{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?tablingMember.label=Biography+information+for+Greg+Mulholland&max-date=2015-09-11", "definition" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?tablingMember.label=Biography+information+for+Greg+Mulholland&max-date=2015-09-11", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?tablingMember.label=Biography+information+for+Greg+Mulholland&max-date=2015-09-11&_metadata=all", "first" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?tablingMember.label=Biography+information+for+Greg+Mulholland&_page=0&max-date=2015-09-11", "hasPart" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?tablingMember.label=Biography+information+for+Greg+Mulholland&max-date=2015-09-11", "isPartOf" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?tablingMember.label=Biography+information+for+Greg+Mulholland&max-date=2015-09-11", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/418465", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/418465/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>There is no plan to launch a Royal Commission into the future of the National Health Service. The Government remains committed to the principles of the NHS, enshrined in the NHS Constitution and in working with the NHS in implementing its own plan for the future of the NHS \u2013 the Five Year Forward View.<\/p><p> <\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1201", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alistair Burt"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Bedfordshire"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alistair Burt"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-09-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-09-21T12:53:10.387Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-09-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "NHS"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will bring forward proposals for an independent Royal Commission on the future of the NHS.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1540", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Mulholland"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds North West"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Greg Mulholland"}
      ], "uin" : "9970"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/418496", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Transport"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/418496/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>We have not estimated the cost of constructing a link road to Leeds Bradford International Airport as this would be a local road and the relevant local authority would be responsible for developing a scheme proposal. The Government sponsored study into improving connectivity to Leeds Bradford International Airport used an estimate provided by Leeds City Council of £38m in 2012 prices.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>The Aviation Policy Framework published in March 2013 makes clear that developers should pay the costs of upgrading transport links where there is a need to cope with increased passenger numbers, but that a public funding contribution will be considered if the scheme has a wider range of beneficiaries. The relevant local authorities would therefore be responsible for assembling a funding package for a link road, in partnership with developers and other local stakeholders. Local Growth Funding could be used to provide a public sector contribution, and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority is being provided with a contribution of up to £781m towards the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund between 2015/15 and 2034/35. The Fund has been set up to deliver transport improvements across West Yorkshire and York.<\/p><p> <\/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" : "2015-09-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-09-16T11:27:13.907Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-09-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Regional Airports"}
      , "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, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July to Question 6770, what estimate he has made of the cost of a new link road; and from what sources funding for that link road will be provided.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1540", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Mulholland"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds North West"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Greg Mulholland"}
      ], "uin" : "10005"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/418232", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/418232/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>The UK Government continues actively to engage the US Government to secure Shaker Aamer\u2019s release. No decision has yet been made.<\/p><p>Given the need to respect the confidentiality of the process, we cannot provide a running commentary on conversations with the US government.<\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1487", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Tobias Ellwood"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bournemouth East"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Tobias Ellwood"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-09-18", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-09-18T09:40:50.537Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-09-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Shaker Aamer"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the reasons that Shaker Aamer has not been released from Guantanamo Bay.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1540", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Mulholland"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds North West"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Greg Mulholland"}
      ], "uin" : "9934"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/418233", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/418233/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published further draft guidance on 2 September 2015 which recommends elosulphase alfa (Vimizim) for the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis (type IVA)/Morquio syndrome, subject to certain conditions. Interested parties now have until 23 September to comment on NICE\u2019s draft recommendation.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>NICE now expects to publish its final guidance in January 2016.<\/p><p> <\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4020", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for George Freeman"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Norfolk"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "George Freeman"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-09-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-09-15T11:36:47.453Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-09-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Morquio Syndrome: Drugs"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects NICE to announce its decision on approving the Vimizim form of elosulfase alfa.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1540", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Mulholland"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds North West"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Greg Mulholland"}
      ], "uin" : "9950"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/417197", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/417197/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>We are currently consulting on options for freezing the £21,000 post-2012 repayment threshold. The consultation is open until 14 October.<\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4039", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Orpington"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Joseph Johnson"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-09-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-09-15T15:58:38.323Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-09-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Students: Loans"}
      , "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 representations he has received about retrospective changes to the terms and conditions of student loan repayments.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1540", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Mulholland"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds North West"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Greg Mulholland"}
      ], "uin" : "9129"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391693", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391693/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>To be eligible for higher education funding in England, students are required to be settled in the UK, be ordinarily resident in England and have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for three years prior to the first day of the first academic year of the course.<\/p><p> <\/p><p>As higher education is a devolved matter in the UK different rules may apply for students ordinarily resident in other parts of the UK.<\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4039", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Johnson of Marylebone"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Orpington"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Joseph Johnson"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-09-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-09-10T14:28:29.7Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Students: Finance"}
