The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2015-11-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of magistrates has resigned in each month since May 2010.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2016-01-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will meet members of the Manufacturing Commission to discuss its report, entitled Industrial Evolution, published in October 2015.
Anna Soubry
The Government’s top priority is to continue creating a highly competitive business environment that makes the UK an attractive location for new manufacturing investment in sustainable processes. We are protecting spending on innovation and the cutting-edge smart manufacturing technologies that will encourage digital, virtual, resource-efficient factories in the future. The High Value Manufacturing Catapult has skills, expertise and equipment available to help partner companies improve the efficiency and sustainability of their processes. As part of Autumn Statement 2015, my Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that funding to the nine existing Catapults would increase in real terms over the Spending Review period ensuring the UK remains a world leader in high-value manufacturing.
In addition, we are taking into account UK business opportunities during negotiations on the EU Circular Economy proposals which include aims to improve business sustainability, resource and energy efficiency.
At the Summer Budget 2015, the Chancellor announced a review of the business energy efficiency tax landscape and Government launched a consultation in September. The consultation set out proposals for delivering a simpler and more stable environment for business that will reduce administrative costs and improve incentives to invest in energy efficiency. This will help increase the productivity of UK businesses, save carbon emissions and ensure secure energy supplies. The Government is currently considering all consultation responses and is likely to publish its formal response at Budget 2016.
I would be delighted to receive further representations from the Manufacturing Commission on their recent Industrial Evolution report.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-01-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which recommendations from the (a) skills section and (b) other sections of the Maritime Skills Study the Government plans to implement; and what the timescale for implementation will be.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Government formally responded to the Study in December 2015 accepting all the recommendations directed to government and progress is already being made.
A new Ministerial Working Group for Maritime Growth has been established to drive growth and tackle issues affecting the sector. The Working Group, including representatives from industry, met for the first time in November 2015 and discussed a range of issues around maritime skills including expanding apprenticeships (recommendation 11).
In addition, the Government has issued an invitation to tender for the Seafarer Projections Review (recommendation 7). The review of SMarT – Support for Maritime Training (recommendation 9) will need to take account of the Seafarer Projections work and will follow in four to six weeks’ time.
Officials are also working with the Department for Education and the Ministry of Defence on the recommendations pertaining to increasing youth awareness of seafaring and better links to the Royal Navy and the wider maritime sector (recommendations 13 and 15).
The other recommendations concerning skills are directed primarily at industry.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-02-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what analysis his Department conducts of personal independence payment medical assessments to (a) help identify common issues which cause repeated appeals and reapplications and (b) ensure a consistent approach across such assessments.
Justin Tomlinson
The Department and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Assessment Providers have robust audit and assurance regimes in place to check the quality and consistency of PIP assessments. These arrangements confirm that independent health professional advice complies with the required standards and that it is clear and medically reasonable. They also provide assurance that the assessment and opinion given are consistent so that, irrespective of where or by whom the assessment is carried out, claimants with conditions that have the same functional effect will ultimately receive the same benefit outcome.
Regular meetings take place with Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunals Service to discuss PIP appeals; feedback is provided to Assessment Providers if there is any indication that the assessment is a factor in appeals or reapplications to inform continuous improvement activity.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Barker on 2016-03-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their expected bilateral spending on technical assistance to programmes funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in addition to their commitment to the Global Fund in (1) 2015–16, and (2) 2016–17.
Baroness Verma
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is a critically important part of the international architecture for fighting the three diseases. The UK provides technical assistance to programmes funded by the Global Fund through the following organisations: the Stop-TB Partnership, Roll Back Malaria, UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation’s Global Malaria Programme. The table (below) shows DFID’s spend to these organisations over the last five financial years.
(£ Millions)
|
2010/11 |
2011/12 |
2012/13 |
2013/14 |
2014/15 |
|
|
WHOs Global Malaria Programme |
– |
1.50 |
3.50 |
1.50 |
3.50 |
|
Roll Back Malaria |
0.52 |
1.00 |
1.63 |
0.63 |
1.23 |
|
Stop TB Partnership |
1.00 |
1.90 |
1.50 |
0.50 |
1.00 |
|
UNAIDS |
10.00 |
10.00 |
15.00 |
15.00 |
15.00 |
|
Total (£ Millions) |
11.52 |
14.40 |
21.63 |
17.63 |
20.73 |
The UK is committed to remaining a world leader in tackling global diseases and ending the epidemics of AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by 2030. Our future contributions to the Global Fund will be determined following the completion of the Bilateral and Multilateral Aid Reviews.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Ansell on 2016-04-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to encourage the use of photovoltaic-generated electricity in Eastbourne constituency; and if she will make a statement.
