Category: Speeches

  • Sadiq Khan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Sadiq Khan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2016-01-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many school-aged children in each London borough attended a maintained school outside their borough of residency on 1 January of each year from 2010 to 2016.

    Nick Gibb

    The number of pupils in each London borough attending a school outside their borough of residency can be found in the cross border movement tables which can be found as part of the ‘Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics’ statistics[1]. Data for 2016 has not been collected yet but is expected to be available in June 2016.

    [1] 2015 data can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2015 – click on ‘Cross-border movement Local Authority Tables’

    2014 data can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2014 – click on ‘Cross-border movement Local Authority Tables’

    2013 data can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2013 – click on ‘Cross-border movement Local Authority Tables’

    2012 data can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2012 – click on ‘Additional Tables 1’

    2011 data can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2011 – click on ‘Additional Tables 1’

    2010 data can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2010 – click on ‘Additional Tables 3’

    “

  • Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-02-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many staff have been seconded to his Department to analyse responses to the BBC Charter Review consultation.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    Given the number of responses, DCMS brought in additional resource into the BBC policy team. Based on demand, an average of 25 additional people per week supported the process to review the consultation responses, which included 19 staff seconded from other departments.

  • Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-03-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 8 March 2016 to Question 26318, what the reasons are for the differences between the total amount of arrears owed by the 92 employers named and shamed by his Department on 5 February 2016 for non-compliance with the national minimum wage and the total amount of the financial penalties imposed on those employers; and if he will make a statement.

    Nick Boles

    Penalties are calculated based on the value of arrears on the Notice of Underpayment issued by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) but vary according to the penalty regime in place at the time underpayments took place and how quickly the employer pays back arrears to the worker.

    The rate at which penalties are calculated has increased twice since the beginning of the naming scheme, demonstrating our continued commitment to the enforcement of minimum wage law:

    • For underpayments which occurred before 7 March 2014, the penalty rate was set at 50% of arrears owed;
    • For underpayments which occurred on or after 7 March 2014, the rate was set at 100% of arrears owed;
    • From April 2016, underpayments will result in penalties set at 200% of arrears owed.

    The amount at which penalties are capped has also increased. Before 7 March 2014 penalties were capped at £5,000 per employer. The Government increased the cap to £20,000, and began to apply it on a per-worker basis from 26 May 2015.

    Currently, an employer who pays back arrears within 14 days of receiving a Notice of Underpayment from HMRC are subject to a 50% penalty rate, which incentivises quick repayment of the money owed to employees. After penalties are doubled to 200% of arrears in April, this prompt payment rate will also double to 100% of arrears.

    Of the 92 employers named on 5 February, 66 paid back the arrears they owed within 14 days, and were therefore subject to a reduced penalty rate.

  • Crispin Blunt – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Crispin Blunt – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Crispin Blunt on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average number of (a) seats available and (b) passengers is on train services running from Gatwick Airport to London Bridge during the 0700 to 1000 weekday peak period.

    Claire Perry

    While Govia Thameslink Railways provide us with information on capacities and passenger numbers arriving at London Bridge, it is not possible to provide numbers of passengers who boarded at Gatwick Airport railway station.

  • Julie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Julie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Cooper on 2016-05-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many free schools projects have been cancelled at any stage in each year since 2011.

    Edward Timpson

    A list of free school projects that were cancelled or withdrawn between 2011 and 2015, and that have final confirmed expenditure, is published on GOV.UK at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/523706/Free_Schools_Data_for_Publication.xlsx.

    “

  • Thangam Debbonaire – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Thangam Debbonaire – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thangam Debbonaire on 2016-07-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress has been made on implementing pledges on child education made in the Supporting Syria Conference held in the UK in February 2016; and if she will make a statement.

    Rory Stewart

    The UK has been working closely with the UN, other donors and refugee hosting countries to deliver increased enrolment in formal and informal education. The UK is on track to deliver on its Conference commitments to support education, including spending £40million a year on education in Lebanon and £20million a year in Jordan. We will continue to work closely with these partners to track progress, including on enrolment in the upcoming school year.

    The UK is supporting the provision of informal and formal education opportunities to 1.1m children in Syria and the region. In addition, the UK has financed the provision of 350,000 children in Lebanon with textbooks, including over 100,000 Syrian refugee children in Lebanese public schools.

  • Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the recommendations in the UN High Level Panel on Access to Medicines report, published in September 2016, on stimulating research and development in underfunded areas and improving access to medicines; whether he has plans to take those recommendations forward; and if he will make a statement.

    David Mowat

    The Department for International Development leads on this area and the Department of Health has not made an assessment.

  • William Wragg – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    William Wragg – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by William Wragg on 2015-11-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to ensure that smart meters provide the maximum possible benefits for consumers.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Smart meters will bring and end to estimated bills, make switching faster, and give bill payers more control ovr their energy use. It is vital that all consumers in Britain can benefit, so we’re requiring energy suppliers to offer a smart meter to every home and small business by the end of 2020.

    Good progress is being made – over 1.7 million meters are already operating under the Programme.

  • Paul Scully – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Paul Scully – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Scully on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department has made on implementing the plan for community pharmacists to access Summary Care Records; and if he will make a statement.

    George Freeman

    NHS England is now working with stakeholders to develop guidance and the arrangements for deployment so that all community pharmacists in England have access to the Summary Care Record. As this continues to be rolled out, it will enable more pharmacies to provide increased clinical services, helping to reduce the burden on other health and social care providers.

  • John Baron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    John Baron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Baron on 2016-01-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were (a) eligible and (b) participated in the bowel cancer screening programme in (i) England and (ii) each of that programme’s five hubs and (iii) each of the 63 screening centres included in that programme in 2014-15.

    Jane Ellison

    The National Health Service Bowel Cancer Screening programme is a biennial programme. Coverage data is reported for a preceding two year cohort in arrears.

    Roll out of the NHS Bowel screening programme began in 2006 and completed in 2010 offering men and women aged 60-69 the opportunity to be screened. The programme then extended the screening age to 70-74 however this was not fully rolled out until 2014.

    The data on eligibility and uptake is yet to be published. At the end of January 2015, nearly 25 million Faecal Occult Blood test kits had been sent out to men and women aged 60-74 to self-sample at home. Over 15 million kits have been returned by post to one of five regional labs (programme hubs).

    Since the programme began in 2006, over 21,000 cancers have been detected and over 122,000 patients have been managed for polyps, including polyp removal.