The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nic Dakin on 2014-05-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools and academies have (a) opened a new sixth form and (b) closed their sixth form in each year since 2005.
Matthew Hancock
The Department for Education does not collect the data in the format requested.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2014-05-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2014, Official Report, columns 594-5W, on official visits, if he will provide details of the six received requests for special mission status; and from which countries they were received.
Mark Simmonds
None of the six requests for special mission status to which I referred in my answer to the House of 28 April 2014, Official Report, columns 594-5W, were refused. After consenting to the visits as special missions, two of the visits were subsequently cancelled by the country making the request.
As I noted in my previous answer, in view of the confidentiality of diplomatic exchanges, we have no plans to make public further details about requests that have been granted or refused. But if those applying for special mission status wish to announce the details of their visit to the UK, they are of course at liberty to do so.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Byles on 2014-05-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of (a) the readiness of markets for a Contract for Difference (CfD) competitive bidding process and (b) the effect on independent generators of early introduction of CfD auctioning.
Michael Fallon
The Department launched a consultation on our approach to competitive allocation of Contracts for Difference (CfDs) in January 2014. This included proposals to move to auctioning of CfDs from the first allocation this autumn. We carefully considered the responses to the consultation before confirming our policy position in the Government Response published on 13 May 2014. Competitive allocation will deliver renewable energy at a lower cost for consumers.
In developing our proposals for the move to competitive allocation, my officials have also worked closely with developers and other stakeholders, including representatives of independent renewable energy generators.
In particular, we are introducing the Offtaker of Last Resort (OLR) to support independent renewable generators by guaranteeing a route-to-market and therefore improving their ability to raise project finance. The policy design is already at an advanced stage, and the detail of the proposals has been recently consulted on. We are on track to deliver the final policy and introduce enabling regulations ahead of the first allocation of CfDs. CfD applicants will, therefore, have a high degree of clarity about the arrangements for OLR well in advance of the first auctions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Colwyn on 2014-05-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they have to increase the number of dental practices piloting the National Health Service’s new contractual arrangements; and what is the timetable for those reforms to be completed.
Earl Howe
Decisions on the detailed shape of the next stage have not yet been taken. The forthcoming engagement exercise on the reforms with the dental community is intended to increase awareness of the process and allow an opportunity for the wider dental community to input.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance he has offered to the Nigerian authorities to resolve the continued abduction of girls from the North East of that country.
Mark Simmonds
In the days following the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State, Nigeria, we have offered our assistance to the highest levels of the Nigerian government. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), spoke to the Nigerian Foreign Minister on 18 April immediately after the abductions and offered the UK’s assistance.
On 7 May the Prime Minister, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), spoke to President Jonathan and offered to send a team of UK experts to Abuja. The President accepted and the team, led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), arrived in Abuja on 9 May. The team will provide expertise in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, military mentoring and training, victim support and economic development. Human rights compliance is, and will remain, an essential element of any UK assistance in Nigeria. I visited Nigeria on 14 May, and reiterated our support with President Jonathan.
We are coordinating closely with international partners. An FCO team was in Washington on 5 May for talks with the US on Nigeria. Our expert team in Abuja will be coordinating closely with a US team also in Abuja. We are also speaking to the French and are encouraging other EU partners to lend their support. Given Boko Haram’s exploitation of Nigeria’s porous borders and indications that some of the girls may have been taken to Cameroon or Chad, we are engaging with Nigeria’s neighbours.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John McDonnell on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many employment tribunal cases were presented on the grounds of race discrimination in HM Prison Thameside in the last three years; what the nature was of each complaint; when each such tribunal began and ended; what the outcome was in each such case; and what the cost to the public purse was of defending such cases.
Jeremy Wright
The Government is committed to ensuring equality throughout the criminal justice system. Internal complaints procedures and the employment tribunal system enable any allegations of racial discrimination in the workplace to be thoroughly investigated.
Two staff grievances alleging discrimination have been submitted at HMP Thameside in the last three years.
The first, which alleged bullying at work, racial discrimination, unfair treatment and victimisation, was received in 12 October 2012. It was considered by the Employment Tribunal at two hearings (October 2013 and in December 2013). The Tribunal dismissed the claim in its entirety in January 2014.
The second grievance, alleging unfair dismissal, racial discrimination, victimisation and harassment, was received in March 2013. It is currently being considered by the Employment Tribunal.
Liability for any legal costs in relation to employment cases would fall on the employer.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bill Wiggin on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many new members of (a) staff and (b) nursing staff have been taken on by the NHS in North Herefordshire in the last 12 months.
Dr Daniel Poulter
The information is available neither in the format requested nor specifically for the North Herefordshire area. Wye Valley NHS Trust provides health services across Herefordshire and further afield. 2gether NHS Foundation Trust provides social and mental health care services across Herefordshire and Gloucestershire.
Information on how many new members of staff and doctors and nursing staff have been taken on by Wye Valley NHS Trust and 2gether NHS Foundation Trust from January 2013 to January 2014 is shown in the following table:
|
Joiners between January 2013 and January 2014 |
|
|
Total NHS staff (excluding Bank, Locums and Trainee Doctors): |
|
|
Wye Valley NHS Trust |
336 |
|
2gether NHS Foundation Trust |
162 |
|
of which: |
|
|
Hospital and Community Health Service doctors (excluding Locums and Trainees): |
|
|
Wye Valley NHS Trust |
9 |
|
2gether NHS Foundation Trust |
8 |
|
Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff: |
|
|
Wye Valley NHS Trust |
120 |
|
2gether NHS Foundation Trust |
37 |
Source:
Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), provisional monthly NHS workforce data
Notes:
1. Turnover data is based on headcount.
2. Figures are for staff that have joined from outside each NHS trust.
Monthly data:
1. As from 21 July 2010, the HSCIC has published experimental, provisional monthly NHS workforce data (experimental tag has been removed from 24 April 2012)
2. As expected with provisional data, some figures may be revised from month to month as issues are uncovered and resolved
3. The monthly workforce data is not directly comparable with the annual workforce census; it only includes those staff on the Electronic Staff Record i.e. it does not include Primary care staff or Bank staff. It also includes locum doctors (not counted in the annual census).
4. There are also new methods of presenting data (headcount methodology is different and there is now a role count). This information is available from September 2009 onwards at:
www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/provisionalmonthlyhchsworkforce
Data quality:
The HSCIC seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where changes impact on figures already published, this is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was spent on the Universal Jobmatch programme between (a) April and September 2012, (b) October 2012 and March 2013, (c) April and September 2013, (d) October 2013 and March 2014 and (e) April and September 2014.
Esther McVey
The Programme expenditure for Universal Jobmatch over the period April 12 to September 14 includes contractual costs as well as internal costs. Any reporting therefore risks being in breach of commercial in confidence agreement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-05-07.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his most recent planning assumption is for the last date on which new claims for working tax credit will be accepted.
Nicky Morgan
Working Tax Credit is gradually being replaced by Universal Credit. The current Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) planning assumption is that the Universal Credit service will be fully available in each part of Great Britain during 2016, having closed down new claims to the legacy benefits that it replaces, including tax credits. HMRC will continue to work closely with the DWP on the specific process and timing for the closure of new claims to Working Tax Credit.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police information notices were issued in England and Wales, by constabulary area, in each of the last five years; and how many such notices have been revoked.
Damian Green
Data on police information notices issued by Police services in England and
Wales is not collected centrally and is owned by the individual police force
that issued the notice.