The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-05-19.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Gracious Speech is printed on vellum.
Matthew Hancock
According to long standing practice the copy of the speech printed for the State Opening of Parliament is printed on high quality archival paper.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-07-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the cost-effectiveness of the National Citizen Service programme compared with other youth social action programmes.
Mr Rob Wilson
National Citizen Service (NCS) is a unique programme for young people focused around adventure, discovery and giving back to communities. Robust, independent evaluations show that NCS delivers positive impacts for young people and value for money. For every £1 spent, it generates up to £3.98 of social benefits.
Government has evaluated the impact of investment in a range of youth social action opportunities as part of Step Up To Serve’s #iwill campaign. Funding has also been provided to the Centre for Youth Impact to develop the youth sector’s capability to design, deliver and commission costeffective services for young people.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2016-09-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much in compensation payments has been paid by Govia Thameslink Railway to customers since the start of that franchise.
Paul Maynard
The delay repay compensation figures for all Train Operating Companies covering the years 2009-10 to 2014-15 are published on the GOV.UK website at – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/train-operating-companies-passenger-charter-compensation-between-2009-to-2015. Figures for the 2015-16 financial year for all Train Operating Companies are expected to be published on the GOV.UK website later this year. Releasing all the figures at the same time will allow everyone to see them together which will provide a clear and consistent publication and help avoid misinterpretation and confusion.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2015-10-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to Question 1 of the consultation, Tackling exploitation in the labour market, published by her Department and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in October 2015, what account of international law her Department took in defining labour market exploitation.
Karen Bradley
As explained in my answer to question 13916, my Department has not legally defined ‘labour market exploitation’, but set out what we mean by the phrase for the purposes of this consultation to provide context for stakeholders considering our proposals. Government has taken account of international law in preparing the consultation and will consider it further in considering the Government response to the consultation in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bill Esterson on 2015-11-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the reliance of the UK economy on imports of steel from countries outside the EU.
Anna Soubry
The Government supports an open market for steel and UK consumers are free to source their requirements from anywhere in the world as long as imported material is traded fairly and meets quality and standards criteria where applicable.
Data on UK imports of steel as a share of domestic demand are published by the EEF on behalf of UK Steel in their Key Statistics 2015 report, which can be found at the EEF website under the ‘Publications’ page. Please note that these figures exclude imports made by steel producers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-12-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to paragraph 1.143 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what steps his Department took to ensure accuracy of the £2 billion quoted as the cost to insurers of whiplash claims; and if his Department will conduct its own estimate of that cost.
Dominic Raab
The Government received and analysed data from numerous sources when formulating the announcement in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. The quoted figures were arrived at by combining published industry estimates along with data from government and other sources.
Government data, compiled by the Compensation Recovery Unit at the Department for Work and Pensions, indicates that claims volumes remain at historically high levels, some 50% higher than in 2006. Over the same period accident rates have fallen by around 26%. This is clear evidence that the system is in need of further reform, which is why on 25 November, in his Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced tough new measures to control costs and reduce the number of unnecessary whiplash claims.
The Government will consult on the detail of the new reform package in due course and the consultation document will be accompanied by an impact assessment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2016-01-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what use is made of correspondence from GPs in undertaking personal independence payments assessments.
Justin Tomlinson
Atos and Capita Healthcare Professionals and DWP Decision Makers give full consideration to all information provided by GPs when assessing Personal Independence Payment claimants.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2016 to Question 22830, whether the Warnings Index Checks system has been affected by high-priority incidents in the last five years.
James Brokenshire
All Border Force systems and services, including the Warnings Index system, are constantly monitored and closely managed so any arising incidents can be quickly and effectively resolved. Whilst there have been a small number of high priority incidents during the period in question with the Warnings Index system, like other Home Office technology services, it has layers of resilience built into it along with supporting continuity arrangements. This resilience and operational arrangements has enabled controls at the border to be maintained with no suspension of checks at any port since November 2011. The migration in the autumn of 2014 of the core Warning Index services to modern data-centres has significantly improved its reliability and stability.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2016-03-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment the NHS has made of the potential health risks of exposure to formaldehyde used in the manufacture of everyday products.
Jane Ellison
Consumer products are subject to the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 which demands that "No producer shall supply or place a consumer product on the market unless the product is a safe product.”
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) applies in the workplace when hazardous substances are manufactured, used or where processes are undertaken that generate hazardous substances. COSHH requires the employer to carry out a risk assessment to establish what, if any, hazards are associated with products/processes employees are using/undertaking and then put measures in place to control exposure to those hazards.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-04-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many enlisted soldiers who were not commissioned officers gained GCSEs in (a) English and (b) mathematics while serving in the army in each of the last five years; and how many such soldiers gained GCSEs in (i) English and (ii) mathematics within four years of enlisting.
Mark Lancaster
The Army provides opportunities for personnel to gain functional skills in literacy and numeracy. These are the standards that the Army has determined it requires and links these functional skills qualifications with promotion to certain ranks. Individuals are free to pursue GCSEs as part of their elective personal development with the support of learning credits schemes but the details of such GCSE qualifications are not held centrally.