Category: Speeches

  • Julian Huppert – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Julian Huppert – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Huppert on 2014-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what criteria were used to calculate the levels of area cost adjustment used for sixth form colleges in (a) Cambridgeshire and (b) Oxfordshire; and how frequently those criteria are reviewed.

    Matthew Hancock

    Area cost adjustments for 16-19 education and training are based on the differing wage costs across England, as indicated by the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The same area cost index is used for sixth form colleges as for all other post-16 institutions in England that are funded by the Department for Education. It is also used for education and training for adults funded by the Skills Funding Agency.

    The current area cost index was developed in 2002 by the Learning and Skills Council and has been reviewed on several occasions since then. Initially Cambridgeshire did not have an area cost adjustment, but in 2008 there was a specific review of the area cost adjustment for the county, which considered a range of factors and gave Cambridgeshire an uplift of 2% for the academic year 2009/10 and all years subsequently. The uplift for Oxfordshire is 7%.

    The whole post-16 funding formula was reviewed in 2012, and we decided at that stage not to make any changes to area cost adjustments.

  • Mike Crockart – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Mike Crockart – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Crockart on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when the roundtables on nuisance calls and texts met; and when the next roundtable will meet.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The roundtable on nuisance calls and texts last met on 23 September 2013 and since then we have worked with stakeholders to finalise our Nuisance Calls Action Plan, which was published on 30 March of this year. The next roundtable meeting is being arranged and will be confirmed soon subject to diary commitments.

  • Sarah Teather – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Sarah Teather – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sarah Teather on 2014-04-08.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had on the regeneration of the Brent Cross area with (a) Brent Council and (b) resident groups in Brent.

    Danny Alexander

    The Government has committed to working with the London Borough of Barnet to look at their proposals for the regeneration of Brent Cross. It is a matter for Barnet Council to discuss their plans with relevant stakeholders including Brent Council.

  • Kevan Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Kevan Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the National Audit Office report, Army 2020, HC 263, published on 11 June 2014, page 17, if he will provide details of the eight options for force structures that his Department considered in 2011, and his Department’s estimate of the savings each would have accrued.

    Mr Mark Francois

    I am not able to provide the information requested, since to do so could adversely affect the formulation of future defence policy.

  • Madeleine Moon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Madeleine Moon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2014-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2014, Official Report, column 443W, on armed forces: offenders, when he was first informed of this issue; what potential options are being considered; if he will ensure that the options under consideration do not disadvantage personnel who have been wronged; when he will update the House on any decision; and if he will make a statement.

    Anna Soubry

    The Department first recognised the implications of changes to rehabilitation legislation relating to police cautions in September 2011, since when no administrative action has been taken against Service personnel who receive a police caution. Officials brought the issue to the attention of Ministers in early December 2011 and have provided further advice at intervals since then.

    It would be inappropriate to disclose the options that officials have presented for consideration. This is a complex matter, and I will update the House when I have reached a judgement.

  • Sheila Gilmore – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Sheila Gilmore – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sheila Gilmore on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what visits each of the Ministers in his Department have made since January 2013; and what the purpose of each such visit was.

    Anna Soubry

    Details of Ministers visits and the purpose of each visit overseas are published quarterly and can be found at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications

    Details of Ministers overseas visits and the purpose of each visit from January to December 2013 are published. The details from January 2014 to date will be published in due course.

  • Khalid Mahmood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Khalid Mahmood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Khalid Mahmood on 2014-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will direct the Park View Educational Trust to disclose the sources of other income, donations or fundraisers as identified in their accounts.

    Mr Edward Timpson

    Under the terms of their funding agreements with my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, all academy trusts are required to prepare annual financial statements in accordance with company, charity and public accountability requirements. Academy trusts are required to have their financial statements audited by a registered auditor, including the regularity of income and expenditure. Disclosure requirements are set out in the Academies Accounts Direction, which is available at:

    www.gov.uk/government/publications/academies-accounts-direction-2013

    “

  • Baroness Lister of Burtersett – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Baroness Lister of Burtersett – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett on 2014-06-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Pensions, Steve Webb, on 13 March (HC Deb, 317W) and the Written Answer by Baroness Stowell of Beeston on 3 March (WA 278–9), how they reconcile the statements that it was always the intention that 2014–15 would be the last year of separate funding for local welfare provision from the Department for Work and Pensions” and that “this decision was taken at the Spending Round 2013″.”

    Lord Freud

    I see no contradiction in the above statements.

  • Huw Irranca-Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Huw Irranca-Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Huw Irranca-Davies on 2014-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the food industry about its compliance with food-related legislation.

    George Eustice

    My Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State and I meet regularly with food industry trade associations and with individual food businesses to discuss a wide range of current policy issues. This often includes proposals for changes in food-related legislation and food industry practices, to ensure legislation is fit-for-purpose and regulation is risk-based. Compliance with existing food-related legislation is something the Government expects from all food businesses. Primary responsibility for enforcing compliance with food-related legislation rests with local authority environmental health and trading standards departments, overseen by the Food Standards Agency.

  • David Nuttall – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    David Nuttall – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Nuttall on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many prosecutions there have been for breaches of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 in each of the last three years.

    Michael Fallon

    The data requested is not held centrally.