The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many employees of the big six energy companies are currently seconded to his Department.
Gregory Barker
There are currently no employees, seconded from any of the big six energy companies, working in the Department of Energy & Climate Change.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if his Department will assess the viability of using Kielder Water as a water source and linking it to the national water grid.
Dan Rogerson
We have been working closely with Ofwat and the Environment Agency to consider how we can promote connectivity in our water supply system of which the establishment of a national water grid is only one option. The infrastructure investment needed for a grid is considerable. Water is also heavy, difficult and costly to move. Relatively local connections are likely to be the best options, incrementally building a wider and more integrated network.
Water companies are already joining up sources of supply to build resilience and are strongly encouraged to consider options for interconnections in their Water Resources Management Plans (WRMP), alongside other options, such as demand management. All water companies have statutory WRMPs, which look ahead at least 25 years. The Water Act 2014 includes provisions that will make it easier for water companies to make bulk supply arrangements between their networks.
Kielder Water has a very large capacity and offers security of supply to customers in the Northumbrian Water Limited operating area. Other water companies outside the area have investigated ways of using Kielder as part of their 2014 WRMPs. The water companies found that local solutions offered better value for both customers and the environment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Colombian counterpart supporting the requests for an investigation into the murders of four FENSUAGRO trades union members shot dead on 17 May 2014 in Alto Amarradero.
Mr Hugo Swire
I met representatives from six human rights organisations, including Oxfam and Christian Aid as well as Colombian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) during my visit to Bogotá last week. I also met two Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs, heads of the Colombian Government’s major human rights agencies and representatives of the Attorney-General’s office. I set out HM Government concern about the reported rise in attacks against human rights defenders and a lack of sentences for those responsible.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anas Sarwar on 2014-06-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with representatives from charitable and youth organisations on the effect of the new flat-rate housing cost contribution on unemployed young people.
Steve Webb
None.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charles Kennedy on 2014-06-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will bring forward plans to enable the Green Investment Bank to purchase equity in existing offshore projects to enable similar investment in onshore wind turbine construction; and if he will make a statement.
Michael Fallon
The role of the Green Investment Bank (GIB) is to help finance green infrastructure projects. The terms of its state aid approval do not allow it to invest in specific supply chain companies or activities such as turbine manufacturing. GIB has already taken equity stakes in a number of operating offshore wind farms.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2014-06-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what value of land has been transferred from local authorities into the leasehold or freehold ownership of academy trusts since 2010.
Mr Edward Timpson
I refer the Rt hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Stockton North on 23 June 2014, Official Report c75W.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-06-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make an assessment of the performance of Pearson VUE in delivering skills tests for prospective teachers on behalf of his Department.
Mr David Laws
As the current contractor delivering the skills test for prospective teachers, Pearson VUE reports weekly to officials on day-to-day delivery against agreed service levels. Pearson VUE is also appropriately engaged in handover of the service to the new contractor.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hugh Bayley on 2014-06-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many organ donations have been received in Yorkshire and the Humber in 2008-09 and in each year since.
Jane Ellison
The information requested is in the following tables:
Deceased organ donors at hospitals in Yorkshire and the Humber – by financial year as at 30 June 2014
|
Year |
Number |
|
2008-09 |
57 |
|
2009-10 |
81 |
|
2010-11 |
79 |
|
2011-12 |
74 |
|
2012-13 |
86 |
|
2013-14 |
87 |
|
2014-15 (to date) |
19 |
|
Total |
483 |
Source: NHS Blood and Transplant
Total organ transplants for Yorkshire and the Humber residents1 – by financial year as at 30 June 2014
|
Total |
2008-09 |
2009-10 |
2010-11 |
2011-12 |
2012-13 |
2013-14 |
2014-15 (to date) |
|
Organs |
305 |
266 |
300 |
321 |
320 |
381 |
94 |
1Transplant counts are based on recipient residence postcode rather than transplant unit
Source: NHS Blood and Transplant
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Betts on 2014-06-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Care Act 2014 and the care and support statutory guidance, whether self-funders and those with personalised care budgets are under an obligation to show that they are paying social care firms enough to pay their staff at least the minimum wage, including remuneration for travel time between appointments.
Norman Lamb
Self-funders and people with personal budgets whose care is arranged by their local authority have no obligations under the provisions of the Care Act 2014, draft statutory Care Act guidance or draft regulations on the Care Act, to show that they pay social care providers enough to pay their staff at least the minimum wage, including remuneration for travel time between appointments. Social care providers must fulfil their legal obligations as employers which include ensuring that staff salaries conform to the national minimum wage.
If a person chooses to request their personal budget as a direct payment to purchase their own care and support, the draft Care Act guidance details what the local authority should do as part of its general monitoring of the direct payment to ensure that the person fulfils their legal obligations as an employer. This includes ensuring that the person is registered as an employer with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and is making the appropriate contributions for PAYE and income tax, and that payments conform to the national minimum wage. Where it is apparent that these obligations are not being met, the local authority should review the care plan and making of the direct payment to ascertain if alternate arrangements need to be made that result in the person no longer being an employer (para 12.46-12.49, p172-73).
The draft guidance and regulations on the Care Act are currently open for public consultation. The Department is also undertaking a series of engagement events with social care stakeholders to gather feedback on the content of the guidance and regulations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hugh Bayley on 2014-06-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what transport grant was given to York Unitary Authority in each year since 2008-09.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Department for Transport provides grant funding to local highway authorities, including the City of York. Funding allocated to the City of York since 2008/09 for transport purposes that the Department has records of is listed below:
|
Year |
Capital £m |
Revenue £m |
|
2008/09 |
5.941 |
1.837 |
|
2009/10 |
6.219 |
0.738 |
|
2010/11 |
4.551 |
1.345 |
|
2011/12 |
3.899 |
0.421 |
|
2012/13 |
6.886 |
0.647 |
|
2013/14 |
16.997 |
0.932 |
|
2014/15 |
6.001 |
0.685 |
This funding is for Highways Maintenance, Integrated Transport, Local Sustainable Transport and Major Projects.
Since 2010 this Government has simplified funding arrangements to local authorities in order to provide them with greater flexibility in how the funding is spent to respond to local needs.