The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2014-03-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision.
Stephen Hammond
The Department for Transport is undertaking a review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) formal and (b) informal discussions officials had with (i) pro-life organisations, (ii) the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, (iii) Marie Stopes International and (iv) pro-choice organisations before the publication of guidance on the provision of non-judgemental counselling; and if he will make a statement.
Jane Ellison
Departmental officials have made a number of visits and have had informal discussions with a number of counselling providers which included pro-life and pro-choice organisations; these are listed below.
Organisations visited or with which contact was made:
– Brook Advisory Centre, Brixton
– British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS), Richmond
– Care Confidential, Alternatives Trust, Newham
– City Pregnancy Counselling and Psychotherapy Service, Islington
– Homerton NHS Trust, Hackney
– Hull Sexual and Reproductive Health Care Partnership
– Life Care Centre, Walsall
– Marie Stopes International, Brixton and Bristol
– Norwich Contraception and Sexual Health Clinic
– Plymouth Community Healthcare
The Government produced guidance on the provision of non-judgemental abortion counselling in A Framework for Sexual Health Improvement in England (March 2013). The Framework was produced by the sexual health policy team in the Public Health Directorate.
The Sexual Health Policy team is made up of the following staff at each grade:
1 Senior Civil Servant (who also manages policy areas other than sexual health)
1 Grade 6
2 Grade 7
1 Senior Executive Officer
1 Higher Executive Officer (.7 whole time equivalent)
1 Executive Officer
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2014-03-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the percentage cost over-run established by the management board for any budget in the Department for Communities and Local Government to merit being tabled at the departmental management board; and how many times in the last 12 months that has occurred.
Baroness Stowell of Beeston
The Department’s financial position is reviewed on a regular basis.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kelvin Hopkins on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 16 January 2014, Official Report, column 656W, what change there has been in the proportion of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 achieving five or more GCSEs or equivalent at grades A*-C including English and maths in those (a) schools and (b) academies that have established a sixth form since September 2011.
Mr David Laws
Key stage 4 results for individual schools, including academies, are published online in Performance Tables[1]. A copy of the list of schools and academies that established a sixth form since 2011, with their current details, has been placed in the House Library.
[1]http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Avebury on 2014-03-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government by how much they expect overall alcohol consumption to rise or fall across the United Kingdom as a result of the changes in alcohol duty announced in the Budget.
Lord Newby
The Government expects that there will be a small increase in alcohol consumption as a result of the changes to alcohol duty announced at Budget 2014. The tables below provide estimates of changes in consumption in both percentage and volume terms for each type of alcohol consumed, relative to the previous alcohol duty rates policy.
Estimated increase in consumption (%):
|
2014-15 |
2015-16 |
2016-17 |
2017-18 |
2018-19 |
|
|
Beer |
1.5% |
1.5% |
1.6% |
1.7% |
1.8% |
|
Spirits |
1.1% |
1.2% |
1.2% |
1.3% |
1.4% |
|
Alcopops |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.1% |
0.2% |
|
Cider |
0.9% |
0.9% |
1.0% |
1.0% |
1.1% |
|
Wine |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
0.0% |
|
Total |
0.8% |
0.9% |
0.9% |
0.9% |
0.9% |
Estimated increase in consumption (thousand hectolitres of alcohol):
|
2014-15 |
2015-16 |
2016-17 |
2017-18 |
2018-19 |
|
|
Beer |
25 |
25 |
26 |
28 |
29 |
|
Spirits |
12 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
|
Alcopops |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cider |
4 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
|
Wine |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
40 |
42 |
44 |
46 |
48 |
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effects of lethal targeting by remotely-piloted air systems on security in Afghanistan.
Mr Mark Francois
UK forces, and the wider ISAF mission, have materially improved the security of Afghanistan since 2001. This allowed the developed Afghan National Security Forces to assume lead security responsibility for their own country from June 2013. As an integral capability of UK forces, Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) are assessed to have made a valuable contribution, both in their surveillance and strike roles, to the improved security situation.
All UK forces operate in accordance with International Humanitarian Law, following the principles of distinction, humanity, proportionality and military necessity. The UK’s clearly defined Rules of Engagement, which cover the use of RPAS, are formulated on this basis.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Adrian Sanders on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he held with schools and local authorities for the purposes of drafting departmental advice on universal infant free school meals.
Mr David Laws
Since the announcement of universal infant free school meals (UIFSM), Departmental officials have engaged in a number of discussions with primary school head teachers and their representatives, local authorities and other interested parties, to explore how this policy can be implemented so that the benefits of universal free school meal provision for children and families are maximised.
The content of the departmental advice document on universal infant free school meals, which was published on 6 March, was based on feedback gathered through these discussions. Before it was published, the document was commented on by the Department’s UIFSM external reference group, which includes representatives from schools and local authorities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many students received disabled students’ allowance in Brighton and Hove local authority area in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.
Mr David Willetts
Information on students awarded and paid Disabled Students’ Allowance is published annually by Student Loans Company (SLC) in the Statistical First Release ‘Student Support for Higher Education England‘. The latest statistics are available at the following link:
http://www.slc.co.uk/media/694170/slcsfr052013.pdf
A further breakdown for Brighton and Hove local authority has been provided in the table. Equivalent figures for the academic year 2013/14 will be available from November 2014.
Students in receipt of Disabled Students Allowance from Brighton and Hove Local Authority
Academic Year 2012/13
Effective date: 13/11/2013
|
Academic Year |
||||
|
2012/13 |
||||
|
Application Type |
Number Paid DSA |
|||
|
Full-Time Application |
450 |
|||
|
Part-Time Application |
10 |
|||
|
Post Graduate DSA |
80 |
|||
|
Total |
530 |
|||
|
Notes: |
||||
|
[1] Disabled Student Allowance may be paid to the Student or to a Supplier on the student’s behalf. |
||||
|
[2] Figures are derived from the Post Code of the applicant’s home address. |
||||
|
[3] The effective date is that of the November 2013 Awards Statistical First Release. The figures are therefore provisional and do not include students who were awarded DSA after November 2013. |
||||
|
[4] DSA Payments may be made at any point during the Academic Year or after the end of the Academic Year. |
||||
|
[5] Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not add to the sum of the components due to rounding. |
||||
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sir Greg Knight on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many old oil and gas wells there are in the UK for which no firm or company is responsible; and how such wells are monitored for leaks.
Michael Fallon
A recently published paper by the ReFINE research consortium estimates that there are between fifty and a hundred historic wells in the UK for which no responsible person can be identified.
Oil and gas wells in the UK which have no further usefulness are treated to ensure the retention of any fluids within the well. The bore is sealed with concrete plugs, while the well head it cut off below ground level and a steel cap welded to the top. The abandonment operations are subject to scrutiny by the HSE and the independent well examiner, and must comply with relevant industry standards. The site will then be restored to the appropriate standard prescribed by planning conditions.
Wells are not monitored after the completion of the abandonment and site restoration operations. The ReFINE paper confirms that there are no pollution issues associated with historic oil and gas wells in the UK.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Creagh on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish a breakdown by firm of expenditure by his Department on (a) consultants and (b) consultancy firms in each of the last four years.
Stephen Hammond
Information requested will be deposited in the library and provides the spend details per financial year for the period 2010 to 2014.