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61156

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Local Education Authorities: Disclosure of Information
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that local education authorities have proper procedures in place to protect whistleblowers.
tabling member constituency	South Staffordshire
tabling member printed	Gavin Williamson
uin	199821
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Communities and Local Government has the overall responsibility for local authorities' whistleblowing procedures. The Department for Education does take steps to ensure that the schools maintained by local authorities have adequate arrangements.</p><p> </p><p>Maintained schools are required to submit to their local authorities a Schools Financial Value Standard return. Question 20 of the return requires schools to confirm that all staff are aware of the school's whistleblowing arrangements and to whom they should raise concerns. The return defines whistleblowing as the confidential raising of problems or concerns within an organisation. The accompanying guidance suggests that schools' arrangements should be based on local authority policies and that staff should be made aware of the protections that are available to them.</p><p> </p><p>The Department also requires that local authorities' Schemes for Financing Schools should contain a provision requiring authorities to set out the procedure to be followed by persons working at a school or school governors who wish to complain about financial management or financial propriety at the school, and how such complaints will be dealt with.</p> answering member constituency Crewe and Nantwich answering member printed Mr Edward Timpson question first answered 16/06/2014 14:14:17 answering member 1605 label Biography information for Edward Timpson
tabling member	4108 label Biography information for Sir Gavin Williamson

61157

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Fly-tipping
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will make representations to the Sentencing Council requesting it to ensure that the strictest possible sentences are given to fly-tippers.
tabling member constituency	South Staffordshire
tabling member printed	Gavin Williamson
uin	199820
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The Government is concerned by the damage to the environment that fly-tipping and other unlawful deposits of waste can cause. That is why it we have provided law enforcement agencies and the courts with powers to deal with such offending.</p><p> </p><p>In regard to sentencing, the independent Sentencing Council conducted a consultation on environmental offences in 2013 and has issued a sentencing guideline for environmental offences which will take effect on 1 July 2014. Judges and magistrates are required to follow the guidelines unless it would not be in the interests of justice to do so.</p> answering member constituency Kenilworth and Southam answering member printed Jeremy Wright question first answered 17/06/2014 16:22:49 answering member 1560 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Wright
tabling member	4108 label Biography information for Sir Gavin Williamson

61158

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Food
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to his Department's Sustainable Consumption Report, published in July 2013, what progress has been made on developing integrated healthy sustainable dietary guidelines to help health professionals, educators, businesses and the public make healthier and more sustainable food choices.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	199831
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Sustainable Consumption Report, published on 29 July 2013, was produced by a group of organisations following discussions facilitated by Defra. The report reflects the views of the stakeholders who were involved in its production; it does not represent Government policy.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>I met with the co-chairs of the working groups in March, and work has now started to peer review and publish the principles of a healthy and sustainable diet.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 16/06/2014 14:14:36 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

61159

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Mental Health Services: Children and Young People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to better retain staff in Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	200014
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p>The Government's refreshed mandate to Health Education England (HEE), published on 1 May 2014, set out the requirements of HEE regarding recruitment, training and retention for the National Health Service workforce, including staff providing children and adolescent mental health services. Underpinning the HEE mandate is a Government investment of nearly £5 billion for 2014-15.</p> answering member constituency North Norfolk answering member printed Norman Lamb question first answered 17/06/2014 13:32:48 answering member 1439 label Biography information for Norman Lamb
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

61160

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Mental Health Services: Children and Young People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what criteria his Department uses to evaluate tenders to provide Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	200009
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p>NHS England has responsibility for commissioning Tier 4 (in-patient) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Tiers 1-3 CAMHS are commissioned locally by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).</p><p> </p><p>As with all procurement exercises undertaken by the National Health Service, there will be a clear service specification and evaluation criteria will be developed specific to the requirements of the service being tendered. Providers will then be able to submit a response, which NHS England or the CCG will assess and make a decision based on the outcome.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Norfolk answering member printed Norman Lamb question first answered 17/06/2014 14:01:26 answering member 1439 label Biography information for Norman Lamb
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

