Since taking over management of the Croxley Rail Link in November 2015, Transport for London (TfL) has been reviewing the main work contracts. From discussions between officials in the Department and in TfL, we are aware that, as a result of prices received from the supply chain, the costs of the scheme are currently higher than the agreed budget. We understand TfL is considering how best to deal with this.<\/p>
At a meeting with the Mayor on 5 December the Secretary of State for Transport re-confirmed the importance that the Government attaches to the scheme which will deliver significant transport benefits and significantly boost economic growth in Watford and the wider north west London area. Indeed, the Government, together with local councils and the Local Enterprise Partnership, has already committed substantial funding to this scheme and nearly 85% of the total budgeted cost.<\/p>
Under the terms of the funding agreement in place for the scheme, TfL committed to the agreed budget of £284.4m and so agreed to meet any costs incurred over that budget. Conversely, they would retain the full amount of any cost savings. The Department will not be providing any additional funding for the scheme and expects TfL to complete it as agreed.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3996", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Jones"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harrogate and Knaresborough"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Andrew Jones"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-12-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-12-13T15:54:30.997Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2016-12-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Croxley Rail Link"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations his Department has received from (a) the Mayor of London and (b) Transport of London on the cost of the Croxley rail link; and whether the Government plans to provide additional funding to support the development of that link.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4005", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bob Blackman"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harrow East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bob Blackman"} ], "uin" : "56736"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/654423", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/654423/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Smoking rates in England are now their lowest since records began. The Government\u2019s aim is to increase the number of smokers who make effective quit attempts. The number of smokers in England attempting to quit has declined over the last decade but the proportion of these quitting successfully has increased. As a result, the percentage of all smokers quitting successfully each year has increased over the last five years.<\/p>
<\/p>
The best way to quit smoking is with a combination of behavioural support and pharmacotherapy. Specialist stop smoking services remain highly effective and cost effective and smokers who use them are up to four times as likely to quit successfully as if they try to quit unaided. Smokers who use English stop smoking services are up to four times as likely to quit successfully.1<\/sup><\/p> <\/p> Advice from a healthcare professional (HCP) is the most commonly cited external trigger for a quit attempt and therefore HCPs have a vital role to play. A new national Commissioning for Quality and Innovation indicator incentivises National Health Service trusts to identify smokers, provide advice and refer all those who are willing into specialist quitting support. Free online training, commissioned by Public Health England (PHE), is available for HCPs on delivering very brief advice on smoking. PHE continues to promote awareness of stop smoking services and encourage smokers to take up their expert support via its marketing activity including campaigns such as Stoptober.<\/p> <\/p> Note<\/em>:<\/p> [1] West, R. (2012) Stop smoking services: increased chances of quitting. NCSCT Briefing #8. London; National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4019", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Oxford West and Abingdon"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nicola Blackwood"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-12-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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, {"_value" : "56502"}
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, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
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, "date" : {"_value" : "2016-12-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Smoking"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to promote a national awareness campaign on stop smoking services.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4005", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bob Blackman"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harrow East"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/654428", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/654428/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Smoking rates in England are now their lowest since records began. The Government\u2019s aim is to increase the number of smokers who make effective quit attempts. The number of smokers in England attempting to quit has declined over the last decade but the proportion of these quitting successfully has increased. As a result, the percentage of all smokers quitting successfully each year has increased over the last five years.<\/p> <\/p> The best way to quit smoking is with a combination of behavioural support and pharmacotherapy. Specialist stop smoking services remain highly effective and cost effective and smokers who use them are up to four times as likely to quit successfully as if they try to quit unaided. Smokers who use English stop smoking services are up to four times as likely to quit successfully.1<\/sup><\/p> <\/p> Advice from a healthcare professional (HCP) is the most commonly cited external trigger for a quit attempt and therefore HCPs have a vital role to play. A new national Commissioning for Quality and Innovation indicator incentivises National Health Service trusts to identify smokers, provide advice and refer all those who are willing into specialist quitting support. Free online training, commissioned by Public Health England (PHE), is available for HCPs on delivering very brief advice on smoking. PHE continues to promote awareness of stop smoking services and encourage smokers to take up their expert support via its marketing activity including campaigns such as Stoptober.<\/p> <\/p> Note<\/em>:<\/p> [1] West, R. (2012) Stop smoking services: increased chances of quitting. NCSCT Briefing #8. London; National Centre for Smoking Cessation and Training<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4019", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Oxford West and Abingdon"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nicola Blackwood"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-12-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "56502"}
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, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2016-12-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Smoking"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of reasons why quit rates for smoking have declined in recent years; and if he will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4005", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bob Blackman"}
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, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Harrow East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bob Blackman"}
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, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/654429", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/654429/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Smoking rates in England are now their lowest since records began. The Government\u2019s aim is to increase the number of smokers who make effective quit attempts. The number of smokers in England attempting to quit has declined over the last decade but the proportion of these quitting successfully has increased. As a result, the percentage of all smokers quitting successfully each year has increased over the last five years.<\/p> <\/p> The best way to quit smoking is with a combination of behavioural support and pharmacotherapy. Specialist stop smoking services remain highly effective and cost effective and smokers who use them are up to four times as likely to quit successfully as if they try to quit unaided. Smokers who use English stop smoking services are up to four times as likely to quit successfully.1<\/sup><\/p> <\/p> Advice from a healthcare professional (HCP) is the most commonly cited external trigger for a quit attempt and therefore HCPs have a vital role to play. A new national Commissioning for Quality and Innovation indicator incentivises National Health Service trusts to identify smokers, provide advice and refer all those who are willing into specialist quitting support. Free online training, commissioned by Public Health England (PHE), is available for HCPs on delivering very brief advice on smoking. PHE continues to promote awareness of stop smoking services and encourage smokers to take up their expert support via its marketing activity including campaigns such as Stoptober.<\/p> <\/p>