Tag: 2014

Emily Thornberry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

Emma Lewell-Buck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

Diana Johnson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many times his Department has appeared at an employment tribunal to contest protective awards in each of the last five years.

Jo Swinson

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) has not appeared before an employment tribunal to contest a protective award.

Protective awards are determined by Employment Tribunals following applications made by former employees or their representatives.

BIS is sometimes joined as a respondent in protective award claims, because under legislation, the Secretary of State guarantees the payment of protective awards made in favour of employees whose employer is insolvent, up to a certain amount.

It is for the Tribunal to establish the facts in each case, considering evidence of the actions taken by employers and their representatives, and decide whether there was adequate consultation on redundancies BIS is not in a position to know the extent to which an employer or their representative consulted with employees and does not give evidence on that point nor take any particular position.

BIS’ responsibility is to establish what payments are due and who is entitled to receive them. We therefore make written representations to the tribunal on points of law or to seek clarification of who is covered by a protective award. We may appeal an award, but only if we consider that the tribunal has made the judgment based on an incorrect reading of the legislation.

The number of cases where BIS has made representations to an employment tribunal regarding protective award cases in the last 5 years is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

02/11/2022

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he could place in the Library a table showing, for each branch of the Armed Forces Police, the number of cases of (a) rape, (b) sexual assault and (c) domestic violence that were (i) reported, (ii) referred to a prosecutor, (iii) directed for trial, (iv) led to a conviction, (v) led to an acquittal and (vi) led to a custodial sentence in each year between 2009 to 2013.

Anna Soubry

All allegations of rape, sexual assault and domestic violence made by or against members of the Armed Forces are thoroughly investigated. An investigation may be conducted by either the civil or Service Police.

The tables below show the number of alleged cases of rape and sexual assault (including assault by penetration) that were investigated by each branch of the Service police in each year from 2009 to 2013, the number referred to the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) and the result of those referrals. The SPA can receive formal referrals only from either Service Police or the Commanding Officer.

It should be noted that the SPA may receive referrals in one year which relate to allegations and investigations made in previous years and that such cases may be directed, disposed and/or tried in following years. There is therefore no direct correlation between investigations and referrals and the number of cases brought in any one year.

ROYAL NAVY POLICE (RNP) INVESTIGATIONS

Rape

Sexual Assault (including assault by penetration)

ROYAL MILITARY POLICE (RMP) INVESTIGATIONS

Rape

2013 – DIRECTED FOR TRIAL – 3 cases yet to go to trial

Sexual Assault (including assault by penetration)

Year	Total Investigated by RMP	Total Referred to SPA	Directed For Trial	Acquitted	Convicted	Custodial sentence
2009 (Figures in first column are from 1 Nov –figures in subsequent columns are for all of 2009)	9	24	9	4	5	5
2010	64	42	24	3	21	13
2011	48	60	28	2	25	20
2012	36	26*	15	9	6	4
2013	43	34	17	6	8	7

2013 – DIRECTED FOR TRIAL – 3 cases yet to go to trial

* We previously advised this as being “28”, but on re-investigation realised we have included 2 other Service police referrals that were not for sexual assault.

ROYAL AIR FORCE POLICE INVESTIGATIONS

Rape

2013 – DIRECTED FOR TRIAL – 2 cases yet to go to trial

Sexual Assault (including assault by penetration)

2013 – DIRECTED FOR TRIAL – 1 case yet to go to trial

Domestic violence is not a crime classification, but may be recorded under the crime classification of violence, for example battery, assault or grievous bodily harm. For the Service Police to establish which offences are as a result of domestic violence would require an individual review of all cases, which could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

I apologise for not replying sooner; it has taken some time to ensure the accuracy of the data.

02/11/2022

Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the UK will support the request from the Palestinian Authority for an emergency session of the UN Security Council on the treatment of Palestinian detainees.

Hugh Robertson

The UK is concerned about the situation of Palestinians in Israeli detention, and we raise this issue regularly with the Israeli authorities. However, the Palestinian Authority has not made a formal request for an emergency session of the UN Security Council to address this issue.

