The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sarah Teather on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people are currently detained for immigration purposes at HM Prison The Verne.
James Brokenshire
As at 3 June 2014 there were 790 detainees held in prison establishments solely under immigration powers, of whom 174 were held in HMP The Verne.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale on 2014-03-26.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the compatibility of Feronia’s registration in the Cayman Islands with sustainable economic development in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Baroness Northover
CDC is a public limited company with an independent Board and takes individual investment decisions independent of DFID. Information about the investment and its expected development impact is available on CDC’s website http://cdcgroup.com/Media/News/CDC-invests-US181m-in-agribusiness-in-the-Democratic-Republic-of-Congo/.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Prime Minister, how many documents provided by the Government to the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war have been declassified; how many such documents he estimates will be declassified within the next six months; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Cameron
The Iraq Inquiry is independent of government, and should be allowed to complete its work without interference.
Neither I nor Ministers have had any discussions with or made any representations to the Inquiry. Nor have I discussed the Inquiry with President Obama.
The Inquiry has sought the declassification of material for inclusion in its report from many thousands of documents, some of which have been or will be published. Government does not, as a rule, comment on any discussions between officials and the Inquiry.
The Maxwellisation process is a matter for the Inquiry.
The Government remains committed to ensuring that the Inquiry’s final report will be able to disclose all but the most sensitive information which will be determined in accordance with the protocol governing the disclosure of documentary evidence which is available through the Inquiry website.
Timing of the delivery of the report to me is a matter for the Inquiry, but it is my hope that the Inquiry can complete its work before the end of the year. Upon publication, copies of the report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Seccombe on 2014-03-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the amount of surplus public land sold so far to support housebuilding and development.
Baroness Stowell of Beeston
The Government has taken action to free up land for productive economic use. At the end of December 2013, the Public Sector Land Programme had sold surplus Government owned land capable of delivering over 68,000 homes in England as part of our ambition to dispose of surplus land with capacity for 100,000 homes by 2015. And through the recently concluded Strategic Land and Property Review the Government has identified scope to release £5 billion from its land and property between 2015 and 2020, creating opportunities for housing and economic development.The Government will look to quantify the housing and growth ambitions for this new programme by the time of the Autumn Statement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to ensure proper support and welfare is available to asylum seekers accommodated in hotels and other establishments that provide lodging paid on a short-term basis.
James Brokenshire
The Home Office has a rigorous contract compliance regime in place including
monthly meetings with providers, quarterly and biannual strategic meetings.
These aim to ensure the required performance standards expected of all
providers as defined in the contracts is met. In addition, the COMPASS
contracts contain minimum standards of welfare that the provider must ensure is
provided to asylum applicants, this includes briefing applicants on services to
which they are entitled. For example giving details of how to use facilities in
the accommodation, access to essential services in the local area and contact
details for the provider and department so any concerns can be addressed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Attorney General, what steps he is taking to ensure that victims of female genital mutilation whose cases go to trial have access to the full range of support and special measures that are available to victims of other sexual offences.
Oliver Heald
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recognises that appropriate support is vital to ensure that victims of female genital mutilation (FGM) are able to give their evidence effectively in court. The CPS legal guidance advises prosecutors that in all cases of FGM they must ensure that the complainant is aware of the special measures that can be applied for at court, and that applications are made in time. For all child witnesses there is a presumption that they will give their evidence in chief by recorded interview and any further evidence by live link unless the court is satisfied that this will not improve the quality of the child’s evidence. Adult victims of FGM are also eligible for special measures on the grounds that they are likely to be intimidated witnesses in relation to testifying at court. However it is a matter for the court to grant the application.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department maintains (a) mission reports, (b) guided missile firing reports, (c) weapon system videos and (d) any other munitions release records for the UK Reaper fleet following the change of operational command to US pilots.
Mr Mark Francois
Each UK Reaper sortie has a mission report produced post flight. If a weapon is fired during a sortie, a weapon report is completed detailing the engagement, as well as a video produced of the engagement itself. There are no other munitions release records for the UK Reaper fleet. US pilots have not flown UK Reaper except during the launch and recovery phase.
Outside of the launch and recovery phase, UK Remotely Piloted Air Systems have always been operated by UK pilots.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Julian Huppert on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will issue to schools specific guidance on removing asbestos from premises.
Mr David Laws
The guidance from the Health and Safety Executive is that, if asbestos is undamaged and unlikely to be disturbed, then it is usually safer to leave it in place and to manage it as required by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. If asbestos is found to be in an unsealed, damaged or poor condition, then it should be repaired, sealed, enclosed or removed using trained personnel. The Department for Education has no plans to issue school-specific guidance.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of current performance towards achieving the target of assessing all current disability living allowance claimants for personal independence payment by 2018; and if he will estimate the potential additional costs in (a) the amount of benefit claimed and (b) the cost of processing claims if the current rate of assessments were to be maintained.
Mike Penning
We continue to monitor performance in the current phase of reassessment and along with our performance on new claims, this will inform further rollout plans for natural reassessment.
Our plan is to complete reassessment within our original timescales and budget.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Julian Huppert on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential of water cannon to cause (a) temporary and (b) permanent injury.
Damian Green
The Home Secretary has now received the request to authorise water cannon for use by the police in England and Wales. She is considering this request and will announce her decision in due course and lay the relevant information in the House Library.