Tag: 2014

Nadine Dorries – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nadine Dorries on 2014-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of all UK visa applications processed by TPContact in (a) Israel, (b) Russia, (c) South Africa and (d) Ukraine have been subject to delays outside the stated service standards.

James Brokenshire

Any failure against the contractual critical service levels may result in
deductions against their submitted invoices. In the event of continuous and
unacceptable failures the Department has the ability to terminate the contract.

The performance of Teleperformance as with all of our contracts is subject to
close Home Office scrutiny. The governance processes include regular meetings
at all levels, from local operational teams up to senior official levels, to
allow in-depth reviews of performance against the service standards set out in
the contract, and to provide an escalation route to resolve any issues that may
arise. We also expect suppliers to provide continuous improvement in delivery
of customer services over the course of the contract, which is also monitored
through these processes.

The Department withheld payment of the contractual transitional payment until
transition was complete in each country where Teleperformance operates. This
has now been has now been approved for payment in countries where visa
application centres (VACs) are operational but withheld in locations still to
be transitioned. Ongoing contractual payments will be subject to the service
credit process outlined above.

The data required to judge performance against contractual service standards is
not yet available. We are not aware of any withdrawn applications linked to
delays in processing at the identified visa application centres since they took
over this service. The Home Office is currently collating data on complaints
for the period since Teleperformance commenced operations and it is not
available for publication.

UK Visas & Immigration has worked closely with Teleperformance from the point
at which contracts were awarded to prepare for live operations, including the
summer peak. Annual and monthly application volumes and forecast figures for
2014 were provided to Teleperformance as part of the tender process and local
discussions have taken place to determine the number of appointment slots
available. Opening hours have been extended and appointment availability has
been increased in a number of locations to prepare for the summer period. Where
VACs are open every day, the availability of appointment slots is continually
monitored, with further measures being taken if appointments are consistently
fully booked.

November 1, 2022
Mary Creagh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Creagh on 2014-03-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with Transport for London on the South East Flexible Ticketing scheme.

Stephen Hammond

As a key delivery partner for the South East Flexible Ticketing (SEFT) programme, Transport for London are a signatory to the SEFT Memorandum of Understanding and have membership of the SEFT Programme Board. This is intended to ensure that their extensive experience of developing smart ticketing in London is fully utilised in delivering the SEFT programme.

TfL has therefore been fully involved in all significant discussions on the strategic direction, design and delivery of SEFT. Significant work has also been carried out with them to ensure that the scheme will interoperate properly with their existing infrastructure in central London, including system testing.

November 1, 2022
Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much his Department has spent on agency workers to cover clerical staff in each month since January 2014.

Andrew Selous

Since April 2010 we have cut our overall spend on temporary staff by £35.5m. We only use temporary staff to fill business-critical posts and essential frontline services where they can provide a fast, flexible and efficient way to obtain necessary skills that are not currently available in-house. We will continue to examine our use of contractors and look for further reductions.

In responding to each question we have utilised data provided by our contracted supplier of temporary clerical staff and contracted supplier of temporary operational staff. As the data provided has been supplied by two different third parties there is a slight difference in the way that the answer to question 3 and 4 has been presented.

Temporary operational staff relate to Operational Support Grades (OSGs) used within HM Prison Service. We have contracts in place to provide temporary OSGs to fill in gaps in requirements, for building projects or to fill vacancies short term. Temporary OSGs are a very small proportion of our staff complement.

Uniform operational support staff are Operational Support Grades (OSGs).These are uniformed staff who undertake a wide range of duties in prisons, for example operating prison gates, working in security and managing stores areas. They also escort contractors and their vehicles.

