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  • Tim Loughton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Tim Loughton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to publish her review of children’s centres; and for what reasons that review was not published in 2015.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    We value children’s centres services. We are committed to consulting on the role of children’s centres in 2016. Details about the scope and timing of the consultation will be made available in due course and will be publicised widely to ensure the broadest possible response.

  • Bob Stewart – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Bob Stewart – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Stewart on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress she has made in Beckenham on implementing the Government’s proposal for 30 hours’ free child care for working parents.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    We have made substantial progress towards implementing the offer of 30 hours of free childcare to working parents of three- and four-year-olds. At the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced a significant increase in funding to support the policy, which means that by 2019-20 we will be spending over £1billion extra per year on the free childcare entitlements for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

    The Childcare Bill, which provides the legal framework for the extended entitlement, has completed its Commons stages and Lords Consideration will take place on 2 February. We have announced that parents will be able to check their eligibility for both the working parents’ childcare offer and Tax-Free Childcare through a joint online system, making it easier for working parents to access Government childcare support.

  • Mrs Sharon Hodgson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Mrs Sharon Hodgson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mrs Sharon Hodgson on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if protocols are in place for the sharing of information between officials in her Department and Ofsted on the outcome of Ofsted inspections of provision for children with special educational needs or disabilities in a local area.

    Edward Timpson

    I can confirm that Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission will publish outcomes from the local area SEND inspections.

  • Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 18 January 2016 to Question 22034, whether he plans that any further investment will take place at RAF Northolt (a) on the proposed Engineered Material Arresting System and (b) otherwise until after the Government has responded to the Davies Commission on Aviation Capacity in the South East; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS) is being scoped as a military infrastructure requirement commensurate with safety cases for military aircraft operating at RAF Northolt and the associated military aerodrome design standards utilised at the Station. I am withholding estimated costs for the EMAS project as it is at the pre-tender stage and disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice commercial interests.

    The Mott McDonald report has no opinion or relevance against the military aerodrome design criteria and safety cases in place at the Station or the current operation of RAF Northolt. Any infrastructure investment for military operational requirements will continue to be undertaken as necessary to support military and Government outputs.

  • Graham Allen – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Graham Allen – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Allen on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his letter of 16 January 2016 to Chris Woods, leader of Airwars, whether British aircraft participated in any of the eight incidents cited by Mr Woods in his letter of 8 January 2016.

    Michael Fallon

    RAF aircraft were not involved in strikes in seven of the incidents cited by Mr Woods. The eighth incident was impossible to locate from the detail given in the letter: all information from the RAF air strike conducted on that particular day has been reviewed and there was no indication of any civilian casualties resulting from the strike.

  • Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much steel by (a) market value and (b) weight has been purchased from each country for the manufacture of the TIDE Class Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    Under European and UK procurement regulations, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) could not contractually mandate the use of particular suppliers. Decisions on the source of steel are a matter for the contractors who take into account the cost, timeliness of availability and the quality of steel used in defence contracts. These considerations allow defence contractors to deliver value for money for the taxpayer.

    The Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability contract to build the four Tide Class tankers was awarded to Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering in March 2012. Although UK companies participated in the competition to supply the vessels, none submitted a final bid.

    In January 2015, the MOD awarded a contract worth approximately £15 million to A&P Group Ltd in the UK for the provision of UK customisation, Capability Assessment Trials and Support for all four tankers. The work will be managed by A&P Group Ltd’s Falmouth shipyard.

    Manufacture of the four Tide Class tankers will in total require 44,000 tonnes of steel. Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering source this steel locally in South Korea. The market value of steel depends upon a number of factors, including geographical location and quality. The MOD does not hold information from which the market value of the steel used in the manufacture of the Tide Class tankers could be determined.

  • Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) market value and (b) weight of UK steel has been used in the manufacture of the TIDE Class Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    Under European and UK procurement regulations, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) could not contractually mandate the use of particular suppliers. Decisions on the source of steel are a matter for the contractors who take into account the cost, timeliness of availability and the quality of steel used in defence contracts. These considerations allow defence contractors to deliver value for money for the taxpayer.

    The Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability contract to build the four Tide Class tankers was awarded to Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering in March 2012. Although UK companies participated in the competition to supply the vessels, none submitted a final bid.

