The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many teaching assistant training posts have been (a) commissioned and (b) filled in in (i) Copeland and (ii) Cumbria in the latest period for which figures are available.
Mr David Laws
The information requested is not collected centrally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Simon Kirby on 2014-04-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the protections currently available under planning law for parcels of land which are subject to planning applications and which are close to National Parks.
Nick Boles
The Government made clear in the National Planning Policy Framework that National Parks have the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty and that great weight should be placed on their conservation. In developing the planning guidance, which was published in March 2014 to support the Framework, the Government took account of feedback raised during the ‘Beta’ test phase. . The guidance, which is a material consideration in planning decisions, explains that section 11A(2) of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 requires authorities to ‘have regard’ to the purpose of National Parks ‘in exercising or performing any functions in relation to, or so as to affect, land’ in National Parks. The guidance is clear that the duty is relevant in considering development proposals that are situated outside National Parks, but which might have an impact on the setting of, and implementation of, the statutory purposes of these protected areas.
Through the Localism Act, the Government has strengthened the role of Local Plans to shape where development should or should not go. This would allow councils to protect the countryside close to National Parks.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2014-06-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the potential for greater use of Thames to move freight.
Baroness Kramer
Transport for London has assessed the potential use of the Thames and other waterways in their London Freight Plan. The Port of London Authority (PLA), the Mayor of London / Greater London Authority (GLA), Transport for London (TfL) and their partners in the public and private sectors have been working to encourage greater use of the Thames for the movement of freight, including that associatedwith infrastructure products in central Londonsuch as Crossrail, the Tideway Tunnel and Blackfriars Station.
The Department for Transport’s Mode Shift Revenue Support Scheme provides grants to assist companies with the costs associated with running inland water freight transport instead of road, where inland waterway is more expensive. Grant support is being provided for a freight service on the Thames between Denton and Silvertown.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karen Lumley on 2014-04-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the potential role of the local offer in reducing the number of pupils with autism affected by official and unofficial exclusion.
Mr Edward Timpson
An interim evaluation of the school exclusions pilot, published in March 2013, found early indications of schools taking more responsibility for pupils at risk of exclusion, collaborating with each other and working in partnership with local authorities to improve alternative provision in their areas. Such approaches benefit all pupils vulnerable to exclusion, including those with autism.
The Department for Education has introduced wide ranging reforms through the Children and Families Act 2014 to improve provision and support for children and young people with special educational needs or a disability.
The Act requires local authorities to publish a local offer of services for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) or a disability. The local offer will set out in one place information about provision families can expect to be available across education, health and social care for children and young people who have SEN or are disabled, including those who do not have education, health and care (EHC) plans.
The local offer will provide children, young people and parents with clear, comprehensive and accessible information about the services and support available and how to access it, including that from schools.
It will make provision more responsive to local needs and aspirations by directly involving families and service providers in its development and review, enabling them to have a greater say in how services and support develop over time.
This should therefore have an important role to play in improving outcomes and reducing exclusions for children and young people with SEN, including those with autism.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the target timescale is for resolving complaints regarding non-payment of the National Minimum Wage.
Jenny Willott
The Government is committed to increasing compliance with minimum wage legislation and effective enforcement of it. Everyone who is entitled to the minimum wage should receive it. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) enforces the National Minimum Wage (NMW) on behalf of BIS.
HMRC investigates every complaint made to the Pay and Work Rights helpline and deals with each NMW complaint on a case-by-case basis. The timescale for each case is dependent on a number of factors:
In 2013/14, HMRC investigated 1631 cases. Of these, 1084 cases were closed; 565 cases were closed within 120 days; 519 cases were closed outside of 120 days and 547 cases are still open and yet to be concluded.
Please note that investigations may not commence and be completed in the same financial year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Alexander on 2014-04-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on what occasions he has met the First Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo, since Mr Picardo became First Minister.
Mr William Hague
I have met Mr Fabian Picardo three times since December 2011. I had discussions with him in the margins of the reception for Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee on 5 June 2012 and during the Conservative Party Conference in October 2012. We also had a substantive meeting in London on 28 August 2013. In addition to those meetings, the Chief Minister and I have spoken on a number of occasions by telephone about various policy issues concerning Gibraltar.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Duncan Hames on 2014-06-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what revenues have been received under the bank levy in each year since its introduction.
Andrea Leadsom
The bank levy, a permanent tax on banks’ balance sheet equity and liabilities, was introduced by this Government from 1 January 2011.
It raised £1.6bn in both 2011-12 and 2012-13.
Following a number of increases to the headline rate, the OBR now forecast it to raise £2.3bn in 2013-14, £2.7bn in 2014-15 and £2.9bn a year from 2015-16.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Alexander on 2014-04-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which Government Minister took the decision that there were no grounds for a futher inquiry into the events in Amritsar in 1984.
Mr William Hague
The Cabinet Secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood, was asked by the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) to lead a review to establish the facts relating to the UK’s involvement in Operation Blue Star at the Golden Temple. The report was submitted to the Prime Minister and as I told Parliament in my statement to the House on 4 February 2014, Official Report, columns 139-142, it clearly showed the limited nature of UK advice on Operation Blue Star, and that there were no grounds for a further inquiry.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lyn Brown on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for what reasons his Department no longer publishes statistics for non-fire incidents with casualties attended by the Fire and Rescue Service in Great Britain.
Brandon Lewis
I refer the hon. Member to my answer of today, Official Report, PQs 200566, 200567 & 200568.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2014-04-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what change there has been in the level of accidents attributable to congestion in each of the last 10 years.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The information requested is not collected by the Department.