The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to increase the use of CCTV in slaughterhouses; and if she will make a statement.
George Eustice
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the Rt. Hon. Member for Knowsley, George Howarth on 24 June 2015, PQs UIN 2944 and 2945.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ahmed on 2015-10-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports regarding increasing violence towards Palestinians by Israeli troops.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) said on 9 October, “We condemn all acts of violence, including attacks by Palestinians and by Israeli settlers. We urge all sides to take immediate steps to de-escalate the tensions and avoid actions that threaten to exacerbate the situation”. In his Statement of 13 October, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr. Ellwood), said, “We are also concerned by the use of force by Israeli security personnel in response to protests and security incidents”.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2015-10-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what public inquiries they have instigated into the death of a single individual since 1988; who were those individuals; why they were referred for a public inquiry in each case; and on which dates they were referred.
Lord Faulks
The table below lists each public inquiry launched by the Government to investigate the death of a single individual since 1988. It shows the purpose of the inquiry and the timing of the inquiry from its launch to publication of the inquiry report.
|
Individual |
Purpose |
Duration |
|
Stephen Lawrence |
To inquire into the matters arising from his death on 22 April 1993, in order particularly to identify the lessons to be learned for the investigation and prosecution of racially motivated crimes. |
July 1997 – February 1999 |
|
Victoria Climbié |
To establish the circumstances leading to and surrounding her death. |
May 2001 – January 2003 |
|
Dr David Kelly |
To conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. |
July 2003 – January 2004 |
|
Zahid Mubarek |
To investigate his death and the events leading up to the attack on him, and make recommendations about the prevention of such attacks in the future. |
April 2004 – June 2006 |
|
Robert Hamill |
To investigate whether any wrongful act or omission by or within the Royal Ulster Constabulary facilitated his death or obstructed the investigation of it, or whether attempts were made to do so; whether any such act or omission was intentional or negligent; and whether the investigation of his death was carried out with due diligence. (This followed a recommendation of the Cory Collusion Inquiry.) |
November 2004 – February 2011 |
|
Billy Wright |
To investigate whether any wrongful act or omission by or within the prison authorities or other state agencies facilitated his death, or whether attempts were made to do so; and whether any such act or omission was intentional or negligent. (This followed a recommendation of the Cory Collusion Inquiry.) |
November 2004 – October 2010 |
|
Rosemary Nelson |
To investigate whether any wrongful act or omission by or within the Royal Ulster Constabulary, Northern Ireland Office, Army or other state agency facilitated her death or obstructed the investigation of it, or whether attempts were made to do so; whether any such act or omission was intentional or negligent; and whether the investigation of her death was carried out with due diligence. (This followed a recommendation of the Cory Collusion Inquiry.) |
November 2004 – May 2011 |
|
Baha Mousa |
To investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of Baha Mousa, an Iraqi civilian who died in Iraq in 2003 and the treatment of others detained with him by the British armed forces. |
August 2008 – September 2011 |
|
Bernard (Sonny) Lodge |
To investigate his death at HMP Manchester in August 1998. (An ad hoc investigation began in September 2008 and was converted into a 2005 Act inquiry.) |
February 2009 – December 2009 |
|
Azelle Rodney |
To investigate the death of Azelle Rodney who was shot by a police marksman in North London on 30 April 2005. |
June 2010 – July 2013 |
|
Alexander Litvinenko |
To investigate his death on 23 November 2006. (The inquest was converted into a 2005 Act inquiry following a judicial review.) |
July 2014 – present |
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to encourage people to consume less salt.
Jane Ellison
New voluntary salt reduction targets have been developed for 76 specific food groups that contribute most to people’s salt intakes and major retailers, manufacturers and caterers are working to meet these targets by December 2017.
Maximum per serving salt targets for the out of home sector (restaurants and caterers) have also been set, covering the 10 most popular dishes on menus and children’s meals, and these are being supported by further actions in this sector, including training chefs, reformulating dishes and procuring lower salt ingredients.
