The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-03-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much has been spent on mindfulness in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each year since 2010.
Edward Timpson
The Department for Education does not hold information about the amount of money spent on mindfulness in primary or secondary schools.
Schools are free to provide the support they feel is most appropriate for their pupils, based on their pupils’ needs.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Betts on 2016-03-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to page 2 of Budget 2016, whether the £3.5 billion savings to public spending to be achieved by 2012-20 will affect the four year funding settlement to local councils announced by his Department in December 2015.
Mr Marcus Jones
While the Government has not yet completed its departmental efficiency review to help identify further savings in 2019-20, we expect the four year allocations confirmed in the final settlement on 10 February 2016 to be the amounts presented to Parliament each year, should councils choose to accept the offer.
We look forward to councils publishing efficiency plans by 14 October 2016 that demonstrate how the greater certainty on offer can bring about opportunities for further savings. However, if councils prefer not to have a four year settlement we cannot guarantee their future levels of funding.
We have been clear that funding allocations in 2019-20 may be subject to the implementation of 100% business rate retention, something councils have asked for over decades and which we are working with the sector to deliver.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Falkner of Margravine on 2016-05-04.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the editorial independence of the BBC Chinese Service of its potential relocation to Hong Kong.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have made no assessment regarding the operational decision to move some Chinese Language Service posts to Hong Kong. The BBC has advised that BBC Chinese Language staff are already able to report from Hong Kong independently and without interference from authorities. The BBC believes this will continue in Hong Kong which hosts regional headquarters and offices for more than a hundred leading international media organisations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2016-06-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to page 5 of Employment and Support Allowance Work Capability Assessments: Mandatory reconsideration registrations, decisions and outcomes statistics, published in June 2016, how many of the mandatory reconsideration decisions not received by his Department’s decision-maker were appealed at the First Tier tribunal; and how many of those appeals were successful.
Justin Tomlinson
The information is not available at this time.
The data is being collated and will be published in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pendry on 2016-09-05.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to their plan to reduce England’s rate of childhood obesity, in what practical ways they intend to increase physical activity amongst children to reduce obesity.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The Government’s Childhood Obesity: A Plan for Action published on 18 August 2016 sets out the actions we are taking to support children and young people to meet the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officer’s daily recommended levels of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity. A copy of the plan is attached. This includes doubling the Primary PE and Sport Premium from September 2017, a new interactive online tool to help schools identify gaps in existing provision and recommend ways of increasing opportunities for children to be active, and access to high quality sports and physical activity programmes for all primary schools in England. This year we are investing another £1 million in the Change4Life Sports Clubs programme which targets the less active children.
In addition, we will develop a new, voluntary healthy rating scheme available to all primary schools. It will recognise and encourage schools’ contribution to preventing obesity by helping children to eat better and move more.
We will also be providing more guidance for schools about how they can work with the school nurses, health centres, healthy weight teams in local authorities and other resources, to help children develop a healthier lifestyle.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on the transportation of nuclear warheads between RNAD Coulport and AWE Burghfield in each of the last three years.
Harriett Baldwin
All vehicles involved in the transportation of nuclear warheads are subject to a rigorous maintenance and inspection regime, carried out by highly skilled and experienced technicians. Inspections are made prior to each use, as well as six monthly safety and annual mandatory inspections.
The costs of the transportation of nuclear warheads between RNAD Coulport and AWE Burghfield are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The security of the nuclear warhead convoy was assessed by Ministry of Defence Security Advisors in September 2016 as overall ‘satisfactory’, demonstrating that ‘performance meets the required policy standard’.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-11-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that cancer communities are targeted towards all age groups and people with learning disabilities.
Jane Ellison
We understand the hon. Member is referring to cancer communications.
Public Health England (PHE) runs a number of Be Clear on Cancer (BCoC) campaigns to encourage symptom recognition and earlier general practitioner (GP) presentation. The campaigns have been running since early 2011 and have covered a number of cancers nationally and regionally. Incidence increases with age for most cancers and BCoC targets men and women over 50, especially those from lower socioeconomic groups, as there is evidence that these individuals are more likely to delay seeing their GP. Although BCoC campaigns target people over 50, they do reach a much wider age group because of national media campaign activity.
Specialist organisations are consulted on campaign development to ensure that communications are accessible and inclusive. These have included Mencap, the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, and EasyHealth, specifically targeting people with learning disabilities and using their networks to share information effectively. In addition, campaign materials are produced in alternative formats, including easy read. Disability and carer organisations are sent tailored briefing sheets and toolkits to ensure their members are aware of campaign messages and the availability of alternative formats. Following each campaign, PHE seeks feedback from the disability and carer organisations it has worked with to evaluate the success of the engagement and ensure improvements are made where possible.
Locally, there are also a number of good examples where the National Health Service is tailoring its communications to ensure they are accessible to all groups, including those with learning disabilities. NHS England is exploring how these can be taken forward and built on at a national level. For example, easy read versions of cancer screening leaflets are available for people with learning disabilities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michael Tomlinson on 2015-12-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance his Department provides for local authorities on the administration of blue badge disabled parking arrangements.
Andrew Jones
The Blue Badge scheme applies to on-street parking only. The Department for Transport (DfT) has produced non-statutory guidance designed to help local authorities with the administration and enforcement of the scheme. The guidance can be viewed at:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-blue-badge-scheme-local-authority-guidance-england
The guidance also includes a link to a good practice guide on inclusive mobility which includes a chapter on parking issues aimed at helping local authorities meet their obligations under the Equalities Act 2010.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-01-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department’s (a) budget and (b) spend for maritime surveillance was in each of the last five years; and what the (i) names and (ii) lengths of contract are of companies engaged in UK maritime security.
Mr Robert Goodwill
Her Majesty’s Coastguard monitors shipping off the United Kingdom coast for the purposes of ship safety and pollution prevention. That monitoring uses ships’ Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) where those are fitted under international requirements. Ships are monitored by RADAR in the Dover Strait and the Sunk area in the approaches to the Thames Estuary. Pollution is monitored through the European Union’s SafeSeaNet satellite arrangements. There are no specific contracts in place with companies or organisations for the commercial provision of maritime surveillance information.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has a comprehensive set of maritime security measures in place which port facilities in the UK and ships on the UK Ship Register are required to implement for countering the threat from terrorism. Responsibility for delivering these measures rests with the port and ship owners. As such DfT does not have any contracts with UK maritime security companies for the provision of security services at ports or on board ships.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-02-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on what date he last visited a food bank in Scotland.
David Mundell
I have not visited a food bank in my capacity as Secretary of State for Scotland.