The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-10-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what his policy is on leaving the EU Customs Union.
Mr Robin Walker
We have been clear that we will pursue a solution that works for the unique circumstances of the UK. Ministers are considering the UK’s future customs and trading relations with the EU and work continues to analyse the options to ensure we have the best possible outcome for the UK.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Kawczynski on 2015-10-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to reform the Electronic Communications Code following the closure of the consultation on 30 April 2015.
Mr Edward Vaizey
The Government remains committed to delivering a reformed Electronic Communications Code that is clear, fit for purpose, and supports a UK network that provides consumers with a choice of high quality telecommunications services.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-11-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the decision was taken to transfer Newcastle Central Station to Virgin East Coast rather than to Network Rail.
Claire Perry
The East Coast Franchise Agreement provided for the potential transfer of Newcastle Station to Network Rail. The decision to continue with the existing management arrangements of the stations was taken in late August 2015 following a period of negotiation between Virgin Trains East Coast and Network Rail.
The Department concluded that the best value to the public purse and passengers was to continue with the existing arrangements already in place at Newcastle rather than transfer the station.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2015-12-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2015 to Question 19495, what the (a) names, (b) job titles and (c) salary bands were of the staff who worked on Just Solutions International.
Andrew Selous
As was stated in the Answer to questions HL2604 and 19495, 3.5 full time equivalent staff (FTE) worked under the Just Solutions International (JSi) brand. These staff also worked on other, core business within the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). As none of these staff were members of the Senior Civil Service, it would not be appropriate to name them in a Parliamentary answer.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2016-01-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will allocate all funds raised by privatisation of the Green Investment Bank to green technologies in the UK.
Anna Soubry
The Government has put paying down our debt while investing in infrastructure at the heart of our long term economic plan. Proceeds from a sale of UK Green investment Bank plc (GIB) will help us deliver on both those objectives. Any proposal to allocate Government funding to other types of intervention to achieve green policy objectives would need to be considered individually on its merits.
GIB’s remit has always been to invest in green projects on fully commercial terms to help demonstrate green investment can be profitable and attract additional private sector investment into green sectors from mainstream finance providers. GIB will continue to perform that role in private ownership. Details of the other Government policy mechanisms in place aimed at promoting investment in more high risk projects and early stage technologies are provided at paragraphs 31 – 36 of our November 2015 policy statement on the future of GIB which can be found on the GIB pages of the GOV.UK website.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burgon on 2016-02-19.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effectiveness of the ring-fence between retail and investment banking in reducing funding risk in the UK financial system; and if he will make a statement.
Harriett Baldwin
Ring-fencing insulates ring-fenced banks from shocks originating elsewhere in the global financial system, and makes ring-fenced banks simpler so that monitoring and supervision is easier. The PRA are putting in place rules to ensure that the ring-fenced bank can effectively manage its liquidity.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Smith of Leigh on 2016-03-16.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will support the establishment of a National Museum of Rugby League in the Northern Powerhouse area.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
There are a number of independent sporting museums in the UK based on individual sports including rowing, tennis and Rugby Union. Arts Council England supports a Subject Specialist Network for sporting museums that promotes and shares best practice and expertise in the field. There are currently no plans to fund a National Museum of Rugby League in the Northern Powerhouse area, however this Department is investing in the game of Rugby League, through the £17.5m that that Rugby League will receive from Sport England between 2013 and 2017 and the £100k support for a bid for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup; announced in the Budget.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Phil Boswell on 2016-04-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for core regulatory activities within the Health and Safety Executive in the next three years.
Justin Tomlinson
HSE, like many other public bodies, will deliver further budgetary savings over the next three years. HSE has set out in its 2016/17 Business Plan its priorities and key deliverables up to April 2017, including its commitment to securing effective management and control of risk in GB workplaces. For the longer term it has a financial strategy to deliver the required savings whilst seeking to maintain current levels of its core regulatory activities and sustaining regulatory excellence.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dawn Butler on 2016-05-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote religious freedom in Saudi Arabia; and what recent representations the Government has made to Saudi Arabia on that matter.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
We strongly support the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, which is restricted in Saudi Arabia, reflecting views which are widely held in Saudi society. The authorities are encouraging reforms at a pace that is acceptable to Saudi society. This includes allowing foreign workers in Saudi Arabia to practice religions other than Islam in private.
We regularly raise human rights issues, including in relation to the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, with the Saudi Arabian authorities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jo Churchill on 2016-07-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of (a) trends in the take-up of academy places and (b) the performance of academies in Bury St Edmunds constituency in the last five years.
Edward Timpson
The number of pupils on roll in the nine academies in the Bury St Edmunds Constituency for the years when they were open as academies from January 2012 to January 2016 is provided in the table below:
|
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
|
Bury St Edmunds County Upper School |
1009 |
993 |
957 |
978 |
987 |
|
Horringer Court Middle School |
296 |
272 |
307 |
356 |
371 |
|
Westley Middle School |
468 |
466 |
470 |
468 |
478 |
|
Priory School |
121 |
117 |
129 |
135 |
143 |
|
Tollgate Primary School |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
224 |
273 |
|
Great Barton Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
200 |
|
Rattlesden Church of England Voluntary Controlled School |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
123 |
|
Thurston Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
197 |
|
Woolpit Community Primary School |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
171 |
Source: School Census, January 2012 to 2016
The percentage of pupils achieving level 4 or above in reading, writing and maths at key stage 2 in 2012 to 2015 for academies with results in 2015 in the Bury St Edmunds constituency was as follows:
|
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
|
Horringer Court Middle School |
64% |
72% |
79% |
83% |
|
Westley Middle School |
67% |
70% |
80% |
78% |
Source: School Performance Tables
The percentage of pupils achieving 5 or more A*-C GCSEs (or equivalent) including English and mathematics GCSEs at key stage 4 in 2012 to 2015 for the academy with results in 2015 in the Bury St Edmunds constituency was as follows:
|
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
|
Bury St Edmunds County Upper School |
74% |
77% |
70% |
70% |
Source: School Performance Tables
There were no open academies in Bury St Edmunds constituency before August 2011 and no academy results before 2012. Key stage 4 results from 2014 reflect the removal of many equivalent vocational qualifications and other reforms.