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  • Kelvin Hopkins – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Kelvin Hopkins – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kelvin Hopkins on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects negotiations to begin with Govia over the direct award extension from September 2015 to June 2017 of the London Midland passenger rail franchise.

    Stephen Hammond

    On 9 June we signed the 7-period extension to the London Midland contract as permitted in the franchise agreement. This extends the current franchise until April 2016. Although preliminary negotiations have taken place with regard to a Direct Award to run services from April 2016, no timetable for formal negotiations is yet in place. As announced by the Secretary of State, the new franchising programme will provide a more sustainable schedule for rail franchising and the planned competition for the West Midland franchise should see the successful operator providing services from June 2017.

  • Kelvin Hopkins – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Kelvin Hopkins – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kelvin Hopkins on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what level of revenue support Govia will be entitled to in each accounting period of the direct award of the London Midland rail passenger franchise agreement to June.

    Stephen Hammond

    Although preliminary negotiations have taken place with regard to a Direct Award to run services from April 2016, formal negotiations are yet to take place.

    However, we do not anticipate that the operator will be entitled to any revenue support throughout the period of the Direct Award.

  • Kelvin Hopkins – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Kelvin Hopkins – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kelvin Hopkins on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to devolve decisions on London Midland passenger rail services to a local level; and what proposals on such lines he has made to the current franchisee.

    Stephen Hammond

    The Government is committed to the principle of devolving responsibility for a range of its activities to the most appropriate level of local government, where it is sensible to do so.

    A proposition is being drafted by West Midlands Rail body (WMR) which is expected to be received by the end of July. WMR is meeting with Secretary of State early in July to discuss devolution.

    Following receipt of the proposition, the Secretary of State will decide whether to agree to the proposition in principle. If this is the case, detailed negotiations on the financial and contractual elements will then follow.

  • Bob Blackman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Bob Blackman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Blackman on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the compliance of Iranian businesses with financial sanctions imposed by the UK.

    Hugh Robertson

    The UK implements EU and UN sanctions against Iran – it does not independently impose financial sanctions on Iran. The UK is firmly committed to ensuring compliance, including working with partners to freeze assets, authorising and monitoring relevant transactions, and investigating alleged sanctions breaches. EU financial measures apply within the EU and to EU nationals and entities rather than directly to Iranian businesses based outside of the EU. However, Her Majesty’s Treasury continue to ensure that the assets of designated Iranian entities, held in the UK, remain frozen.

  • Catherine McKinnell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Catherine McKinnell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what date he plans to publish the consultation referred to by the Minister of State for Health in his Department’s announcement entitled Government Response to Tobacco Standardised Packaging Review, published in April 2014.

    Jane Ellison

    The consultation could not be published in the period leading up to the European and local elections. It is now being finalised and will be published shortly.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the differences are between the current design for the secure college in Leicestershire and the plans for a Young Offender Institute at Glen Parva drawn up in 2009 by HLM Architects.

    Jeremy Wright

    The Secure College will be a step change from the traditional custodial environment of bars on windows and the initial design draws on innovation and learning from developments of community based schools and colleges. Although the Secure College will be fundamentally different from a Young Offender’s Institution, we are making use of the previous work where relevant.

    The plans drawn up in 2009 were focused on delivering facilities specifically designed for young people, albeit a different cohort. It is therefore inevitable there will be similarities between the design solutions. However, present designs are fully reflective of the broader cohort a Secure College could take and the accommodation has been configured accordingly to ensure their safety and well being.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which company designed the 2009 plans for a Young Offender Institute at Glen Parva; and how much such plans cost.

    Jeremy Wright

    Interserve designed the 2009 plans for a Young Offender Institution at Glen Parva with their designers, HLM Architects.

    The previous Government spent £5.6 million on developing the plans for a new Young Offender Institution at Glen Parva up to 2010. Although the Secure College pathfinder will be fundamentally different from a Young Offender’s Institution, we are making use of the previous work where relevant.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what criteria were used to award the construction contract for the planned secure college in Leicestershire.

    Jeremy Wright

    Bids that were evaluated to have passed a predetermined Non-Price Evaluation score threshold then had their price evaluated to verify that they complied with the price threshold requirements.

    Bids that passed both thresholds, had the Non-Price Evaluation score and the price combined to create the Overall Price Per Quality Point. The offer with the lowest Price Per Quality value is considered to be the most economically advantageous and was recommended for contract award.

    A total of 44 non-price evaluation tests spread across six workstreams were set for bidders as part of the competition for the design and build for the Secure College pathfinder. The six workstream headings are listed below.

    Workstream Headings

    • Design, Operation & Security Considerations
    • Management
    • Programme, Methodology and Project Management
    • SME Engagement and Local Interface
    • Completed Product Handback and Handover to Operator
    • Procurement & Commercial Management
  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many firms other than Wates submitted bids for the construction contract for a secure college.

    Jeremy Wright

    A competition has taken place under the Ministry of Justice’s Strategic Alliance Agreement Framework. Tenders were submitted by four bidders, Carillion, Interserve, Lend Lease and Wates.

  • Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in receipt of each type of benefit were sanctioned and for what period by Warrington Jobcentre in each year since 2010.

    Esther McVey

    The information requested on the duration of benefit sanctions is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

    The available information on the number of individuals with an adverse benefit sanction is shown in the table below.

    Number of individuals with an adverse benefit sanction in Warrington Jobcentre Plus office: 2010 – 2013

    Year

    Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

    Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

    2010

    1,121

    146

    2011

    912

    45

    2012

    1,436

    36

    2013

    1,488

    55

    Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database.

    Notes:

    1. Statistical disclosure control has been applied to protect against the identification of individual claimants.

    2. Figures for Income Support Lone Parents are not available by Jobcentre Plus office.

    3. The number of benefit sanctions applied is the number of sanction or disallowance referrals where the decision was found against the claimant.

    4. Data refers to January to December in each year shown.

    5. New regulations introduced a new revised sanctions regime for JSA and ESA claimants from 22nd October and 3rd December 2012 respectively.

    6. This data is published at:

    https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

    “