61161

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Mental Health Services: Children and Young People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the quality of service provided by companies with contracts to provide Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	200010
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p>NHS England has responsibility for commissioning Tier 4 (in-patient) Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Tiers 1-3 CAMHS are commissioned locally by clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). There are a number of measures in place to ensure the quality of Tier 4 CAMHS provided by companies:</p><p> </p><p>- All providers of CAMHS need to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).</p><p> </p><p>- National service specifications have been developed for Tier 4 CAMHS to which all service providers are required to adhere. These are used as part of the standard National Health Service contract. A copy of these documents can be found on NHS England's website and accessed via the following links:</p><p> </p><p>www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/commissioning/spec-services/npc-crg/group-c/c07/</p><p> </p><p>www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/c07-tier4ch-ado-mh-aut.pdf</p><p> </p><p>- All providers are monitored against the standard contract through evidence based contract meetings. NHS England and the CQC may also undertake visits to the units to assess the quality of service being delivered.</p><p> </p><p>- Where concerns or issues are raised about a particular unit, such matters are referred to the Area Team Quality Surveillance Group, chaired by Directors of Nursing, for consideration and discussion.</p><p> </p><p>- Where there is significant cause for concern, NHS England may restrict or stop referrals to a particular unit. In extreme circumstances, the CQC has the powers to de-register a provider from being able to provide CAMH Services.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Norfolk answering member printed Norman Lamb grouped question UIN 200499 question first answered 17/06/2014 14:10:47 answering member 1439 label Biography information for Norman Lamb
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

61162

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept id	13
answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
hansard heading	Food: Public Opinion
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of public trust in the authenticity of food purchased at food outlets in each (a) region and (b) local authority area since January 2013.
tabling member constituency	Poplar and Limehouse
tabling member printed	Jim Fitzpatrick
uin	200060
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Food Standards Agency (FSA) conducts a Biannual Public Attitudes Tracker survey on a nationwide basis. Whilst this does not ask specific questions on the authenticity of food, authenticity related issues are raised by some consumers in spontaneous responses and when prompted (<a href="http://multimedia.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/science-research/biannual-attitudes-tracker-nov-2013.pdf" target="_blank">http://multimedia.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/science-research/biannual-attitudes-tracker-nov-2013.pdf</a>). In July 2013 consumers reported mislabelling as a concern leading them to have a lack of trust in the supply chain[1]. Similar evidence has been reported by other consumer attitude research by non-Government organisations such as Which?[2], IGD[3], Mintel[4] and the Ipsos Mori survey for The Grocer[5].</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Consumers have a right to expect that the food they buy is what it says it is. Government has taken significant steps to ensure the continued authenticity of our food including increasing support to Local Authorities for delivery of the national coordinated sampling programme from £1.6m to £2.2m in 2013/14. Continued investment in the Government's food authenticity research programme ensures that the UK is at the cutting edge of science in developing novel technologies to detect ever more sophisticated food fraud and protect UK consumers.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In June 2013 the Secretaries of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and for Health asked Professor Elliot to conduct a review into the Integrity and Assurance of Food Supply Networks. The interim report was published on 12 December 2013 and the Professor's final report will be published shortly.</p><p> </p><br /><p>[1]<a href="http://food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/horsemeat-attitudesb.pdf" target="_blank">http://food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/horsemeat-attitudesb.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>[2]<a href="http://www.which.co.uk/news/2013/03/horsemeat-scandal-dents-trust-in-food-industry-313016/" target="_blank">http://www.which.co.uk/news/2013/03/horsemeat-scandal-dents-trust-in-food-industry-313016/</a></p><p> </p><p>[3]<a href="http://shoppervista.igd.com/Hub.aspx?id=4&amp;tid=4" target="_blank">http://shoppervista.igd.com/Hub.aspx?id=4&amp;tid=4</a></p><p> </p><p>[4]<a href="http://store.mintel.com/consumer-trust-in-food-uk-june-2013?cookie_test=true" target="_blank">http://store.mintel.com/consumer-trust-in-food-uk-june-2013?cookie_test=true#</a></p><p> </p><p>[5]<a href="http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/topics/food-safety/horse-meat/horsegate-scandal-hasnt-changed-shopping-habits-of-majority/353432.article" target="_blank">http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/topics/food-safety/horse-meat/horsegate-scandal-hasnt-changed-shopping-habits-of-majority/353432.article</a></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Camborne and Redruth answering member printed George Eustice question first answered 17/06/2014 14:53:42 answering member 3934 label Biography information for George Eustice
tabling member	197 label Biography information for Jim Fitzpatrick

