Category: Speeches

  • Alan Brown – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Alan Brown – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2016-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 26 April 2016 to Question 35019, on social fund, for what reasons management information is only held from 2013.

    Justin Tomlinson

    Pursuant to the Answer of 26 April 2016 the information previously provided was extracted from the current live Operational Activity Based Management Information System.

    The information from 2010 until 2013 is not readily available as it is archived. However we have now been able to extract the historical data which is displayed in the table below.

    2009/10

    2010/11

    2011/12

    2012/13

    2013/14

    2014/15

    2015/16

    Bereavement Benefit

    145

    130

    116

    106

    94

    84

    78

    Maternity Allowance

    108

    82

    77

    75

    70

    66

    72

    Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

    309

    243

    241

    226

    192

    166

    148

    Social Fund

    4321

    2480

    1968

    1552

    798

    411

    349

    Notes: The table above shows average Full Time Equivalent for each financial year from April to March.

    Source: Jobcentre Plus Activity Based Management System (L1A) and Operational Activity Based Management Information System (L1A)

  • Alex Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Alex Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2016-06-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and what proportion of flights in the UK North Sea oil and gas sector were undertaken by (a) Airbus EC225 and (b) AS332 helicopters airframes in each year since 2007-08.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    As the independent aviation safety regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), only records information on flights above a certain weight threshold.

    The CAA data below includes the number of departures and arrivals on both AS332 SUPER PUMA and EUROCOPTER EC225 (H225) aircraft operated between UK airports and Oil Rigs in each year since 2007.

    2007

    2008

    2009

    2010

    2011

    2012

    2013

    2014

    2015

    AS332

    38200

    29855

    23360

    18269

    16614

    15867

    19960

    10551

    2866

    EC225

    7785

    10238

    12008

    14942

    18154

    14191

    1183

    12458

    15418

  • Andrew Bridgen – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Andrew Bridgen – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Bridgen on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of (a) the Access to Work scheme and (b) its administration.

    Penny Mordaunt

    Access to Work continues to support over 36,000 people per year take up or retain employment. Last year the scheme helped people with mental health conditions, learning disabilities and young people in larger numbers than ever before.

    On 2 September 2016 we launched the Access to Work Digital Service in response to customer feedback requesting a more convenient, accessible and quicker process. This transformation will also enable staff to administer the scheme more efficiently as we look to increase the number of disabled people who could be helped into or remain in work as part of the Government’s ambition to halve the disability employment gap.

    The Spending Review announcement confirmed we’re increasing the capacity of Access to Work through a real term increase in spending starting in 16/17. Funding will reflect the numbers of applicants and their needs, and recognises expected increases in demand of around 25,000 extra customers by the end of the Parliament.

    To support this we have been working with jobcentres, businesses and local organisations to promote the Access to Work Scheme. We have also promoted Access to Work as part of the Disability Confident Campaign and are currently looking at further marketing and promotion of the Access to Work programme.

  • Lord Blencathra – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Blencathra – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Blencathra on 2016-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 18 July (HL1279) and in the light of the recent report by NHS Digital concerning social media pressure and mental health, whether they will now conduct that research.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The National Institute for Health Research and the Department’s Policy Research Programme have no current plans to commission research into the possible mental and psychological impact on children of using Twitter and Facebook.

    In their report, the Mental Health Taskforce recommended that the United Kingdom should aspire to be a world leader in the development and application of new mental health research. The Taskforce asked specifically that the Department, working with relevant partners, should publish a report by February 2017 setting out a ten year strategy for mental health research. The final ten-year strategy is planned for publication in February 2017 and will identify future needs in mental health research. This will include a specific focus on the mental health of children and young people.

  • Nigel Dodds – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Nigel Dodds – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-11-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the UK contribution to the European External Action Service has been in each year since its creation; and what proportion of the European External Action Service’s overall budget the UK has contributed in each such year.

