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Tag: 2014

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what steps the Electoral Commission is taking to cross-reference data on visual impairment with the electoral register for the purpose of improving election communications with the visually impaired.

    Mr Gary Streeter

    The Electoral Commission informs me that it ensures that its public information campaigns are accessible to those with visual impairments, and that the voter registration and information materials it produces are available in a variety of formats including Braille and Easy Read. The Commission has written to the RNIB, following the evidence they gave to the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee on 1 May, to offer to meet to discuss what else could be done to help ensure that those with visual impairments can register and vote.

    The Commission also informs me that Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) are responsible for compiling and managing electoral registers and Returning Officers (ROs) are responsible for issuing election-related communications to those on the register. This includes poll cards and postal voting statements which must, by law, contain information telling the recipient what to do if they need the information provided in a different format. It is for EROs and ROs, in discharging their duties, to identify how best to meet the needs of individuals in their area who are visually impaired.

  • Roger Godsiff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Roger Godsiff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2014, Official Report, column 488W, on Business Improvement Districts: Birmingham, for what reasons no decision has yet been taken on the Business Improvement District for Sparkbrook and Springfield.

    Brandon Lewis

    We are considering carefully all the evidence and written representations and will issue a decision in due course.

  • Steve McCabe – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Steve McCabe – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, for what reasons the Contact Point database was discontinued.

    Mr Edward Timpson

    ContactPoint was discontinued because it was disproportionate.

    The Government believes it is unjustifiable to hold information on every child in England and to make it accessible to hundreds of thousands of people.

  • Anne Main – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Anne Main – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anne Main on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of current legislation against fly-grazing.

    George Eustice

    The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science has met a number of interested bodies to discuss what action can be taken to address fly grazing in England. There is a range of legislation that can be used depending on the individual circumstances of each case. Most of the problems associated with fly grazing are linked to difficulties in tracing owners of unidentified horses. In such cases we would encourage a joined-up approach by enforcers and interested parties at a local level to help tackle the problem. It is already an offence under the Horse Passport Regulations for horses not to be identified. These regulations are enforced by local authorities. Fly grazing in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Government.

  • Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Simon Kirby on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will bring forward proposals to relocate (a) staff and (b) offices of his Department to Brighton; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Mark Francois

    There are no current plans for the Department to relocate staff or offices to Brighton.

  • Jim Murphy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Jim Murphy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Murphy on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that the millennium development goals and sustainable development goals are coherent with and integrated into the development agendas of all government departments.

    Justine Greening

    Ensuring that the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals are coherent with and are integrated into the development agendas of all UK Government departments is a priority for this Government. DFID Ministers and officials work closely with other Government departments and through the National Security Council, Cabinet and Cabinet sub-Committees to ensure development coherence across HMG.

  • Tim Loughton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Tim Loughton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department’s Personal Advocate Pilot for trafficked children will start; how non-governmental organisations will participate in the schemes; and when each pilot scheme in each participating local authority will start and end.

    Karen Bradley

    The Modern Slavery Bill will enable us to strengthen our response to human
    trafficking and modern slavery for both adults and children. We announced in
    January our intention to trial specialist independent advocates for victims of
    child trafficking.

    23 local authorities that represent a wide demographic range as well as major
    transport hubs and asylum screening units have agreed to participate in the
    trial. These areas also have the highest rates of trafficking referrals to the
    National Referral Mechanism or are areas where we are aware of a high number of
    trafficking investigations by law enforcement agencies.

    We are currently considering bids from a number of voluntary and community
    services organisations that were identified as potential providers of the
    advocacy service because of the particular expertise they hold. When the trial
    goes live we will invite a number of relevant stakeholders, including
    non-governmental organisations, to inform the project through a consultative
    group.

    We have to consider this matter following the passing in the Lords of an
    amendment to the Immigration Bill that has put on hold our proposals for these
    trials.

  • Jim Fitzpatrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jim Fitzpatrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Fitzpatrick on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what meetings he has had with (a) the Mayor of London and (b) officials from Transport for London within the last 24 months regarding proposed river crossings east of Tower Bridge that are included within the Mayoral Transport Strategy; and how they impact on the options for the proposed Lower Thames Crossing.

    Stephen Hammond

    The Secretary of State for Transport has regular meetings with the Mayor of London at which a range of London transport measures are discussed. Other Ministers also discuss various London transport issues and projects with senior officials from Transport for London.

    The Mayor of London wrote to the then Secretary of State for Transport on 1 June 2012 to request the designation of the proposed Silvertown tunnel as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project. The Secretary of State responded on 26 June 2012 outlining her agreement to grant the request.

    On 16 July 2013, the Mayor of London wrote to me to respond to the Department’s consultation on the Lower Thames Crossing proposals.

    The Department’s review of options for a new Lower Thames Crossing included a sensitivity test to assess whether the proposed Silvertown Crossing scheme would be likely to impact on the forecast flows for the existing Dartford crossing, and any potential new crossing.　The conclusion of that test was that the effect was likely to be negligible. The review findings were published in May 2013 as part of consultation on the options.

  • Anne McIntosh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Anne McIntosh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anne McIntosh on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received on the future of community hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

    Jane Ellison

    A search of the Department’s Ministerial correspondence database has identified no recent representations on the future of community hospitals. This Government believes the National Health Service should improve discharge from acute hospitals and increase access to care and treatment in the community.

  • Charlotte Leslie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Charlotte Leslie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on making the term surgeon a protected title.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    There is currently already provision in the Medical Act 1983 (s.49) which makes it an offence for a person to pretend to be or use the title “surgeon” which implies registration with the General Medical Council.

    However, as part of a longer title, the title “surgeon” has not been restricted and is widely used for other specialist employment roles e.g. tree surgeon, veterinary surgeon etc.

    The Law Commission has recommended in its report on the regulation of health care professionals and social care professionals in England, published April 2014, that the Government should consider undertaking a full review of existing protected titles and functions, and related offences. We will consider the Law Commission’s proposals and produce a formal response in due course.