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  • Andrew Stephenson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Andrew Stephenson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Stephenson on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the number of properties in (a) Pendle constituency and (b) Lancashire that do not have mains gas access and which use domestic heating oil.

    Gregory Barker

    Estimates for the number of households which do not have mains gas and which use domestic heating oil are not available. However, the number of households that did not have access to a mains gas supply can be estimated bycombining figures for the lower layer super output areas that most closely match the Pendle Constituency.

    In 2012, there were approximately 1,300 households (three per cent) which had no access to mains gas in Pendle.The number of households that did not have access to mains gas in Lancashire is estimated to be32,000 (six per cent of households within Lancashire).

    These data are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/lsoa-estimates-of-households-not-connected-to-the-gas-network.

    “

  • Andrew Stephenson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Andrew Stephenson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Stephenson on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children in Pendle constituency are home-schooled.

    Elizabeth Truss

    The information requested is not collected by the Department for Education.

  • Michael Thornton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Michael Thornton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michael Thornton on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make cancer awareness education a statutory requirement in schools.

    Elizabeth Truss

    Cancer awareness is important for all young people. However, I do not believe that there should be a statutory requirement for it to be taught in schools. The Government aims to reduce prescription throughout the education system, and trusts schools to provide what is best for their students. The Department for Education does not collect data on this topic.

    Schools are free to teach cancer awareness when it is relevant to the national curriculum. For example, the science curriculum requires pupils to learn about the effects of drugs on their bodies, and the importance of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle is included in the requirements for physical education. In design and technology, schools may highlight the importance of nutrition and a healthy diet. Schools may include cancer awareness as part of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, using suitable resources from relevant organisations. The PSHE Association has produced a suggested programme of study as guidance for teachers, and continues to highlight other sources of expertise.

  • Michael Thornton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Michael Thornton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michael Thornton on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of cancer awareness education in schools.

    Elizabeth Truss

    Cancer awareness is important for all young people. However, I do not believe that there should be a statutory requirement for it to be taught in schools. The Government aims to reduce prescription throughout the education system, and trusts schools to provide what is best for their students. The Department for Education does not collect data on this topic.

    Schools are free to teach cancer awareness when it is relevant to the national curriculum. For example, the science curriculum requires pupils to learn about the effects of drugs on their bodies, and the importance of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle is included in the requirements for physical education. In design and technology, schools may highlight the importance of nutrition and a healthy diet. Schools may include cancer awareness as part of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, using suitable resources from relevant organisations. The PSHE Association has produced a suggested programme of study as guidance for teachers, and continues to highlight other sources of expertise.

  • Alison Seabeck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Alison Seabeck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Seabeck on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff employed within the land-focused business of the Defence Support Group will be (a) within and (b) without the scope of the sale.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    At the moment we expect all 1,973 permanent staff members employed within the land-focused Defence Support Group business to be included within the scope of sale and transferred to the new owner under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations. The final assessment will take place closer to the time of the actual sale.

  • Alison Seabeck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Alison Seabeck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Seabeck on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason he chose a one stage process for the sale of the land-focused business of the Defence Support Group; and what consultation there was on the options for the sale process with (a) the workforce of the group and (b) trades unions.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The decision to proceed with a one stage process was taken to maximise competitive tension and shorten the timescales for the transaction. The commercial considerations around the structure of the competition are a matter for the Department so did not form part of our consultation with Defence Support Group staff and Trades Unions.

  • Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many local authorities affected by the recent floods are offering council tax discounts to flooded-out householders under section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

    Brandon Lewis

    [Holding Reply: Thursday 3 April 2014]

    My rt. hon. Friend, the PrimeMinister announced on 19 February 2014 that Government will reimburse local authorities for providing council tax discounts for flooded homes. 48 local authorities have reported that they had already offered discounts by 17 March, with a further 63 planning to do so in using their discretionary powers under section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. It is for local authorities to determine whether they wish to take up the Government’s offer of funding, depending on the precise scale and extent of local flooding.

  • Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether local authorities affected by flooding can claim under the Bellwin scheme for the cost of disposing of sandbags that have been contaminated with sewage.

    Brandon Lewis

    [Holding Reply: Thursday 3 April 2014]

    Local authorities can claim the costs of removing sandbags used during the flooding emergency, under the Bellwin scheme. This includes sandbags that have been contaminated with sewage.

  • Liam Byrne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Liam Byrne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liam Byrne on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his Department’s current target impairment for student loans is; how such a level was decided on; when this target was introduced; and what change there has been in this target since its introduction.

    Mr David Willetts

    This Department does not set a target for impairment of student loans. Our reforms were designed to put higher education on a sustainable footing. Universities are now well-funded and this is driving up the quality of the student experience and helping to stimulate economic growth, while keeping access to higher education free at the point of entry.

  • Liam Byrne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Liam Byrne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liam Byrne on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, at what stage in the sell-off process student loans will be defined as currently subject to a sale for the purposes of revaluing impairments.

    Mr David Willetts

    Student loans are classified as Loans and Receivables and are carried in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts at amortised cost in accordance with International Accounting Standards (IAS 39). Student loans are reviewed annually at the balance sheet date for any objective evidence of impairment, and the value is adjusted as necessary. This is not impacted by the sale process. In accordance with the standard, the classification of student loans will not change following initial recognition. Any gain or loss on disposal will be reported in the annual accounts following sale completion.