    Mr David Lidington

    The United Kingdom contributes to the EU budget as a whole, not to individual elements of it. The initial European External Action Service (EEAS) budget in 2011 was €464 million. €441 million of this was existing money transferred from the Commission and Council Secretariat. The EEAS budget was €489 million in 2012, €509 million in 2013 and €519 million in 2014. Over this period, the UK’s pre-abatement financing share was 14.5% (outturn) in 2011, 15.3% in 2012, 15.5% in 2013, and 15.4% in 2014 based on the latest budgets for those years. The UK has been clear in arguing for restraint in the EEAS budget at a time when difficult spending decisions are being taken by member states and we continue to remind the EEAS of its commitment to resource neutrality.

  • David Amess – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    David Amess – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2015-11-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent progress has been made in (a) reviewing the effectiveness of her Department’s Code of Practice on the use of snares and (b) improving operator compliance with that Code.

    Rory Stewart

    In 2012 Defra published research on the extent of use and humaneness of snares in England and Wales. Following publication of the report, officials worked with stakeholders to explore options to improve the humaneness of snaring. Ministers are currently considering these options, including the issue of improved guidance on snaring.

  • Lord Green of Deddington – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Green of Deddington – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Green of Deddington on 2016-01-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many asylum applications have been made in each of the last five years by applicants who entered the UK on a student visa; what were the nationalities of each applicant; how many of those applications were refused, and how many unsuccessful applicants were subsequently removed.

    Lord Bates

    Over the last five years there have been 15,470 cases of individuals who have entered on a student visa and subsequently also went on to claim asylum. Details by year and nationality are below.

    Unfortunately the way corresponding data is held on asylum outcome means that to obtain the numbers of cases that were granted, refused and removed could only be achieved at disproportionate cost.

    Visa Nationality

    Asylum Year

    Grand Total

    2010

    2011

    2012

    2013

    2014

    Afghanistan

    10

    26

    63

    73

    69

    241

    Albania

    2

    6

    3

    5

    16

    Algeria

    7

    4

    2

    4

    17

    Angola

    2

    2

    Armenia

    1

    1

    2

    Azerbaijan

    4

    1

    1

    6

    Bahrain

    6

    5

    1

    12

    Bangladesh

    12

    31

    167

    318

    264

    792

    Belarus

    1

    1

    2

    Benin

    1

    1

    Bolivia

    1

    1

    Botswana

    1

    2

    1

    2

    6

    Bulgaria

    1

    1

    Burkina Faso

    1

    1

    Burma (Myanmar)

