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Category: Speeches

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-11-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the level of staff turnover in his Department was in each of the last five years; and what steps he is taking to reduce such turnover.

    Justin Tomlinson

    Departmental turnover rates at the end of the last 5 financial years are summarised in the table below:

    Year End

    Annual Turnover (%)

    March 11

    6.1

    March 12

    5.2

    March 13

    4.4

    March 14

    5.2

    March 15

    6.1

    Turnover is an important lever in enabling the Department to achieve the overall efficiencies required over the last and current parliaments whilst continuing to deliver and transform the services the Department provides. DWP’s turnover rate is assessed to be manageable and sustainable, and is consistent with current planning assumptions.

  • Neil Coyle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Neil Coyle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to advertise the independence of Crimestoppers to encourage more people, particularly young people, to come forward with information on crime.

    Sarah Newton

    The Home Office has provided grant funding of £770,500k in this financial year to support the work of Crimestoppers to encourage the public to report information on crime.

    In addition, this year we are also working closely with Crimestoppers to support the re-development of their ‘Fearless’ campaign and website which is targeted at encouraging children and young people to report crime, including through work in schools to raise awareness of the risks and consequences of knife crime.

  • Bridget Phillipson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Bridget Phillipson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2015-11-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 42 of the North East Devolution Agreement, what the composition of the proposed Steering Group will be; what the process of escalation referred to will be; and what plans he has to report on the activities of the Steering Group to Parliament on an annual or quarterly basis.

    James Wharton

    My officials are working closely with representatives of the North East Combined Authority to ensure that robust implementation arrangements for the North East Devolution Deal are in place. Aspects of monitoring, including a steering group, are still subject to ongoing discussions, and once agreed will form part of the North East Combined Authority’s Implementation Plan.

    The Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill includes provision for the Secretary of State to provide an Annual Report to both Houses of Parliament on areas of the country where agreements have been reached, as soon as practicable after 31 March each year.

  • Baroness Hodgson of Abinger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Baroness Hodgson of Abinger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hodgson of Abinger on 2016-01-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will ensure that Syrian women are appropriately represented and will play a meaningful role in discussions at the Syria Donors Conference in February 2016, rather than at the preceding civil society conference.

    Earl of Courtown

    As you know, women and girls is a top priority for DFID. The focus of the Syria Conference is to raise significant new funding to meet the immediate and longer-term needs of all those affected by the crisis within Syria and to support neighbouring countries, who have shown enormous generosity in hosting refugees, to cope with the impact of the crisis. We also hope that the Conference outcomes will support on-going discussions on a political situation to the conflict.

    Under UN Resolution 1325, we are committed to ensuring appropriate representation of women in Conference delegations and panels. This will be pursued through our engagement with overseas delegations to include strong female representation. The Conference will include a strong focus on the situation inside Syria, the very human impact on women, girls and youth, and ways we can protect them from harm, including sexual and gender-based violence. As you know, on the day before the event, we are also supporting a large gathering of civil society, from which a cross-section, including representation of women and girls, will contribute to discussions in the Conference.

  • Christian Matheson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Christian Matheson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2016-02-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many inquests have taken place related to the death of UK citizens whilst at sea in each year including and since 2010.

    Caroline Dinenage

    The information requested is not held centrally.

  • Phil Boswell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Phil Boswell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Phil Boswell on 2016-02-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his Department’s practice in consulting manufacturers on policy of the findings by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in its report, Engineered in Britain, on the proportion of manufacturers who consider that the Government is performing well on manufacturing policy.

    Anna Soubry

    The Institution of Mechanical Engineers report “Engineered in Britain” states that the proportion of manufacturers who consider that the Government is performing well on manufacturing policy rose from 12% in 2011 to 24% in 2015. BIS Ministers and officials hold regular discussions with manufacturing companies and their representatives, including the Sector Councils, to develop a clear understanding of the capabilities and needs of UK manufacturing. Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills spoke at the EEF National Manufacturing Conference on 24 February 2016 and I attended and spoke at the EEF National Manufacturing Dinner on the same date.

  • Mike Freer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Mike Freer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Freer on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which (a) ministers and (b) officials of her Department will be present at the International Aids Conference in Durban in July 2016.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    The UK government will be represented at the International AIDS Conference in Durban in July 2016. Precise attendance has still to be finalised.

  • 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)

  • Robert Flello – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Robert Flello – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2016-06-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with trades unions officials representing Highways England traffic officers on the potential danger of serious injury or death arising from trying to move a heavy goods vehicle from a live lane using a Highways England traffic officer 4 by 4 vehicle.

    Andrew Jones

    The Trade Union that represents Highways England Traffic Officers was consulted throughout the life of the enhanced carriageway clearance project, which focused on carriageway clearance of vehicles of all types. Trade Union representatives attended a number of meetings and specific workshops.

  • Tom Watson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Tom Watson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants are currently claiming expenses under the Public Duty Cost Allowance after leaving office.

    Ben Gummer

    The Public Duties Cost Allowance is to assist former Prime Ministers with the costs of continuing to fulfil duties associated with their previous position in public life. A copy of the policy and guidance on the allowance is in the Library of the House. The costs are a reimbursement of incurred expenses for necessary office costs and secretarial costs arising from their special position in public life. The allowance is not paid to support private or parliamentary duties. Civil servants are not entitled to claim this allowance.

    Current recipients of the allowance are published in the Cabinet Office Annual Reports and Accounts. Previous recipients have included Lady Thatcher; the current recipients who are former Prime Ministers are Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. I also refer the Hon. Member to my answers to him of 9 September 2016 to (UIN 44045, 44048, 44049, 44053, 44054, 44055, 44056).

    The Public Duties Cost Allowance rate is currently set at a limit of £115,000 per annum. When originally introduced, the Government stated that it would be the equivalent in amount to the Parliamentary Office Costs Allowance. I would note that that allowance is now known as the Parliamentary Staffing Allowance, determined by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and that is currently set at the rate of £148,500 per annum.”