The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-01-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many Law Society mental health panel accredited representatives there were on the Law Society panel available for First Tier Tribunal (mental health) hearings in each year since 2010.
Caroline Dinenage
This information is not recorded.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Metcalfe on 2016-02-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans are in place to upgrade the existing Dartford Crossing and the A282.
Andrew Jones
There are no current plans for upgrading the Dartford crossing and the A282. However, we are undertaking studies to identify options that could improve the traffic flow through the area.
Until 24 March 2016 we are holding a public consultation on the proposed Lower Thames Crossing. This scheme would provide additional capacity to the existing Dartford-Thurrock crossings between Kent and Essex. This additional route should help reduce congestion on the current Dartford crossing and surrounding area.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Cooper on 2016-03-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to paragraph 1.242 of Budget 2016, how much of the additional £700 million for flood defence and resilience will be spent in Lancashire.
Rory Stewart
Of the additional £700 million announced in the Budget to be spent on flood defences and resilience, £150m has been allocated to new schemes in Yorkshire and Cumbria. The £40m per year increase in floods maintenance will be spent nationwide according to need. The remaining funding will be allocated following the outcome of the National Flood Resilience Review in the summer.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-04-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to deploy British police officers to popular holiday resorts abroad as a result of the outcome of the pilot scheme in summer 2015.
Mike Penning
The deployment of police resources is an operational matter for Chief Constables. However, any deployments overseas to provide advice or assistance to a foreign government must be approved by the Home Secretary under the provisions of Section 26 of the Police Act (1996). No decision has been made regarding any future deployments following last year’s pilot.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2016-05-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they last discussed with the government of Tunisia the security improvements required before the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s current advice against all but essential travel to Tunisia can be lifted.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We discuss progress on improving security with the Tunisian government on a very regular basis, both bilaterally and through the G7, most recently on 25 May. We still consider the threat level to be specific enough to advise against all but essential travel. Our Travel Advice is under constant review and we will change it as soon as the security situation and the threat level permit.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gloria De Piero on 2016-07-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect on uptake at secondary schools of (a) art, (b) drama, (c) music and (d) other arts subjects at GCSE of the introduction of the Ebacc target for GCSE attainment.
Nick Gibb
The numbers and percentages of pupils in English state-funded schools entering GCSEs in art, drama, music and other arts subjects each academic year are published as part of the GCSE and equivalent results statistical first release.[1]
Whilst JCQ exam entry data[2] shows a fall in GCSE entries to arts subjects this year, entries to arts subjects increased between 2013 and 2015.[3] The proportion of pupils in state-funded schools entering at least one GCSE in an arts subject has increased since the EBacc was first introduced, rising from 45.8% in 2011 to 49.6% in 2015.[4]
On average, pupils in state-funded schools enter nine GCSEs and equivalent qualifications, rising to ten for more able pupils.[5] As the EBacc covers seven GCSEs, or eight for those pupils taking triple science, there continues to be room to study other subjects.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-gcses-key-stage-4
[2] http://www.jcq.org.uk/examination-results/gcses
[3] https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-gcses-key-stage-4
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by William Wragg on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to encourage corporate sponsorship of the arts at a local level.
Matt Hancock
We believe strongly in public investment in culture. As well as core Exchequer and lottery funding, government supports culture through tax breaks and encourages philanthropy and volunteering. The UK arts sector has a unique mixed funding model and it makes good business sense for cultural bodies to continue to look to diversify their revenue streams. There are many cultural organisations outside London who are successfully building long term relationships with corporate donors and sponsors for mutual benefit.
In the Culture White Paper government committed to talking more about the mutual benefits of such partnerships, and how they make a difference to cultural organisations and to public life. DCMS with Arts Council England recently commissioned work from the Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy Programme with Brunswick Arts to provide insight into how the current corporate sponsorship landscape in England has changed in recent years, including at the local level. The findings will be published later this year.
Arts Council England have commissioned a new Private Investment in Culture Survey, to explore the current state of private philanthropy, including from corporate sources. This is due for publication later this year. They have also invested in programmes such as the Arts Fundraising and Philanthropy programme and Catalyst Evolve to support skills development across England including corporate engagement and to attract more private giving including through corporate sponsorship.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Meg Hillier on 2015-10-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the appropriateness of the time taken to secure appeal hearings at the First-tier Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The most recently published average time for appeals to be disposed of by the First-tier Tribunal is 30 weeks between April and June 2015. This compares to an average of 29 weeks in 2014/15. HM Courts & Tribunals Service remains confident that it continues to have the capacity to deal with the volume of appeals it expects to receive. We are preparing to put additional court time in place to make sure waiting times do not increase.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-11-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to establish Road Justice Scrutiny Panels to scrutinise investigations of road crime.
Mike Penning
The investigation of road crime incidents is an operational matter for the police. If anyone wishes to complain about any treatment he or she has received, they should raise a complaint with the local Chief Officer, Chief Constable or Police and Crime Commissioner. The Police Reform Act 2002 stipulates the procedures to make a complaint and outlines the role of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). This ensures that police officers and staff are fully answerable for their actions.
The Home Office does not centrally hold information on the number of motorists who chose to attend a driver alertness scheme. How the scheme is managed is an operational matter for the police.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2015-12-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many clinical commissioning groups have put in place plans for delayed discharges in co-operation with their local independent sector partners.
Alistair Burt
This would be a matter for individual clinical commissioning groups, who are responsible for commissioning care that is underpinned by knowledge of local health care needs. As such we do not hold this information centrally.