This just in from PM, Gordon Brown :
Mumsnetters - I'm really grateful to you for taking the time to talk to me on Friday. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to answer all your questions but I enjoyed reading the whole thread over the weekend. Justine and Carrie have picked out some questions that were missed and I've provided answers on all of them below.
I also wanted to reassure people on swine flu as I know that's been of big concern elsewhere on the site, so there's some information on that too. If I've missed anything that's still a burning question please do write to me at Downing Street - we will always do our best to answer you directly or ensure you get the most up to date information from the relevant government department.
I hope to come back soon. Maybe we can do the next one as a video-link?
Gordon
FlamingoBingo, you asked about home education
Our priority is always what's best for children.
We absolutely support a parent's right to choose to home educate their children and of course the vast majority who do so do a great job. In fact, part of the Badman Report sets out ways in which we could help home educators. It identified where Government could do more for parents with children with special educational needs and for those who want more access to things like exams and further education.
We do know, however, that there are a very small number of cases where local authorities have concerns around home educated children. So it is right that in a proportionate way we ensure that we can respond when this is the case. Overall, we believe that the Badman report is fair and balanced and should be seen as a positive thing for home educated children, ensuring they are getting the education they are entitled to and that they are safe and well.
Hatchypom you asked about the cost of cochlear implant upgrages for your daughter
It's difficult for me to answer this one as I don't know the details of your particular case. What I can say is that cochlear implants would usually be free on the NHS. If you send me your details, I can ask the Department of Health to look in to this for you. A number of posters have asked if I can go into more detail on their specific questions or if I can cover off the ones I missed. Anybody can write to me at any time at 10 Downing Street, London, SW1A 2AA and we will always try to get you the most up to date information from the relevant department.
Paranoid2 - on premature children and the school starting date
Up the age of 5, it's up to parents to decide when their child should start school. Some parents want their child to start earlier than 5, so we're looking at whether all authorities should make places available from the September after a child turns 4.
On the other hand, some parents like yourself, may feel they want their child to start later than this. Currently, no child has to start until they are 5 years old and schools must hold a place for them.
You're right however, once a child turns 5, they do have to attend school. I'm sorry you feel this puts your child at a disadvantage. However we think that leaving it till later would mean some children would start long behind others, so we think we have the balance right.
Buca - on the children of asylum seekers
Buca - you are absolutely right that we always need to think about the impact of policies on children, so I can assure you that we aren't cutting the amount of money given to lone parent asylum seekers. All those waiting for a decision on their case are provided with housing, a family allowance, healthcare and their children go to local schools - and the amount of money we are providing for asylum seeking families went up by 5.2% this year.
The majority of asylum seekers are receiving more support and we have made the system fairer by standardising the rate for all new asylum claims for single adults. So there has been a change - but we have rightly focussed throughout on protecting the most vulnerable and making sure that kids have all the help they need.
StewieGriffinsMom - you asked about Trident
We all want a world free of nuclear weapons and I've always said we should have the minimum deterrent necessary. Since 1997, Britain has cut the number of nuclear warheads by 50% and I recently announced that I'm prepared to look at reducing our nuclear weapon submarines from four to three.
Our policy on Trident is in line with all our international agreements on non-proliferation, and I'm determined that the world must go further. So just a few weeks ago I went to the UN Security Council and put forward a global deal where countries that already have nuclear weapons offer civil nuclear power to those countries prepared to give up their plans to obtain nuclear weapons. In return, countries like ours who already have nuclear weapons will play our part by reducing the global total.
There is more detail about the deal here, and I'm proud that Britain played such a leading role in a campaign that will make all of our children safer.
Policywonk - on incapacity benefit
The idea behind the new assessment is to look at what people can do, rather than what they can't and to make sure those who face barriers in getting back in employment have the help they need to do so.
Of course, we understand that there'll always be some people who can't work due to their disability and we'll continue to make sure these people receive the support they need.
As far as the assessments themselves are concerned, they are carried out by fully trained, experienced doctors and nurses who undergo rigorous training on how they do this and show they are capable of carrying out the assessments properly.
What's more, all the work carried out by these healthcare professionals is subject to a yearly audit within Atos and this audit is in turn checked by senior medical professionals from Atos and by Government doctors.
Thanks for what you said about DFID and our successes on development. It is one of the things I'm proudest about our record in government, but actually the sustained applause should go to the public - it's the campaigning of people all over the country that has made our successes possible, so thanks to you for your commitment.
To everyone asking about swine flu
There has been some confusion about which vaccines are safe for mums-to-be, and I know there have been some reports which suggest Pandemrix is not recommended by the World Health Organisation. So let me reassure you that position is now out of date, it goes back to the summer before the vaccine was licensed. The World Health Organisation supports the use of vaccines as recommended by the respective regulatory authorities.
Now the European Medicines Agency and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation have recommended that the GSK vaccine is given as one dose that gives instant protection from swine flu. People who have the other vaccine which requires two doses have to wait three weeks between them and they are not protected until the second - we'd rather people were protected as quickly as possible. For more information you can go to www.nhs.uk.
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