The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of universal credit claims made in pilot areas have been based on independent self-assessment.
Esther McVey
We have interpreted the question as the proportion of people who assess their own eligibility for UC via the on-line self assessment tool.
https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/entitlement
The Department does not collect this data
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-03-31.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which companies have entered into contracts to deliver community work placements in each region and country of the UK.
Esther McVey
The procurement exercise is still in progress. As a consequence, at this stage the information requested is not yet available and therefore cannot be disclosed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim McGovern on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effect of illegal settlements on the economic development of Palestine.
Justine Greening
Denying Palestinians access to the resources of Area C, whether through expanding illegal settlements, declaring closed military zones and national parks, or restricting movement and access, is crippling the Palestinian economy. The World Bank estimates that easing these restrictions could increase Palestinian GDP by 35%.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Katy Clark on 2014-03-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment his Department has made of the socio-economic development performance of NMP in West Cumbria.
Michael Fallon
NMP is the parent body organisation for Sellafield Ltd, the site licence company that operates Sellafield site under contract to the NDA. NMP, Sellafield Ltd and the NDA work collaboratively to support the socio-economic agenda in West Cumbria, with all three organisations having focussed their activities through Britain’s Energy Coast, the private/public sector partnership established to promote and develop the economic prospects of the area. DECC has no direct role in assessing NMP’s performance in this area which is a matter for the NDA.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Huppert on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the statement in Vodafone’s 2013-14 Sustainability Report, that Section 19 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 prohibits disclosing the existence of any requirement to provide assistance in relation to a warrant, whether her Department issued guidance to that effect.
Karen Bradley
The statutory Interception of Communications Code of Practice, which was approved by Parliament and came into force on 1 July 2002, provides advice on safeguards for intercept material.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2014-03-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2014, Official Report, column 318W, on Personal Independence Payment, what discussions he has had with providers about personal independence payment claim processing times.
Mike Penning
Officials meet regularly with both assessment providers to discuss performance. We are closely monitoring their progress against the Department’s expectations for service delivery, including claim processing times and are taking robust action to drive up performance where this does not meet the required standards.
Whilst, in line with other benefits, there are no statutory time limits on processing claims for PIP, we are working closely with our service providers to minimise the length of time claimants have to wait for assessments.We are also seeking to ensure that all the steps in the process run as smoothly as possible and that there are no barriers in our processes and systems that contribute to claims taking longer than necessary to progress
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harriet Harman on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of primary pupils of each ethnic background and in total have engaged with (a) theatre activities, (b) music activities, (c) dance and (d) other arts in each year since 2009-10.
Mr Edward Vaizey
Taking Part child survey results for activity by individual art forms are not regularly published broken down by BAME. This requires further analysis of the underlying survey data and we will publish this analysis in the libraries of both Houses.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2014-03-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2014, Official Report, column 181W, on D-Day landings: anniversaries, how many (a) veterans, (b) armed forces’ widows, (c) armed forces’ spouses and (d) carers his Department expects will be in attendance for each of the 70th anniversary D-Day commemoration events in the UK.
Anna Soubry
The 70th Anniversary D-Day commemorative events in Portsmouth are being organised by Portsmouth City Council, and the military is supporting the event as requested. Similarly, the Services are supporting events planned by the Normandy Veterans Association (NVA). The Department is unable to predict the numbers who may be present at any of these events and has received no requests to facilitate attendance.
The Ministry of Defence was made aware of Portsmouth City Council’s planned events in April 2013. We were informed about the majority of NVA events in February 2013, and the National Memorial Arboretum event in November 2013. We have been working closely with the Royal British Legion and the NVA on the planned events to mark this significant anniversary, and have ensured that a range of Service charities and associations are kept informed, including COBSEO, the Confederation of Service Charities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, for what reason the option of maintaining the current provider-funded model was dropped in his Department’s second consultation on funding reform for apprenticeships.
Matthew Hancock
The 2013 consultation on apprenticeship funding reforms sought evidence on the feasibility and impact of three different models for reforming apprenticeship funding. Following consideration of the responses to these, the second consultation sought views on two models—a PAYE model and an apprenticeship credit—that are consistent with an employer-driven apprenticeships system. A pure provider payment model was ruled out, as evidence from the first consultation indicated that this model was the least likely to deliver the intended aim of giving employers true purchasing power.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2014-03-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have had with members of the National Panel on Serious Case Reviews.
Mr Edward Timpson
My Rt hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and I had a meeting with the members of the panel of independent experts on Serious Case Reviews earlier this year.