The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2016-04-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the target time is for processing applications to the Social Fund; and what performance was against that target in (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2015-16.
Justin Tomlinson
There is no overall target or performance data for the Social Fund as they vary depending on each of the individual programmes.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many airlines are required to copy passengers’ documents, on how many flight routes, before the passenger is allowed to board.
James Brokenshire
The Home Office do not currently require airlines to copy passenger documents before allowing them to board. For flights to the UK, airlines may be liable to a charge of £2000 for any passenger that does not produce valid travel documents on arrival.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Stephenson on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether any NHS bodies offer advice to parents that electrical safety socket covers or inserts should be installed in the home.
Mr Philip Dunne
On 30 June 2016 the Department issued an Estates and Facilities Alert (EFA) 2016/002 advising that electrical socket inserts should be removed from all premises where National Health Service care is delivered. The alert also advises NHS organisations against providing electrical socket inserts for use in the home. The safety Alert can be found at the following link:
https://www.cas.dh.gov.uk/ViewandAcknowledgment/ViewAlert.aspx?AlertID=102494
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz McInnes on 2016-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to include proposals related to musculoskeletal conditions in the planned Green Paper on disability employment.
Penny Mordaunt
The Green Paper will explore a range of ways to improve the prospects and transform the lives of disabled people and people with musculoskeletal conditions and other long term health conditions so that their health needs and employment aspirations are met in the best possible way.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2015-11-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the reasons why only 37 per cent of the millennium development goals in the UK’s 28 priority countries have been marked as met or will be met in her Department’s Annual Report and Accounts 2014-15.
Grant Shapps
The majority of DFID’s priority countries are fragile or conflict-affected. These states have historically been under supported by the international development community. DFID increased its focus and spend in fragile states in 2010 and it was right to do so.
Progress against the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is driven by the collective action of developing countries and all development partners. DFID’s development programmes are designed to contribute towards these goals.
DFID’s ongoing Bilateral Aid Review will assess and review progress towards the MDGs as part of our strategic planning processes to inform future programming.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Chidgey on 2015-11-30.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the changes in audience sizes in African countries or regions following the switch from short wave to FM transmission of BBC World Service programmes between 1999 and 2014.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The BBC World Service has advised that they make the following assessment of the changes in audience sizes in African countries or regions:
Sub -Saharan Africa –
Total audience across all platforms has risen from 52.7 million in 2005 to 81.8 million in 2015 (55 per cent increase).
In 2005, Short Wave and Medium Wave delivered 63 per cent of total audiences; by 2015 Short Wave and Medium Wave delivered 39.3 per cent of total audiences.
Short Wave and Medium Wave audiences in the region have dropped 3.9 per cent, while BBC’s direct FM audiences have grown by 125 per cent.
Middle East and North Africa –
Total audience across all platforms has risen from 15.3 million in 2005 to 48.2 million in 2015 (215 per cent increase).
In 2005, Short Wave and Medium Wave delivered 78 per cent of total audiences; by 2015 Short Wave and Medium Wave delivered 8.5 per cent of total audiences.
In this period, Short Wave and Medium Wave audiences in the region have dropped by 62 per cent, while the BBC’s direct FM audiences have dropped by 59 per cent.
BBC Arabic TV reaches 30.3 million people across Middle East & North Africa.
The World Service use Global Audience Measurement (GAM) data to track performance by platform and by market. This data provides clear records from 2005 onwards.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Scriven on 2016-01-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 12 November 2015 (HL3286), whether the review of the retention of custody images by police forces has now been completed and reported; if so, what are the recommendations of that review and how they will be taken forward; and if not, why not.
Lord Bates
The Review of the use and Retention of Custody Images has now concluded. The report has been submitted to Ministers and they will consider the recommendations. The outcome of this will be made public in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-02-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of steps taken by energy suppliers to ensure customers with severe medical conditions are aware of the assistance available through the Priority Services Register.
Andrea Leadsom
Energy suppliers are required by their licence conditions to take reasonable steps at least once a year to inform their domestic customers about the Priority Service Register. They are required to explain how customers who are of pensionable age, disabled or chronically sick may become listed on it to receive free services to help them with their access, communication and safety needs.
Ofgem is carrying out a review of the Priority Service Register to ensure the existing services meets the needs of consumers in vulnerable situations. As part of the review, Ofgem is currently consulting on proposals, including changes to eligibility requirements to ensure support is better targeted to customers in vulnerable situations. The consultation closes on 18 February 2016 and is available on Ofgem’s website at:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/docs/psr_final_proposals_final_0.pdf
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2016-02-24.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their planned introduction of votes for life would also mean that British citizens who have lived abroad for more than 15 years could fund UK political parties.
Lord Bridges of Headley
We will introduce a Bill in due course that will make these matters clear.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-03-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 22 March 2016 to Question 31496, how many appeals were (a) withdrawn and (b) adjourned at the First-Tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) due to his Department not sending a representative in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15.
Justin Tomlinson
I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the Answer given by the Minister for Justice, my Rt.Hon. Friend, Shailesh Vara, Question UIN 32293
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