Tag: 2014

  • Mr David Crausby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electorial Commission

    Mr David Crausby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electorial Commission

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr David Crausby on 2014-03-11.

    To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what the electoral registration figures were in each ward in the recent confirmation dry run conducted in Bolton North East constituency.

    Gary Streeter

    The Electoral Commission informs me that the confirmation dry run involved matching all entries on the electoral registers against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Customer Information System database. Entries would be marked as green if they matched with DWP, amber if they were a partial match or red if there was no match.

    Results for all wards are available on the Commission’s website here: http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/excel_doc/0003/163146/Confirmation-dry-run-2013-Results-Wards.xls

    The ward results for the Bolton North East constituency were as follows:

    Ward

    Green matches

    Amber matches

    Red matches

    ASTLEY BRIDGE

    82.7%

    1.1%

    16.2%

    BRADSHAW

    86.7%

    1.1%

    12.2%

    BREIGHTMET

    83.1%

    1.4%

    15.5%

    BROMLEY CROSS

    84.9%

    0.8%

    14.3%

    CROMPTON

    75.9%

    2.8%

    21.3%

    HALLIWELL

    73.4%

    2.8%

    23.8%

    TONGE WITH THE HAULGH

    79.5%

    1.7%

    18.8%

  • Lord Wills – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Lord Wills – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wills on 2014-06-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Stowell of Beeston on 14 May (WA 507), what allowance was made in each of the last five years for funding local authorities to pay the expenses incurred by a registration officer in the performance of their registration duties.

    Baroness Stowell of Beeston

    Funding for local authorities provided by central Government through Formula Grant up until 2012-13 or the current Business Rates Retention scheme is un-hypothecated and, therefore, it is not possible to provide a figure for any specific service in a year. Funding for all net costs of the transition to Individual Electoral Registration is paid through non-ring fenced section 31 grants to local authorities in England. Spending decisions are made by local authorities and details of expenditure can be found in the annual Local Government statistics at:

    www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-government-financial-statistics-england-2014

    Details of the Individual Electoral Registration funding are available at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/254816/Indicative_allocations_spreadsheet_formatted.xlsx

  • Teresa Pearce – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Teresa Pearce – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Teresa Pearce on 2014-03-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he plans to take to monitor the effect of recent restrictions on Access to Work funding for communication support for deaf and deafblind people.

    Mike Penning

    We continually monitor the impact of our policies and processes by liaising with and requesting feedback from our customers and a range of stakeholder organisations.

    The current process is being taken in respect of requests for funding from all customers needing assistance of this type and extent to ensure that programme funds are being managed equitably and consistently to assist with the work needs of the maximum possible number of disabled people.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Greg Mulholland – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many female genital mutilation cases her Department has been made aware of in each year since 2012; and in how many such cases those involved were either deported or threatened with deportation.

    James Brokenshire

    Information on the basis of claim for asylum is not centrally recorded, and the information requested in the Rt. Hon. Member’s question could only be obtained through a manual search of individual case files. This would exceed the cost limit.

    As we do not centrally record the information requested, we are unable to obtain the data for the number of people, whose claim involved female genital mutilation, that were deported or threatened with deportation.

  • Rachel Reeves – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Rachel Reeves – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachel Reeves on 2014-03-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Universal Credit system will accept new claims for employment and support allowance by the end of 2016.

    Esther McVey

    While the majority of the legacy caseload will move to Universal Credit during 2016 and 2017, claimants in receipt of Income based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) will retain their current arrangements during this period unless there is a relevant change in their circumstances. Final decisions on the implementation of the programme will be informed by the development of the enhanced digital solution.

  • Robert Flello – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Robert Flello – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he and his Department have received regarding alleged fabrication of charges by the Colombian state against David Flórez, spokesperson for the Patriotic March movement.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    My Department has not received any representations regarding alleged fabrication of charges by the Colombian state against David Florez.

  • Lord Lester of Herne Hill – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Lester of Herne Hill – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill on 2014-03-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they intend to take in the light of the judgments of the Supreme Court in the case of Stott v Thomas CookTour Operators Ltd [2014] UKSC 15 to ensure that airline passengers have redress for violations of their fundamental human rights.

