The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-06-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 6 June 2016 to Question 38441, what role he has asked the Chairman of the Parole Board, Professor Nick Hardwick, to undertake in relation to people serving sentences of imprisonment for public protection.
Andrew Selous
The Justice Secretary has asked the Chairman of the Parole Board to improve the efficiency of the parole system.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will bring forward proposals to ensure mandatory assessment of sources of additional evidence supplied by claimants of personal independence payments.
Penny Mordaunt
The Department always considers a range of evidence from a variety of sources when making a decision on an individual’s PIP claim and is robust in asking for further information if it feels this will be beneficial for the claimant. In addition, the department will always consider any additional evidence provided at the Mandatory Reconsideration or appeal stage.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-10-10.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the effect on the employment of the introduction of tax on soft drinks.
Jane Ellison
The Government is consulting on the detail of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL). An initial impact assessment has been published alongside the consultation document.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jo Stevens on 2015-10-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Federal Minister of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth in the German government on meeting with the Thalidomide Trust’s National Advisory Council on financial compensation for people with thalidomide.
Mr David Lidington
Following representations by the Government, senior representatives from the German government travelled to London to meet with the Trust in July. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to provide support to the Thalidomide Trust’s National Advisory Council to enable them to further their dialogue with the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens and Youth, including through another meeting.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what timetable he has set for phasing out the commitment bonus for members of the armed forces.
Mark Lancaster
Commitment Bonuses are being phased out over the next five years as there is insufficient evidence they significantly influence retention in the Armed Forces.
In Financial Year 2014-15 approximately 14,000 Service personnel claimed a Commitment Bonus payment. Eligibility for Commitment Bonuses ceases with effect from 1April 2021, providing eligible Other Ranks with the opportunity to claim any payments they might have already included in their financial plans.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-01-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on income to insurance companies of the changes to personal injury law and procedure announced in the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015; and if he will make a statement.
Dominic Raab
The Government received and analysed data from numerous sources when formulating the announcement in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. We will continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders including other Government Departments, solicitors and insurers in taking forward the new reform package. The Government will consult on the detail of these measures in due course. The consultation will be accompanied by an impact assessment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Naseby on 2016-01-28.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, for each year in which a grant was provided to the group Action on Smoking and Health, how much (1) was spent against the original grant, (2) constituted underspend, and (3) was returned to the Department of Health.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The conditions applicable to grants awarded to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) are set out in the grant award letters. The Department has made clear that none of this funding is to be used for lobbying purposes.
The Section 64 grant must be spent in delivering the the agreed project outputs set out in the grant award letter and it does not fund secretariat support for the All Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health.
ASH’s compliance with the conditions of the grant is assessed at the grant monitoring meetings held between the Deputy Director of tobacco control and representatives from ASH as well as in the final full year grant monitoring and governance reports.
The Department is required to retain information relating to Section 64 grants for six years. The full amount of the grant was spent for each year that a grant was provided to ASH in the past six years.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2016-02-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will publish an updated set of Levy Control Framework projections.
Andrea Leadsom
The Office for Budget Responsibility published updated Levy Control Framework (LCF) spend projections alongside the Spending Review on 25 November and we anticipate they will publish an update alongside the March budget. The Department will publish further details on the LCF projections in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-03-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who have not (a) attended a work capability assessment or (b) reported to a jobcentre when requested have been exempt from benefit sanctions because of extenuating circumstances relating to their mental health in each year since 2010.
Priti Patel
The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-04-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2016 to Question 21220, what progress has been made on deciding whether to add Dupuytren’s contracture condition to the list for industrial injuries disablement benefit.
Justin Tomlinson
It is expected that a decision on whether or not to add Dupuytren’s contracture to the list of prescribed diseases will be made shortly.