Category: Speeches

  • Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations he has received from charities and community organisations on the removal of warm phones from Jobcentre Plus offices.

    Esther McVey

    The Department has received a number of enquiries from charities and community organisations on the removal of Customer Access Phones.

    They have all been reassured that claimants will still have access to a telephone when necessary.

    Jobcentres provide face to face support for claimants. After the removal of Customer Access Phones, claimants who require access to a phone in connection with their benefit or job search will be given controlled access to a telephone in a Jobcentre.

  • Ian Mearns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Ian Mearns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Mearns on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to maintain the level of youth services provision.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    We are supporting the voluntary sector in offering new learning opportunities for young people through programmes like NCS.

    In addition, we will be offering practical support to local authorities who want to deliver high quality youth services in an innovative way – for example by access to our £10m support programme for Mutuals.

  • Lord Pearson of Rannoch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Lord Pearson of Rannoch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch on 2014-04-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to guarantee the safety of Mr Stephen Yaxley-Lennon if he is moved to another prison from HM Prison Winchester.

    Lord Wallace of Saltaire

    NOMS takes the safety of all prisoners very seriously and individual risk assessment based on all relevant information informs any decisions made to safeguard individual prisoners.

  • Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Storey on 2014-04-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to ensure that (1) social workers are prepared to identify and intervene in cases of mental or emotional abuse towards children, and (2) social services are adequately funded to carry out such investigations to the highest standards.

    Lord Nash

    Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2013, defines abuse and neglect including emotional abuse. Social workers will use this definition when deciding what action to take to protect a child. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.

    To be registered as a social worker, students will have undertaken an approved course providing an understanding of forms of harm, relevant legislation and policy, and the ability to assess risks and intervene appropriately.

    Following the Narey review of social work education, the Chief Social Worker is leading work on a definitive document that will define more clearly the knowledge and skills required by children’s social workers. The ability to identify and intervene in cases of mental or emotional abuse will be a key part of the document.

    Local authority funding for safeguarding children and young people is included within core funding for children’s social care which comes from the Department for Community and Local Government’s Formula Grant and local taxation. Funding is not ringfenced and it is for local authorities to decide how to apply their funding across the services they deliver. A report from the Audit Commission[1] published in November 2013 found that children’s social care has been largely protected from spending reductions from 2010/11 to 2013/14.

    [1] http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Tough-Times-2013-Councils-Responses-to-Financial-Challenges-w1.pdf

  • Iain Wright – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Iain Wright – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2014-04-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, what engagement plan for disseminating high value opportunity programme opportunities has been developed; and what opportunities have been identified within the professional and business services sector.

    Michael Fallon

    Through this strategy UKTI has invigorated its support for this vital sector including a sector-focused trade mission programme, new business ambassadors, a marketing plan, and a sharper focus on the High Value Opportunity (HVO) programme, to make sure professional and business services (PBS) businesses are aware of theexport opportunities and are able to get involved. We are engaging with industry on how we maximise the impact of these activities and what more we can do to help. This has included discussions with businesses from this sector across the country and the Devolved Administrations.

    Companies are able to find out more about HVO opportunities including a link to an opportunity map at https://www.gov.uk/high-value-opportunities.

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  • Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-04-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 8W, on employee ownership, what estimate he has made of how many people will apply to be an employee shareholder under the Shares for Rights Scheme.

    Jenny Willott

    The employee shareholder status is a new employment status that is optional for companies and offer and for individuals to take up. There is no requirement for individuals to apply to Government to become an employee shareholder or for companies to register or apply to Government to use it.

    The Government has therefore made no assessment of levels of current or future take-up.

  • Roger Godsiff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Roger Godsiff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-04-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2014, Official Report, column 800W, on Business Improvement Districts: Birmingham, when he expects to publish the report on the Business Improvement District for Sparkbrook and Springfield, or to reach a decision on that matter.

    Brandon Lewis

    A decision will be taken on the appeal against the establishment of the Sparkbrook and Springfield Business Improvement District in due course and all interested parties will be informed.

  • Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Simon Kirby on 2014-04-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he is taking to encourage the use of smart meters; and if he will make a statement.

    Gregory Barker

    The Government’s vision is for every home and smaller businesses in Great Britain to have smart electricity and gas meters by the end of 2020. In December 2012, the Department published the smart meter Consumer Engagement Strategy which sets out the approach to how domestic and non-domestic consumers will be encouraged to use smart meters to take control of their energy – helping them to save energy and money.

    Energy suppliers will have the primary consumer engagement role as they are the main interface with consumers before, during and after installation. Supplier engagement will be supported by a programme of centralised engagement undertaken by a Central Delivery Body (CDB), which the larger energy suppliers were required to set up in June 2013.

    The Department also has a continuing role in consumer engagement. For example, we are working with stakeholders, such as third-sector organisations, in engaging consumers, and ensuring that accurate information on smart meters is available online.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Greg Mulholland – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2014-04-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 139W, on Burma, what commitments the Burmese immigration minister made on conduct of the census.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    On 26 March, I spoke to Immigration Minister U Khin Yi, reminding him of the Burmese government’s assurance that all individuals would have the right to self-identify their ethnicity and that international observers would be allowed to monitor the census across the country. I also made clear that the census must have adequate security. The Immigration Minister acknowledged our concerns.

    We are pleased that international observers were invited to monitor the enumeration process across the country. However we were deeply disappointed that the Burmese government went against its long-standing assurances on census conduct, in particular the right to self-identify ethnicity. The Burmese Ambassador was summoned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 7 April, where I made clear that this decision was in contravention of international norms and standards on census conduct.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2014-04-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much of the overseas aid budget is being used to help combat the spread and treatment of HIV and Aids; and in which countries.

    Lynne Featherstone

    The UK government’s expenditure on HIV is provided through: UK government contributions to multilateral and global initiatives that work on HIV prevention and treatment; HIV-specific bilateral projects and programmes; bilateral support to health systems and service delivery; and by supporting HIV related research.

    The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is the principal mechanism the UK uses to finance our contribution to combat HIV. The UK has pledged up to £1 billion to the Global Fund over the next three years, of which around 50 per cent will be spent on HIV. In 2012/13 the UK provided £90.4 million to HIV-specific bilateral projects and programmes, supporting HIV prevention and treatment in 17 countries and across a number of regional programmes. Further details of these projects and programmes are available in the 2013 review of the HIV Position Paper “Towards Zero Infections" https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/261341/Towards_Zero_Infections_-_Two_Years_On_22_November_FINAL_word_version.pdf.

    Details of the total expenditure on health are published in Statistics on International Development (SID) which is available in the House Library or online at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development.

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