The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his sources of advice are on security and terrorism in the part of Western Sahara not occupied by Morocco.
Hugh Robertson
We are open to all relevant sources of information on security and terrorism East of the Berm including MINURSO, which has a presence in this area.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-03-10.
To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made on the viability of permitting people to vote in any polling station in their constituency or local authority area.
Gary Streeter
The Electoral Commission informs me that permitting people to vote electronically at any polling station within a specific ward or local authority area was piloted by a number of English local authorities between 2002 and 2007 as part of the previous UK Government’s electoral pilot scheme programme.
The Commission’s statutory evaluation of the pilot schemes concluded that while some people welcomed the convenience of “vote anywhere” polling stations, the impact on turnout was minimal and there were significant technical problems associated with the facility in some areas.
The Commission has recommended that there should be no further piloting of electronic voting – including “vote anywhere” polling stations – without the development of a wider electoral modernisation strategy, which should take account of the specific risks related to electronic voting, as well as its cost-effectiveness and likely impact on public trust.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that people who are homeless are (a) able to access hepatitis C services and (b) supported in completing treatment for that condition.
Jane Ellison
The commissioning of local Hepatitis C services, including bespoke services for homeless people or other at-risk groups, is the responsibility of local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). NHS England expects that decisions made by local CCGs will take account of the needs of their local populations.
A range of materials has been published to help CCGs commission relevant services. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has published guidance on improving uptake of testing and diagnosis for hepatitis C in risk groups. Public Health England has published a commissioning template to support commissioning of hepatitis C diagnosis and treatment services. Guidance for commissioning bespoke services for homeless people has been published by the Faculty for Homeless and Inclusion Health.
The Department supports the Inclusion Health programme which champions the health and health care of vulnerable groups, including homeless people. The programme seeks to improve the health data for these groups, and set out practical steps for assessing needs (e.g. through Joint Strategic Need Assessments) and commissioning services. We are also involved in funding work in this area through the Homeless Hospital Discharge Fund to improve hospital discharge arrangements for people who are homeless (£10 million 2013-14) and £40 million capital fund for hostel refurbishment with a focus on improving health outcomes (2014-15).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Roger Godsiff on 2014-03-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the quality of the administration of the short-term benefit advances scheme since its inception.
Esther McVey
DWP has a quality framework in place for checking the accuracy of Short Term Benefit Advance decisions. In February 2014, checks confirmed 96% accuracy of application decisions. In terms of timeliness, an average 98% of all application decisions made throughout the operational year since April 2013 were made within 24 hours.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Alexander on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he considers the existing mandate of the UN Special Envoy to Syria is sufficient.
Mr William Hague
The UK fully supports the role of the UN Special Representative and the efforts to bring about political transition as set out in the Geneva Communiqué. The scope of the mandate for Mr Brahimi’s successor is under consideration by the UN.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2014-03-27.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will attempt to measure the re-offending rates of ex-service personnel convicted of criminal offences.
Lord Faulks
The Ministry of Justice does not centrally collate or hold information on the current or previous occupation of those convicted of criminal offences; therefore it is not possible to provide re-offending rates for ex-service personnel in the criminal justice system.
Rory Stewart MP has been invited to conduct an independent review of ex-Service personnel within the criminal justice system. He has been asked to consider the needs of ex-Services personnel, current rehabilitation available to them, how they are identified and best practice. The Review is due to report back in autumn 2014 and we will then consider his recommendations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gloria De Piero on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential cost to her Department of including mothers’ names on marriage certificates.
Karen Bradley
The marriage certificate is an exact copy of the marriage entry which is in a
form prescribed in the Regulation of Marriage Regulations 1986. We are
currently considering how the information captured in the marriage entry can be
updated to reflect changes since 1986, as well as including the names of
mothers; the costs of doing so and the most suitable opportunity for doing so.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Boateng on 2014-03-27.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the decision to refuse legal aid to the family of Cherry Groce at the inquest into her death is consistent with the equality objectives of the Ministry of Justice.
