Category: Speeches

  • Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many prisoners did not have (a) Key Stage 1, (b) Key Stage 2 and (c) Key Stage 3 qualifications in (i) English and (ii) mathematics when they entered prison in each of the last five years.

    Matthew Hancock

    We do not centrally hold information on prior attainment.

    Work is under way to introduce, this summer, mandatory education assessment by the Offenders’ Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) provider for all newly-received prisoners. This will ensure that all offenders, not just those that go on to learning, receive a learning assessment (focused around English and maths, but also covering learning difficulties and disabilities).

    Table 1 shows Offender Learner English and Maths Achievements for the 2012/13 academic year. The data are broken down by Level rather than Key Stage as this is the appropriate measure for further education qualifications.

    Table 1: Offender Learners – English and Maths Achievements by level, 2012/13

    Level

    English

    Maths

    Entry level

    5,100

    5,250

    Level 1

    3,550

    4,020

    Level 2

    1,280

    1,930

    Total

    9,300

    10,100

    Notes

    1) The data source is the Individualised Learner Record.

    2) Volumes are rounded to the nearest ten except for the Grand Totals which are rounded to the nearest hundred.

    3) Learners undertaking courses at more than one level will be counted once for each applicable level, but once only in the Total.

    4) Offender learners are defined as offenders aged 18 or over that participated in Skills Funding Agency funded learning while in the prison system. These offenders were funded via the Offenders’ Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) budget.

    Information on Offender Learner English and maths achievements by level for 2010/11 and 2011/12 is published as a Supplementary Table to a Statistical First Release. Data for earlier years are not available on a comparable basis.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/284253/January2013_OLASS_Participation_Achievement.xls

    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-further-education-and-skills

    “

  • Tim Farron – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Tim Farron – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many tenancy relations officers are currently employed by each local authority.

    Kris Hopkins

    This information in not centrally held.

  • Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2014, Official Report, column 414W, on pre-school education, who the 43 early years providers are who have been granted full or partial exemptions from the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework.

    Elizabeth Truss

    Local authorities have a statutory duty to secure free early years provision for eligible children in their area. Local authorities determine which providers should receive early education funding in accordance with statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education. Since September 2013, local authorities have been expected to base their decision on whether to fund providers to deliver early education places solely on a provider’s most recent Ofsted judgement.

    Exemptions to the learning and development requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) can only be made in one of two circumstances:

    1. When the provider is a good or outstanding independent school.
    2. When the provision is governed by established principles relating to learning and development and those cannot be reconciled with an element or elements of EYFS, for example in Steiner schools.

    Exempt providers remain subject to inspection and any independent school which subsequently falls below ‘good’ loses their exemption. The first exemption was introduced in 2012. The second exemption was in place under the previous Government.

    The Answer of 10 April 2014 (Official Report, col 414W, on pre-school education) explained that Departmental records showed there were 43 early years providers with full or partial exemptions from the learning and development requirements of the EYFS, that were in receipt of local authority funding for early education at the time the exemption was granted to the provider.

    34 of these are still in receipt of local authority funding for early education. A further five providers with a full or partial exemption are now in receipt of early education funding but were not at the point their exemption was granted. One further provider has received an exemption since the previous PQ was answered and is in receipt of early education funding. Of these 40 providers, 33 are exempt under the exemption in place under the previous Government, only 7 are exempt under the exemption introduced in 2012. These 40 providers are listed below.

    Providers who were in receipt of local authority funding for early education at
    the time their exemption was granted and continue to receive such funding:

    Reasons for Exemption

    1. Apple Star Early Years (Community Interest Company), Reading

    Steiner – established principle route

    2. AZBUKA Russian Nursery, London

    Language – established principle route

    3. Beechtree Steiner Kindergarten, Leeds

    Steiner – established principle route

    4. Botton Village School, North Yorkshire

    Steiner – established principle route

    5. Brighton Steiner School

    Steiner – established principle route

    6. Bromsgrove (Pre-Prep and Nursery) School, Worcestershire

    Independent – Good

    7. Buttercups Little Kindergarten, Cambridgeshire

    Steiner – established principle route

    8. Calder Valley Steiner School, Calderdale

    Steiner – established principle route

    9. Cambridge Steiner School Kindergarten

    Steiner – established principle route

    10. Children of One End Street, Gloucestershire

    Steiner – established principle route

    11. Children’s Garden, Exeter

    Steiner – established principle route

    12. Children’s Garden, Richmond

    Steiner – established principle route

    13. Children’s Garden, University of East London

    Steiner – established principle route

    14. Cobnuts Steiner Kindergarten, Kent

    Steiner – established principle route

    15. Elmfield Rudolf Steiner School, Dudley

    Steiner – established principle route

    16. Falkner House, London

    Independent – Outstanding

    17. Greenwich Steiner School

    Steiner – established principle route

    18. Hoathly Hill Kindergarten, West Sussex

    Steiner – established principle route

    19. Kingsley School, Bideford

    Independent – Good

    20. Lancaster Steiner School

    Steiner – established principle route

    21. Laurel Farm Kindergarten, Bath

    Steiner – established principle route

    22. Michael Hall School Kindergarten, East Sussex

    Steiner – established principle route

    23. Michael House a Steiner Waldorf School, Heanor

    Steiner – established principle route

    24. North London Rudolph Steiner School

    Steiner – established principle route

    25. Rowan Tree Kindergarten, Bristol

    Steiner – established principle route

    26. Rudolph Steiner School, Kings Langley

    Steiner – established principle route

    27. St Albans Steiner Kindergarten

    Steiner – established principle route

    28. St Michael Steiner School, London

    Steiner – established principle route

    29. St Paul’s Steiner School, London

    Steiner – established principle route

    30. Sunlands Kindergarten, Gloucestershire

    Steiner – established principle route

    31. The Ryleys School, Cheshire

    Independent – Outstanding

    32. Waldorf Steiner of South West London

    Steiner – established principle route

    33. Willow Tree Steiner School, Bristol

    Steiner – established principle route

    34. York Steiner School

    Steiner – established principle route

    The following five providers are now in receipt of early education funding,
    but were not at the point their exemption was granted:

