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Tag: 2014

  • Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many refused claims for personal independence payment for people residing in the Preston constituency have been (a) appealed and (b) successfully appealed to date.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    The First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support), administered by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions’ decisions on a range of benefits, including a person’s entitlement to Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

    Claimants for PIP can appeal to the Tribunal on a number of different grounds, such as the rate of benefit awarded. HMCTS is unable to isolate data relating to appeals solely on the basis of a claim for PIP having been refused. HMCTS does not, therefore, hold the specific information requested.

    Information on all appeals against PIP decisions is published by HMCTS in Tribunal Statistics Quarterly. The most recent report for the period January to March 2014, published on 12 June 2014, can be viewed at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tribunal-statistics-quarterly-january-to-march-2014.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many employment and support allowance claimants telephoned 0843 515 8650 in the first quarter of 2014; what the average cost of such calls has been to claimants; and what the average length of each such call has been.

    Mike Penning

    DWP does not operate any telephone lines starting 0843, and therefore receives no revenue from 0843 515 8650.

    Similarly, DWP is unable to provide any information on the number of employment and support allowance claimants who call 0843 515 8650

  • Baroness Doocey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Baroness Doocey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Doocey on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many prosecutions have been double flagged by the Crown Prosecution Service over the past three years using the flag for monitoring human trafficking and the flag for monitoring child abuse.

    Lord Wallace of Tankerness

    The Crown Prosecution Service identifies both human trafficking and child abuse cases by way of a database monitoring flag applied to the electronic case record.

    The number of defendants prosecuted who were flagged for human trafficking offences and where the child abuse flag was applied are outlined in the table below. During the past year there has been an increase in the numbers of such cases investigated by law enforcement agencies and referred to the CPS for prosecution.

    2011-2012

    2012-2013

    2013-2014

    9

    19

    59
  • Lord Smith of Finsbury – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Smith of Finsbury – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Smith of Finsbury on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the decision by the government of the United States to deny certain Ugandan officials entry into the United States following the passage of the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act in February; whether they have plans to introduce similar measures in the United Kingdom; and whether they intend to encourage other European Union countries to enact similar measures.

    Baroness Warsi

    The UK shares the concerns of the US about the Anti-Homosexuality Act in Uganda and notes the US’s recent decision to apply existing visa mechanisms, redirect some healthcare support, end support for a community policing project, and cancel a military aviation exercise in response to the passing of the legislation. The UK is working closely with international partners to register its concerns, to seek assurances about the protection of individuals, and to initiate dialogue about improving protection of minority rights.

    The UK is engaging closely with civil society groups in Uganda working to support inclusivity, diversity, and tolerance, and to consult with them about the most appropriate next steps.

    With our support, EU Heads of Mission in Kampala met the Ugandan government on 28 March to initiate a strengthened political dialogue under Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement. Discussions are ongoing.

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

    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 the Insolvency Service’s Redundancy Payments Service has made payments of protective awards due to failures on the part of the company or administrator to conduct a proper collective consultation in each of the last five years; to which companies such awards were made; and how much was paid out in (a) statutory entitlements and (b) protective awards in each such case.

    Jenny Willott

    The Insolvency Service’s Redundancy Payments Service (RPS) only makes protective award payments to employees if their employer is insolvent and an employment tribunal has determined that there was insufficient consultation, by the company, administrator or liquidator, regarding redundancies and makes a protective award.

    In the last five financial years, the RPS has paid out the following in statutory payments for cases where a protective award was awarded:

    · 2009-2010 £87,209,871.62

    · 2010-2011 £82,604,201.50

    · 2011-2012 £68,181,382.07

    · 2012-2013 £57,267,407.27

    · 2013-2014 £7,937,522.34

    The protective award payments made on these cases (in addition to the statutory payments) were as following:

    • 2009-2010 £28,808,241.65
    • 2010-2011 £30,997,901.63
    • 2011-2012 £23,437,557.92
    • 2012-2013 £29,290,224.74
    • 2013-2014 £16,581,330.05

    These figures include cases in administration and those in liquidation

    A breakdown of the individual cases is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  • Henry Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Henry Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure a suitable commemoration of the First World War; and if he will support the Royal Sussex Regiment Association’s efforts for a memorial to be erected in Priez, France.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    The Government will mark the centenary of the First World War with an appropriate programme of national events, cultural activities, educational initiatives and community projects across 2014-18. It is fitting that organisations such as the Royal Sussex Regiment Association are seeking to commemorate the centenary in ways which are meaningful for them.

  • Andrew Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Andrew Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Smith on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which local authorities have been sent letters indicating that they may have to pay part or all of the fines arising from infraction proceedings following the European Court of Justice’s finding against the UK for breach of nitrogen dioxide limit values under the EU Air Quality Directive.

    Dan Rogerson

    In March this year, Defra sent letters to all local authorities in England to inform them of the Commission’s decision to commence infraction procedures against the UK for non-compliance with NO2 limit values, what it means and the next steps that should be taken by the Government in response. As part of this, local authorities were reminded of the discretionary power in Part 2 of the Localism Act under which the Government could require responsible authorities to pay all or part of an infraction fine.

  • John Denham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    John Denham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Denham on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how long drivers who have produced the necessary medical evidence have waitied before their licence is restored following suspension for medical reasons.

    Stephen Hammond

    The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency does not temporarily suspend driving licences. Drivers may have their licence revoked or choose to surrender their licence voluntarily if their medical condition affects their fitness to drive.

    On average, drivers who have produced the necessary medical evidence following revocation wait eight weeks before their licence is restored.

  • Emma Lewell-Buck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Emma Lewell-Buck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

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

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, 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.

    Mr Francis Maude

    Performance ratings have not been finalised for Cabinet Office staff for 2013-14.

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether levels of poverty and deprivation in coastal towns are considered by his Department when making grants from the Coastal Communities Fund.

    Brandon Lewis

    Grant applicants submitting bids to the Coastal Communities Fund are expected to demonstrate the need for their project, which can include levels of poverty and deprivation in their area. This information is one of a range of factors that are taken into account in the assessment of grant applications. However, the Fund is not specifically targeted on deprived coastal towns. Its aim is to support jobs and growth in coastal communities across the United Kingdom where projects can best exploit local assets and opportunities to unlock their growth potential. In addition to demonstrating need, applications to the Fund must be clearly linked to an economic opportunity to create and safeguard jobs within the coastal community. Coastal flooding and erosion risk management and repair are also priorities for grant aid where proposed works support economic development.