The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2014-06-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what consideration her Department gives to the diversity policies and records of businesses or other organisations when considering their bid for commercial contracts or grants.
Mr Alan Duncan
DFID considers a number of factors including relevant diversity clauses when considering contracts and grants.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2014-04-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Bristol are waiting for a work capability assessment.
Mike Penning
As of 2 April 2014 there are 3,355 people in the Bristol (BS) postcode area either awaiting an appointment or have an appointment arranged for a Work Capability Assessment.
As of 2 April 2014 for the Bristol (BS) postcode area, 2,540 people who are currently awaiting an appointment or have an appointment arranged for a Work Capability Assessment, have been waiting more than 3 months; 1,766 have been waiting more than 6 months.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-06-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of employment opportunities resulting from the Commonwealth Games; and if he will make a statement.
Esther McVey
It is estimated by the Organising Committee, Glasgow 2014 Ltd, that up to 30,000 employment opportunities will be created by the Commonwealth Games.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2014-04-01.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions an action under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has also been investigated by HM Revenue and Customs to ensure that tax has been paid by the individuals concerned.
Lord Deighton
Actions under the Proceeds of Crime Act (2002) (POCA) could include a variety of different provisions within the Act. For instance, the use of POCA investigative powers, a prosecution for a POCA money laundering offence, the use of criminal confiscation following conviction, the use of POCA civil recovery procedures or financial intelligence received by way of the Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) regime.
Where a law enforcement agency has suspicions of tax evasion it is up to that agency to refer the matter to HMRC to review and investigate as appropriate, using civil or criminal powers. HMRC does not keep a record of how many such referrals are made to them.
Where HMRC is the investigating agency conducting the POCA actions, they routinely also assess the correct tax position and seek to recover outstanding amounts
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thornton on 2014-06-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the feasibility of issuing non-gender-specific official documents to people who do not identify as a particular gender.
Baroness Northover
Under UK law only male or female is recognised as a gender. We recognise that a very small number of people consider themselves to be of neither gender. We are not aware that that results in any specific detriment, and it is not Government policy to identify such people for the purpose of issuing non-gender-specific official documents.
A specific review on gender markings in the British passport was carried out by Her Majesty’s Passport Office, which has been placed in the Library of both Houses. The review concluded that there would be no significant advantages to including a non-gender category along with male and female.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2014-04-01.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kramer on 27 March (WA 145), whether the electric stock referred to in her answer will be subject to refurbishment before its transfer to the Northern Rail franchise.
Baroness Kramer
The electric stock referred to in my previous answer will be subject to light refurbishment before transfer to the Northern Rail franchise. This will be specified and managed by Northern and the rolling stock company involved. As the Noble Lord may be aware, the Northern Direct Award is for 22 months – from February 2016 a new franchise competition winner will be running services on this franchise. Therefore the new franchisee will develop their own proposals regarding any further refurbishment or replacement of the electric powered rolling stock.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2014-06-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the annual savings arising from the Warship Support Modernisation Initiative introduced in 2005–06.
Lord Astor of Hever
The Warship Support Modernisation Initiative (WSMI), introduced in 2002, encompasses three separate contracts between the Ministry of Defence and the operators within Her Majesty’s Naval Bases (HMNB) at Clyde, Devonport and Portsmouth.
Figures on savings are provided in the tables below. These are broken down on an annual basis where information is held in that format.
Annual Savings from the WSMI arrangement with Babcock Marine Ltd at HMNB Clyde
Based on the contractual share-line arrangements and the final/interim cost settlements the savings to MOD are as attached.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liam Byrne on 2014-03-31.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the effect on his Department’s total resource Departmental Expenditure Limits of the revised guidance on revaluation of student loan impairments in each of the next three years.
Mr David Willetts
Student Loan repayments are managed annually under government budgeting rules and any changes, for whatever reason, in forecast repayments, are considered as part of the Parliamentary Supply Process.
Additional Supply was agreed between this Department and HM Treasury, and approved by Parliament as part of the 2013-14 Supplementary Estimates process.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2014-06-16.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the detailed breakdown of the estimated £12 to £15 million total cost of the special administration process in relation to Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust.
Earl Howe
The £7,250,000 incurred by the special administration process at Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust relates to the period when the trust special administrators (TSAs) were appointed in April 2013, to the point at which the Secretary of State announced his decision to accept the TSAs’ proposals in February 2014.
We are informed by Monitor that the total figure of £7,250,000 can be broadly broken down as follows:
– Cost of the TSAs and supporting team to run the Trust – £2,000,000;
– Cost of solution development – £3,600,000; and
– Cost of stakeholder engagement and consultation – £1,650,000.
Monitor has estimated the total cost of the special administration process will be £12 to £15 million. This was first announced as part of its decision to accept the TSAs’ final proposals on 16 January 2104 and re-stated in an announcement on 13 March 2014. This includes the £7,250,000 and £250,000 expenses incurred up to the point of the Secretary of State’s decision.
The remainder of the estimated total cost consists of costs incurred in the period leading up to the dissolution of the trust. These are the cost of continuing to employ a team to run the trust, and the cost of implementing the recommendations set out in the TSAs’ Final Report.
We are also informed by Monitor that an original budget for the remaining costs was agreed at approximately £7,000,000.
That total figure of £7,000,000 can be broadly broken down as follows:
– Cost of the TSAs and supporting team to run the Trust – £1,500,000;
– Cost of delivering the transaction – £2,100,000; and
– Cost of splitting the Trust – £3,400,000.
The team running the trust will be required to remain in place up to the point at which the trust is dissolved.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michael Thornton on 2014-03-31.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of cancer awareness education in schools.
Elizabeth Truss
Cancer awareness is important for all young people. However, I do not believe that there should be a statutory requirement for it to be taught in schools. The Government aims to reduce prescription throughout the education system, and trusts schools to provide what is best for their students. The Department for Education does not collect data on this topic.
Schools are free to teach cancer awareness when it is relevant to the national curriculum. For example, the science curriculum requires pupils to learn about the effects of drugs on their bodies, and the importance of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle is included in the requirements for physical education. In design and technology, schools may highlight the importance of nutrition and a healthy diet. Schools may include cancer awareness as part of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, using suitable resources from relevant organisations. The PSHE Association has produced a suggested programme of study as guidance for teachers, and continues to highlight other sources of expertise.