The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reasons the redacted Govia Thameslink Railway remedial plan, dated 12 February 2016, was not made publicly available until 26 May 2016.
Claire Perry
There is a process in place with regard to the publication of documents and any redaction of information. Only once the redactions have been agreed by all parties, including the Department, can publication take place.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Blencathra on 2016-09-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to introduce criminal sanctions against social media companies and their managers in the UK who refuse to take down tweets, pages or other content supporting terrorism, hate crime or radical Islam.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
HMG has developed strong collaborative relationships with Communications Service Providers (CSPs) which has led to the voluntary removal of over 200,000 pieces of terrorist-related content via referrals from the police Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU) since 2010. The government continue to work with CSPs to encourage them to take more responsibility voluntarily for tackling terrorist and extremist content on their own platforms and, in certain circumstances, reporting terrorist content (for example, where there may be an imminent threat to life) to UK law enforcement when they become aware of it.
As most CSPs are international organisations based outside the UK and most online material is hosted outside the UK, national legislation has little application hence our focus on voluntary removals through companies’ terms and conditions. These arrangements mean that where companies take action this removes access to the content from the whole platform world-wide, not just for users accessing it from within a particular jurisdiction.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stewart Jackson on 2016-10-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent steps her Department has taken to improve education in prisons.
Mr Sam Gyimah
I refer the Hon member to my answer to PQ 46278.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2015-11-09.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many representations he has received from (a) hon. Members and (b) members of the public on the activities of Concentrix on behalf of HM Revenue and Customs.
Mr David Gauke
There have been eight parliamentary questions on this topic: six in the current parliament (references 6489, 9146, 12045, 13712, 14126 and 14147) and two in the previous Parliament (references 228744 and 228762).
Since March 2015, nineteen representations have been made to Treasury Ministers and two to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) by, or on behalf of, members of the public concerning the activities of Concentrix on behalf of HMRC.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2015-12-02.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many ground troops they estimate would be required to defeat ISIL, and which countries they expect would provide those forces.
Earl Howe
We have not made such an estimate. We recognise that defeating Daesh will take a combination of military measures and political process. In Iraq we will continue to support government and Kurdish forces already rolling back Daesh. In Syria, this means an end to civil war, allowing all those forces committed to a stable, inclusive and unified Syria – including the army of an internationally-supported Syrian government – to fight Daesh together on the ground.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-01-13.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to encourage people to submit their tax returns before the January deadline.
Mr David Gauke
The vast majority of Self Assessment customers complete their returns on time (92% last year).
This year, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is sending millions of targeted emails and texts to remind customers to submit their return by 31 January, for instance to customers who missed the deadline last year or those who are new to Self Assessment. Alongside this, HMRC is running a national marketing campaign to remind customers of the 31 January deadline. Support is available to those who need it as HMRC is putting hundreds of extra people on its helplines during this very busy period, and has introduced new support channels like webchat and online video guidance.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-02-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons the proposed hepatitis C improvement framework has not been published.
Jane Ellison
NHS England’s work to deliver a framework for hepatitis C services has been progressed so far through the formation and implementation of operational delivery networks providing clinical leadership which has progressed in parallel with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence assessment of new drug therapies. NHS England and Public Health England are currently considering the best approach to build further development of hepatitis C services which cuts across a number of commissioning organisations and that NHS England will be publishing an update shortly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-02-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when she plans to publish the (a) multilateral and (b) bilateral aid review.
Justine Greening
The outcome of the Bilateral and Multilateral Aid Reviews will be set out this spring.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by William Wragg on 2016-03-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to improve prisons’ engagement with employers; and if he will make a statement.
Andrew Selous
Supporting offenders into meaningful employment is a vital aspect of the Government’s approach to rehabilitation.
We already work with a wide range of employers in prison through One3One Solutions and engagement by Prison Governors. And we want Governors to do more so we are putting the tools to drive this change in the hands of those at the frontline who best know what works.
We are keen to increase the number of employers who can provide valuable vocational work for offenders while in prison and who are able to offer them support in preparation for release and employment opportunities following their release.
I regularly meet businesses across the country including at two successful roadshows at HMP Sudbury and HMP/YOI Drake Hall, and most recently at HMP Wayland where local media have supported our campaign. New businesses are now coming on board as a consequence. The Employers Forum for Reducing Reoffending brings together employers willing to employ offenders and we are working with the Department for Work and Pensions to increase the involvement of more businesses.
The Prime Minister has announced changes to recruitment practises across the civil service to ensure that people are considered on their merits and not on their criminal conviction and we want to encourage more employers to do the same.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Lewis on 2016-05-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what processes her Department has in place to ensure that determinations issued by the Office of the Schools Adjudicator are acted on by schools.
Nick Gibb
Where the Schools Adjudicator determines that a school’s admission arrangements do not comply with the School Admissions Code, the admission authority has a statutory duty to revise its admission arrangements to give effect to the Adjudicator’s decision within two months of the decision or by 28 February following the decision, whichever is sooner, unless an alternative timescale is specified by the Adjudicator.
An Adjudicator’s decision is binding and enforceable by the Secretary of State.