Blog

  • Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made on the implementation of the recommendations which the Government (a) accepted, (b) accepted in principle and (c) accepted and were already underway in its response to the publication entitled, Independent review of the operation of jobseeker’s allowance sanctions, published in July 2014.

    Esther McVey

    We have published our response to the Oakley Report and a copy can be found here:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/332137/jsa-sanctions-independent-review-government-response.pdf

    We have accepted all recommendations made by the Oakley Report and we have already implemented a number of improvements. Our response sets out a number of target completion dates for recommendations made by the Oakley Report.

  • Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Government’s response to the Independent review of the operation of jobseeker’s allowance sanctions, published in July 2014, when he plans to publish the communications review referred to in that document.

    Esther McVey

    We have accepted all recommendations made by the Oakley Report and we have already implemented a number of improvements. Our response sets out a number of target completion dates for recommendations made by the Oakley Report.

    In the Government Response to the Oakley Review we committed to report on the progress of the Communications Review by the end of 2014. The Department published an update on improvements to communications following the review, on 18 December 2014. This can be found here:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/387727/jsa-sanctions-independent-review-government-response-update.pdf

  • Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to recommendation 11 of the Government’s response to the Independent review of the operation of jobseeker’s allowance sanctions, published in July 2014, what potential warnings and non-financial sanctions options his Department has considered in response to that recommendation.

    Esther McVey

    We have published our response to the Oakley Report and a copy can be found here:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/332137/jsa-sanctions-independent-review-government-response.pdf

    We have accepted all recommendations made by the Oakley Report and we have already implemented a number of improvements. Our response sets out a number of target completion dates for recommendations made by the Oakley Report.

  • Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many of the recommendations accepted in the Government’s response to the Independent review of the operation of jobseeker’s allowance sanctions, published in July 2014, his Department plans to have implemented by May 2015.

    Esther McVey

    We have published our response to the Oakley Report and a copy can be found here:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/332137/jsa-sanctions-independent-review-government-response.pdf

    We have accepted all recommendations made by the Oakley Report and we have already implemented a number of improvements. Our response sets out a number of target completion dates for recommendations made by the Oakley Report.

  • Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff of his Department have been assigned to implementation of the recommendations of the independent review of the operation of jobseekers’ allowance sanctions, published in July 2014; what estimate he has made of the number of staff hours that have been spent on that implementation to date; and what funding his Department has allocated to that implementation.

    Esther McVey

    The information as requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  • Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Barclay on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to paragraph 2.3 of the report of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Tackling Radicalisation and Extremism, published in December 2013, whether the strengthened powers for the Charity Commission on which the Government plans to consult will include the ability to examine suspicious activity reports.

    Mr Rob Wilson

    The Government consulted on a range of new and strengthened powers for the Charity Commission in December 2013. These formed the basis for the draft Protection of Charities Bill published in October 2014, and which is subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Joint Committee on the Draft Protection of Charities Bill. Charity Commission access to suspicious activity reports was not included as it does not require legislation.

  • Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Barclay on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 2.3 of the report of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Tackling Radicalisation and Extremism, published in December 2013, which organisations have received support and advice to exclude extremists; and what funding for that purpose each such organisation has received.

    James Brokenshire

    The Home Office works alongside local partners and organisations in a range of sectors to challenge and disrupt extremism. There are Prevent programmes in place in all key sectors, including, local government, health, education,
    prisons, youth justice, immigration and charities.

    We do not comment on the funding arrangements for individual organisations.

  • Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Barclay on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 4.2 of the report of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Tackling Radicalisation and Extremism, published in December 2013, in which local authorities the Government has intervened because they are deemed not to be taking the problem of radicalisation seriously.

    Stephen Williams

    No local authority has been subject to statutory intervention because of a failure to take seriously the problem of radicalisation. The Government maintains close links with local authorities on work to tackle radicalisation. Should the need arise we will work with local authorities to address any concerns before considering whether there is any need for intervention.

  • Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Barclay on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 4.2 of the report of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Tackling Radicalisation and Extremism, published in December 2013, in how many areas of the country delivery of Prevent has been made a legal requirement.

    James Brokenshire

    The report from the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Tackling Radicalisation and Extremism committed the Government to ‘make delivery of Prevent a legal requirement in those areas of the country where extremism is of particular concern’. Chapter 1 of Part 5 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill places a duty on specified authorities to have due regard to the need to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism. These proposals will make the delivery of Prevent a legal requirement across England, Scotland, and Wales.

  • Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Barclay on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to paragraph 5.3.2 of the report of the Prime Minister’s Task Force on Tackling Radicalisation and Extremism, published in December 2013, what the budget of the Ibaana programme is; to which prisons that programme has been rolled out; and how many prisoners have completed that programme.

    Andrew Selous

    To enable it to carry out its extremism programme NOMS receives funding from OSCT , which does not release the breakdown of funding per sector as this could potentially reveal where the threat to the national security is greatest. This may impact negatively on the delivery of the Prevent programme and the range of activities, including Ibaana, that are currently deployed in prisons to prevent terrorism. This could serve to weaken and prejudice the national security of the UK.

    The Ibaana programme is being finalised and will be rolled out, where appropriate, in due course.