    166

    98

    42

    14

    13

    333

    Burundi

    2

    1

    3

    Cameroon

    4

    3

    9

    33

    52

    101

    Central African Republic

    1

    1

    China

    16

    25

    95

    162

    160

    458

    Colombia

    2

    3

    3

    2

    1

    11

    Congo

    3

    2

    1

    6

    Democratic Republic of Congo

    5

    7

    5

    17

    Egypt

    1

    8

    12

    15

    15

    51

    Equatorial Guinea

    1

    1

    Eritrea

    6

    2

    3

    2

    3

    16

    Ethiopia

    9

    5

    6

    11

    8

    39

    Gambia

    11

    9

    38

    39

    32

    129

    Georgia

    2

    5

    7

    Ghana

    3

    3

    2

    8

    Guinea

    3

    1

    2

    5

    6

    17

    HONG KONG

    1

    1

    India

    10

    26

    244

    320

    294

    894

    Iran

    106

    244

    464

    307

    148

    1269

    Iraq

    6

    3

    15

    17

    54

    95

    Israel

    1

    1

    2

    Ivory Coast

    1

    2

    5

    1

    2

    11

    Jamaica

    1

    2

    2

    5

    Japan

    1

    1

    2

    Jordan

    2

    4

    4

    5

    3

    18

    Kenya

    6

    5

    10

    12

    12

    45

    Kuwait

    1

    1

    2

    Kyrgyzstan

    5

    3

    3

    2

    13

    Lebanon

    1

    2

    6

    5

    14

    Liberia

    1

    1

    2

    Libya

    7

    114

    73

    57

    86

    337

    Malawi

    2

    4

    10

    15

    9

    40

    Malaysia

    1

    2

    3

    6

    Maldives

    1

    1

    Mali

    1

    2

    1

    1

    1

    6

    Mauritius

    1

    2

    3

    4

    10

    MEXICO

    2

    2

    Mongolia

    1

    2

    3

    2

    8

    Morocco

    3

    6

    6

    3

    18

    Nepal

    4

    3

    33

    37

    25

    102

    Nigeria

    6

    12

    94

    142

    136

    390

    Oman

    1

    2

    3

    Pakistan

    52

    385

    1313

    1471

    1265

    4486

    Palestinian Authority

    18

    24

    30

    25

    30

    127

    Philippines

    1

    8

    12

    11

    32

    Russian Federation

    2

    1

    4

    3

    10

    Rwanda

    9

    7

    3

    5

    5

    29

    Saudi Arabia

    4

    3

    6

    13

    Senegal

    4

    7

    4

    3

    18

    Sierra Leone

    1

    4

    9

    2

    16

    SINGAPORE

    1

    1

    Somalia

    1

    1

    3

    5

    South Africa

    1

    1

    2

    4

    SOUTH KOREA

    1

    2

    3

    SOUTH SUDAN

    1

    1

    Sri Lanka

    230

    744

    1137

    1171

    715

    3997

    St Lucia

    1

    1

    St Vincent & the Grenadines

    1

    1

    Sudan

    6

    11

    23

    11

    9

    60

    Syria

    8

    24

    256

    251

    134

    673

    Tanzania

    10

    8

    15

    17

    11

    61

    Thailand

    1

    1

    Tunisia

    2

    1

    3

    Turkey

    6

    8

    10

    5

    3

    32

    Turkmenistan

    1

    1

    1

    3

    3

    9

    Uganda

    7

    11

    42

    33

    41

    134

    Ukraine

    9

    9

    Uzbekistan

    1

    4

    5

    Venezuela

    3

    3

    Vietnam

    1

    1

    5

    9

    17

    33

    Yemen

    2

    5

    3

    5

    15

    Yugoslavia

    1

    1

    Zambia

    1

    4

    3

    4

    12

    Zimbabwe

    14

    11

    26

    15

    15

    81

    Grand Total

    781

    1901

    4350

    4695

    3743

    15470

    Note: The figures quoted have been derived from internal management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

    “

  • Paula Sherriff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Paula Sherriff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2016-02-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2015 to Question 18454, what progress his Department is making on updating the Accessibility Action Plan; and when he plans to publish it.

    Andrew Jones

    The Department for Transport is preparing a revised Accessibility Action Plan (AAP) at the moment in discussion with the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee. We plan for the AAP to be ready for wider consultation in the summer and that it will likely be published by the end of the year.

  • Gordon Marsden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Gordon Marsden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gordon Marsden on 2016-02-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the implementation of the Prime Minister’s commitment of April 2015 to utilise the proceeds of the £227 million fine on Deutsche Bank to create a new three-year fund to create 50,000 apprenticeships.

    Nick Boles

    This Government will be spending twice as much in cash terms on apprenticeships by 2020 compared to 2010. Spending on apprenticeships in England will be £2.5bn in 2019-20. The Department for Business Innovation and Skills spending review settlement for apprenticeships reflects the government’s commitment regarding the proceeds of the Libor fine the FCA announced in April 2015.

    Further announcements that support the Government’s commitment to delivering employment opportunities for young people will be announced in due course.

    .

  • William Wragg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    William Wragg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by William Wragg on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking ensure that UK overseas aid is spent effectively and transparently.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    As set out in the aid strategy, UK aid: tackling global challenges in the national interest, the government will ensure that every penny of money spent delivers value for taxpayers, and projects that do not will be cancelled. Departments follow good financial management principles set out in HM Treasury guidance in ‘Managing Public Money’ for all their expenditure. In addition, ODA spend is subject to scrutiny by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact. The UK Aid Strategy also commits all departments to achieving greater levels of transparency in aid spend.

    DFID has robust internal processes such as strong ministerial oversight, mandatory reviews on all programmes, detailed management information for use at all levels of the organisation including on project performance and quality. Other departments will have their own arrangements and DFID will continue to share good practice advice with them.