{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-ddpCreated=2014-10-22T22%3A52%3A07.023Z&dateTabled=2014-10-22", "definition" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?min-ddpCreated=2014-10-22T22%3A52%3A07.023Z&dateTabled=2014-10-22", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-ddpCreated=2014-10-22T22%3A52%3A07.023Z&dateTabled=2014-10-22&_metadata=all", "first" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=0&min-ddpCreated=2014-10-22T22%3A52%3A07.023Z&dateTabled=2014-10-22", "hasPart" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-ddpCreated=2014-10-22T22%3A52%3A07.023Z&dateTabled=2014-10-22", "isPartOf" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?min-ddpCreated=2014-10-22T22%3A52%3A07.023Z&dateTabled=2014-10-22", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100548", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100548/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
DWP can provide a total figure for UK benefit bank transfers for 2013/14 (including pensions) by BACS, broken down by benefit as follows:<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p> Benefit<\/strong><\/p> <\/strong><\/p><\/td> Volume<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Banking Costs<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE (AA) (inc Overseas)<\/p><\/td> 14,914,870<\/p><\/td> £65,625.43<\/p><\/td><\/tr> DISABILITY LIVING ALLOWANCE (DLA) (inc Overseas)<\/p><\/td> 47,522,463<\/p><\/td> £209,098.84<\/p><\/td><\/tr> EUROPEAN SOCIAL FUND (ESF)<\/p><\/td> 288<\/p><\/td> £1.27<\/p><\/td><\/tr> CARERS ALLOWANCE (CA) (inc Overseas)<\/p><\/td> 27,066,880<\/p><\/td> £119,094.27<\/p><\/td><\/tr> INCAPACITY BENEFIT (INCAP)<\/p><\/td> 10,093,974<\/p><\/td> £44,413.49<\/p><\/td><\/tr> INCOME SUPPORT (IS)<\/p><\/td> 146,845,498<\/p><\/td> £646,120.19<\/p><\/td><\/tr> INDUSTRIAL INJURIES (IIDB)<\/p><\/td> 11,975,719<\/p><\/td> £52,693.16<\/p><\/td><\/tr> OVERSEAS DIVISION (ODIIDB)<\/p><\/td> 73,828<\/p><\/td> £324.84<\/p><\/td><\/tr> JSA<\/p><\/td> 30,546,139<\/p><\/td> £134,403.01<\/p><\/td><\/tr> MORTGAGE DIRECT (JSA MD)<\/p><\/td> 239,080<\/p><\/td> £1,051.95<\/p><\/td><\/tr> LPS<\/p><\/td> 71,171<\/p><\/td> £313.15<\/p><\/td><\/tr> LPS MID<\/p><\/td> 1,900<\/p><\/td> £8.36<\/p><\/td><\/tr> MORTGAGE DIRECT (MI)<\/p><\/td> 1,299,364<\/p><\/td> £5,717.20<\/p><\/td><\/tr> RETIREMENT PENSIONS<\/p><\/td> 339,855,838<\/p><\/td> £1,495,365.69<\/p><\/td><\/tr> THIRD PARTY PAYMENTS (TPP)<\/p><\/td> 44,715<\/p><\/td> £196.75<\/p><\/td><\/tr> WINTER FUEL NEW RULE (WFNR)<\/p><\/td> 953,886<\/p><\/td> £4,197.10<\/p><\/td><\/tr> SOCIAL FUND (SF)<\/p><\/td> 1,157,008<\/p><\/td> £5,090.84<\/p><\/td><\/tr> DWP ESA MID<\/p><\/td> 617,369<\/p><\/td> £2,716.42<\/p><\/td><\/tr> DWP ESA<\/p><\/td> 44,349,674<\/p><\/td> £195,138.57<\/p><\/td><\/tr> DWP CPS LOCAL PAYMENTS<\/p><\/td> 1,930,311<\/p><\/td> £8,493.37<\/p><\/td><\/tr> PIP<\/p><\/td> 282,631<\/p><\/td> £1,243.58<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Universal Credit<\/p><\/td> 13,556<\/p><\/td> £59.65<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Benefits Total<\/p><\/td> 679,559,975<\/p><\/td> £2,990,063.89<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Excluding CSA/SPVA/CMS<\/p><\/td> 686,118,046<\/p><\/td> £3,018,919.40<\/p><\/td><\/tr> TOTAL BACS<\/strong><\/p> <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 699,386,621<\/strong><\/p><\/td> £3,077,301.13<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/strong><\/p> The Department does not have the breakdown for Faster Payments by benefit type, however the total volume figure of payments is 3,261,640 and a transaction value of £526,273.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/220", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Webb"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thornbury and Yate"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Steve Webb"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-29T14:27:34.093237Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Security Benefits: Payments"}
, "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 Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on bank transfer transactions for each type of benefit and pension payment in the last financial year; and what the total cost was of those transfers.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4045", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ian Swales"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Redcar"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ian Swales"}
], "uin" : "211429"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100549", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100549/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government has not yet made a final decision on whether to introduce standardised packaging of tobacco products.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2000", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Earl Howe"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Earl Howe"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-04T15:43:17.6960158Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Tobacco: Packaging"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether ministerial agreement has been reached on whether the United Kingdom is to proceed with standardised tobacco packaging; and whether it had been reached when they notified the European Commission on the draft regulations.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3192", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Palmer"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Palmer"}
], "uin" : "HL2286"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100550", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100550/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The number of treatment cycles in which fresh embryo transfers took place after 15 or more eggs were collected, in each of the last 10 years, is shown in the following table:<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Years<\/p><\/td> Cycles in which fresh embryo transfers took place after 15 or more eggs were collected<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2004<\/p><\/td> 5602<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2005<\/p><\/td> 5737<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2006<\/p><\/td> 5843<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2007<\/p><\/td> 6345<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2008<\/p><\/td> 6589<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2009<\/p><\/td> 7344<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2010<\/p><\/td> 7801<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2011<\/p><\/td> 8195<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2012<\/p><\/td> 8200<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2013(1)<\/p><\/td> 8128<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> Source: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> (1) 2013 is the most recent year for which information is available.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2000", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Earl Howe"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Earl Howe"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-29T12:25:39.9703616Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "IVF"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Darzi of Denham on 22 July 2008 (HL4926 and HL4927) and by Earl Howe on 9 July 2012 (HL1211), of how many cycles the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority are aware in which fresh embryo transfers took place after 15 or more eggs were collected over each of the past ten years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Alton of Liverpool"}
