02/01/2015
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Drugs: Scotland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the announcement made by the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 7 October 2014, if he will introduce a scheme similar to the New Medicines Fund in England.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	219610
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/01/2015 answer text <p>The Government has no plans to do so.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>In August 2014, we announced an additional £160 million for the Cancer Drugs Fund. This increases the budget of the Cancer Drugs Fund from £200 million to £280 million in 2014-15 and 2015-16.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>The Government is implementing all of the commitments in the 2014 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) on improving access to innovative medicines commensurate with the outcomes they offer patients. In addition, NHS England and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry are pressing ahead with plans to maximise the benefits of the PPRS by improving access to and optimising the use of medicines to improve patient outcomes.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Norfolk answering member printed George Freeman question first answered 09/01/2015 14:37:49 answering member 4020 label Biography information for George Freeman
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

171169

registered interest
date	17/12/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Offences against Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many claims of child abuse were designated by police in England and Wales as requiring no further action in each year since 1984.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	219333
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/01/2015 answer text <p>The Home Office does not hold this information centrally.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornsey and Wood Green answering member printed Lynne Featherstone question first answered 08/01/2015 12:20:52 answering member 1531 label Biography information for Baroness Featherstone
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

171170

registered interest
date	17/12/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Offences against Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department and its Executive agencies have taken to record (a) claims of child abuse, (b) cases of suspected child abuse and (c) proven cases of child abuse.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	219334
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/01/2015 answer text <p>The Home Office has in place a protocol for passing information received in respect of child abuse to the police. This protocol, &quot;Child Sexual Abuse Information/Correspondence – Home Office Protocol&quot;, has been agreed with the <br>National Policing Lead for Child Protection and Abuse Investigation. The protocol ensures that we record and refer to the police claims of child abuse, and suspected child abuse. <br><br>The Review by Peter Wanless and Richard Whittam QC, published on 11 November and available in the House Library, included a copy of this protocol at Annex H and also made recommendations to strengthen existing arrangements on the <br>handling of child abuse information received by the Department. In response, we have introduced a new approach to recording allegations of child abuse made to the Department and have revised with the National Policing lead the protocol <br>for passing such information to the police.<br><br>The protocol does not specifically cover the recording or referral of proven cases of child abuse as those cases will have already come to the attention of the prosecuting authorities. That information is not routinely collected by the <br>Home Office.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornsey and Wood Green answering member printed Lynne Featherstone grouped question UIN 219335 question first answered 08/01/2015 12:22:48 answering member 1531 label Biography information for Baroness Featherstone
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

171171

registered interest
date	17/12/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Offences against Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to better record claims of child abuse.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	219335
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/01/2015 answer text <p>The Home Office has in place a protocol for passing information received in respect of child abuse to the police. This protocol, &quot;Child Sexual Abuse Information/Correspondence – Home Office Protocol&quot;, has been agreed with the <br>National Policing Lead for Child Protection and Abuse Investigation. The protocol ensures that we record and refer to the police claims of child abuse, and suspected child abuse. <br><br>The Review by Peter Wanless and Richard Whittam QC, published on 11 November and available in the House Library, included a copy of this protocol at Annex H and also made recommendations to strengthen existing arrangements on the <br>handling of child abuse information received by the Department. In response, we have introduced a new approach to recording allegations of child abuse made to the Department and have revised with the National Policing lead the protocol <br>for passing such information to the police.<br><br>The protocol does not specifically cover the recording or referral of proven cases of child abuse as those cases will have already come to the attention of the prosecuting authorities. That information is not routinely collected by the <br>Home Office.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornsey and Wood Green answering member printed Lynne Featherstone grouped question UIN 219334 question first answered 08/01/2015 12:22:48 answering member 1531 label Biography information for Baroness Featherstone
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

171178

registered interest
date	17/12/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Offences against Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with (c) Childline, (b) Voice of the Child in Care and (c) other similar organisations on the reporting of child abuse.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	219341
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p>The Department for Education has regular discussions with the NSPCC who receive funding from the Department for Childline and other helplines to help children experiencing abuse. Reporting abuse and neglect as early as possible is vital so that children get the help and support they need. Our statutory guidance is very clear that a referral should be made to children’s social care as soon as a problem presents. The Department holds a number of meetings with different organisations to discuss how to improve the process of referral for both children and those working with them.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is also supporting both the ‘National Youth Advocacy Service’ and ‘Voice’ to provide an advocacy advice service for looked after children and care leavers. The service provides confidential advice and support to looked-after children and care leavers and includes advice and support relating to safeguarding concerns.</p> answering member constituency Crewe and Nantwich answering member printed Mr Edward Timpson question first answered 05/01/2015 17:30:42 answering member 1605 label Biography information for Edward Timpson
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

171182

registered interest
date	17/12/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Offences against Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to encourage children to report sexual abuse to Childline or similar organisations.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	219338
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p>It is essential that children suffering any form of abuse are encouraged to speak out. The NSPCC receives grant funding from the Department for Education to support ChildLine and the NSPCC helplines. £11.2 million has been provided from 2011 – 2015.</p><p> </p><p>NSPCC and ChildLine reach out to children through a wide range of media channels, and each service runs targeted campaigns on safeguarding issues including raising awareness of sexual abuse, and the need to report it.</p><p> </p><p>Recent campaigns such as the NSPCC ‘underwear rule’ and the ‘Zipit’ campaign focused on helping both children and adults to be aware of physical and virtual (online) abuse.</p> answering member constituency Crewe and Nantwich answering member printed Mr Edward Timpson question first answered 05/01/2015 17:32:39 answering member 1605 label Biography information for Edward Timpson
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

171183

registered interest
date	17/12/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Offences against Children
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance she has issued to police forces on the handling of false allegations of child sexual abuse.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	219339
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/01/2015 answer text <p>Government engagement with charities and experts on child sexual abuse is coordinated by the National Group on Sexual Violence against Children and Vulnerable People. The National Group, which is chaired by myself<br>and includes experts from the voluntary sector, has overseen a cultural shift in how allegations of abuse are handled. This is reflected in updated Crown Prosecution Service guidance which supports a culture focused on <br>the credibility of the allegation rather than the credibility of the victim; a shift which recognises how the vulnerability of potential victims and power of perpetrators needs to be addressed.<br><br>The College of Policing has issued authorised professional practice for police in relation to investigating child abuse and exploitation. The guidance also aims to move the focus of investigations away from testing the credibility of victims <br>onto the credibility of the allegation and ensuring victims are listened to by the police.<br><br>It is not always obvious to the police that when a complaint is made and then subsequently investigated by them, that the allegation in question may be false. Where an investigation identifies a false allegation, it may be <br>appropriate for the police to support a prosecution for attempting to pervert the course of justice. It is essential in all cases that all steps are taken to test the validity of statements, corroborate accounts and establish an accurate <br>picture.<br><br>The Government is clear that if child abuse takes place, it must be thoroughly and properly investigated, and those responsible are arrested and brought to justice.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornsey and Wood Green answering member printed Lynne Featherstone grouped question UIN 219337 question first answered 08/01/2015 12:21:53 answering member 1531 label Biography information for Baroness Featherstone
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman