Category: Speeches

Nic Dakin – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nic Dakin on 2016-04-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 3.30 of Educational excellence everywhere, Cm 9230, when she plans to amend the academy articles of association models to remove the requirement for new academy trusts and school governing boards to elect parent governors; and if she will take steps to enable existing academies to make that change.

Edward Timpson

The model articles of association give multi-academy trust (MAT) boards the freedom to appoint a local governing body. The board is also free to decide on what, if any, governance functions they delegate to subsidiary governance structures at the level of either individual schools or clusters of schools. Whatever arrangements MATs use, they must set out and publish on their website their chosen arrangements in a clear scheme of delegation.

The White Paper Educational Excellence Everywhere outlines our intention to place a new expectation on all academies to put in place specific arrangements to engage with all parents in a meaningful way to listen to their views and feedback. To enable a move to fully skills-based governance, the White Paper also announces an end to our requirement on new and existing trusts to reserve places on the board for elected parents.

01/01/2023

Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-05-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) average waiting time for a practical driving test and (b) number of staffing opportunities at test centres not yet filled was in each region of England in the most recent period for which figures are available; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency recruitment strategy.

Andrew Jones

The average waiting time for a car driving test for the 2015/16 financial year was 8.4 weeks. The average waiting time for a car test measured at the time of writing (24 May) was 11.5 weeks.

The following table explains the current driving examiner recruitment position:

	New Recruits 2015/16	Planned Recruits 2016/17	completed training since 1 Apr 2016	currently undergoing training	training start confirmed	offer made – undergoing pre- employment check	Ongoing recruitment (latest advert)
Scotland & N England	28	58	2	8	16	9	32
Central England & N Wales	64	67	7	4	24	3	49
Southern England & S Wales	59	58	9	8	30	2	45
London & S E England	42	104	8	8	13	7	52
	193	287	26	28	83	21	178

During 2015 DVSA carried out a review of the end to end process of driving examiner resourcing – from forecasting demand for driving tests to understand where and how many driving examiners are needed, through the attraction and selection stages of recruitment to offer of appointment and training. The overall assessment was that there was significant scope for improvement at all stages in the process. The recommendations of the review are being implemented and include:

the use of improved forecasting models
modernised attraction approaches
more focussed assessment methods
streamlined training programmes.

The overarching objectives are to shorten the time from a driving examiner vacancy being identified to it being filled. DVSA also wants to improve the diversity and capabilities of the new starters it appoints.

01/01/2023

Andrew Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Trade

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Smith on 2016-07-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will estimate the total (a) legal and (b) other costs to the public purse of conducting trade negotiations after the UK has provided notice under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty of its intention to leave the EU.

Greg Hands

Until we leave, the UK will remain a full member of the EU, with all of the rights and obligations. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has established the Department for International Trade to promote British trade across the world and ensure the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has also established a Department for Exiting the European Union for overseeing negotiations to leave the EU and establishing the future relationship between the UK and EU.

01/01/2023
Lord Black of Brentwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Black of Brentwood on 2016-09-15.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much was spent on specialist HIV treatment and care in England for each year from 2010–11 to 2014–15.

Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen

Data provided by NHS England shows the estimated expenditure in relation to HIV treatment and care services from 2010 – 2013/14 which are the latest figures available.

Data for financial years 2011/12 and 2012/13 are from National Health Service programme budgeting estimates. Data for financial year 2013/14 are a combination of programme budgeting estimates and NHS England expenditure data on specialised services. Data between these years are not comparable, as responsibility for the commissioning of some services relating to HIV and AIDS and related public health services transferred from primary care trusts to local authorities on 1 April 2013, and are therefore excluded from NHS figures from this date forward.

2010-11 – £571 million

2011-12 – £642 million

2012-13 – £630 million

2013-14 – £570 million

01/01/2023
Daniel Zeichner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-11-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer to Question 15214, what assessment his Department has made of reference in the Quality Contract Scheme Board’s report to bus operators being compensated by the Government for future losses that might be incurred as a result of franchising.

Andrew Jones

The Quality Contract Scheme Board’s report concerns a proposal under existing legislation. The intention is to introduce the Buses Bill later in this Parliamentary session, so proposals are still in development. We will of course consider the thoughts presented by the Quality Contract Scheme Board alongside a range of other perspectives.

01/01/2023
Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-12-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on setting up the Institute for Coding; and how applications for the £20 million funding can be made.

Mr Edward Vaizey

My officials are working with officials in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on proposals for the development of the new Institute. Further details on the competition will be announced in the new year.

01/01/2023
Kevin Brennan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2016-01-21.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of trends in the levels of exit payments in the (a) private sector and (b) public sector in the last 20 years.

Greg Hands

The Government consulted on implementing a public sector exit payment cap in July 2015. The Government response to this consultation was published on 16 September 2015. This response provides detail on the potential impacts of the cap and sets out which organisations the Government intends to capture within scope of the public sector exit payment cap. The final policy is in line with the Government’s manifesto commitment to end tax payer funded six figure payoffs for public sector workers.

The consultation ran from 31 July to 27 August 2015. Over 4000 responses were received. These representations were considered during and after the consultation to inform the Government response that was published on 16 September 2015.

The response document can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/464367/Public_sector_exit_payments_response.pdf

An impact analysis was published within the exit payment cap consultation document which respondents had an opportunity to comment on. Further, the Government worked with departments and took into account consultation responses received after the official deadline to inform the impact of a public sector exit payment cap set at £95,000 in different sectors and for different categories of workers. This assessment gave due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty.

The exit payment cap is intended to capture organisations classified as public sector by the Office for National Statistics with few exceptions as identified in the consultation response.

The Government does not expect the cap to have a widespread impact on the take-up of voluntary redundancy.

At the 2015 Spending Review the Government announced it will consult on further cross public sector action on exit payment terms. This consultation will provide a good opportunity to collect further information on the trends in the level of exit payments between the private and public sector.

01/01/2023
Alex Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2016-02-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many applications have been made to local authorities for £5,000 flood protection grants.

James Wharton

To date, local authorities have received 1,285 applications for Property Level Resilience grant funding and have so far approved 162.

Property Level Resilience grants are dependent on works which require properties to dry out and are usually claimed retrospectively. The current rate of payments is similar to equivalent previous schemes where the profile of spend shows payments accelerate in the third and fourth quarters after damage.

01/01/2023
Mrs Anne Main – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mrs Anne Main on 2016-03-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will publish any contingency plans his Department has made on trade agreements in the event of a UK exit from the EU.

Anna Soubry

At the February European Council, the Government negotiated a new settlement, giving the United Kingdom a special status in a reformed European Union. The Government’s position, as set out by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the House on 22 February, is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.

01/01/2023
Paul Monaghan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Monaghan on 2016-04-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the pension entitlement is of officers of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.

Andrea Leadsom

Under the Energy Act 2004, it is the responsibility of the Civil Nuclear Police Authority to provide and maintain the pensions of the officers of the civil nuclear constabulary. These pensions are currently provided by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).

01/01/2023