    Reasons for Exemption

    1. Elysia Children’s Garden

    Steiner – established principle route

    2. James Allen’s Preparatory School, London

    Independent – Outstanding

    3. Oswestry School (Bellan House), Shropshire

    Independent – Outstanding

    4. The Linden Kindergarten, Gloucestershire

    Steiner – established principle route

    5. Wynstones School, Gloucestershire

    Steiner – established principle route

    One further provider has received an exemption since the previous
    PQ was answered and is in receipt of early education funding:

    Reasons for Exemption

    1. Finton House, London

    Independent – Outstanding
  • Cathy Jamieson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Cathy Jamieson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cathy Jamieson on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what progress the Government has made on implementation of the Scottish rate of income tax; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Alistair Carmichael

    The UK and Scottish Governments continue to work closely together on the implementation of the Scotland Act 2012 which significantly increases the Scottish Parliament’s financial powers.

    The Government’s second annual report on the Act was laid in Parliament yesterday and provides a full update on implementation of the fiscal powers.

  • Adam Afriyie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Adam Afriyie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adam Afriyie on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent steps he has taken to support elderly first-time entrepreneurs.

    Matthew Hancock

    People of all ages and experiences are setting up and growing businesses all the time. We continue to work hard to provide the right support to make life easier for them all.

    www.gov.uk is the home for Government services and information online. One of the tools available is the ‘Business Finance and Support Finder;’ a source of government backed support and finance for business. The website www.greatbusiness.gov.uk also provides support and advice for anyone trying to grow a business as well as for entrepreneurs starting out.

    In addition to on-line support, the Business Support Helpline is available to provide a quick response on queries about starting a business, or a personalised and in-depth advice service for more complex needs. For those looking for start-up finance and advice there are Start-Up Loans: 7 loans worth a total of £37,000 have been drawn down in Windsor since the scheme began in 2012.

  • David Hanson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    David Hanson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2014-04-28.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much tax relief was provided for mortgage interest payments by buy-to-let residential property investors at the (a) basic income tax marginal rate, (b) higher income tax marginal rate and (c) additional income tax marginal rate in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13.

    Mr David Gauke

    The information is not available. HMRC’s administrative systems do not separately identify mortgage interest payments against residential property from other financial costs incurred across all types of property businesses (both residential and non-residential). Moreover property income is grouped with other income in the calculation of tax liabilities, and consequently the amounts of specific deductions effective against each rate of tax is not precisely defined.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the Government Actuary’s Department will publish details of the valuation of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

    Mr David Laws

    The Government Actuary provides advice to the Secretary of State for Education on the valuation of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and his Department is currently finalising its work. The Secretary of State plans to publish the outcome of the valuation, including the Actuary’s full report, in June 2014.

  • Adam Afriyie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Adam Afriyie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adam Afriyie on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of the (a) 30-300MHz, (b) 300-3000MHz and (c) 3-30GHz bands of the radio spectrum is in the operation of the private sector.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    Officials have consulted Ofcom who hold such information. Ofcom advise that they do not hold such information for bands below 87.5MHz (as frequencies above this are considered to be the most important and usable), but have provided information for bands from 87.5MHz-30GHz.

    The table provides an overview of the proportion of total weighted spectrum accessed for market uses by band.

    Lower frequency

    Upper frequency

    Spectrum authorised for Market uses as a % of total weighted spectrum

    87.5 MHz

    328.6 MHz

    47%

    328.6 MHz

    3.1 GHz

    73%

    3.1 GHz

    30 GHz

    80%

    The Public Sector Spectrum Release Programme aims to release 500MHz of sub-5GHz spectrum from public sector use by 2020. The most recent Programme update can be found on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/spectrum-strategy

    “

  • Andy Sawford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Andy Sawford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average cost was of a primary school meal in each local authority in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013.

    Mr David Laws

    The Department for Education does not hold the information requested.

  • Adam Afriyie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Adam Afriyie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adam Afriyie on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on the Lower Thames Scheme.

    Dan Rogerson

    Further to my answer to the hon. Member for Windsor on Monday, 24 February 2014, Official Report column 83W, the Environment Agency is continuing to work with partners to develop the River Thames Scheme (Datchet to Teddington). This includes flood channel capacity improvements, property level protection measures and the construction of three new channels.

    Preparatory work, which is under way, includes establishing appropriate consents and approval needed with planning authorities, undertaking surveys needed to gain consents, and the development of a funding package with other risk management authorities. The Environment Agency is planning to submit its Strategic Outline Case for this project to Defra as part of the HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office’s Major Projects Authority approvals process.

    The Environment Agency aims to start the work on improving weir capacity in 2016.

    Full appraisal and outline design of the flood channel and capacity improvements will commence this summer. It is expected that this will take three to four years to enable the proposal for the new flood channels to be submitted for planning consents and authorisations. It is estimated that the construction of the flood channel will commence in 2020 and will take five to six years to complete.