The below Parliamentary question was asked by David T. C. Davies on 2015-12-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2015 to Question 17668, if he will collect information on how much has been spent from the public purse on providing legal aid for asylum seekers who wish to purse immigration appeals.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The information is not held centrally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Deech on 2016-01-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Palestinian Authority concerning the alleged torture by Hamas of the Palestinian journalist Ayman al-Aloul, and respect for press freedoms.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
While we have not raised this issue with the Palestinian Authority, we are clear that journalists should have the protection that allows them to do their jobs in safety. Freedom of the media is an important principle of human rights .
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Murrison on 2016-02-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many army (a) personnel and (b) dependents (i) are based and (ii) will be based in Wiltshire in 2020.
Mark Lancaster
The number of Army personnel based in Army units located within Wiltshire as at 1 October 2015 is 13,010. The Army estimates that 9,900 entitled family members are currently associated with Army personnel based in Wiltshire.
The current planning assumption for the number of Army personnel based in Army units located within Wiltshire in 2020 is 17,700. It is estimated that 14,300 entitled family members will be associated with these Army personnel.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-03-01.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of their review of the cost of wound dressings to the NHS, they will ensure that clinical expertise is a full component part of the process in order to ensure that the outcome is clinically effective as well as cost-effective.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The review of wound dressings by a dedicated working group resulted in the development of a number of clinical specifications for wound care products.
In order to progress this work, from April 2016 a new NHS Clinical Evaluation Team will be put in place. The Clinical Evaluation Team will assess wound care products through a comprehensive evaluation process, which will have extensive engagement with NHS clinical staff. Included in the process will be tissue viability and infection control nurses, clinical procurement specialists, doctors, nurses and midwives along with medicine management practitioners from community trusts.
The project’s remit is to review clinical products to identify those that enable high quality patient care whilst delivering the best outcomes for the NHS. The secondary consideration will be to identify products that could be procured more effectively through combined NHS buying power, to deliver greater overall value for money.
The Clinical Evaluation Team is made up of practising clinicians.
The project will therefore undertake assessments of the total costs and benefits of any recommendations to the overall NHS.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hannah Bardell on 2016-04-08.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the change to the discount rate applied to student loans applies to all parts of the UK.
Greg Hands
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) applies HM Treasury’s long term discount rate to calculate the carrying value of English student loans shown in the BIS financial statements.
Loans issued by devolved administrations are shown in their respective financial statements. The accounting treatment and discount rates applied are a matter for them.
HM Treasury is always open to discussion with the devolved administrations about such matters.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nic Dakin on 2016-05-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department requires the armed forces to provide entrants aged under 18 with 280 guided learning hours per year towards accredited qualifications.
Nick Boles
The Education and Skills Act 2008 requires young people to participate in education or training until they are 18. Young people can participate through full-time education, work combined with part-time education or training, or by undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship.
The 16 and 17 year olds joining the armed forces are under a contract of employment but they are not exempt from their duty to participate. Most of these young people meet their duty to participate by undertaking an apprenticeship.
We have agreed with the Ministry of Defence that serving in the armed forces is a valid and valuable career route which provides relevant training for young people.
Apprenticeships are embedded across initial training in the armed forces, with over 95% of all young recruits (no matter what their age or prior qualifications) enrolling in an apprenticeship each year.
All apprenticeships require a minimum of 280 Guided Learning Hours (GLHs) within a 12 month period. The same GLH requirement applies to the small number of young people in the armed forces who are not on an apprenticeship.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-06-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of trade negotiators employed by the EU are UK nationals.
Anna Soubry
Of the 596 officials, temporary staff and contract officials working in the Directorate General for Trade of the European Commission, the statistical bulletin of the European Commission from February of this year shows that 32 of these were UK nationals, i.e. approximately 5.4%.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-09-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) assets and (b) personnel of his Department were involved in Exercise Northern Coasts in the Baltic Sea in each of the last five years.
Mike Penning
During 2015 and 2016 one Sandown Class Mine Counter Measures Vessel, with a ship’s company of 43 and 40 personnel respectively, was sent on Exercise Northern Coasts in the Baltic Sea. No assets or personnel were involved in the previous three years.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-10-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department plans to roll out the fairer funding formula in schools.
Nick Gibb
We will introduce a national funding formula for schools from April 2018. We are considering the options carefully, taking into account the need to give schools and local authorities’ stability, and the importance of ensuring these historic reforms are right. We will put forward our detailed proposals later in the autumn, including our proposals for the transition to the formula. Following a full consultation, we will make final decisions and confirm arrangements in the new year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-11-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the causes of delays to work on doubling the rail line between Rossett Junction and Saltney Junction, and when they expect the work to be completed.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
As this scheme is sponsored by the Welsh Government, we have made no such assessment.