The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Lexden on 2015-11-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bridges of Headley on 17 November (HL3184), how many electoral registration officers have visited schools and colleges in the last twelve months; and what proportion of the total number of electoral registration officers that figure represents.
Lord Bridges of Headley
This information is not collected centrally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Spellar on 2016-01-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when his Department last discussed votes for prisoners with the Council of Europe.
Dominic Raab
I visited the Council of Europe and discussed votes for prisoners on 7 December 2015. We have consistently made clear that prisoner voting is a matter for Parliament to determine. I explained at the September Committee of Ministers meeting that there was no realistic prospect of Parliament lifting the current ban for the foreseeable future.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is undertaking to assist local authorities in preparing bids for the 2021 UK City of Culture.
Mr Edward Vaizey
DCMS will issue guidance on bidding for the UK City of Culture 2021 ahead of the competition which will run during 2017 – the year when we will celebrate Hull City of Culture. DCMS will continue to provide advice to interested local authorities and intends to hold an event later this year to explain the process and to generate interest in this exciting opportunity.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-02-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the (a) policy and (b) other responsibilities are of each special adviser in his Department.
Mr Edward Vaizey
I refer my Hon Friend to the answer to PQ 27946
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-03-21.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the accuracy of official figures of the number of patients waiting for treatment for more than a year.
Lord Prior of Brampton
Consultant-led referral to treatment waiting time statistics are designated as National Statistics. This means that the statistics are produced according to sound methods, and are managed impartially and objectively in the public interest.
From time to time, for example when there are serious problems with patient administration systems, National Health Service trusts do need to temporarily suspend submissions of data for inclusion in the publication of National Statistics for reasons of data quality and completeness. Nine acute trusts did not submit data on referral to treatment waiting times for January 2016. For this reason, the published data on the number of patients waiting more than a year to start consultant-led treatment for non-urgent conditions may be understated. NHS Improvement is working intensively with these trusts so that they can begin submitting data again as quickly as possible.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2016-04-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the action being taken, and by whom, to prevent life-threatening consequences arising from the closure of the Gaza power plant.
Baroness Verma
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the closure of the Gaza power plant has triggered electricity blackouts of 12-18 hours per day. The electricity shortage, combined with the lack of affordable fuel, has resulted in a further reduction in the water supply to households and reduction in wastewater treatment and quality of sewerage discharged into the sea.
We are in regular dialogue with Israel, the Palestinian Authority and other development actors, specifically the EU and UN, on the extension of the 161 power line and conversion of the Gaza power station to gas.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2016-05-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the timetable is for the publication of the consultation on changes to the School Admissions Code.
Nick Gibb
We have announced our intention to make changes to the School Admissions Code to better support parents and schools.
We are currently considering whether any additional changes to the admissions system are necessary. Full details of proposed changes and of the consultation, including timings, will be announced in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-07-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the Answer of 15 October 2015 to Question 10706, and to the letter sent by Network Rail to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Yardley on 14 July 2016, what the expected timescale is for accessibility alterations for Stechford railway station.
Paul Maynard
Network Rail have completed the option selection process for the Access for All scheme at Stechford and are working on a detailed design for the project. The Network Rail sponsor for the project would be happy to meet the hon Member to discuss plans for improving access at the station.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 13 September 2016 to Question 46284, on apprentices, what steps her Department is taking to ensure the new standards are developed in areas where skills shortages exist in the economy.
Robert Halfon
Employers are already designing high-quality apprenticeships across a range of occupations to meet their skills needs. More than 1,400 employers are involved with 260 new apprenticeships standards already published and more than 180 are in development.
Employers are in the best position to determine the skills they need and we will work with them as the Apprenticeship Levy is introduced, and as the wider approach to the Industrial Strategy is developed, to ensure their needs are met and more opportunities are created for apprentices of all ages and from all backgrounds.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) assets and (b) personnel of his Department took part in NATO Exercise Dragon 2015 in collaboration with the Polish armed forces.
Penny Mordaunt
Exercise Dragon 15 was a Polish-led multinational exercise involving up to 7,000 personnel and 900 combat vehicles at multiple training locations across Poland. The UK contribution to the exercise is a clear demonstration of the UK’s significant support to NATO’s Assurance Measures which are designed to reassure East European NATO members and deter aggression against them. Totalling approximately 1,350 Army personnel and around 400 vehicles, Exercise Dragon 15 constituted the largest UK armoured deployment in Eastern Europe in 2015.