Andrea Leadsom
Government recognises the significant role that solar deployment under the Feed-in-Tariffs (FITs) has played in engaging non-energy professionals in the electricity market, and the role that small-scale generation can play in the future energy mix. We therefore decided to keep the FITs scheme open in order to support the solar industry on a path to subsidy-free deployment.
Over 1,250 solar installations directly supported by FITs have been undertaken in the Eastbourne constituency, providing 4.4 MW of generating capacity.
The new tariffs we’ve introduced will provide appropriate rates of return within a capped budget, encouraging further solar deployment whilst providing significantly better value for money to bill payers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2016-06-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the scale and frequency of extrajudicial killings in Nigeria.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
There are credible reports that human rights violations, including extra-judicial killings, have been committed by Nigerian security forces during its operations against Boko Haram. We welcome President Buhari’s commitment to overhaul the Nigerian armed force’s rules of engagement, to investigate credible allegations of human rights violations and to take appropriate action. We regularly stress to the Nigerian authorities the importance of protecting civilians in conflict and detention, and that, whilst we support their fight against terrorism, any action taken by the Nigerian Security Forces should fully comply with human rights standards and international law. Any member of the Nigerian security forces found to have been involved in human rights violations must be held accountable.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry on 2016-07-20.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made this year to the government of Saudi Arabia regarding the use of beheading and crucifixion as criminal punishments.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, especially for crimes other than the most serious and for juveniles, in line with the minimum standards set out in the EU Guidelines on the Death Penalty of 2008 and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Arab Charter on Human Rights.
We continue to raise the cases of Ali Al-Nimr, Dawood Al-Marhoon and Adullah Al-Zaher with the Saudi authorities at the highest levels, including during the former Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond)’s most recent visit to Saudi Arabia on 29 May. We expect that Ali Al-Nimr and the two others who were convicted as juveniles will not be executed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-10-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many young offenders under the age of 18 have been admitted to a children’s mental health ward in each month since January 2014.
Dr Phillip Lee
We are committed to improving mental health treatment for young people in contact with the youth justice system. We are currently working with NHS England to develop a specific £24 million programme to address gaps in mental health provision for children and young people in contact with the justice system.
The information requested is as follows:
(1) Young offenders under the age of 18 (including those on remand) admitted to an adult mental health unit since January 2014
There was one such admission in November 2014.
(2) Young offenders under the age of 18 (including those on remand) admitted to a children’s or adolescent mental health unit since January 2014
The number of such admissions is set out in the table below:
|
Month of Admission |
Number Admitted |
|
January 2014 |
nil |
|
February 2014 |
5 |
|
March 2014 |
5 |
|
April 2014 |
3 |
|
May 2014 |
1 |
|
June 2014 |
nil |
|
July 2014 |
1 |
|
August 2014 |
nil |
|
September 2014 |
2 |
|
October 2014 |
3 |
|
November 2014 |
1 |
|
December 2014 |
4 |
|
Month of Admission |
Number Admitted |
|
January 2015 |
2 |
|
February 2015 |
1 |
|
March 2015 |
1 |
|
April 2015 |
nil |
|
May 2015 |
3 |
|
June 2015 |
4 |
|
July 2015 |
2 |
|
August 2015 |
1 |
|
September 2015 |
4 |
|
October 2015 |
2 |
|
November 2015 |
nil |
|
December 2015 |
2 |
|
Month of Admission |
Number Admitted |
|
January 2016 |
nil |
|
February 2016 |
nil |
|
March 2016 |
1 |
|
April 2016 |
3 |
|
May 2016 |
3 |
|
June 2016 |
1 |
|
July 2016 |
2 |
|
August 2016 |
nil |
Note 1 – the figures may represent individual offenders admitted more than once since January 2014.
Note 2 – these figures represent restricted patients only.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Donelan on 2015-10-30.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the effect on revenue to the Exchequer of allowing devolved local authorities to keep 100 per cent of the business rates raised from car parks in (a) the UK, (b) England and (c) Wiltshire in each of the next three years.
Greg Hands
On 5th October we announced plans to reform business rates in England, a change that will see local government retaining all revenue for the first time since 1990. The new powers will come with new responsibilities and the phasing out of grants from Whitehall to ensure that the reforms are fiscally neutral. Over the course of the next eighteen months we will be working with local government on the details of the scheme. Ahead of final decisions, it is too early to assess what the impact will be on individual areas.