The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-11-17.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on tax credits since 25 October.
Damian Hinds
Treasury Ministers have regular discussions with Ministers of the devolved administrations and with politicians of all parties on a range of topics.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2015-12-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 12 October 2015 to Question 10602, on which dates he has held meetings with HM Treasury on the potential effects of a carbon price support exemption scheme in Scotland in the last year.
David Mundell
Since the Opencast Restoration issue arose I have raised this formally and informally on numerous occasions with Government colleagues. I can confirm that I met with the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury to discuss the Carbon Price Support Exemption Proposal specifically on 14 July 2015. I have not formally met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss this issue. In addition, Scotland Office officials have raised this matter with DECC and HM Treasury colleagues.
As the hon Member knows, I have taken a keen interest in this issue since it arose including attending the Industry Taskforce and meeting with him in his constituency office last year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-01-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the maximum level of engagement by children and young people with the commemoration of the First World War.
David Evennett
DCMS is working with other Government Departments and our delivery partners to ensure that people of all ages can take part in commemorations of the First World War and remember those who sacrificed so much. As part of the FWW centenary commemorations, the government is providing the opportunity for two pupils and one teacher from every state-funded secondary school in England to visit the FWW battlefields on the Western Front. In 2015, 1,140 Schools and 3,489 pupils and teachers visited FWW battlefields on the Western Front. Since July 2014, 54,702 children and young people visited the Imperial War Museums First World War Galleries as part of a school visit. Over 21,400 people from the UK and overseas wrote a letter for the ‘Letter to an Unknown Soldier’ project, engaging over 500 primary and secondary schools across the UK. On 4 August 2014, 1.4 million 16-24 year olds participated in LIGHTS OUT – an initiative to light a candle in remembrance. As well as the official commemoration programme schools across the UK are organising their own individual events and projects to remember those who took part in the First World War in battle and on the home front.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of prison governors have received (i) diversity training since 1 January 2012 and (ii) no such training; and what proportion of such training included transgender issues.
Andrew Selous
This information is not collected centrally. Equality and diversity training has been available to all NOMS staff via Civil Service Learning since its launch in 2011.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 14 February (HL6504), who made the decision; whether it was approved by members of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) by a vote; and when the last lay summary for an embryo research licence application was on the awaiting approval” section of the HFEA website.”
Lord Prior of Brampton
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that it cannot confirm who decided the change in practice. This was an operational decision and not subject to a vote of Authority members. The last lay summary of an embryo research licence application on the HFEA website was research licence 0188 which was approved in May 2012.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-04-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children in England who are categorised as Children in Need due to abuse or neglect have been (a) referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and (b) received treatment from CAMHS in each of the last five years.
Alistair Burt
This data has not been collected centrally. However, in February this year for the first time the Health and Social Care Information Centre began collecting a range of data about children and young people’s use of secondary mental health services via the new Mental Health Services Dataset. This includes data on whether children and young people using services are looked-after and are, or have been, subject to a child protection plan. Data quality and quantity will take time to build, but we expect a range of national reports to be developed during the course of 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cheryl Gillan on 2016-05-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to encourage food manufacturers and processors to avoid the use of (a) allergenic materials and (b) non-allergenic materials in ways that may cause allergenic reactions.
George Eustice
In December 2014, the law on how food allergen information is given was changed to make it easier for consumers with an allergy or intolerance to manage their condition safely when buying food or eating out. Defra continues to promote accurate and informative food labelling to inform consumers about the food they buy, including the presence of allergens in food so that consumers can make informed choices. The Food Standards Agency’s Guidance on Allergen Management and Consumer Information provides guidance on allergen management in food manufacturing and processing to assess and avoid cross contamination.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-07-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received on reforming the questions asked on asylum applications related to persecution related to religious beliefs.
Mr Robert Goodwill
In June 2016 The Home Office received the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for International Freedom of Religion’s report, ‘Fleeing persecution: Asylum claims in the UK on religious freedom grounds’. We are carefully considering the report and its recommendations and will provide a response in due course, including whether we will consider whether any changes to the way we handle religious-based claims are appropriate.
The report acknowledges the progress made by the Home Office with regards to guidance and training provided to its staff but highlighted the Group’s view that there were some discrepancies between the Home Office policy and practice.
The Home Office carefully considers all asylum claims on their individual merits and grants protection for those who genuinely need it, in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). In every asylum case the particular circumstances of the individual are considered in light of published country information, which includes issues relating specifically to religious freedoms.
Published guidance on the interviewing and consideration of religious claims is regularly reviewed and takes into consideration the views of religious groups and other stakeholders.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Gardiner on 2016-09-15.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Prudential Regulation Authority, the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority are adequately ensuring that companies disclose the financial risk to their company associated with climate change.
Simon Kirby
Climate change is not only a huge threat to our natural environment, but to our economic prosperity too. The private sector’s involvement is crucial if we are to be successful in reaching the ambitious targets agreed in Paris last year. The UK government and regulators are together at the forefront of engaging with the private sector to address this pressing issue:
The Prudential Regulation Authority’s pioneering report on the impact of climate change on the UK insurance sector last year kick-started the global debate around climate-related financial risks.
The Bank of England is leading global efforts to develop the international framework for green finance as co-chair of the G20 Green Finance Study Group.
Governor Carney’s speech in Berlin last week stressed the importance of disclosure in addressing climate-related financial risks.
The Financial Stability Board, chaired by Governor Carney, set up an industry-led Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures in late 2015, under the leadership of Michael Bloomberg. The Task Force is developing recommendations for voluntary, consistent, comparable, reliable and clear disclosures around climate-related financial risks for companies to provide information to investors, lenders, insurers, and other stakeholders. The Task Force published its initial report in April, and will publish a final report in early 2017. The Government looks forward to the publication of the Task Force’s report.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2015-11-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department expects to know how much of the Joint Security Fund announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in July 2015 will be allocated to his Department.
Michael Fallon
The Chancellor of the Exchequer will set out further details of the Joint Security Fund at the Spending Review on Wednesday 25 November.