The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2016-02-04.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the planned business rate reforms announced in the 2015 Summer Budget have been amended.
Mr David Gauke
Autumn Statement 2015 confirmed that the business rates review will report at Budget 2016. The review will be fiscally neutral.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lisa Cameron on 2016-03-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will provide additional financial support for families with working parents who will receive less in benefits as a result of the April 2016 universal credit changes.
Priti Patel
Changes to the Universal Credit work allowances are part of a wider package of measures announced in the Summer Budget. This also includes the increase to the personal tax allowance, introduction of the national living wage, and an increase in childcare support to provide for an additional 15 hours free childcare for working parents of three and four year olds from September 2017. In addition, from April 2016, we are increasing childcare support under Universal Credit from 70% to 85% of eligible childcare costs paid, up to a maximum cap.
We will be contacting Universal Credit claimants directly affected by the work allowance changes in advance to prepare them and let them know how they can access further advice and support. As well as additional work coach support, affected claimants may qualify for help from the Flexible Support Fund to help them retain work and increase their earnings.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will estimate the number of days of sickness absence taken for reasons of depression, anxiety or stress in each of the last three years.
Mr Rob Wilson
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anne Main on 2016-05-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much his Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies have spent on infraction proceedings in each of the last 10 years.
James Wharton
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my Rt Hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General today. UIN: 36288
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-06-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much her Department spent in the last five years on the provision of English language teachers for students recently arrived in the UK with little knowledge of that language.
Mr Sam Gyimah
The department distributes school funding to local authorities through the dedicated schools grant. Each local authority then devises a formula through which it allocates funding to schools in its locality. No funding is allocated on the basis of pupils who have recently arrived from overseas, either from central government to local authorities or from local authorities to individual schools.
Local authorities can include an ‘English as an additional language’ (EAL) factor in their funding formulae. EAL funding is determined on the basis of census data which records whether or not a pupil’s first language is English. Funding allocated through this factor forms part of the school’s core budget and it is for school leaders to determine how best to use their whole budget so that all pupils can reach their full potential.
We will introduce a national funding formula from 2017-18 so that funding is fair and matched to need. Our first consultation proposed that the formula should include an EAL factor. We will set out the precise detail of the formula in our second consultation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-09-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans the Education Funding Agency has in place for the use of the former East Ham police station.
Edward Timpson
The Department acquired the former East Ham Police Station for a free school and has every intention to use this site for a school. We are considering the best use for the site, taking into account both that it is listed and the accommodation needs of whichever school occupies it.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent estimate she has made of the number of civilians (a) who have fled and (b) who remain in Mosul.
Rory Stewart
According to the UN, over 7,000 people (as of 24 October) are currently displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance as a result of Mosul operations. Population movements are fluctuating as the front lines move, including people returning to their homes following improved security conditions in the immediate area. UN figures indicate up to 1.5 million civilians continue to live in Mosul. The UK is working closely with the Government of Iraq, the Kurdistan Regional Government, the United Nations, and the international community to support an effective Iraqi–led humanitarian response in Mosul.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2015-11-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of references of families to the Troubled Families programme have been the result of schools expressing concerns that children are not receiving sufficient food at home since April 2015.
Greg Clark
My Department does not hold this information.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michael Tomlinson on 2015-12-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to increase the number of disabled people in work in (a) Dorset and (b) the South West.
Justin Tomlinson
In the last two years, the number of disabled people in work has increased by 339,000. But we recognise that the gap between the employment rates of disabled people and non disabled people remains too large. That is why we are committed to halving it.
The Spending Review announced a real terms funding increase to help people with health conditions and disabilities return to, and remain in, work.
In the South West, disabled people who want to work can get support from Jobcentre Plus and a range of employment programmes such as Work Programme, Work Choice and Specialist Employment Support. Access to Work provides additional support for individuals whose health or disability affects the way they do their job.
To support and increase the number of disabled people into employment we are offering a more tailored personalised package of employment support in Greater Wessex which includes Dorset. The Personalisation Pathfinder provides disabled people in Greater Wessex with a more personalised and flexible employment support package that puts the individual at the heart of the employment offer.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Knight of Weymouth on 2016-01-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many cheques were issued by each government department, including their agencies and public bodies, in (1) 2015, (2) 2014, (3) 2013, and (4) 2012, and what was the value of those cheques.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
The information requested is not held centrally. The Government Banking Service is a provider of banking services across Government, but each Government Department is responsible for setting its own policy in regards to making payments by cheque. Further details are set out in the publication, “Managing Public Money” which is available on Gov.uk.