UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: 2014

  • Lord West of Spithead – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord West of Spithead – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-01-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to stop using VMFAT-501 squadron for pilot training on the F35B aircraft, and, if so, on what date; and where will training for that aircraft be conducted.

    Lord Astor of Hever

    Under current planning assumptions, the UK will stop assigning UK pilots to VMFAT-501 for pilot training on the F-35B from July 2019, when the UK Operational Conversion Unit will begin pilot training at RAF Marham.

  • Paul Burstow – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Paul Burstow – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Burstow on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the oral Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health of 13 January 2015, Official Report, HC Deb column 703, on mental health care (pregnant women), if he will publish his Department’s plans and the funding committed for ensuring that every maternity unit has staff specially trained in perinatal mental health skills by 2017; and if he will make a statement.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    Improving diagnosis and services for women with pregnancy-related mental health problems is one of the Department’s priorities for maternity care.

    ‘Closing the gap: priorities for essential change in mental health’, published in January 2014, sets out the Government’s plans to ensure new mothers receive better support so that the incidence and impact of perinatal mental health problems can be reduced.

    The Government’s Mandate to Health Education England (HEE) from April 2014 to March 2015 asks HEE to ensure post-registration training in perinatal mental health to ensure that trained specialist mental health staff are available to support mothers in every birthing unit by 2017.

    To meet this mandate commitment, HEE, in conjunction with the Institute of Health Visiting, has developed three e-learning modules specifically covering topics such as perinatal depression and other maternal mental health disorders. The modules have been designed specifically for nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff. HEE is continuing to work to ensure midwives in training have a core training module focusing on perinatal mental health and to develop a continuing professional education framework for the existing maternity and early years workforce in 2015.

    HEE’s 13 Local Education and Training Boards are taking forward the commitment locally to ensure that every maternity unit has staff specially trained in perinatal mental health skills. HEE has advised that information on the funding committed is not collected centrally.

  • Ann Clwyd – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Ann Clwyd – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to government officials in Bahrain on the stripping of Bahraini nationality from Bahrainis who are not dual nationals, for allegedly damaging state security.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    We have raised repeatedly with the Government of Bahrain its decision to withdraw citizenship from 31 individuals in 2012. We encourage the authorities to conduct full and transparent investigations into those accused of crimes and to ensure that individuals are given a right of appeal against citizenship deprivation decisions.

  • Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made on the implementation of the recommendations which the Government (a) accepted, (b) accepted in principle and (c) accepted and were already underway in its response to the publication entitled, Independent review of the operation of jobseeker’s allowance sanctions, published in July 2014.

    Esther McVey

    We have published our response to the Oakley Report and a copy can be found here:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/332137/jsa-sanctions-independent-review-government-response.pdf

    We have accepted all recommendations made by the Oakley Report and we have already implemented a number of improvements. Our response sets out a number of target completion dates for recommendations made by the Oakley Report.

    “

  • Mark Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Mark Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the long-term health care needs of victims of Operation Protective Edge; what funding and other assistance her Department is giving to address those needs; and over what time period that funding and assistance will be given.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    According to the UN, over 11,000 Palestinians were injured during Operation Protective Edge, including over 3,000 children. The UN further notes that 1,000 of these children will suffer a life-long disability; 6,000 more will have a parent with a long-term disability. The UK is the third largest donor to the UN Relief and Works Agency (£107 million between 2012-15) which provides healthcare to the 70% of the population in Gaza who are Palestinian refugees. In addition to this, the UK pledged a further £20 million at the Gaza Reconstruction Conference which includes support for reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation for those injured in the conflict. We have already disbursed a quarter of this pledge and the remainder will be released next year.