], "uin" : "HL2287"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100551", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100551/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government is taking a number of steps to tackle alcohol problems and reduce alcohol-related liver disease. These are being led by Public Health England (PHE), working with partners across government and local authorities. Through the Responsibility Deal the Government is also working with industry partners to tackle alcohol problems.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> On 23 October 2014, PHE published its priorities for protecting and improving the nation\u2019s health and one of the seven issues they will be focusing on is preventing and reducing the harmful effects of alcohol. This priority includes two actions relating to liver disease:<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> - producing a framework on liver disease outlining public health actions to tackle liver disease, including alcohol; and<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> - launching liver disease profiles to support local authority health and wellbeing boards to understand liver disease and its risk factors in their area and, in turn, design effective local population level interventions.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Other key actions from PHE on alcohol and liver disease include:<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> - developing the evidence base for what works in preventing alcoholic liver disease and increasing awareness of the harmful effects of alcohol and the impact of interventions, to support policy development nationally and locally;<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> - supporting and promoting effective use of licensing legislation and local powers to create a safer drinking environment that encourages people who drink to do so at a lower risk levels. Part of this is improving the effectiveness of the powers directors of public health have on alcohol licencing;<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> - encouraging and supporting people who drink to do so within the lower risk levels;<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> - reducing the harmful impact of alcohol on individuals who already experience harm. PHE will be supporting a widespread roll-out of interventions and brief advice; and<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> - supporting improvements in treatment provision in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance. Locally, PHE is supporting the development of effective alcohol specialist services in secondary care and accessible, evidence-based specialist treatment for dependent drinkers.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2000", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Earl Howe"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Earl Howe"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-11-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-11-04T15:43:53.9706419Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what steps they are taking in respect of Britain's drinking culture in order to reduce liver disease deaths.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1796", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Taylor of Warwick"}
], "uin" : "HL2288"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100552", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100552/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Dementia is a key priority for this Government and we are committed to ensuring people with dementia and their carers receive the best possible care in all care settings. That is why in 2012 we launched the first ever Prime Minister\u2019s Challenge on dementia to increase diagnosis rates, raise awareness and understanding and double funding for research in dementia by 2015.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> A number of steps have been taken to help care for dementia patients in the community:<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> - On 1 April 2014 we put in place a new Dementia Directed Enhanced Service, which has had over 80% take up by general practitioners to reward practices for facilitating timely diagnosis and support for people with dementia.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> - In the hospital setting, through the Dementia Commissioning for Quality and Innovation reward (introduced from April 2012), with around 4,000 referrals a month, it is clear that more people with dementia in hospitals are being identified and assessed.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> - The Dementia Care & Support Compact, the care sector\u2019s own response to the Prime Minister\u2019s Challenge on Dementia, sets out a commitment to support the delivery of the challenge and improve care and support for people with dementia, their carers and families.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> - Health Education England, Skills for Care and Skills for Health launched pilots for the new Care Certificate on 28 April 2014. Taking place across a range of health and social care settings, the pilots are testing a set of standards designed to help employers to assess not only workers\u2019 skills, but also the knowledge, behaviours and values that are required to deliver compassionate and quality care. The pilots are nearing completion. Subject to evaluation, we plan to introduce the Care Certificate by 1 April 2015.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> - The Government\u2019s refreshed Mandate to Health Education England, published on 1 May 2014, builds on the existing ambition to have 100,000 National Health Service staff receive Tier 1 training on dementia by setting an ambition for a further 250,000 NHS staff to receive Tier 1 training on dementia by March 2015, with the tools and training opportunities being made available to all staff by the end of 2018.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> - 70 communities across England have signed up to the national Dementia Friendly Communities recognition process, with an increased ambition to reach 75 by March 2015.