The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2014-06-16.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people from in Warrington North constituency were employed on temporary or fixed term contracts in each year since 2010.
Mr Nick Hurd
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-03-31.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what (a) discussions with and (b) representations from Aspire to Change (A2C) (i) he, (ii) Ministers and (iii) officials in his Department have had since December 2013; and if he will make a statement.
Jeremy Wright
Under Transforming Rehabilitation, we are opening up the market to a diverse range of new rehabilitation providers, so that we get the best out of the public, voluntary and private sectors, at the local as well as national level. Managers in a number of Probation Trusts, including Essex, have set up mutuals so that they can bid to become owners of the new Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs). In line with wider Government policy, we have encouraged those Trusts that have been interested to consider the mutual option. All those developing mutuals have had the opportunity to bid for further advice, guidance and assistance through the Cabinet Office Mutual Support Programme (MSP). The MSP has allocated a total of £1.5million to support prospective mutuals with the greatest potential. Support to organisations has been provided in two phases. Phase 1 supported organisations to prepare them for the competition. Phase 2 is providing further support to those that passed the first stage of the competition throughout the negotiation phase and, if they are successful in the competition, support their transition to a mutual.
We launched the competition to establish the owners of the 21 CRCs on 19 September 2013. Competition rules preclude this Department from contacting potential bidders other than through the competition process so that is, and will remain the only avenue for Aspire 2 Change Ltd. to communicate with the Department until the competition is completed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-06-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish any cost benefit analysis of awarding the contract for the tax-free childcare scheme to National Savings & Investments undertaken before the decision was announced.
Nicky Morgan
On the 23 May the Government published a further consultation on the delivery of childcare accounts within Tax-Free Childcare. The consultation will be open until 27 June and the Government will consider the responses alongside those to the first consultation before it makes its decision on the provision of childcare accounts.
This and the previous consultation has set out options for delivering childcare accounts through the public and private sector so that all interested parties will have had an opportunity to comment on them. These options will be assessed against the criteria set out in the consultation document, Tax-Free Childcare:consultation on childcare account provision (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/313878/PU1667_Tax-Free_Childcare__consultation_on_childcare_account_provision.pdf)
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-03-31.
To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, with which (a) mobile telephone companies, (b) voluntary groups and (c) travel card providers the Electoral Commission is working to improve registration rates of young people.
Mr Gary Streeter
The Electoral Commission informs me that it continues to work to identify partners for its work on IER. As agreements are put in place, it will make these available on its website and will inform the honourable member when the first batch is published.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2014-06-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what Arts Council England strategic funding programmes funded from the National Lottery are designed wholly or primarily to benefit national portfolio organisations and national partner museums.
Mr Edward Vaizey
Arts Council England makes its funding decisions, and establishes its funding programmes, independently of Ministers and Government. It seeks to ensure that its funding programmes support a wide range of arts organisations and museums. There are no Strategic Programmes funded through the National Lottery exclusively for National Portfolio Organisations or National Partner Museums.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Morrow on 2014-03-31.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 24 March (WA 63), and in the light of recent developments, what were the circumstances leading to the withdrawal of Atos Healthcare from its contract, including all relevant dates of notifications.
Lord Freud
Following detailed negotiations with Atos Healthcare, the Government has reached a settlement for Atos to exit the contract to deliver Work Capability Assessments before it is due to end in August 2015. Atos did not receive any compensation from the taxpayer for this early termination but made a substantial financial settlement to the Department for Work and Pensions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when HMS Ocean will be declared fit to deploy; and when she will depart on Exercise Cougar 14.
Mr Mark Francois
HMS OCEAN is completing refit and will soon put to sea. However, I am withholding precise details of HMS OCEAN’s future programme as their disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough on 2014-03-31.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether consideration is being given to proposals to separate the testing and repair functions following the periodic roadworthiness testing of motor vehicles and their trailers.
Baroness Kramer
As a result of the effectiveness of our negotiations, the new periodic testing Directive contains no requirement to separate testing and repair functions. The proposal to force separation was successfully opposed, including by the UK Government and UK MEPs. Systems are in place to support testing integrity within the current system and this will continue.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Buckland on 2014-06-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when his Department plans to publish further details of its review of resolution of disagreements for people with education, health and care needs under the Children and Families Act 2014.
Mr Edward Timpson
The Department for Education, in consultation with the Ministry of Justice and others, is in the process of developing proposals for the review of redress and complaint arrangements for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The review will consider:
Running parallel to the review will be pilots to test an expansion of the powers of the first tier tribunal to make recommendations about the health and social care elements of EHC Plans. We estimate that the pilots will begin in the spring of 2015 as the first appeals about the new Education, Health and Care Plans begin to be heard and that the pilots will last for two years as they build up the evidence on which to base any recommendations.
The Secretary of State for Education and the Lord Chancellor must lay a report on the outcome of the review before Parliament within three years of any of the provisions of Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014 coming into force in September 2014. Interim findings from the pilots could be published before the final report on the review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Morris on 2014-03-31.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what reports he has received of levels of council tax set by Lancaster District Council for 2014-15.
Brandon Lewis
[Holding Reply: Thursday 3 April 2014]
I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of Monday 7 April 2014, Official Report, Column 66W.