02/11/2022
Gerald Kaufman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gerald Kaufman on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will confirm the legal protections for existing collective bargaining agreements between recognised trade unions and West Coast Trains Ltd for the period of the rail passenger franchise directly awarded to the employer on 19 June and coming into effect on 22 June 2014.

Stephen Hammond

As there has been no change of employer under this direct award, our expectation is that the status of contracts, collective bargaining agreements and legal protections are unchanged. However, staffing matters remain an issue between the employer, West Coast Trains Limited, and its staff.

02/11/2022
Charlie Elphicke – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlie Elphicke on 2014-06-24.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when assessments have been made of the value for money of the private finance initiative contract between HM Revenue and Customs and Mapeley Steps Contractor Limited; and when the first such assessment was made.

Mr David Gauke

The National Audit Office (NAO) have conducted two value for money assessments on the private finance initiative contract between HM Revenue and Customs and Mapeley STEPS Contractor Limited. The first of these, PFI: The STEPS Deal, was published by the NAO on 7 May 2004. The second NAO value for money assessment, HM Revenue & Customs’ Estate Private Finance Deal Eight Years On, was published on 3 December 2009.

02/11/2022
Emma Lewell-Buck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emma Lewell-Buck on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by his Department received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14.

Kris Hopkins

The table below provides a summary of the performance results for non-Senior Civil Service staff for whom the DCLG process applied, where disability has been declared, and whose performance markings have been entered into the HR database:

Number of staff

Exceptional

Good

Development

Needed

Not Disabled

217

824

94

Disabled

7

45

15

Due to changes in methodology in the manner in which such assessments are undertaken, these figures are not comparative with those given to the hon. Member in the answer to her of 4 November 2013, Official Report, Column 22W.

The small sample sizes may mean the results are not statistically significant. We will be undertaking further analysis of the wider performance outcomes across both performance years and all protected characteristics. We will consider whether action is required to address any clear findings.

The Department provides a reasonable adjustments service, which has recently been subject to a review, to allow staff to ensure that a person with a disability is not put at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled persons generally, who work under the same conditions. The Department’s Disability Champion also continues to work closely with the Disability Staff Network in raising awareness of disability issues to the wider Department.

02/11/2022
David Amess – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent representations he has received on the establishment of a national cemetery; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey

None. DCMS has no responsibility for cemeteries.

02/11/2022

Total Investigated by RNP

Total Referred to SPA

Directed

For

Trial

Acquitted

Convicted

Custodial sentence

2009

(Figures in first column are from 1 Nov –figures in subsequent columns are for all of 2009)

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emma Lewell-Buck on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by his Department received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14.

Elizabeth Truss

The information requested is set out in the table below.

Table 1: 2013-14 Performance Management Outturn Figures for the Department for Education

Performance Rating	Declared Disability	No declared disability	Not declared
Top/Exceeded	14%	26%	22%
Achieving/Achieved	69%	66%	68%
Low/Must Improve	17%	8%	10%

The Department continues to take steps to ensure that its performance ratings are a fair reflection of individual performance. Over the last year, this has included independent members being present at end of year meetings where performance assessments are moderated and training for staff on how to avoid unconscious bias.

02/11/2022

Paul Flynn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2013-14, published on 23 June 2014, what estimate he has made of the additional cost to the public purse arising from the increased cost on an undiscounted basis of legacy radioactive waste and nuclear plant commissioning announced in that report.

Michael Fallon

As reported in the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2013/14, the Nuclear Provision (the estimated cost to complete the decommissioning of all 17 sites in the authority’s estate) is now calculated as £65bn on a discounted basis (£110bn undiscounted). These costs will be borne in their entirety by the public purse.

02/11/2022
Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Iranian government about the imprisonment of Pastor Behnam Irani.

Hugh Robertson

We are aware of the arrest and imprisonment of Pastor Behnam Irani. We remain deeply concerned about the detention and treatment of all prisoners of conscience in Iran and the ongoing discrimination against Christians and other minority religious groups. We have called for the Iranian government to protect the rights of all minority groups in Iran and end the persecution of individuals on the basis of their faith. The UK’s non-resident Chargé d’Affaires raised the issue of freedom of religion with the Iranian authorities during his visit to Iran on 12 March.

02/11/2022