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  • Charles Walker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Charles Walker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charles Walker on 2016-04-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what priority the Government attaches to passenger safeguarding in the licensed taxi and private hire vehicle trade; and if he will make a statement.

    Andrew Jones

    The Government attaches a high priority to passenger safety in the licenced taxi and private hire vehicle trade. The legislation that provides for the licensing of private hire vehicle services aims to safeguard passengers by ensuring that drivers and vehicles that are fit for purpose. This legislation allows local licensing authorities the discretion to set standards they deem appropriate for their area. To help with this, the Department has issued best practice guidance.

  • Charles Walker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Charles Walker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charles Walker on 2016-04-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking in conjunction with the Mayor of London to safeguard the licensed taxi trade; and if he will make a statement.

    Andrew Jones

    The Government supports choice for consumers, and wants to see both taxis and private hire vehicles prosper.

    The Mayor, Transport for London (TfL), the police and local authorities have a range of tools available to them to seek to address any concerns they may have over the safety or performance of taxi and/or private hire vehicle services. Effective use of these tools allow both licensed taxi and private hire vehicles to operate lawfully and meet the demands of London’s travelling public.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-04-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the (a) median and (b) mean wage is of (i) male and (ii) female employees of (A) his Department, (B) Network Rail, (C) Highways England, (D) HS2 Ltd, (E) the Office of Rail and Road, (F) the DVLA, (G) the Driver Vehicle Standards Authority and (H) the VCA on the latest date for which figures are available.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The median and mean wages levels for male and female employees are as follows:

    Median wage

    Organisation

    Male

    Female

    DfT(c)

    £45,747

    £42,103

    Network Rail

    £33,781

    £32,000

    Highways England

    £24,054

    £27,455

    HS2 Ltd

    £51,552

    £38,928

    Office of Rail and Road

    £58,152

    £40,900

    Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

    £19,155

    £19,155

    Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

    £25,328

    £25,162

    Vehicle Certification Agency

    £36,565

    £25,758

    Mean wage

    Organisation

    Male

    Female

    DfT(c)

    £51,012

    £45,335

    Network Rail

    £36,789

    £36,073

    Highways England

    £31,608

    £30,974

    HS2 Ltd

    £65,130

    £44,650

    Office of Rail and Road

    £56,597

    £45,445

    Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

    £22,197

    £20,649

    Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

    £26,108

    £24,826

    Vehicle Certification Agency

    £36,798

    £25,918

    The central Department and its Agencies have historically had differences in mean and median pay levels of male and female staff. In 2014, pay, terms and conditions were modernised, including shortening the lengths of pay ranges. As a result of this, and the 2015 pay strategy, the differences in mean and median pay levels of male and female staff have decreased. The central Department and its Agencies are committed to continuing to reduce the differences over the next few years.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-04-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Highways England traffic officers were employed on 15 March (a) 2016, (b) 2015, (c) 2014, (d) 2013, (e) 2012, (f) 2011 and (g) 2010.

    Andrew Jones

    The number of traffic officers employed by Highways England is shown in the table below:

    Period

    TOS – Grade

    2010

    1720

    2011

    1673

    2012

    1602

    2013

    1513

    2014

    1425

    2015

    1446

    2016

    1439

  • Paul Monaghan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Paul Monaghan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Monaghan on 2016-04-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to establish an Infrastructure Police Force to replace the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, British Transport Police and Ministry of Defence Police.

    Mike Penning

    The Strategic Defence and Security Review made a commitment to “integrate infrastructure policing further and to review the options to do this” and this review is underway.

  • Paul Flynn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    Paul Flynn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2016-04-13.

    To ask the Prime Minister, with reference to his Oral Statement of 11 April 2016, Official Report, column 26, on the Panama Papers, from which departmental budgets the Government plans to draw the resources to support the new cross-agency taskforce to analyse the information that has been made available in those papers.

    Mr David Cameron

    This is new money provided by the Treasury. It will be spent on bringing together some of the most sophisticated technology, experts and resources to tackle money laundering, tax evasion and wider forms of financial crime anywhere in the world.

  • Richard Arkless – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Richard Arkless – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Arkless on 2016-04-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with local authorities in Northern Ireland about the illegal trafficking of puppies into Scotland; and what assessment she has made of the effect on such trafficking of the transfer in Scotland of search powers from Trading Standards to local port authorities.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    The Government takes the illegal movement of dogs and puppies seriously and it is committed to working with the Devolved Administrations, delivery bodies, enforcement agencies and non-government organisations to tackle this issue.

    While I have had no discussions with local authorities in Northern Ireland about the illegal trafficking of puppies into Scotland, the Defra Chief Veterinary Officer has recently discussed the issue with his Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland counterparts. Additionally, there have been discussions on this issue between other Defra officials and officials within the Devolved Administrations.

    The Government has not carried out an assessment of the impact of transferring Trading Standards search powers to local port authorities in Scotland as this is a devolved matter. However, Defra will continue to work closely with the Scottish Government and other interested parties to ensure that there is a full exchange of ideas and information on combating the illegal importation of puppies.

  • David Burrowes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    David Burrowes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Burrowes on 2016-04-13.

    To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to his oral contribution of 10 March 2016, Official Report, column 444, whether he expects primary and secondary legislation to be subject to the family test and the results published.

    Chris Grayling

    A Family Test was introduced by the Government in 2014 – it aims to bring a family perspective into policy making. It will ensure that impacts on family relationships and functioning, both positive and negative, are recognised in the process of policy development and help inform the policy decisions, and any subsequent legislation, made by Ministers.

    The Test is not a ‘tick box’ or ‘pass v fail’ exercise, it is about thinking carefully how new policy can support or potentially undermine family relationships. Policy is always about trade-offs but the Family Test ensures family considerations are explicitly considered and recognised when making those trade-offs.

    While the guidance encourages publication, there is no requirement to do so.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-04-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what financial penalties Capita is obliged to pay under its contract with his Department for leaving its contract to provide interpreting services.

    Mike Penning

    The MoJ’s contract with Capita Translation and Interpretation (TI) naturally expires on 30th October 2016.

    The Ministry does not anticipate an early withdrawal of services by Capita; no financial penalties are therefore currently applicable.

  • Roberta Blackman-Woods – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Roberta Blackman-Woods – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roberta Blackman-Woods on 2016-04-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 13 April 2016 to Question 33183, whether his Department advises prisons (a) to ask prisoners upon induction if they are already organ donors or if they wish to become one and (b) to keep records of which prisoners are registered organ donors; and if he will amend prison service orders to ensure that the organ donors register is taken into account if a prisoner dies in a prison or in a hospital.

    Andrew Selous

    The Organ Donor Register is a confidential record maintained by NHS Blood and Transplant and patient details are not shared with other organisations; asking prisoners if they are registered could serve to compromise their confidentiality. Joining the Organ Donor Register is a voluntary matter and there are no plans to focus on specific groups such as prisoners. The decision to be a donor is one which prisoners should discuss with their next of kin.

    The Government remains fully committed to the strategy agreed in 2013 “Taking Organ Transplantation to 2020” (www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/to2020/) which aims to enable the UK to match world-class performance in organ donation and transplantation.

    “