The Front of Pack nutrition labelling scheme makes it easier for consumers, at a glance, to understand what they are buying and supports them to make healthier choices including reducing their intake of salt.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have been diagnosed with Castleman disease in each of the last five years.
George Freeman
Information on the number of diagnoses of Castleman disease is not held centrally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Antoinette Sandbach on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to reduce infant mortality.
Jane Ellison
We have made reducing infant mortality an area of improvement for the National Health Service in the NHS Outcomes Framework. We are also committed to reducing the number of stillbirths and want England to achieve the lowest rate of stillbirth and neonatal death in the world. Reducing infant mortality is also highlighted as an outcome indicator in the Public Health Outcomes Framework.
We want to improve all children’s chances in life by giving families the help they need to keep their children healthy and safe. The 0-5 years Healthy Child Programme, led and delivered by health visitors and their teams, is the key universal programme for the health and well-being of children, and sets out reviews, screening, and support which aim to reduce cot death, prevent ill health and to identify and treat problems early.
MBRRACE-UK (Mothers and Babies – Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK), has been appointed to continue the national programme of work investigating maternal deaths, stillbirths and infant deaths. They aim to identify what has gone wrong and why and make national recommendations on how care can be improved for all mothers and babies.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to improve services for victims and witnesses of crime.
Mike Penning
The Government is undertaking a wide range of measures to improve services for victims and witnesses of crime.
We recently published a revised Victims’ Code which will come into force on 16 November. As a result, victims of all criminal offences, and not just victims of more serious offences, will be entitled to support; and victims will be entitled to support from a wider range of organisations.
Significant work is being undertaken by the Ministry of Justice to improve the experience of victims and witnesses when they engage with the criminal justice system, which includes strengthening the protection available when going to court. We have already doubled the number of Registered Intermediaries available to offer support to vulnerable witnesses and are giving vulnerable victims and witnesses greater opportunity to give evidence away from court using new live-link facilities. This is on top of a range of existing special measures to help reduce the anxiety of attending court, including giving evidence from behind a screen in the courtroom or the use of live-link from another room in court to the courtroom.
Police and Crime Commissioners are responsible for commissioning the majority of emotional, practical and specialist support services for victims of crime, based on their assessment of local needs, and receive funding from the Ministry of Justice to do so. In addition, the Ministry of Justice funds services to support those bereaved by murder and manslaughter, female and male victims of rape, victims of road traffic crime and victims of terrorism, and support for victims and witnesses attending criminal courts. To help victims find the services they need, the Ministry of Justice has recently launched the Victims’ Information Service, which includes a website directory of services and a free telephone helpline which can provide immediate assistance and support.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Danny Kinahan on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had on the influence of major contractors over procurement processes in the Highways Agency.
Andrew Jones
The Secretary of State and Minister for Transport hold frequent discussions with Highways England on all aspects of their performance and delivery of the Road Investment Strategy. Highways England has recently published its Supply Chain Strategy. This sets out its procurement approach and strategies which are being developed with input from highways suppliers and others, to ensure effective and efficient delivery of the Road Investment Strategy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent meetings Ministers in his Department have had with cancer campaign groups on proposals in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on changes to employment and support allowance for people in the work-related activity group.
Priti Patel
Ministers regularly have meetings with a variety of stakeholders, including cancer charities; as part of their role.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2015-10-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that landlords receive the expected rent payments for tenants in properties in areas where universal credit is rolled out.
Justin Tomlinson
Universal Credit is usually paid directly to claimants as a single monthly sum.
In certain circumstances, such as where a claimant is identified as vulnerable, the Department may make alternative payment arrangements for rent to be paid directly to landlords.
The Department is also conducting a pilot with a selection of landlords from the social housing sector where the landlord can identify claimants with a need for alternative payments arrangements and make recommendations to DWP for rapid implementation of direct payments.