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  • Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-05-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport of 4 May 2016, Official Report, column 286, stating that the Government intends to commence sections 165 and 167 of the Equality Act 2010 in 2016, if he will also impose a statutory requirement on the driver of a private hire vehicle to accept and assist a wheelchair user and not to charge extra for providing such assistance.

    Andrew Jones

    The Government intends to commence sections 165 and 167 of the Equality Act 2010 this year, and impose this requirement upon both Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle drivers.

  • Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-05-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2016 to Question 25870, how many (a) officials and (b) other staff are working on the Government’s response to the Law Commission’s recommendations on taxi and private hire vehicle legislation.

    Andrew Jones

    There are currently (a) three officials and (b) no other staff in the Department for Transport working on taxi and private hire vehicle policy. One of those officials works full-time on taxi and private hire vehicles, and it forms a core part of the work load of the other two. Their responsibilities include scrutiny of the Law Commission recommendations for reform of taxi and private hire vehicle legislation. This level of staffing for work on taxis and private hire vehicles remains essentially consistent with that going back to 2009/10. The Government will respond to the Law Commission report once scrutiny is complete.

  • David Anderson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    David Anderson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2016-05-05.

    To ask the Prime Minister, with reference to the Government’s Counter-Extremism Strategy, published in October 2015, whether in his official capacity he has shared a speaking platform with people who have expressed vocal or active opposition to the UK’s fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs, or who have called for the deaths of members of the armed forces.

    Mr David Cameron

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for Islington North (Mr Corbyn) on 4 May 2016, Official Report, column 163.

    As set out in the Counter-Extremism Strategy, internationally we are building a more robust response to counter extremist ideology and propaganda, and continue to focus on strengthening international bodies and our partners. As Prime Minister I regularly have discussions on how we can promote British values of peace and tolerance and how to counter extremist ideology.

  • Sue Hayman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    Sue Hayman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sue Hayman on 2016-05-05.

    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral contribution of 20 April 2016, Official Report, column 915, in response to the Question from the hon. Member for Workington, and with reference to the letter to him of 21 April 2016 from that hon. Member and the oral contribution from that hon. Member of 25 April 2016, Official Report, column 1187, what scheme is in place to assist rural pharmacies; and what other support is provided by the Government to support independent pharmacies.

    Mr David Cameron

    This year the Government is spending over £150 million more a year on pharmacies than in 2009/10. We are currently consulting on the introduction of a Pharmacy Access Scheme which will provide more NHS funds to many independent and rural pharmacies on the basis of factors such as location and the health needs of the local population. Details of the consultation on the ‘Community Pharmacy 2016/17 and beyond’ can be found on the GOV.UK website.

  • Alex Chalk – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Alex Chalk – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Chalk on 2016-05-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department plans to review the length of maximum sentence for animal cruelty offences.

    Dominic Raab

    We keep maximum penalties under review. This includes sentencing trends, and whether the courts may be finding their sentencing powers inadequate.

    Data on the average sentence length for animal cruelty can be found in the Outcomes by offence table at the attached link:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2014

    “

  • Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-05-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what options are available to a magistrates’ court when an unrepresented serving prisoner refuses to leave their prison cell to face new either-way offence charges.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    Where a magistrates’ court is dealing with a new offence which is triable either-way, and the defendant is an unrepresented serving prisoner who does not attend either in person or through a live link, the court will need to adjourn the case. This will enable either the defendant to attend, or the Crown Prosecution Service to consider alternative procedural routes.

  • Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-05-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) out-of-court restorative justice resolutions and (b) cautions were given to (i) people on suspended prison sentences and (ii) prisoners released on licence in the latest year for which information is held.

    Mike Penning

    The information requested, could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  • Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2016-05-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to publish his review of employment tribunal fees.

    Dominic Raab

    We will announce the conclusions of our review of fees in the Employment Tribunals in due course.

  • Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-05-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average salary of (a) a district judge and (b) a magistrate was in the latest year for which figures are available.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    The level of pay for the judiciary is based on the recommendation of the independent Senior Salaries Review Body. Magistrates are volunteers and do not receive a salary.

    The judicial salaries and fee schedules can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/judicial-salaries-and-fees-2016-to-2017

    “

  • Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-05-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of UK development aid on increasing primary school attendance in Bangladesh since 2000.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    The UK has supported significant improvements in primary school attendance through its contribution to the primary education sector programme and projects working with NGOs and civil society.

    Overall primary school attendance increased in Bangladesh from 84% to 97% between 2010 and 2015.

    Since 2010, DFID has supported 820,000 children (including 456, 000 girls) in primary education, of which 462,000 (261,000 girls) completed primary education.