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 2014DIN03-010 Impact to outputs of defence electronic warfare center due to five yearly electrical testing.
Mr Philip Dunne
DIN reference 2014DIN03-010 “Impact to outputs of Defence Electronic Warfare Centre due to five yearly electrical testing” was cancelled and withdrawn by the Sponsor on 22 April 2014.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with members of the US Administration on recent developments in Northern Ireland.
Mrs Theresa Villiers
I and officials in the NIO have remained in close contact with the US Administration on Northern Ireland matters such as the discussions to make progress on flags, parades and dealing with the past.
I have also discussed with representatives of the US Government the importance of rebalancing the economy and building a genuinely shared future for everyone in Northern Ireland. I am grateful for all their support for a better future for Northern Ireland.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2014-06-05.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to review the arrangements for providing court interpreters in the light of recent criticism by the President of the Family Division.
Lord Faulks
The arrangements for the provision of interpreters are kept under review.
There has been dramatic improvements in performance in the last two years. The Ministry continues to manage contracts to ensure this improvement is maintained.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Greatrex on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance were sanctioned for failing to complete their job search evidence form on 25 December 2013.
Esther McVey
Claimants are expected to do all that is reasonable within full time working hours in any week to look for work and this is not restricted to specific days.
Claimants with sincerely held religious beliefs can restrict their availability during religious festivals and holidays.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2014-06-05.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the consultation on the proposal to introduce Contracts forDifference auctioning was published; when the European Commission adopted the final state aid guidelines for environmental protection and energy for 2014–2020; and when the Government’s response to the consultation was published.
Baroness Verma
The move to competitive allocation of Contracts for Difference has been a long-standing feature of Electricity Market Reform. In early 2014, the Government consulted on proposals to move straight to competitive allocation for some technologies. This consultation ran from 16 January 2014 to 12 February 2014; the Government’s response was published on 13 May 2014.
EU Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy 2014-2020 were adopted in principle on 9 April 2014. Prior to that adoption, the Commission worked with member states on the development of the guidelines, including draft versions and receiving comments.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she is taking to increase the amount of government spending allocated to Northern Ireland.
Mr Andrew Robathan
The Government continues to provide considerable additional support and, as a result of spending decisions announced at Budget, the Executive will receive positive Barnett consequentials of over £21 million. However, the long term answer for the Northern Ireland economy is a private sector revival and not increases in Government spending.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2014-06-05.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether officials or Ministers of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Ministry of Justice, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Home Office or the Cabinet Office have met Bello Adoke, the Nigerian Attorney General, since 2012; and if so, what was the date of each meeting.
Baroness Warsi
Given the the range of frequency of the many meetings by Government officials with the Nigerian Attorney General I am unable to offer a full list of these. However, I can confirm that from the list of Government departments requested, at Ministerial level only the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice, my Hon. Friend the Member for Kenilworth and Southam (Mr Wright), has met the Attorney General, Bello Adoke, in Abuja on 9 January 2014.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Harris of Haringey on 2014-03-24.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the difference both in absolute terms and in percentage terms in the compensation for those affected by HS2 who (1) live in the Rural Support Zone, and (2) live outside it.
Baroness Kramer
The Government is not yet able to confirm the outcome of the recent consultation on property compensation for Phase One of HS2, but expects to make an announcement soon.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Trefgarne on 2014-06-04.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the rules relating to the release of patients’ private medical information to insurance companies by general practitioners.
Earl Howe
General practitioners (GPs) must ensure that patients have provided explicit consent before disclosing information to insurance companies. Additionally, under the provisions of the Access to Medical Reports Act 1988, patients have the right to view medical reports prepared for insurance companies and, where a patient has exercised this right, a GP cannot disclose the report to the insurance company until the patient has had the opportunity to review it or if the patient withdraws their consent.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Harrison on 2014-03-24.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent steps they have taken to ensure that information on the engagement activities of pension funds and other institutional investors with investee companies is made fully accessible.
Lord Freud
The Government supports the principles set out in the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) UK Stewardship Code including schemes becoming active stewards of their investments and reporting on that stewardship. The Code sets out a number of areas of good practice to which the FRC believes institutional investors should aspire, and operates on a ‘comply or explain’ basis. It includes guidance for pension schemes and other asset owners on steps they can take to protect and enhance the value that accrues to the ultimate beneficiary. The FCA requires UK authorised asset managers to report on whether or not they apply the Code.
The UK stewardship code is voluntary, however we would encourage workplace pensions schemes to comply with the principles set out in the code. In addition we are developing governance standards of workplace defined contribution schemes, and have asked the Law Commission to investigate how fiduciary duties currently apply in the investment chain. The Pensions Regulator’s defined contribution Code of Practice also sets out the legal requirements and standards they expect trustees of defined contribution schemes to attain. This includes a section on investment which also references the FRC Stewardship code. These initiatives are part of our on-going work to ensure schemes are governed and administered to deliver in members’ interests.