    In January 2015, the MOD awarded a contract worth approximately £15 million to A&P Group Ltd in the UK for the provision of UK customisation, Capability Assessment Trials and Support for all four tankers. The work will be managed by A&P Group Ltd’s Falmouth shipyard.

    Manufacture of the four Tide Class tankers will in total require 44,000 tonnes of steel. Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering source this steel locally in South Korea. The market value of steel depends upon a number of factors, including geographical location and quality. The MOD does not hold information from which the market value of the steel used in the manufacture of the Tide Class tankers could be determined.

  • Nicholas Brown – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Nicholas Brown – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what measurements he has made of the UK armed forces’ carbon emissions for (a) 2015 and (b) any previous years for which data is held; and what plans the Government has to reduce UK military carbon emissions in response to the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

    Mark Lancaster

    Information on the UK Armed Forces’ carbon emissions from 2009-10 to 2014-15 can be found in pages 11 and 12 of the Sustainable Ministry of Defence (MOD) Annual Report, using the following link:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/447951/20150723-Sustainable_MOD_Annual_Report-internet-ver.pdf

    The MOD continues to reduce carbon emissions as part of the Government’s Greening Government commitments and the new targets are being developed for 2016-2020.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of accidental fatalities in the armed forces which occur during training exercises.

    Penny Mordaunt

    Deaths in training are rare. We do, however, take our duty of care to our personnel very seriously. Risk is inherent in many activities carried out by the Armed Forces, from adventurous training to training exercises and operations. This is especially true where activities involve weapon systems, vehicles or strenuous physical activity.

    This risk is rendered as low as reasonably practicable during training by ensuring that its design and delivery are subject to strict safety procedures and rigorous risk analysis. This allows the Services to provide realistic and effective training which balances the risks with the need to provide a safe training environment.

    We have a range of mechanisms to ensure supervision and welfare support for trainees of all ages, such as the tiered Duty Holder construct which make specific individuals personally accountable and responsible for potential Risk to Life decisions. Training regimes are also subject to internal or external assurance and audit inspections including by OFSTED.

    In the event of a training fatality, or indeed any other fatality, a thorough investigation would be convened. This can include a Service Inquiry, internal investigation, police investigations or investigations by, for example, the Health and Safety Executive. Fatalities will normally be the subject of a Coroner’s Inquest. A Service Inquiry may take place if it is considered that anything further of consequence to any of the regular or reserve forces may be learned. This is an independent investigation designed to establish the circumstances surrounding an accident and make recommendations in order to prevent reoccurrence and enhance safety.

    On 1 April 2015 we established the Defence Safety Authority (DSA). This brings together the Defence safety regulators across all environments (including maritime, air, land, nuclear, ordnance and fire) and accident investigators into a single independent organisation led by a 3 star officer. The DSA is responsible for the regulation of Defence Health, Safety and Environmental Protection. Its purpose is to provide independent assurance to the Defence Secretary that his policy on safety in Defence is being promoted and implemented in the conduct of Defence activities. The Director General of the Defence Safety Authority is now the primary Convening Authority for all Service Inquiries pertaining to safety-related fatalities and major equipment loss across the whole of Defence.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress has been made in dealing with the migrants who arrived (a) in October 1998 and (b) on 21 October 2015 in the RAF Dhekelia and RAF Akrotiri Soverign Base Areas in Cyprus.

    Penny Mordaunt

    The remaining migrants, both recognised refugees and failed asylum seekers, from those who arrived in the Soveriegn Base Areas (SBA) in 1998, are currently living in former Service Family accommodation close to the British Forces Garrison in Dhekelia. For those whose claims for asylum have not been accepted and who are unable to return to their country of origin, we continue efforts to identify a third country willing to accept them.

    The majority of those migrants who arrived in the SBA on 21 October 2015 have transferred into the Republic of Cyprus asylum system and are housed in a facility in the Republic. Of those who remain in the Transit Facility in Dhekelia, all have either claimed asylum or are seeking voluntarily to return to their point of origin. Their asylum claims are being considered by the Sovereign Base Area Administration, with assistance from Republic of Cyprus immigration officials.