The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-02-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what information her Department holds on the number of hours teaching assistants spent covering classes in the absence of a teacher in each year since 2010.
Nick Gibb
The information requested is not collected by the Department.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-03-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to provide funding for the modernisation of infrastructure on the Falkland Islands.
Penny Mordaunt
As my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence (Michael Fallon) told the House on 24 March 2015, (Official Report, columns 1302-1303) we have put in place a programme of infrastructure improvements worth £180 million over the next decade designed to deliver enhanced operational effectiveness and an improved quality of life for our personnel based in the Falkland Islands. He was able to see the first stage of construction work on that programme for himself when he visited the Islands recently.
This programme will ensure that our enduring commitment to the defence of the Islands is sustained effectively for the long term.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Mearns on 2016-03-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with his ministerial colleagues on convening a cross-government and stakeholder working party on the application of the national minimum wage for seafarers; and when he expects that working party to meet.
Nick Boles
The application of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for seafarers continues to be considered by the cross-Government working group which is reviewing the implementation of the Equality Act 2010 (Work on Ships and Hovercraft) Regulations 2011.
The Government is working with key stakeholders through this working group to agree and finalise revised guidance on the NMW for seafarers which will be published shortly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Tebbit on 2016-05-04.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 3 May (HL7756), in what manner they ensure that cyclists pay fines imposed by fixed penalty notices.
Lord Faulks
When a fixed penalty notice is issued offenders have 28 days in which to pay the amount ordered. No enforcement action is taken during this period but if the offender fails to pay within this time the fixed penalty notice is increased by 50% and registered as a court fine. HM Courts and Tribunals Service can then take the same enforcement steps as for any court ordered fine.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Redwood on 2016-06-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which EU (a) legislative and (b) other proposals his Department is leading negotiations on for the Government in the Council of the EU.
Mr Robert Goodwill
My Department is responsible for EU transport measures relating to Aviation, Roads, Maritime and Railways and other cross modal dossiers.
The Department provides Explanatory Memoranda to Parliament on any proposals defined by the terms of reference of the parliamentary EU scrutiny committee.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pendry on 2016-09-05.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to their plan to reduce England’s rate of childhood obesity, in what practical ways they intend to increase physical activity amongst children to reduce obesity.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The Government’s Childhood Obesity: A Plan for Action published on 18 August 2016 sets out the actions we are taking to support children and young people to meet the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officer’s daily recommended levels of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity. A copy of the plan is attached. This includes doubling the Primary PE and Sport Premium from September 2017, a new interactive online tool to help schools identify gaps in existing provision and recommend ways of increasing opportunities for children to be active, and access to high quality sports and physical activity programmes for all primary schools in England. This year we are investing another £1 million in the Change4Life Sports Clubs programme which targets the less active children.
In addition, we will develop a new, voluntary healthy rating scheme available to all primary schools. It will recognise and encourage schools’ contribution to preventing obesity by helping children to eat better and move more.
We will also be providing more guidance for schools about how they can work with the school nurses, health centres, healthy weight teams in local authorities and other resources, to help children develop a healthier lifestyle.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grant Shapps on 2016-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to relax rules on the use of animal growth hormones in beef farming once the UK has left the EU.
George Eustice
There are no plans to relax rules on the use of hormones for the purposes of growth promotion, following the UK’s exit from the EU.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-11-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions Ministers in his Department have had with representatives of mental health charities on the design of contracts for new welfare to work schemes.
Justin Tomlinson
DWP Ministers meet regularly with a wide range of organisations in relation to the Department’s work and welfare reform, where they discuss a variety of issues.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Sturdy on 2015-12-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 14 September 2015 from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Communities and Local Government, on Brownfield Land, Official Report, column 742, when further details of the £1 billion brownfield regeneration fund will be announced; and if he will make a statement.
James Wharton
We announced at the Autumn Statement that the Government is supporting development on brownfield land through a £2 billion Long Term Housing Development Fund to unlock housing development for up to 160,000 homes. This funding will support our key manifesto commitments to create a Brownfield Regeneration Fund and to fund Housing Zones to transform brownfield sites into new housing. At least half of the Long Term Fund will be spent on brownfield projects. The Housing Development Fund will be formally launched in the New Year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-01-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to support global efforts against schistosomiasis.
Mr Nick Hurd
DFID is a leading donor in the fight against schistosomiasis which is not only an incredibly debilitating disease, but holds back 200 million people globally from achieving their potential and contributing to the success of their country, not least economically. For this reason we are providing £50 million to deliver over 200 million treatments for schistosomiasis in ten Sub-Saharan African countries (2010-2018). These treatments are delivered by the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative which is based at Imperial College, London. To date nearly 60 million treatments have been distributed.
The programme is also making a significant contribution to developing new knowledge on how to best reach our goal of elimination of schistosomiasis as a public health problem through operational research and working with partners globally.