The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-05-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of recipients of the Independent Living Fund (a) are in employment and (b) were in employment at the date of application.
Mike Penning
The information is not available in the format requested as the ILF does not record the employment status of its recipients.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2014-05-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect on the viability of public houses of the method by which business rates are currently calculated.
Brandon Lewis
Decisions on rateable values are made independently of Ministers by the Valuation Office Agency. All rateable values are based on the rental value of the property and for public houses rates are based on actual rents paid by tenants. Ratepayers should contact the Valuation Office Agency if they are concerned about their rateable value and may appeal to the independent Valuation Tribunal if their dispute cannot be resolved.
As part of our review of business rates administration, the Government will consider options for arriving at a rental based assessment for non-domestic properties including public houses and the discussion paper, published last month, invites views on this issue.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2014-05-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department gives local authorities on considering the potential flooding risks to land in neighbouring local authorities when making planning decisions.
Nick Boles
In the new planning guidance, launched on 6 March, we have made it crystal clear that councils need to consider the strict tests set out in national policy and, where these are not met new development should not be allowed. These tests, set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, include ensuring new development does not increase flood risk elsewhere. The tests are designed to protect people and property from flooding and give councils the robust ability to reject unacceptable planning applications.
We also expect Strategic Flood Risk Assessments, prepared by local councils to inform Local Plans, to consider flood risks to and from surrounding areas in the same flood catchment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2014-05-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much each NHS trust and foundation trust spent on legal costs on individual employment cases in each of the last 10 years.
Dr Daniel Poulter
The Department does not collect data about how much each National Health Service trust and foundation trust spends on legal costs on individual employment cases.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2014-05-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on making the term surgeon a protected title.
Dr Daniel Poulter
There is currently already provision in the Medical Act 1983 (s.49) which makes it an offence for a person to pretend to be or use the title “surgeon” which implies registration with the General Medical Council.
However, as part of a longer title, the title “surgeon” has not been restricted and is widely used for other specialist employment roles e.g. tree surgeon, veterinary surgeon etc.
The Law Commission has recommended in its report on the regulation of health care professionals and social care professionals in England, published April 2014, that the Government should consider undertaking a full review of existing protected titles and functions, and related offences. We will consider the Law Commission’s proposals and produce a formal response in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2014-05-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the Environment Agency expects to conclude its investigation into Churngold Recycling Ltd.
Dan Rogerson
This is a complex investigation that the Environment Agency is working hard to complete. Legal challenges to the investigation in the civil courts have caused delays. Once the investigation is complete and the matter has been legally reviewed, the Environment Agency will decide on any appropriate enforcement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lucas on 2014-05-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Nigerian counterpart on the recent kidnapping of schoolgirls from Chibok, Nigeria.
Mark Simmonds
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) spoke to the Nigerian Foreign Minister on 18 April when he condemned the abductions and offered UK assistance in securing the release of the schoolgirls.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lucas on 2014-05-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the current whereabouts of the children recently kidnapped from Chibok, Nigeria.
Mark Simmonds
Since the abduction of the Nigerian school girls on 14 April we have remained in close contact with the Nigerian authorities about the case. Although the whereabouts of the girls remains unclear, reports in the media and from girls who escaped suggest they are being held in the Sambisa Forest area of Borno State. Media reports also suggest the girls may have been taken into Cameroon and Chad. We continue to try and establish the facts in this case.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lucas on 2014-05-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what requests for assistance the Government has received in connection with the recent kidnappings from Chibok, Nigeria.
Mark Simmonds
Since the abduction of the Nigerian school girls on 14 April, our High Commission in Abuja has remained in close contact with the Nigerian authorities. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) offered our assistance when he spoke to the Nigerian Foreign Minister on 18 April. So far we have not received a formal request for assistance from the Nigerian Government.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann McKechin on 2014-05-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions either orally or in writing he or his Ministers or officials in his Department have had with (a) Pfizer and (b) AstraZeneca in the last two months regarding any bid for AstraZeneca.
Mr David Willetts
There are ongoing interactions at senior level between Ministers in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and senior executives from both AstraZeneca and Pfizer as part of the Department’s wider interactions with the Life Sciences industry.
BIS Ministers have spoken with the Chief Executives and others from both companies in the last couple of weeks about recent market developments including the approaches from Pfizer to AstraZeneca.