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  • Ian Swales – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Ian Swales – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Swales on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency meets the deadline of 1 November 2014 for enabling payment for vehicle tax discs by direct debit.

    Stephen Hammond

    The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has in place a dedicated project team which is working on the systems and other changes needed to deliver direct debits for vehicle excise duty. Progress is being monitored in line with departmental governance procedures.

  • Mark Garnier – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Mark Garnier – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Garnier on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to improve the performance of London Midland commuter trains.

    Stephen Hammond

    We do not monitor train operator performances by service type (i.e. commuter trains only) under the Franchise Agreement; we monitor each operator’s performance across their whole network against benchmarks under the Franchise Agreement.

    The Department monitors each train operator’s overall performance against these benchmarks and there are clear actions set out in the Franchise Agreement should performance drop below what is expected. This regular monitoring includes monthly meetings with their senior management where performance figures are scrutinised and challenged.

    At present London Midland are assessed as being within their contracted performance benchmarks as set out in the Franchise Agreement.

    In 2002 when Network Rail took control of Britain’s Rail infrastructure, train performance was languishing at record low levels (78.6% of trains arriving on time nationally). Since then, it has risen to averaging around 90%. Network Rail has been tasked with ensuring that 92.5% of trains arrive on time nationally by 2019.

    We are determined that improvements in infrastructure across the network, as evidenced by the £38 billion investment agreed with Network Rail for the next 5 years, will further improve the performance of all train operators.

  • John Redwood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    John Redwood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Redwood on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what levels of stock his Department holds of (a) stationery, (b) printer cartridges, (c) treasury tags and other fasteners and (d) other office consumables.

    David Mundell

    In recent years, as e-communication has increased, the expenditure on stationery items has decreased. This coupled with rigorous control measures, has enabled the Scotland Office to maintain a low level of stock of (a) stationery, (b) printer cartridges, (c) treasury tags and other fasteners and (d) other office consumables.

  • John Spellar – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    John Spellar – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Spellar on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Prime Minister, what meetings he plans to have with representatives of the Sikh community on events surrounding the storming of the Golden Temple in Amritsar in 1984 and subsequent massacres.

    Mr David Cameron

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds North East (Mr Hamilton) on 5 February 2014, Official Report, column 240W.

  • Bob Ainsworth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    Bob Ainsworth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Ainsworth on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the ability of the National Security Council to foster collective decision-making across Government.

    Mr David Cameron

    The National Security Council is a sub-committee of the full Cabinet. It addresses all elements of national security strategy. It seeks to understand the context, risks and opportunities facing the country; debates policy options; decides courses of action; and monitors and evaluates their implementation. It brings together Ministers and experts on a weekly basis, fostering genuine discussion and collective decision-making on both strategic and operational issues. Regularity of meetings enables Ministers to build up knowledge of particularly complex matters over time and to take well-informed decisions. Specialised sub-committees ensure that appropriate attention is paid to the most complex and technical issues.

  • Bob Ainsworth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    Bob Ainsworth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Ainsworth on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Prime Minister, what role the National Security Council plays in the long-term strategic planning and development of security policy.

    Mr David Cameron

    The National Security Council is a sub-committee of the full Cabinet. It addresses all elements of national security strategy. It seeks to understand the context, risks and opportunities facing the country; debates policy options; decides courses of action; and monitors and evaluates their implementation. It brings together Ministers and experts on a weekly basis, fostering genuine discussion and collective decision-making on both strategic and operational issues. Regularity of meetings enables Ministers to build up knowledge of particularly complex matters over time and to take well-informed decisions. Specialised sub-committees ensure that appropriate attention is paid to the most complex and technical issues.

  • John Redwood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    John Redwood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Redwood on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what levels of stock No. 10 Downing Street holds of (a) stationery, (b) printer cartridges, (c) treasury tags and other fasteners and (d) other office consumables.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    The Prime Minister’s Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office.

    The information requested is not held centrally.

  • John Redwood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    John Redwood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Redwood on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what levels of stock her Department holds of (a) stationery, (b) printer cartridges, (c) treasury tags and other fasteners and (d) other office consumables.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    The enclosed tables set out the current stock levels of stationery, printer cartridges, treasury tags and other fasteners and other office consumables held in my Department across the three locations at 1 Horse Guards Road, London; Stormont House, Belfast; and Hillsborough Castle.

  • John Redwood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    John Redwood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Redwood on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Leader of the House, what levels of stock his Office holds of (a) stationery, (b) printer cartridges, (c) treasury tags and other fasteners and (d) other office consumables.

    Mr Andrew Lansley

    The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is part of the Cabinet Office. The information requested is not held centrally.

  • Diana Johnson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Diana Johnson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been convicted of an offence contrary to sections 1, 2 and 6 of the Child Abduction Act 1984 in each of the last four years.

    Damian Green

    The number of offenders found guilty at all courts for offences under the Child Abduction Act 1984 in England and Wales from 2009 to 2012 (latest data available) can be viewed in the table.

    The Ministry of Justice collects information for criminal courts in England and Wales only. Information under section 6 of the act is the responsibility of the Scottish government.

    Court proceedings data for 2013 are planned for publication in May 2014.