    Baroness Kramer

    The Department for Transport is currently considering the decision of the Supreme Court Judgement on the Stott v Thomas Cook case and any actions that may be necessary as a result.

  • Jason McCartney – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jason McCartney – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jason McCartney on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the commissioning of homecare services by the NHS.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    It is important that patients, including those with cystic fibrosis, get those high cost drugs provided through homecare services on time.

    The Department commissioned a review of homecare medicine supply arrangements to ensure they deliver the best value for patients, the National Health Service and the provider market. The review report, Homecare Medicines: Towards a Vision for the Future, was published in December 2011 and is available at:

    http://media.dh.gov.uk/network/121/files/2011/12/111201-Homecare-Medicines-Towards-a-Vision-for-the-Future2.pdf

    The outcome of subsequent improvement work is summarised in the further report, Homecare Medicines: Towards a Vision for the Future – Taking Forward the Recommendations, published in May 2014 and available at:

    www.uhns.nhs.uk/AboutUs/NHSHomecareMedicinesinEngland.aspx

    NHS England issued a patient safety alert on minimising the risks of omitted and delayed medicines for patients receiving homecare services on 10 April 2014. This recommended that all healthcare organisations that commission clinical homecare services:

    – establish if medicine homecare services were used by their organisation and if incidents of omitted and delayed medicines had occurred;

    – consider whether immediate action needed to be taken locally and, if required, develop an action plan, to reduce risk and the potential risk to patients;

    – disseminate the alert to all medical, nursing, pharmacy and other staff involved in the care of homecare patients; and

    – report patient safety incidents concerning homecare to the National Reporting and Learning Service.

    A copy of the patient safety alert is available at:

    www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/psa-omitted-delayed-meds.pdf

    The Department continues to work with NHS England, homecare companies, pharmaceutical suppliers and the NHS to ensure that homecare arrangements are safe and deliver value for the NHS and improved outcomes for patients.

  • James Wharton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    James Wharton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by James Wharton on 2014-03-10.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Honours and Decorations Committee last met to consider the recommendations put forward by Sir John Holmes regarding the rules for the awarding of military medals.

    Francis Maude

    The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee) met in January 2014 and considered a number of recommendations put forward by Sir John Holmes regarding the rules for awarding military medals. The Committee’s report is now in the process of being formally approved.

  • Gareth Thomas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Gareth Thomas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the European Commission provides support to the victims of recent flooding in the Balkans; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr David Lidington

    The UK has worked closely with the EU European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), and offered advice and assistance during all phases of the flood response effort.

    In Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), between 18 and 23 May a thirty-three person water rescue team from the British Fire Service was deployed to work alongside EU Force (EUFOR) Operation Althea and local rescue efforts. They rescued nearly 200 people, delivered large amounts of humanitarian aid, and helped restore power in villages North of Bijeljina.

    In Serbia, the UK provided 64 radios for the Serbian Ministry of the Interior, to assist with the coordination of their response teams; and donated £280,000 worth of heavy lift and transport vehicles to the Serbian Red Cross to aid their relief distribution effort.

    A team from the UK flew out to Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in the week commencing 20 May to assess likely humanitarian and recovery needs. Subsequently the UK provided £250,000 to support a World Vision flood response project in the region focussing on sanitation and health and providing support for 140,000 people made homeless by the floods. ECHO have released €3.2m in humanitarian aid to support the most vulnerable population in BiH and in Serbia and the Commission has reallocated a further €62m to support short to medium term recovery and reconstruction needs in the affected areas. To both the UK will have contributed 15 per cent and we will continue to work with the European Commission to try to identify any further assistance which could be made available from existing budgets.

    In BiH, EUFOR Operation Althea, to which the UK contributes troops in-theatre and in reserve, assisted the BiH Armed Forces in their response to the flooding. The First Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland, who provide part of EUFOR’s intermediate reserve, and are in BiH for a routine operational rehearsal, are assisting the BiH Armed Forces in this regard.

    The government will continue to work closely with the EU, the UN and other international organisations to assess what further help might be given to help both Serbia and Bosnia Herzegovina recover from the impact of the floods.