The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Sheridan on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with Kellogg’s about its working relationships with small-scale farmers.
Lynne Featherstone
Kellogg’s is not currently one of DFID’s partners on the issue of working relationships with small-scale farmers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Attorney General, how many lawyers were employed in the Treasury Solicitor’s Department in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014 to date.
Oliver Heald
The figures below give the number of lawyers employed in the Treasury Solicitor’s Department (TSol), as at 31st March each year and to date for 2014.
|
Year |
Full Time Equivalent |
|
31st May 2014 |
910 |
|
31st March 2013 |
572 |
|
31st March 2012 |
565 |
|
31st March 2011 |
464 |
|
31st March 2010 |
451 |
The figures given are for permanent staff.
Since 2010 TSol has been engaged on a process of transferring lawyers from other departments to TSol as part of the the Shared Legal Services Programme. Sharing legal services brings considerable benefits including greater flexibility and resiliance, more efficient deployment of legal resources, more opportunities for savings and improved knowledge sharing, which in turn supports consistency of legal advice across Government.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Alexander on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on progress on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.
Mr William Hague
The March European Council held an in depth discussion on the situation in Ukraine, and the political chapters of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement were signed on 21 March. At the March European Council the EU and Member States also restated their commitment to signing the remainder of the Association Agreement with Ukraine.
The 14 April and 15 May Foreign Affairs Committees agreed Conclusions which reiterated the EU’s commitment to sign the remaining provisions of the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, as soon as possible after the presidential elections which took place on 25 May.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when HMS Illustrious will return from its current deployment.
Mr Mark Francois
HMS ILLUSTRIOUS is currently participating in Exercise Deep Blue, an anti-submarine exercise in the Western Approaches. I am withholding details of its future programme and dates as their disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Stephenson on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many men in (a) Pendle constituency and (b) Lancashire died from advanced prostate cancer in 2012.
Mr Nick Hurd
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Luff on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of progress 8 performance measures since their introduction in secondary schools.
Mr David Laws
Progress 8 will be the headline secondary school performance measure from 2016. This will be based on qualifications which schools will begin teaching in the autumn term of 2014. The new performance measures aim to encourage schools to offer a broad and balanced curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils.
More schools than ever are entering pupils for the English Baccalaureate, which encourages the study of science, a language and a humanities subject alongside maths and English.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Dobbin on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that the provisions of EU law in relation to the freedom to provide services apply to the provision of services from Gibraltar to any part of the EU.
Mr David Lidington
Gibraltar is in the EU and is covered by EU treaty provisions on the freedom to provide services. We vigorously support all of Gibraltar’s rights under the EU Treaties.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-06-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance his Department has provided to local authorities (a) to help the understand the threat from extremism and (b) relating to statutory powers available to them to challenge extremist speakers.
Karen Bradley
The Home Office provides ongoing support for local authority Prevent
coordinators funded by the Home Office in priority areas (currently thirty
local authorities, based on assessment of risk), to ensure that they understand
the threat of extremism and are equipped to deal with it effectively. This is
done through regular regional events, issuing briefings on specific issues, and
sharing best practice across different authorities. The police, including
police Prevent co-ordinators, also work closely with local authorities and
share appropriate information with them.
The Home Office issued advice in 2013 to help local authority Prevent
Coordinators manage the challenges posed by extremist speakers. This included
an overview of the duties placed upon public bodies under the Equalities Act
2010 and the regulations that events must comply with.
Additionally, the Department for Communities and Local Government gave
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Luton Borough Council funding to lead
a national Special Interest Group of local authorities across England affected
by the activities of the English Defence League and similar groups, which has
supported them in sharing knowledge about what works best in tackling extremist
groups.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2014-06-10.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will place in the Library the terms of reference of the independent medal review by Sir John Holmes; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Francis Maude
I refer the hon. Member to the my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s statements on 30 April 2012, (Official Report), Column Ref: 55WS and 17 July 2012 (Official Report) Column Ref 132WS.
An announcement will be made once the full set of reviews is complete and has been approvedin the usual way.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Murphy on 2014-06-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make it her policy to support the proposed target to end HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases by 2030 in the upcoming Open Working Group negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Justine Greening
The UK supports a target to reduce the burden of disease from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases. Language on this is included in the most recent draft goals and targets list released by the co-chairs of the Open Working Group (OWG) on 2 June.
The final targets in the post-2015 development framework will however be subject to international negotiations in the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active role.