Tag: 2014

  • 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, with reference to the Government’s response to the Independent review of the operation of jobseeker’s allowance sanctions, published in July 2014, when he plans to publish the communications review referred to in that document.

    Esther McVey

    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.

    In the Government Response to the Oakley Review we committed to report on the progress of the Communications Review by the end of 2014. The Department published an update on improvements to communications following the review, on 18 December 2014. This can be found here:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/387727/jsa-sanctions-independent-review-government-response-update.pdf

    “

  • Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his strategy for testing approaches to universal credit in work conditionality includes testing of a requirement to leave one job and start another in order to increase pay; and if he will make a statement.

    Esther McVey

    Each claimant will discuss their personal circumstances with a Work Coach and requirements will be personalised to take account of a claimant’s individual capability and circumstances. In some circumstances it may be reasonable to expect a claimant to apply for and take up new employment which will enable them to increase their earnings.

  • David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on preventing unhealthy eating among children of primary school age.

    Jane Ellison

    No recent formal discussions with Department for Education (DfE) Ministers have taken place on preventing unhealthy eating among children of primary school age.

    Department of Health and DfE Ministers have discussed the issue informally and officials meet regularly to discuss progress on delivering of the School Food Plan.

  • 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, which posts have held responsibility and for how long for the risk of mid-air collisions on each fast jet type in each of the last five years; and what the reason was for the change of ownership in each case.

    Mr Mark Francois

    The Operating Duty Holder, Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group has and continues to own all frontline fast jet mid-air collision risk except in the following two circumstances:

    The mid-air collision risk for Tornado GR4 was held by the RAF’s Senior Duty Holder, Chief of the Air Staff in 2011, and then further elevated to the Secretary of State in June 2011. On commencement of the current Tornado Collision Warning System programme later that same month the risk was transferred back to Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group due to the programme mitigating the risk.

    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, whether she has received the report Bass Discards published by the Irish Bass Group; and if she will make a statement.

    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 was the value outstanding of impositions relating to (a) fines, (b) compensation orders, (c) victim surcharge orders and (d) prosecution costs orders in each local criminal justice board area at the end of each financial year from 2009-10.

    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 attached shows the value outstanding at the end of March each financial year, for the impositions made in the same year, broken down into a) fines, (b) compensation orders, (c) victim surcharge orders and (d) prosecution costs. This data is only available from 2011-12 onwards.

    The total value outstanding of impositions regardless of imposition date relating to (a) fines, (b) compensation orders, (c) victim surcharge orders and (d) prosecution costs orders at the end of each financial year from 2010-11, as published in the HM Courts and Tribunals Service Trust Statements, are shown in the table below. The figures for 2009-10 are not available. It is not possible to break these figures down by local criminal justice board areas without incurring disproportionate costs.

    Financial Years

    Fines

    Compensation

    Victim Surcharge

    Prosecution Costs

    Total

    2010/11

    £413,158,000

    £70,122,000

    £10,488,000

    £131,427,000

    £625,195,000

    2011/12

    £388,292,000

    £68,484,000

    £9,877,000

    £130,102,000

    £596,755,000

    2012/13

    £370,591,000

    £67,564,000

    £12,084,000

    £128,289,000

    £578,528,000

    2013/14

    £335,377,000

    £67,918,000

    £21,110,000

    £126,861,000

    £551,266,000

    The ‘value outstanding’ figures in the table attached include 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.

    It is not possible to provide figures on the amounts outstanding on fines, compensation orders, victim surcharge orders and prosecution costs orders in exactly the same format as the answer given for Question 217822 due to the constraints of the current IT system.

  • Charlotte Leslie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Charlotte Leslie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of recent changes to residency requirements for free access to the NHS on UK citizens working as missionaries overseas.

    Jane Ellison

    Entitlement to free National Health Service hospital treatment is based on ‘ordinary residence’ in the United Kingdom, which means, broadly, living here on a lawful and properly settled basis for the time being, whether of long or short duration. The Immigration Act 2014, Section 39, revises the ordinary residence test so that non-European Economic Area (EEA) migrants subject to immigration control cannot be considered ordinarily resident in the UK unless they also have the immigration status of indefinite leave to remain. It is expected that Section 39 will be commenced this spring. UK and EEA nationals, including those working as missionaries overseas, will not be affected by this revision.

  • Mary Creagh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Mary Creagh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Creagh on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what budget was allocated by her Department to the Samridhi Fund in each financial year from 2009-10; and what budget is allocated to that organisation for 2015-16.

    Justine Greening

    The implementation of the Samridhi Fund Programme commenced in 2013-14. Total spending in 2013-14 was £6.9 million. Budget allocations for 2014-15 and 2015-16 are £10 million respectively.

  • Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had about extending the remit of the Cancer Drugs Fund to include access to other cancer treatments such as advanced stereotactic radiotherapy.

    George Freeman

    We announced a £160 million boost to the Cancer Drugs Fund at the end of August 2014.

    NHS England announced on 12 January 2015 that it plans to increase the level of investment for drugs in the Cancer Drugs Fund from £280 million in 2014-15 to an expected £340 million in 2015-16.

    NHS England has also announced the extension of its Commissioning through the Evaluation programme to include stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR). This will enable the number of cancer patients eligible to access SABR treatment to rise significantly, by 750 new patients a year and widen the number of cancers being treated.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Chi Onwurah – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the French government on joint counter-terrorism and surveillance activities.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    First may I once again offer our deepest condolences, and express our solidarity with France, following the Paris attacks. I have regular discussions with my French counter-part on security and counter-terrorism issues.

    The Honourable Member will understand that I cannot comment on intelligence matters.