  • David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which high-speed rail projects are planned to be completed in 2015.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    In 2015 we expect the High Speed Rail (London-West Midlands) Bill for HS2 Phase One to continue its progress through Parliament. We will continue to review and refine proposals for the Phase Two route from West Midlands to Manchester, Leeds and beyond to ensure they bring the best solution in terms of connectivity and economic growth for the regions. Any further announcements and decisions on the Phase Two route are currently expected to be made in 2015 but could come later.

    It is also expected that in 2015 we will commence ground investigation works enabled by the HS2 Preparation Bill (2013).

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when responsibility for the risk of Typhoon mid-air collision was passed from Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group to the Chief of the Air Staff; and for what reason that change was made.

    Mr Mark Francois

    The Typhoon mid-air collision risk with commercial air transport was elevated to the Chief of the Air Staff in June 2014 following the conclusion of further risk analysis work conducted by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL). This analysis concluded that the risk level was unchanged but highlighted the potential for societal concern in the event of a collision.

  • George Hollingbery – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    George Hollingbery – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Hollingbery on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what reports she has received on the Irish government’s views on a total ban on commercial fishing for sea bass.

    George Eustice

    I met the Irish Minister in the margins of the European Union Agriculture and Fisheries Council of 15-16 December to discuss key fisheries items on the Council agenda including management of sea bass stocks.

    Under longstanding Irish national measures to protect bass stocks their commercial fishing vessels are not permitted to land bass for sale, which means a degree of discarding of bass by-catch from mixed fishing activity will occur. I have not, however, seen the Bass Discards report published by the Irish Bass Group.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andy Slaughter – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2015 to Question 217822, what the total value was of outstanding financial impositions in each local criminal justice board area at the end of (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13.

    Mike Penning

    This Government takes recovery and enforcement of financial impositions very seriously and remains committed to finding new ways to ensure impositions are paid and to trace those who do not pay. This is why there has been a year on year increase in the total amount of financial penalties collected over the last three years. The amount of money collected reached an all time high of £290 million at the end of 2013/14 and collections continue to rise. In 2013/14 the total outstanding balance of financial impositions reduced by £26.7m (5%) in the year.

    The table below shows the value of financial impositions outstanding as at the end of the financial years (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13.

    For the financial years 2011-12 and 2012-13, the first column of figures represents the outstanding balance of the impositions made during the 2013-14 financial year and the second shows the total value outstanding regardless of imposition date. The ‘in year outstanding value’ is included within the total outstanding value figure. The figures cannot be presented in this manner prior to 2011-12.

    The ‘value outstanding’ figures includes accounts that were not due to be paid by the end of the period specified (either because they were imposed close to the end of the year or because they had payment timescales set by the courts for beyond the end of the financial year) and those that were being paid by instalments on agreed payment plans. These figures include fines, compensation orders, victim surcharge orders and prosecution costs orders.

  • Oliver Colvile – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Oliver Colvile – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Oliver Colvile on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans his Department has to improve signalling on the railway between (a) Exeter and Plymouth and (b) Reading and Exeter; and what assessment he has made of the potential effect of improved signalling on those routes.

    Claire Perry

    Signal failures are one of the biggest causes of delays on the network. For that reason, Network Rail has an extensive programme underway to improve both the standard and reliability of signalling across the national network.

    The Western Route is gradually benefitting from transfer of signalling to a single control centre in Didcot, and this process will eventually encompass the entire route, including those stretches mentioned by my Hon Friend. This will allow a faster and better coordinated response to delays across the route.

    My Hon Friend will also be aware of the very large investment which is being made by Network Rail, Cornwall Council and others into the Totnes-Penzance resignalling scheme, which will radically improve the train flow and reliability. It will do this by allowing bidirectional running on the line, meaning that maintenance and disruption can be managed vastly more effectively.

    Further details of Network Rail’s plans can be found at the links below. These documents also provide information on the benefits of improved signalling:

    http://www.networkrail.co.uk/publications/strategic-business-plan-for cp5/

    http://www.networkrail.co.uk/publications/delivery-plans/control-period-5/cp5-delivery-plan/

    “