61163

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Food: Fraud
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the merits of strengthening penalties for breaches of food law in reducing food fraud.
tabling member constituency	Poplar and Limehouse
tabling member printed	Jim Fitzpatrick
uin	200061
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p>The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is the competent authority for the Food Hygiene Regulations. The FSA Board has, on a number of occasions, highlighted its concern that the level of sanction imposed by the courts for food hygiene offences has not been sufficient to deter offending. The sentences imposed are often small when set against the potential profits to be accrued from non–compliance with the Regulations. The FSA would welcome the strengthening of penalties for breaches of the Food Hygiene Regulations.</p><p> </p><p>The FSA is also keen to ensure that there is consistency in sentencing for food hygiene offences. They have approached the Office of the Sentencing Council and requested that they consider producing sentencing guidelines for food hygiene offences. They are currently working with officials from the Council, who are hoping to produce draft guidelines that can be put before the full Sentencing Council.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 17/06/2014 16:28:33 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	197 label Biography information for Jim Fitzpatrick

61164

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Food: Fraud
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Food Standards Agency on joined-up action at both national and local level to tackle food fraud.
tabling member constituency	Poplar and Limehouse
tabling member printed	Jim Fitzpatrick
uin	200064
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p>The Food Standards Agency (FSA) continues to develop its capability in relation to food fraud, working closely with other Government Departments including the Department of Health, local authorities and industry to detect and deter food fraud.</p><p> </p><p>The FSA is building an enhanced intelligence gathering network to increase the opportunity to capture and act on intelligence which may be indicative of future risks relating to food fraud, as well as producing strategic and tactical assessments to share with relevant enforcement agencies. Through this, the FSA has strengthened its links with other enforcement agencies, including the National Trading Standards Board, National Crime Agency, the Intellectual Property Office and the Gangmasters Licencing Agency. The FSA is a member of the Government Agencies Intelligence Network and is sharing and receiving intelligence through this network to support cross-government investigations.</p><p> </p><p>At a European level, the FSA is fully engaged with the European Commission Food Fraud Team and its network which is now sharing intelligence to support cross-Europe investigations.</p><p> </p><p>The FSA also provide support to local authorities in their food fraud related investigations through the provision of financial support, expert advice and training.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 17/06/2014 16:04:10 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	197 label Biography information for Jim Fitzpatrick

61165

registered interest
date	10/06/2014
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Food: Fraud
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of current tools available to enforcement officers to take swift action in tackling food fraud.
tabling member constituency	Poplar and Limehouse
tabling member printed	Jim Fitzpatrick
uin	200062
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2014 answer text <p>The Food Standards Agency (FSA) works with local authority enforcement officers to ensure that food law is applied across the entire food chain. Direction and guidance on the approach that local authority food law regulatory services should take is given in the statutory Food Law Code of Practice (the Code). The FSA regularly assesses the effectiveness of tools available to these enforcement officers through undertaking audit of local authorities' enforcement services, reviewing the Code and ensuring lessons are learnt from major incidents.</p><p> </p><p>The Code sets out instructions and criteria to which the authorities must have regard and is periodically reviewed to ensure that it reflects current enforcement practices and supports local authorities' delivery of their official control obligations and that enforcement is consistent, effective and proportionate.</p><p> </p><p>The FSA provides specific tools to support local authorities with investigations relating to potential food fraud. The FSA operates the Food Fraud Database, which utilises specialist intelligence management software to record intelligence reports and identify links, and uses this to assist local investigations. The FSA also provides local authorities with financial support through its Fighting Fund, expert advice through its Food Fraud Advisory Unit and holds dedicated training courses for enforcement officers.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the FSA is building an enhanced intelligence gathering network to increase the opportunity to capture and act on intelligence which may be indicative of future risks relating to food fraud, as well as producing strategic and tactical assessments to share with relevant enforcement agencies.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Battersea answering member printed Jane Ellison question first answered 17/06/2014 16:20:22 answering member 3918 label Biography information for Jane Ellison
tabling member	197 label Biography information for Jim Fitzpatrick