      , "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, for how long UK citizens are required to reside in the UK in order to be eligible for student finance.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1540", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Mulholland"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds North West"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Greg Mulholland"}
      ], "uin" : "8171"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391702", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391702/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>Information on Government suppliers within a specific constituency or region is not held centrally.<\/p><p> <\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4070", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matt Hancock"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Suffolk"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matthew Hancock"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-09-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-09-07T11:54:17.707Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Government Departments: Procurement"}
      , "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 and what value of procurement contracts central Government Departments hold with suppliers in each (a) region and (b) parliamentary constituency.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1540", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Mulholland"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds North West"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Greg Mulholland"}
      ], "uin" : "8130"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391844", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391844/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p><strong> <\/strong><\/p><p> <\/p><p>The Government recognises the valuable contribution made by carers, many of whom spend a significant proportion of their life providing support to family members or friends. Professionals in health, education, social care and other parts of the community including employers, have a key role to play in identifying and signposting those with caring responsibilities to information, advice and support.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>The Care 2014 is a historic step for carers, for the first time putting their rights on the same footing as the people they care for. Under the Care Act, local authorities have an expanded duty to assess carers, removing the previous test of whether they were providing \u201cregular and substantial\u201d care. This is predicted to lead to an additional 360,000 carers a year receiving an assessment by 2018/19. In addition, local authorities are required to ensure that there is a comprehensive information and advice service available to their local population, specifically including carers.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>Under the Act, carers\u2019 assessments will include a thorough consideration of the impact a caring role has on a carer\u2019s wellbeing and the outcomes they wish to achieve, including their ability to engage in work, training, education or volunteering. On the basis of these assessments, local authorities will have a duty to meet eligible needs for support (and will also be able to meet needs which are not considered eligible). The Department of Health has provided £104 million of funding to local authorities for additional carer assessment and support in 2015/16.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>The Care Act requires National Health Service bodies and local authorities to co-operate with each other in the exercise of their respective functions relevant to care and support, including those relating to carers, so we would expect local authorities and NHS bodies to cooperate in identifying and signposting carers.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>In addition, we made it clear in our mandate to NHS England that by 2015, carers looking after friends and family members should routinely have access to information and advice about support available, including respite care. This supports Government investment of £400 million between 2011 \u2013 2015 to improve NHS support for carers and to enable them to take a break from their caring responsibilities.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>Support for carers more broadly is integral to the work NHS England is leading to improve the quality of life of people with long term conditions. NHS England published a <em>Commitment to Carers<\/em> in May 2014 - an action plan with a series of commitments around eight priorities, including raising the profile of carers; person-centred, well-coordinated care, commissioning support and partnership links. NHS England are currently reviewing progress and developing plans for next steps.<\/p><p> <\/p><p><strong> <\/strong><\/p><p> <\/p><p>The Department of Health has also provided over £2 million in recent years to the professional bodies such as the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Nursing, as well as Carers UK and the Carers Trust, to develop initiatives to raise awareness of carers among healthcare professionals and to help identify and support carers. Initiatives have included the recruitment of GP carer champions, work with pharmacy organisations to identify carers in pharmacy settings, and to identify more carers through the 2014 flu vaccination campaign.<\/p><p> <\/p><p><strong> <\/strong><\/p><p> <\/p><p>We recognise that many carers of working age wish to stay in touch with the job market for their financial well-being and to enhance their own lives and the lives of those for whom they care. Many also feel under pressure to give up paid work to care.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>On 30 June 2015 the Government extended a right request flexible working arrangements after a 26 weeks\u2019 qualifying period, building on a previous entitlement for some carers. This will help to normalise the kind of flexible working patterns that can help carers balance different responsibilities.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>On 13 February the Government launched a joint Department of Health, Government Equality Office and Department for Work and Pensions investment of £1.6 million in pilots in nine local authority areas to explore ways in which people can be supported to combine work and care. Through the scheme, nine pilot areas will explore how professional support, technology, volunteering, informal networks and support from employers can be combined to ease the pressure of caring. This will build on the requirement in the Care Act to consider support for employment as part of an assessment of eligible needs, set out above.<\/p><p> <\/p><p>More broadly, the Department for Work and Pensions continues to invest in supporting carers to return to work. For example, income replacement benefits help people and households on lower incomes, and include a carer premium, currently £34.60 a week. An equivalent additional amount applies in Pension Credit. Universal Credit will also include a carer element at the rate of £150.39 per monthly assessment period. This means that lower-income carers can be better off than others who receive these benefits.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>On 1 July my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State (Mr Jeremy Hunt) announced that I will develop a new carers\u2019 strategy that looks at the best of international practice and examines what more we can do to support existing carers and the new carers we will need.<\/p><p> <\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1201", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alistair Burt"}
        }
        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North East Bedfordshire"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alistair Burt"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-09-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "8158"}
        , {"_value" : "8160"}
        , {"_value" : "8191"}
        ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
        , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2015-09-08T14:54:07.063Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
        ]}
      , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
      , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
      , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
      , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Carers"}
      , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
      }
