The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 10 February 2014, Official Report, column 473W, on unmanned air vehicles, when the Joint User Group for Reapers will become active; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Mark Francois
Although a final decision on when the Joint User Group for Reaper should become active has yet to be taken, it is expected to start functioning during the autumn.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what records his Department keeps of use of Government-funded credit cards by employees of Ofsted.
Mr David Laws
This question is a matter for Ofsted. I have asked Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his response has been placed in the House Library.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cheryl Gillan on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people working in (a) HS2 Ltd and (b) his Department are (i) on secondment, (ii) on loan and (iii) paid for by another company; and in each case what the parent company or organisation of such people was.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The number of people seconded and loaned to my whole Department and HS2 Ltd are set out in the tables below:
HS2 Ltd
|
Parent Company/Organisation |
Number of secondees |
Unpaid* |
|
AECOM |
3 |
0 |
|
Cabinet Office |
1 |
0 |
|
Carter Jonas |
1 |
0 |
|
DCLG |
1 |
0 |
|
DECC |
1 |
0 |
|
DEFRA |
1 |
0 |
|
DELOITTES |
1 |
0 |
|
DfT |
24 |
0 |
|
Ernst & Young LLP |
2 |
0 |
|
Gardiner & Theobald |
4 |
0 |
|
Network Rail |
17 |
0 |
|
Pick Everard |
4 |
0 |
|
ETM |
1 |
0 |
|
PwC |
3 |
0 |
|
Westbourne Communications |
2 |
0 |
|
Total |
66 |
0 |
|
Loans |
0 |
0 |
*payments are invoiced to HS2 Ltd.
DFT
|
Total |
||
|
Loans |
Paid |
25 |
|
Unpaid |
19 |
|
|
Loan Total |
44 |
|
|
Secondment |
Paid |
4 |
|
Unpaid |
20 |
|
|
Secondment Total |
24 |
|
|
Total |
68 |
The Department does not hold information centrally on the parent company or organisation where they have come from.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mrs Cheryl Gillan on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, who has been appointed as a non-executive director of his Department since the publication of information on non-executive directors in his Department’s Annual Report and Accounts 2012-13; what the date of each such appointment was; what annual fee is payable to each such person; what expenses and allowances each such person has claimed to date; and what other interests or employment each such person has.
Gregory Barker
Since the last annual report Martin Stewart has joined the Department as lead non-executive director on 3rd June 2013; and Tom Kelly joined on 3rd February 2014.
Martin Stewart is CEO of Eurotaxglass Ltd. He is also a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee on London 2017 Ltd, and Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of SIS Ltd.
Tom Kelly is currently the corporate communications director at Network Rail. He moves to become Strategic Communications Adviser for HS2 on 1st April 2014.
Their fees are £20,000 PA and £15,000 PA respectively. Neither has claimed expenses from the Department since taking up their role.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Debbie Abrahams on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with train operating companies in Greater Manchester on last minute reductions in train configurations.
Stephen Hammond
The franchise agreement between the Government and each individual train operator includes benchmarks in key performance areas. The Department monitors each train operator’s overall performance against these areas every four weeks and there are clear actions set out in the franchise agreement should performance drop below what is expected. This regular monitoring includes monthly meetings with their senior management where performance figures are scrutinised and challenged.
Short-forming (last minute reductions in train configurations) is included in this monitoring, and therefore in the monthly meetings. It is the train operator that decides on whether a service is to be short-formed, and if contractual benchmark figures are breached, the Department does take enforcement action.
Some services in Greater Manchester are sponsored and specified by Transport for Greater Manchester, who also monitor the performance of the operators concerned.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Gareth Thomas on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government has to publish reports on the review of the balance of competences relating to EU migration; and if she will make a statement.
James Brokenshire
Free movement of persons is a complex area with a number of different issues to
examine, and this deserves to be done thoroughly. We will publish this report
once it is completed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of 2014DIN03-007 Notification of a change in CBRN policy.
Mr Philip Dunne
A copy of Defence Instruction Notice 2014DIN03-007 regarding the notification of a change in CBRN policy will be placed in the Library of the House.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department’s policy is on allowing officials to appear before all-party parliamentary groups.
Stephen Hammond
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given by my Right Honourable Friend, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General (Francis Maude) on 26 March 2014 [Official Report, Column 300W].
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill on 2014-06-05.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the European Commission regarding the interpretation of European Regulation 1049/2001 of 30 May 2001 so as to promote effective access to information without excessive restrictions.
Lord Faulks
The Government recognises the importance of transparency by European Union institutions, with appropriate safeguards for genuinely sensitive information, and the key role the Regulation plays in promoting openness and accountability. However, the Government has no plans to make representations to the European Commission regarding the interpretation of Regulation 1049/2001 on public access to European Parliament, Council and Commission documents.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the overall cost to his Department of data entry associated with universal credit.
Mike Penning
There are no dedicated data entry roles and accordingly no cost to the department can be reliably estimated.