Tag: 2014

  • Nadine Dorries – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Nadine Dorries – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nadine Dorries on 2014-06-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if his Department will strengthen levels of protection of elderly and vulnerable people by allowing the Office of the Public Guardian to investigate abuses of power of attorney in cases where these powers have been revoked.

    Simon Hughes

    The Government is committed to protecting elderly and vulnerable people, and to ensuring that anyone responsible for abuse is dealt with appropriately.

    The Public Guardian has power to investigate cases where concerns are raised about the actions of a person acting under a power of attorney, and to apply to the Court to revoke the power of attorney where necessary to prevent abuse. The Public Guardian will refer cases to health and care authorities, who can act under statutory safeguarding powers to protect an individual who may be at risk, and to the police if he suspects a criminal offence has been committed.

    We are currently considering whether the Public Guardian needs additional powers to strengthen his role in safeguarding elderly and vulnerable people, including the power to continue an investigation after a power of attorney or court order has been revoked or disclaimed. This would require changes to primary legislation.

    Data on prosecutions for fraud, or for ill-treatment and neglect under the Mental Capacity Act 2005, do not specify whether the allegation relates to a person acting under a power of attorney. The Government’s response to the House of Lords Select Committee’s report on the Mental Capacity Act includes a commitment to review the use of the criminal offence under s44 of the Act.

  • James Arbuthnot – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    James Arbuthnot – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by James Arbuthnot on 2014-06-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when his Department intends to acquire aircraft to carry out long range search and rescue at sea; and if he will make a statement.

    Stephen Hammond

    The Department for Transport uses its own search and rescue helicopters and those of the military to provide search and rescue today. The Department for Transport will also draw upon other resources including other military assets and assets from neighbouring states under long established arrangements for international cooperation. The Convention of the High Seas also enables the Department to divert merchant ships to provide assistance to those in distress where it is reasonable to do so.

  • Baroness Thomas of Winchester – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Baroness Thomas of Winchester – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2014-06-26.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements local authorities will have in place, following the abolition of the paper Vehicle Access Duty tax disc from 1 October, to check the status of a vehicle parked in a bay or location authorised only for use by a disabled driver.

    Baroness Kramer

    It is for individual local authorities to decide how to establish the licensing status of vehicles parked in areas restricted to disabled drivers following the abolition of the vehicle tax disc.

    The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has liaised with local authorities about the abolition of the tax disc and provided a broad range of information to help inform their customers. A specific email address has been established to deal with any queries from local authorities and a workshop has been organised for 2 July.

    The DVLA has also enhanced its online vehicle enquiry system, which now includes information about the taxation class of a vehicle.

  • Nick de Bois – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Nick de Bois – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick de Bois on 2014-06-26.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 25 June 2014, Official Report, column 228W, on billing, what the value is of the sums being claimed by outstanding creditors at 31 May 2014.

    Mr Francis Maude

    The value of sums being claimed by non-government creditors at 31 May 2014, can be found in the table below. All unpaid invoices are in dispute.

    Number of days unpaid

    Value

    45 – 59

    £120,891.87

    60-74

    £293,868.79

    75 and over

    £334,974.27

  • Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will publish the official appointments which took place during the Minister for Sport, Tourism and Equalities’ recent visit to Brazil; and if he will make a statement.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    Details of Ministers’ visits overseas are published quarterly and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/expenses-and-hospitality

    The latest data available at this time is:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dcms-meetings-and-hospitality-data-october-to-december-2013

  • Chris Bryant – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Chris Bryant – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Bryant on 2014-06-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of extending entitlement to WaterSure to all claimants of universal credit once universal credit has been fully rolled out.

    Dan Rogerson

    I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

    The WaterSure tariff lowers the bills of low-income, metered customers that have unavoidably high water use. WaterSure is provided by all water companies in England to qualifying customers and caps their water bills at the average for their region. WaterSure customers will continue to benefit from the scheme when their qualifying benefit or tax credit is replaced by Universal Credit. The WaterSure tariff is funded through cross subsidy between water customers; there is no cost to the public purse.

  • Maria Eagle – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Maria Eagle – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2014-06-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much resource his Department plans to provide as matched funding for badger vacination to tackle bovine TB in (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2015-16.

    George Eustice

    In April 2013, as part of the Government’s Strategy for achieving Officially Bovine Tuberculosis Free Status for England, the Secretary of State announced new support for privately led vaccination initiatives in the Edge Area. Building on ongoing work with stakeholders, including a key workshop held on 24 June, a new scheme will be launched shortly and will offer financial and other support, such as training and advice. Announcements about the future of the existing Badger Vaccination Fund, which has been available since 2012 and has offered more limited support, will also be made in due course. The total funds offered will be dependent on demand.

  • Robert Halfon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Robert Halfon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Halfon on 2014-06-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the current waiting times are for NHS knee replacement operation in England, by region.

    Jane Ellison

    The information requested is not held centrally. Consultant-led referral to treatment waiting times are collected separately for 18 high volume treatment functions (divisions of clinical work based on main specialty), including trauma and orthopaedics, but not for individual procedures such as knee replacements.

  • Philip Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Philip Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2014-06-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of police hunts for all prisoners who have absconded or escaped from prisons in each of the last five years.

    Damian Green

    This information is not held centrally.

  • Chris Bryant – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Chris Bryant – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Bryant on 2014-06-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of extending entitlement to (a) legal aid and (b) remission from court costs to all claimants of universal credit once universal credit has been fully rolled out.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    The information requested is contained in a letter that I sent on 10 June to the Rt Hon Member for East Ham in response to his earlier Parliamentary Question on the same subject. That letter has now been deposited in the Library of the House. (Deposit Reference: DEP2014-1040)