Author: admin

  • Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Regional Air Connectivity Fund has been used to support air links to and from Northern Ireland since that fund was created.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Regional Air Connectivity Fund has not currently been used to support air links to and from Northern Ireland.

    The fund can be used maintain existing domestic air connectivity to London where there is a risk that an existing link may be lost, and to provide financial support to develop new routes from airports of less than five million passengers per year.

    Northern Ireland is well-connected by air to London with over 18,000 flights per year between the two Belfast airports and the five main London airports, carrying over two million passengers. The first use of this fund was announced earlier this summer to protect the air route between Dundee and London through a Public Service Obligation.

    With regards to providing Start-up aid for new routes, the Department for Transport is working with the Treasury to develop guidance that will clarify how the Government will expect to interpret the European Union State aid guidelines on start-up aid for new air routes. The Department for Transport expects to publish this guidance in the autumn.

  • Nigel Evans – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Nigel Evans – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the net economic effect of High Speed 2 for the North-West.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Investment in HS2 will deliver widespread connectivity improvements, grow markets and increase opportunities to trade.

    The Economic Case for HS2 published in October 2013 estimates that 17% of the transport user benefits of the HS2 Y-Network are generated from trips originating in the North West. This equates to benefits of approximately £342m (PV, 2011 prices) in 2036. Further analysis by KPMG suggests the wider economic effects could be far greater.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much his Department paid to (a) G4S, (b) Serco, (c) Sodexo, (d) GEOAmey, (e) Capita, (f) Atos, (g) Mitie, (h) Working Links, (i) A4E, (j) MTC Amey, (k) GEO Group and (l) Carillion in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13 and (iv) 2013-14.

    Stephen Crabb

    As part of my Department’s transparency programme, any spend over £500 is available on the Department’s website. Since January 2011, all contracts over £10,000 in value are published on Contracts Finder: http://www.contractsfinder.co.uk/.

    “

  • Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what the value is of duplicate supplier payments identified by his Department since 2010; and what proportion of such payments have since been recovered in each of the last two financial years.

    Stephen Crabb

    The Wales Office has identified no duplicate payments since 2010.

  • Heidi Alexander – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    Heidi Alexander – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Heidi Alexander on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much land his Department has released for the purpose of building new homes since May 2010.

    Stephen Crabb

    None. Our London office stands on the only land owned by the Wales Office.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, how much the Government Equalities Office paid to (a) G4S, (b) Serco, (c) Sodexo, (d) GEOAmey, (e) Capita, (f) Atos, (g) Mitie, (h) Working Links, (i) A4E, (j) MTC Amey, (k) GEO Group and (l) Carillion in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12, (iii) 2012-13 and (iv) 2013-14.

    Jo Swinson

    The table sets out the amounts paid to the companies in question by DCMS, which in the relevant years, included the Government Equalities Office (GEO). For prior years the Department does not hold this information. This will be recorded in the accounts of the Home Office, as the GEO used the expertise of the Home Office and Government Procurement Service.

    2012-13

    2013-14

    Supplier

    G4S

    320.40

    0.00

    Capita Health Solutions

    0.00

    0.00

    Capita Resourcing Ltd

    2,859,479.69

    4,312,004.26

    Capita Learning & Development

    16,816.15

    40,584.36

    Capita Bisiness Travel

    94,356.64

    0.00

    Capita Symonds

    66,375.60

    0.00

    Capita Business Services (interim)

    0.00

    74,679.50

    Atos

    5,958,713.10

    4,707,570.47

    Mitie Managed Services

    0.00

    0.00

    Carillion Business Services Ltd

    2,301,879.07

    656,254.50

    Carillion Business Services Ltd

    892,106.50

    0.00
  • Charles Walker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Charles Walker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charles Walker on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment she has made of the Law Society’s inclusion of Sharia succession rules in its guidance and its compatibility with existing equalities legislation.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    Sharia law has no jurisdiction in England and Wales and the Government has no intention to change this position.

    The legal profession is independent of Government and is regulated by approved regulators for which the Legal Services Board has oversight responsibility. The Law Society is the approved regulator for solicitors under the Legal Services Act 2007. On 13 March it published a practice note on Sharia succession rules to assist its members preparing wills for clients under the law of England and Wales. The Secretary of State has not had any discussions with The Law Society about its practice note. It is not for the Government to comment on the compatibility of the guidance with equalities legislation as the courts in England and Wales interpret and apply the law.

    The guidance does not, and cannot, change the law of England and Wales. The courts will continue to apply the law of England and Wales relating to the making of wills in exactly the same way as they did before the practice note was issued.

    The judiciary of England and Wales is independent of the Government and it would not be appropriate for the Ministry of Justice to issue guidance to the judiciary on how judges are to apply or interpret the law.

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of people out of work suffer from (a) mental health disorder and (b) depression; and what proportion of them have been treated with (i) anti depressants, (ii) talking therapies and (iii) mindfulness.

    Mr Mark Harper

    The Department for Work and Pensions does not hold information on the proportion of people out of work with a mental health disorder or depression, nor the proportion treated with anti depressants, talking therapies and/or mindfulness.

    However, 11% of out-of-work adults report having “Depression, bad nerves or anxiety” or “Mental illness, phobia, panics and other nervous disorders”. This is against a reported 3% of those in-work (Annual Population Survey, April 2013 – March 2014, GB residents aged 16+).

  • Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, where people from Brighton and Hove are being asked to travel to in order to have face-to-face personal independence payment (PIP) interviews; what assessment he has made of the range of challenges faced by people going for assessment for PIP payments who are asked to travel to another town for a face-to-face interview; if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of taxis for people from Brighton and Hove who cannot use public transport to get to PIP assessments up to 90 minutes away from their homes; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Mark Harper

    There are currently two assessment centres situated in the BN21 and BN41 postcode area. A third assessment centre based in the BN3 postcode will be opening shortly.

    PIP assessment providers must ensure that claimants do not have to travel for more than 90 minutes by public transport (single journey) for a consultation. This limit is an absolute maximum and we expect that only a small minority of claimants will have to make a journey approaching this duration. In the exceptional circumstance where a claimant is unable to make a journey within 90 minutes via public transport the assessment provider will offer either a home visit or the ability to use a taxi.

    We are encouraging assessment providers to identify consultation venues that are as local and convenient as possible.

    Payment of claimant expenses including taxi fares is the responsibility of the PIP assessment provider, the Department does not meet these costs.

    This information is therefore not available within the Department.

  • Chris Bryant – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Chris Bryant – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Bryant on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on (a) accommodation, (b) taxis or private cars and (c) alcoholic beverages in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13.

    Steve Webb

    The Department is a geographically-dispersed organisation employing around 90,000 staff across some 870 sites, delivering services directly to around 22 million customers. The table below shows the expenditure on accommodation and taxis for the years in question. The average spend per head on accommodation for 2012-13 was in the region of £70.

    The expenditure on taxis includes reimbursement of the cost of actual fares to support our disabled staff travelling to and from their place of work.

    Date

    (a) Accommodation

    (b) Taxi

    2010/11

    £6,932,231

    £1,539,581

    2011/12

    £5,281,218

    £1,201,506

    2012/13

    £6,571,462

    £1,288,034

    In the years 2008/09 and 2009/10 the Department’s spend on hotels under the previous administration was £11,264,324 and £11,694,697 respectively. This has almost halved under this administration. Spend on taxis for the year 2009/2010 was £1,526,863.

    As the purchase of alcohol is exceptional, there is no separate finance code to identify this spend.