<\/p>
The Government is committed to improving support for adoptive families and foster carers. To improve adoption support, the Department for Education has committed £19.3 million to establish an Adoption Support Fund to make therapeutic support more accessible. This is currently being tested in 10 local authorities. We are piloting personal budgets for adoption support in these local authorities to give parents more choice and control over the support they receive. We have commissioned the British Association of Adoption and Fostering to develop a new tool for assessing families\u2019 support needs. We are supporting local authorities to pilot AdOpt, a therapeutic parenting programme for adopters.<\/p>
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We have extended the Pupil Premium, priority school admissions and funded early education for 2-year-olds to children adopted from care. In addition, we have published the Adoption Passport, setting out information about entitlements to support, including adopters\u2019 rights to improved adoption pay and leave from 2015.<\/p>
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We are continuing to fund the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM). The IRM provides access to an independent body where services have decided not to approve an adopter or foster carer; are proposing changes to or have terminated a foster carer\u2019s approval.<\/p>
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To improve support for foster carers, the department has taken the decision to continue to fund Fosterline which provides confidential, free advice to foster carers. We are funding the development of a new programme for foster carers of babies and very young children and an adaptation of Multisystemic Therapy, an existing evidence based intervention, which will focus on supporting children to return home or find stability in long term care.<\/p>
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We continue to support the roll-out of evidence based interventions such as KEEP (Keeping Foster and Kinship Carers Safe and Supported) and MTFC (Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care) to help foster carers gain the confidence and skills to care for those with complex needs.<\/p>
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The department has recently become the government\u2019s first foster-family-friendly employer, giving staff that foster extra support to balance their work and care responsibilities. Other government departments and some local authorities are now actively considering implementing similar policies.<\/p>
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We have developed training materials for professionals working in fostering and adoption and delivered regional train-the-trainer events to launch them. Some fostering services plan to offer this training to their foster carers too.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1605", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Edward Timpson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Crewe and Nantwich"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Edward Timpson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-22T14:57:51.0452427Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Adoption and Foster Care"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps she has taken to improve the support provided to adopters and foster parents; and if she will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3929", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Simon Kirby"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Brighton, Kemptown"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Simon Kirby"} ], "uin" : "206612"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78900", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78900/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
The Government is providing more than £450 million of ring-fenced funding for primary PE and sport through the primary PE and sport premium in the three academic years to 2015/16. We are working across government and with PE and sport organisations to support schools to spend the funding effectively and sustainably. We have received positive reports about how schools have been spending the funding in its first year. Schools have provided professional development for teachers, deployed specialist coaches to support new activities, promoted physical activity amongst less active children, and increased the amount of competitive sport played.<\/p>
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The Department for Education has also created a programme to train primary PE specialists. The first cohort of 120 teachers is due to start working in schools from this September. They will provide expert teaching in their school, and take a lead in promoting PE in their local area. The programme has been extended for another year, increasing the number of PE primary specialists to 240 by September 2015. It is hoped that from September 2015 many more teaching schools in the country will be able to offer this specialist course.<\/p>
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Further work across government is also improving PE and sport in primary schools. Over 17,000 primary and secondary schools across the country are taking part in the Sainsbury\u2019s School Games. Under Primary Spaces, a National Lottery-funded programme, more than 600 schools have been awarded up to £30,000 to improve outdoor spaces for PE and sporting activities. New facilities will be installed in the first 100 schools this summer.<\/p>
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PE remains a compulsory subject at all four key stages in the new national curriculum, which comes into force from September 2014. There is a greater focus on competitive sport in PE lessons and swimming, and water safety remains compulsory at primary levels.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1605", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Edward Timpson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Crewe and Nantwich"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Edward Timpson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-22T15:02:11.5523514Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Schools: Sports"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress she has made on improving PE and sports provision in primary schools; and if she will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3929", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Simon Kirby"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Brighton, Kemptown"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Simon Kirby"} ], "uin" : "206609"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78638", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Attorney General"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78638/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
The then Attorney General, Dominic Grieve, and a member of the Attorney General\u2019s Office gave evidence to the Hallett Inquiry but did so as witnesses rather than legal advisers. Lady Justice Hallett reached her own view on the lawfulness of the administrative scheme.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4106", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Robert Buckland"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South Swindon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Robert Buckland"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-22T10:10:37.4450952Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "88"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Attorney General"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Administrative Scheme for the \"On the Runs\" Independent Review"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Attorney General, if he will publish the advice the Law Officers' Department gave to Lady Hallett on the lawfulness of the administrative scheme operated for the benefit of on-the-runs.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1437", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lady Hermon"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Down"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lady Hermon"} ], "uin" : "206532"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78641", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78641/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) undertook an assessment in relation to Sunday Trading legislation which was published in May 2012 alongside the Sunday Trading (London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games) Bill, though this was not a formal impact assessment. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) looked at retail trade evidence during the Olympics suspension.<\/p>
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Prior to this BIS carried out a thorough review of the 1994 legislation (including a consultation and an independent economic cost benefit analysis) in 2006.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Swinson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Dunbartonshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Swinson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-22T13:29:51.8187172Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Sunday Trading"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the most recent impact assessment his Department has carried out on the issue of Sunday trading.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4128", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chuka Umunna"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Streatham"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Chuka Umunna"} ], "uin" : "206509"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78652", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78652/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
There are no official figures for the number of food banks or for people who have made use of them. The provision of food aid ranges from small, local provision, through to regional and national schemes. The greatest proportion is community-led provision responding to local needs. As such, the Government do not believe it is possible to keep records of the number of food banks or how many people made use of them.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3934", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for George Eustice"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Camborne and Redruth"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "George Eustice"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-22T09:28:36.5572102Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Food Banks"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the oral Answer from the right hon. Member for Banbury, representing the Church Commissioners to the hon. Member for York Central of 17 July 2014, what information her Department holds on how many (a) food banks existed and (b) people made use of food banks in the UK in each of the last 10 years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/385", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Hugh Bayley"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "York Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Hugh Bayley"} ], "uin" : "206404"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78654", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78654/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1488", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Brooks Newmark"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Braintree"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Brooks Newmark"} , "attachment" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78654/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "PQ 206564 ons 324.pdf"} , "title" : "ONS Letter to Member"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-07-21T13:48:03.237Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-07-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Older People: Harrogate"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people (a) of pensionable age and (b) over 80 years of age there are in Harrogate and Knaresborough constituency.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3996", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Jones"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harrogate and Knaresborough"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrew Jones"} ], "uin" : "206564"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78659", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/78659/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
There are no plans for legislative proposals to reduce VAT on flood defence works.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Government has responded to the recent floods in a decisive way by offering a package of initiatives, including a \u201crenew and repair\u201d grant of £5,000 to provide financial support for households and businesses.<\/p>
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Details of the new funding schemes for homeowners and businesses in flood hit areas were announced on 20 February by the Prime Minister.<\/p>
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Further information on this is available on the UK Government web-site at<\/p>