Lord Faulks
The Government is confident that the inquest system is functioning effectively following reforms introduced last July under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. We are committed to reviewing the impact of the reforms in 2015.
In addition, the Government has specifically protected legal aid for families at inquests. Legal Help (the advice and assistance level of legal aid) remains routinely available within the scope of the civil legal aid scheme. In exceptional circumstances funding can also be provided for the family’s legal representation at the inquest pursuant to section 6(8)(b) of the Access to Justice Act 1999 (AJA) or section 10(1) of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 (LASPO) (the applicable legislation depending on the date of the original application). A means test applies but can be waived in certain circumstances.
The Lord Chancellor is prevented by statute from giving directions and guidance to the Legal Aid Agency in relation to an individual case, but has published general guidance to which the Director of Legal Aid Casework must have regard when making individual decisions on applications for exceptional funding for representation at inquests. The guidance sets out the relevant criteria and specifically addresses inquests where there is a death in custody or a death in the course of police arrest, search, pursuit or shooting.
Following a review of its decision in the Groce family’s case, the Legal Aid Agency made a funding request to the Lord Chancellor. The Lord Chancellor has considered the request and has granted funding
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Stephenson on 2014-06-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of how many adults in (a) Pendle constituency, (b) East Lancashire and (c) the North West have taken part in at least one sporting activity each week in each of the last five years.
Mrs Helen Grant
|
|
2009 (APS3) |
2010 (APS4) |
2011 (APS5) |
2012 (APS6) |
2013 (APS7) |
|
Pendle (LA) |
20,600 |
23,100 |
21,400 |
22,600 |
24,200 |
|
Lancashire |
410,000 |
405,300 |
409,500 |
415,000 |
420,600 |
|
North West |
2,007,800 |
1,996,700 |
1,986,000 |
2,066,500 |
2,055,800 |
Participation data is from the Active People Survey which measures the number of people aged 16 and above taking part in sport in England.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-03-26.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 12W, on individual savings accounts and with reference to HM Revenue and Custom’s policy paper published on the new ISA and changes to Junior ISA and the Child Trust Fund, what assessment he has made of the consequences for (a) the economy, (b) capital markets and (c) business of a shift in savings portfolio composition away from securities towards cash.
Mr David Gauke
HM TREASURY
Tom Blenkinsop MP
MIDDLESBOROUGH SOUTH & CLEVELAND EAST
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 12W, on individual savings accounts and with reference to HM Revenue and Custom’s policy paper published on the new ISA and changes to Junior ISA and the Child Trust Fund, what assessment he has made of the consequences for (a) the economy, (b) capital markets and (c) business of a shift in savings portfolio composition away from securities towards cash. 193987
DAVID GAUKE
From 1 July 2014 the overall annual New ISA subscription limit will be increased to £15,000 and can be used for either cash or stocks and shares investments, or any combination of the two, up to this limit. At the same time the annual Junior ISA and Child Trust Fund subscription limits will be increased to £4,000.
These measures were part of a wider Budget packaged aimed at supporting savers. These ISA measures will reduce income tax on savings for people constrained by the current limits, improving incentives to save and increasing real household disposable incomes. Over 6 million people each year are expected to benefit from these increases, including over 5 million adults currently constrained by the cash ISA limit, three quarters of whom are basic rate taxpayers and a third are pensioners.
As HMRC’s published Tax Information and Impact Note explains, the increase to real household disposable incomes resulting from the New ISA changes might feed through to higher consumption or savings in the household sector. There may also be a shift in the savings portfolio composition towards cash deposits. At the same time there may be an overall increase in savings invested in securities.
Stocks and shares, and cash offer very different risk and expected return profiles, and the tax treatment will be just one factor affecting investors’ choice between them. In 2012-13, the FTSE All-Share Index grew by 5.6 per cent (excluding dividend yield). In contrast bank and building society deposit returns averaged 1.95 per cent.
For individuals who prefer to hold their savings portfolio in stocks and shares rather than cash, the New ISA will provide a significant increase to the amount that can be invested and held within the tax-advantaged ISA wrapper for 2014-15, from £11,880 to £15,000.