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  • David Ruffley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    David Ruffley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Ruffley on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many teachers took early retirement in (a) Bury St Edmunds constituency, (b) Suffolk and (c) England in each of the last five years.

    Mr David Laws

    The following table provides the number of teachers in publicly-funded schools who took early retirement in Suffolk local authority and England in March 2008-09 to March 2012-13. This is the latest information available. Information for Bury St Edmunds constituency is not available.

    Suffolk LA[1],[2]

    England[1],[2]

    March

    2008-09

    130

    8,570

    2009-10

    100

    7,810

    2010-11

    130

    9,380

    2011-12[3]

    180

    9,780

    2012-13[3]

    150

    8,630

    Source: Pensioner Statistical System (PENSTATS).

    [1] Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 teachers.

    [2] Includes Premature Retirements, Actuarially Reduced Benefits and Ill Health.

    [3]Provisional estimates. 2011-12 data will remain provisional until summer 2015 and 2012-13 data is likely to remain provisional until summer 2016.

  • Robert Buckland – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Robert Buckland – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Buckland on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department plans to publish the terms of reference for its review of the resolution of disagreements for people with education, health and care needs under the Children and Families Act 2014.

    Mr Edward Timpson

    The Department for Education, in consultation with the Ministry of Justice and others, is in the process of developing proposals for the review of redress and complaint arrangements for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The review will consider:

    1. Whether the amended mediation arrangements set out in the Act provide parents and young people with a way of having their complaints considered in a holistic way and whether they reduce the number of appeals to tribunals.
    2. How successful the new assessment and EHC planning process itself is at resolving disagreements.
    3. If health and social care complaint arrangements are working for parents and young people.
    4. What role the Tribunal might play in hearing appeals and complaints across education, health and social care.

    Running parallel to the review will be pilots to test an expansion of the powers of the first tier tribunal to make recommendations about the health and social care elements of EHC Plans. We estimate that the pilots will begin in the spring of 2015 as the first appeals about the new Education, Health and Care Plans begin to be heard and that the pilots will last for two years as they build up the evidence on which to base any recommendations.

    The Secretary of State for Education and the Lord Chancellor must lay a report on the outcome of the review before Parliament within three years of any of the provisions of Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014 coming into force in September 2014. Interim findings from the pilots could be published before the final report on the review.

  • Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place a copy of 2014DIN05-012 on JSP 441 – The Defence Records Management Policy and Procedures: Publication of Version 4:3 in the Library.

    Dr Andrew Murrison

    A copy of the Defence Instruction Notice 2014-DIN05-012 regarding JSP 441 will be placed in the Library of the House.

  • Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place a copy of 2014DIN05-013 on The Closure of Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit Peterborough in the Library.

    Anna Soubry

    I will place a copy in the Library of the House.

    Peterborough Hospital is not a Level 1 trauma hospital and thus can no longer offer Defence Medical Services personnel the required level of training.

  • Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place a copy of 2014DIN07-081 on Physical Training Policy For Army Reserve And Full Time Reserve Service in the Library.

    Mr Mark Francois

    A copy of 2014DIN07-081 on Physical Training Policy For Army Reserves And Full Time Reserve Service will be placed in the Library of the House.

  • Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place a copy of 2014DIN07-082 on 2014/2015 Defence Cyber Practitioner Courses in the Library.

    Mr Mark Francois

    I have placed a redacted copy of the Defence Information Notice 2014DIN07-082 in the Library of the House.

  • Bob Ainsworth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Bob Ainsworth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Ainsworth on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what capabilities are currently being utilised to fulfil the role that would otherwise have been undertaken by Nimrod MRA4 aircraft; and what captabilities will fulfil that role in the long term.

    Mr Mark Francois

    Since the Nimrod MR2 was taken out of service in 2009, some 12 months early, for financial reasons, by the then Defence Secretary, a range of assets were put in place by the previous Government to cover the capability, namely Type 23 frigates, Merlin Anti-Submarine Warfare helicopters and C-130 Hercules aircraft. The MRA4 project was nearly £800 million over budget, 10 years overdue and the aircraft could not pass airworthiness tests.

    The Ministry of Defence is currently reviewing the UK’s air intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance requirements, including wide area maritime surveillance, and is identifying potential solutions. This work will provide analysis in support of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review.

  • Charlotte Leslie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Charlotte Leslie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department owns any of the Filton Airfield site; and whether his Department will be entitled to any share of the site’s sale.

    Dr Andrew Murrison

    The Department does not own any of the Filton Airfield site and is not entitled to any share in the site’s sale.

  • Liam Byrne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Liam Byrne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liam Byrne on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many meetings he has had with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser in the last 12 months.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    As was the case under previous administrations, details of internal meetings are not normally disclosed.

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) precision-guided munitions and (b) gravity bombs of each type have been dropped in Afghanistan by British (i) fixed-wing aircraft and (ii) unmanned aerial vehicles since 23 March 2011.

    Mr Mark Francois

    The number of precision-guided munitions dropped in Afghanistan in the period requested are shown in the table. No free fall bombs have been dropped in this time.

    Aircraft Type

    24 March 2011 to 16 June 2014[1]

    Fixed Wing

    71

    Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS)

    317

    Use of force remains closely controlled and the avoidance of civilian casualties has been paramount. Professional crews carefully select the smallest warhead appropriate to the target being attacked to ensure they deliver the required effect, while minimising the risk to civilians.

    All UK forces operate in accordance with International Humanitarian Law, following the principles of distinction, humanity, proportionality and military necessity. The UK’s clearly defined Rules of Engagement are formulated on this basis. The same strict Rules of Engagement that govern the use of conventional military aircraft also apply to RPAS and targets are always positively identified as legitimate military objectives. Reaper is the UK’s only RPAS with the ability to deploy precision-guided weapons.

    [1] Inclusive