1) The following amounts (exclusive of VAT) have been spent on clerical agency staff across –

January 2014 – £2,983,633.14 (5 week period)

February 2014 – £2,613,023.10 (4 week period)

March 2014 – £2,591,678.87 (4 week period)

April 2014 – £2,900,742.70 (5 week period)

May 2014 – £2,398,053.57 (4 week period)

June 2014 – £658,700.28 (1 week period)

2) The following amounts (exclusive of VAT) have been spent on uniform operational support staff –

January 2014 – £1,082,247 (5 week period)

February 2014 – £1,420,329 (4 week period)

March 2014 – £1,137,834 (4 week period)

April 2014 – £1,249,908 (4 week period)

May 2014 – £2,282,468 (5 week period)

The spend for May 2014 also includes the backdated annual pay rise for eligible workers from 1^st April 2014.

3) The following number of clerical agency staff have been utilised –

January 2014 – 1571 (Average headcount)

February 2014 – 1634 (Average headcount)

March 2014 – 1624 (Average headcount)

April 2014 – 1578 (Average headcount)

May 2014 – 1644 (Average headcount)

June 2014 – 1674 (Average headcount)

4) The following number of uniform operational support staff have been utilised –

January 2014 – 697 (Peak worker number)

February 2014 – 845 (Peak worker number)

March 2014 – 867 (Peak worker number)

April 2014 – 853 (Peak worker number)

May 2014 – 855 (Peak worker number)

June 2014 – Peak worker number not available yet.

November 1, 2022
Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-03-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department’s agreement in principle for three offshore patrol vessels with BAE Systems.

Mr Philip Dunne

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 November 2013 (Official Report, column 401W).

November 1, 2022
Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what scope there is for amending an individual’s claimant commitment after it has first been drawn up.

Esther McVey

Once in place, both the claimant and Jobcentre Plus work coach can ask for the Claimant Commitment to be changed at any time.

November 1, 2022
Sheila Gilmore – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sheila Gilmore on 2014-03-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the (a) 20 highest and (b) 20 lowest value contracts awarded by her Department were in each financial year since 2009-10.

James Brokenshire

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my Rt. Hon. Friend, Minister for the Cabinet Office (Francis Maude) on 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 721W.

November 1, 2022
Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2014-06-12.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure that war memorials around the United Kingdom are kept in good condition.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble

There is a wide range of support available for the repair, conservation and protection of war memorials from the Memorials Grant Scheme run by DCMS, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the War Memorials Trust, English Heritage and others. In addition, the Government has announced an additional £5 million to ensure that war memorials and significant burial sites are in a good condition for the centenary. Further details will be announced in due course.

November 1, 2022
Sheila Gilmore – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sheila Gilmore on 2014-03-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) 20 highest and (b) 20 lowest value contracts awarded by his Department were in each financial year since 2009-10.

Mike Penning

I will place a copy of the document (PQ 14 194232 Top 20 & Bottom 20 Contracts 2009-2014) in the Library.

November 1, 2022
Lord Ashcroft – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ashcroft on 2014-06-12.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any civilian honours other than the George Cross can be awarded posthumously.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire

I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 16 June 2014, (Official Report) Column Ref WA126.

November 1, 2022
Charlie Elphicke – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlie Elphicke on 2014-04-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what veterinary and animal welfare qualifications and training are a criteria of becoming an inspector at the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency.

George Eustice

Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) employs Veterinarians and Animal Health Officers who both are inspectors. Veterinarians employed by AHVLA must have a veterinary degree and be members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS). AHVLA supports these veterinarians to achieve the annual number of days continued development required to maintain their MRCVS.

Animal Health Officers are not qualified veterinarians and have no requirement for any veterinary qualifications. They are trained in a variety of aspects relevant to their function and that are essential to their duties, including animal welfare, animal health, enforcement and evidence gathering. Furthermore, and in order to fulfil this function, Animal Health Officers are appointed as Inspectors under the Animal Health Act 1981. A senior veterinarian in the organisation ensures that appointed Inspectors only use the powers to act as an Inspector when they are deemed competent to do so.

AHVLA has an annual programme of training for its veterinary staff and Animal Health Officers to ensure that they maintain and develop knowledge in their particular areas of expertise.

November 1, 2022