The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps he is taking to disseminate the lessons learned from the data mining pilots for the introduction of individual electoral registrations; and if he will make a statement.
Greg Clark
The Government published its results in March 2012 and July 2013 and can be found at:
The Electoral Commission also produced their assessment of the pilots. Their reports can be found at:
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2014-04-01.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the statement on 19 March by the President of Turkey that the internal peace process should be completed, by giving democratic rights and equal citizenship to the Kurdish people together with freedom for the press and other media.
Baroness Warsi
We welcome the comments made by President Gül regarding the Kurdish population in Turkey, which we assess as an important reaffirmation of the Turkish government’s commitment to finding a sustainable solution to the Kurdish issue.
We have been encouraged by the efforts on both sides to reach a solution and welcome the continuing ceasefire, as well as the President Gül’s approval of the democratisation package in March.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what use his Department has made of the National Wellbeing Index introduced by the Office for National Statistics in formulating policy since the introduction of that Index in 2011; and what policies his Department has introduced to improve national wellbeing as defined in that Index since 2010.
Norman Lamb
The Department has worked closely with the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on the development of the Measuring National Wellbeing Framework. Given the experimental nature of the data it is too early to use it specifically to formulate policy. However, some examples of relevant work taken forward by the Department include:
– working in partnership with ONS to include a measure of mental wellbeing into the Measuring National Wellbeing Framework;
– including wellbeing questions on a range of health surveys, for example the Health Survey for England, Health Behaviours of School-aged Children, the trial of a local level survey of 15 year olds, and the current wave of the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey;
– including wellbeing as a key indicator in the Public Health Outcomes Framework;
– publishing a narrative and a series of factsheets on why wellbeing matters to health policy;
– publishing a report on the predictors of wellbeing across the lifecourse;
– conducting two wellbeing workshops with policy makers to allow them to consider their policies from a wellbeing perspective; and
– co-founding a collaborative studentship with the University of Warwick on positive genetics using twin data to explore how genetics are related to wellbeing.
Wellbeing will also be considered in the forthcoming Chief Medical Officer’s annual report.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2014-04-01.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they envisage that the United Kingdom can maintain its influence in the European Union if it remains outside a reformed eurozone.
Lord Newby
As set out in the coalition programme for government, the UK will not be joining or preparing to join the European Single Currency in this Parliament. The UK can continue to be outside the euro and remain influential within the EU, as we are now. We work closely with member states on the key issues of the day– improving Europe’s competiveness, the single market, trade, taking tough action on Iran – and euro area members are often our closest allies. We have also been clear that as the euro area reforms, any new arrangements must work for those outside the single currency as well as those within it.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sheila Gilmore on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what visits each of the Ministers in his Department have made since January 2013; and what the purpose of each such visit was.
Elizabeth Truss
The Department does not hold a list of ministerial visits and to compile a list would exceed the cost threshold.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Elliott on 2014-03-31.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he had with investors in renewable energy before the changes to the Enterprise Investment Scheme on tax breaks for companies benefiting from the Renewables Obligation.
Mr David Gauke
Budget 2014 announced that companies benefiting from Renewables Obligation Certificates (ROCs) and/or the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme will be excluded from the venture capital schemes, including the enterprise investment scheme.
This change ensures the venture capital schemes continue to support smaller and growing businesses in a targeted and effective way. The government consulted extensively with stakeholders when similar action was taken to exclude companies benefitting from Feed-in-Tariffs from the venture capital schemes in 2011.
Further information on the detail of the change will be published shortly, ahead of the publication of an impact assessment and legislation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Syms on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what fraction of global carbon dioxide emissions will be represented by UK carbon dioxide emissions over the lifetime of the proposed wind farm at Navitus Bay.
Gregory Barker
The Department does not undertake analysis or hold information of this nature relating to specific developments. In 2012 it was estimated that UK carbon dioxide emissions accounted for approximately 1.5% of global total carbon dioxide emissions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Gapes on 2014-03-31.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations he has made to the European Commission on proposed regulations relating to seeds.
Dan Rogerson
Defra has made numerous representations to the European Commission on its proposed regulation for Plant Reproductive Material. The representations have been through correspondence, negotiation at Council Working Groups, informal discussion, and in a specially convened meeting between Defra, Commission officials and UK stakeholders in London in June 2013.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to improve support and protection for women human rights defenders in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.
Hugh Robertson
The UK takes this issue very seriously. Our primary approach to supporting human rights defenders is to work with and through multilateral institutions such as the EU and the UN to support national efforts. These bodies have the expertise and resources to fulfil this important role in country. The UK played a significant part in the EU’s recent decision to increase support to human rights defenders in Afghanistan, including plans to refresh the 2010 EU Strategy on Human Rights Defenders. The UK will work with the EU and other Member States to ensure that the refreshed strategy recognises the specific challenges that women human rights defenders face. We are also working to ensure that human rights, including the protection of human rights defenders, are a top priority for the EU’s proposed post-2014 country strategy for Afghanistan.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2014-03-31.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people with 15 or more previous convictions were not sent to prison on conviction for (a) burglary and (b) violence against the person in the latest period for which figures are available.
Jeremy Wright
It has not been possible to obtain this information. I will write to the Honourable member in due course.