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> - On 7 May 2014 Public Health England and the Alzheimer\u2019s Society launched a major new campaign with the aim of securing one million people to become dementia friends by March 2015. The campaign is aimed at improving understanding and attitudes about dementia and towards people with the condition. There are currently over 520,000 Dementia Friends.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> - We have made available £50 million capital funding for 2013-14 for the NHS and local authorities to work with providers to create better care environments to help people with dementia live well with the condition. The projects are now in the process of being evaluated and we will disseminate the key recommendations by the end of the year.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2000", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Earl Howe"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Earl Howe"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-30T16:22:09.9535567Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Dementia"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
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], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what plans they have to help care for dementia patients in the community.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1796", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Taylor of Warwick"}
], "uin" : "HL2289"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100553", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100553/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " One of the objectives of the PE and sports premium is to improve children\u2019s health outcomes. Schools may use this funding as part of their wider programme to improve the health and well-being of their pupils, and we will ensure that case studies of good practice are available to help them do this. Our research has found that the premium is already having a positive impact in this area; 96% of schools report that their pupils are now living healthier lives as a result of the funding.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4270", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Nash"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Nash"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-10-30", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-10-30T16:25:24.7451418Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "PE and Sport Premium: Obesity"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government what plans they have to increase support for head teachers and school leaders in directing the Primary Physical Education and Sports Premium to combat childhood obesity.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4238", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Storey"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Storey"}
], "uin" : "HL2290"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100554", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/100554/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the statutory framework for all early years providers [1]. The EYFS seeks to provide quality and consistency in all early years settings, so that every child makes good progress, attainment gaps are reduced and no child gets left behind. The EYFS specifies areas in which early years providers must support children to develop, including literacy and numeracy. It is the responsibility of early years providers to identify and meet the learning and development needs of the children attending their setting. The EYFS requires providers to carry out ongoing assessment of children\u2019s development and needs and should address any learning and development needs in partnership with parents and/or carers, and any relevant professionals.<\/p> <\/p> The Department for Education is increasing the level of required English and maths qualifications for members of the early years workforce. This will ensure that all those working with young children have the right skills to support all children to achieve appropriate levels of literacy and numeracy.<\/p> <\/p> 1. We have published guidance on Teacher\u2019s Standards (Early Years) which includes a requirement for Early Years Teachers to demonstrate a clear understanding of synthetic phonics and strategies for teaching early mathematics. The standards also require Early Years Teachers to plan and adapt education to cater for the needs of individual children, to make accurate assessments to inform children\u2019s learning and development and to promote equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice.<\/p> <\/p> 2. Early Years Teachers must pass the same professional skills tests as trainee school teachers and must have GCSE English and maths at grade C or above on entry to training courses.<\/p> <\/p> 3. NCTL published new, more robust, criteria for level 3 qualifications in July 2013 \u2013 the \u201cEarly Years Educator\u201d criteria. They set out the minimum requirements for the knowledge, understanding and skills which learners must demonstrate during assessment for their qualification to be considered qualified at level 3. The criteria include a requirement for qualifications to include a focus on recognising and meeting the individual learning and development needs of children.<\/p> <\/p> 4. From 1 August 2014, Government funding of Level 3 Early Years Educator training courses through the Skills Funding Agency will require trainees to have GCSEs in English and maths, at grade C or above, on entry. The EYFS has been amended to require staff holding a new Early Years Educator qualification to have achieved GCSEs in English/English Language and maths, at grade C or above, in order to count in the staff ratios at level 3. From September 2014, GCSE English and maths, at grade C or above, will be required on exit from a level 3 early years apprenticeship. This is an interim measure to support the sector in reaching the higher standards required. From August 2015, the GCSEs in English and maths, at grade C or above, will be required on entry to an early years apprenticeship.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The Department is also working with experts in the voluntary sector and charitable organisations to support work in these key areas. We have funded English and Maths Champions programmes through the National Day Nurseries Association to spread good practice in teaching literacy and numeracy in the early years.<\/p> <\/p> We are investing £1.4m in the Early Language Development Programme \u2013 which has so far helped well over 100,000 parents and family members to spot problems and get support with their children\u2019s speech and language. This work is being led by I CAN, the children\u2019s communications charity. We are also investing almost £1m in the work of the Literacy Trust to develop a model to improve targeting and engagement of the most vulnerable families by staff in Children\u2019s Centres and support volunteers to improve children's early literacy and language skills.<\/p> <\/p>