      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to support the NHS and local government to work together to improve the identification of (a) people caring for people living with and beyond cancer and (b) other carers and their needs.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1540", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Mulholland"}
      }
      , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Leeds North West"}
      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Greg Mulholland"}
      ], "uin" : "8159"}
    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391845", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391845/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p><strong> <\/strong><\/p><p> <\/p><p>The Government recognises the valuable contribution made by carers, many of whom spend a significant proportion of their life providing support to family members or friends. Professionals in health, education, social care and other parts of the community including employers, have a key role to play in identifying and signposting those with caring responsibilities to information, advice and support.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>The Care 2014 is a historic step for carers, for the first time putting their rights on the same footing as the people they care for. Under the Care Act, local authorities have an expanded duty to assess carers, removing the previous test of whether they were providing \u201cregular and substantial\u201d care. This is predicted to lead to an additional 360,000 carers a year receiving an assessment by 2018/19. In addition, local authorities are required to ensure that there is a comprehensive information and advice service available to their local population, specifically including carers.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>Under the Act, carers\u2019 assessments will include a thorough consideration of the impact a caring role has on a carer\u2019s wellbeing and the outcomes they wish to achieve, including their ability to engage in work, training, education or volunteering. On the basis of these assessments, local authorities will have a duty to meet eligible needs for support (and will also be able to meet needs which are not considered eligible). The Department of Health has provided £104 million of funding to local authorities for additional carer assessment and support in 2015/16.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>The Care Act requires National Health Service bodies and local authorities to co-operate with each other in the exercise of their respective functions relevant to care and support, including those relating to carers, so we would expect local authorities and NHS bodies to cooperate in identifying and signposting carers.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>In addition, we made it clear in our mandate to NHS England that by 2015, carers looking after friends and family members should routinely have access to information and advice about support available, including respite care. This supports Government investment of £400 million between 2011 \u2013 2015 to improve NHS support for carers and to enable them to take a break from their caring responsibilities.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>Support for carers more broadly is integral to the work NHS England is leading to improve the quality of life of people with long term conditions. NHS England published a <em>Commitment to Carers<\/em> in May 2014 - an action plan with a series of commitments around eight priorities, including raising the profile of carers; person-centred, well-coordinated care, commissioning support and partnership links. NHS England are currently reviewing progress and developing plans for next steps.<\/p><p> <\/p><p><strong> <\/strong><\/p><p> <\/p><p>The Department of Health has also provided over £2 million in recent years to the professional bodies such as the Royal College of General Practitioners and the Royal College of Nursing, as well as Carers UK and the Carers Trust, to develop initiatives to raise awareness of carers among healthcare professionals and to help identify and support carers. Initiatives have included the recruitment of GP carer champions, work with pharmacy organisations to identify carers in pharmacy settings, and to identify more carers through the 2014 flu vaccination campaign.<\/p><p> <\/p><p><strong> <\/strong><\/p><p> <\/p><p>We recognise that many carers of working age wish to stay in touch with the job market for their financial well-being and to enhance their own lives and the lives of those for whom they care. Many also feel under pressure to give up paid work to care.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>On 30 June 2015 the Government extended a right request flexible working arrangements after a 26 weeks\u2019 qualifying period, building on a previous entitlement for some carers. This will help to normalise the kind of flexible working patterns that can help carers balance different responsibilities.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>On 13 February the Government launched a joint Department of Health, Government Equality Office and Department for Work and Pensions investment of £1.6 million in pilots in nine local authority areas to explore ways in which people can be supported to combine work and care. Through the scheme, nine pilot areas will explore how professional support, technology, volunteering, informal networks and support from employers can be combined to ease the pressure of caring. This will build on the requirement in the Care Act to consider support for employment as part of an assessment of eligible needs, set out above.<\/p><p> <\/p><p>More broadly, the Department for Work and Pensions continues to invest in supporting carers to return to work. For example, income replacement benefits help people and households on lower incomes, and include a carer premium, currently £34.60 a week. An equivalent additional amount applies in Pension Credit. Universal Credit will also include a carer element at the rate of £150.39 per monthly assessment period. This means that lower-income carers can be better off than others who receive these benefits.<\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p> <\/p><p>On 1 July my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State (Mr Jeremy Hunt) announced that I will develop a new carers\u2019 strategy that looks at the best of international practice and examines what more we can do to support existing carers and the new carers we will need.<\/p><p> <\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1201", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Alistair Burt"}
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        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-09-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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      , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to ensure that healthcare professionals identify (a) people caring for people living with and beyond cancer and (b) other carers and signpost them to available services and support.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1540", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Mulholland"}
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    , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391887", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Prime Minister"}
      ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/391887/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "<p>Ministers and officials engage widely with partners across government, academia, faith groups and communities as part of the process of policy development and delivery. This includes in the development of the new counter-extremism measures I announced in my speech of 20 July, and our comprehensive new counter-extremism strategy that will launch later this year.<\/p>"}
        , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1467", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton"}
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        , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Witney"}
        , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr David Cameron"}
        , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2015-09-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
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      , "date" : {"_value" : "2015-07-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
      , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Radicalism"}
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      , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
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      ], "questionText" : "To ask the Prime Minister, which (a) Muslim and (b) non-governmental groups he consulted on the policies announced in his five-year counter-extremism strategy announced on 20 July 2015.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
      , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1540", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Mulholland"}
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      , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Greg Mulholland"}
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