The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sir Edward Leigh on 2014-03-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has to reform faith-based admissions to free schools.
Michael Gove
Faith designated free schools can use faith as a criterion for admitting up to 50% of their pupils, when oversubscribed. I have no plans to change this rule.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2014-06-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her long-term plans are for staffing levels at HM Passport Office; and if she will make a statement.
James Brokenshire
Her Majesty’s Passport Office keeps staffing levels under review as part of
annual business planning.
We will consider long-term requirements in the light of the reviews which the
Home Secretary has commissioned on efficiency and forecasting.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Efford on 2014-03-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many academy trusts account returns remain outstanding.
Edward Timpson
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Coventry South, Mr Jim Cunningham, on 18 March, Official Report Column 555W.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what financial assistance his Department has provided to shooting organisations to help them prepare for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Mrs Helen Grant
British Shooting was awarded £153,000 from Sport England’s Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2014 medal support programme.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Simon Burns on 2014-03-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of teachers teaching in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) Essex and (d) Chelmsford constituency undertook specialist training on educational provision for children and young people on the autism spectrum in each of the last five years.
Edward Timpson
These figures are not collected centrally. Schools make their own decisions on what training their staff need to support their pupils, based on the individual circumstances of the school.
The Department for Education funds the Autism Education Trust (AET) to provide tiered training on autism: basic awareness training for teaching and non-teaching staff at level 1; practical knowledge and hands-on tools and techniques for all staff working directly with children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders at level 2; and level 3 training for those seeking more advanced knowledge and those pursuing a training role, such as lead practitioners in autism and Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators. Between 2011 and 2013 the AET received grant funding under grant from the Department to provide training to schools and from 2013 to 2015 is contracted to provide training to early years providers, schools and further education colleges.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the British Medical Association and the Royal Colleges about potential improvements to the treatment of (a) brain injury and (b) chronic fatigue syndrome.
Norman Lamb
No recent discussions have taken place between the Department’s Ministers and either the British Medical Association or the Royal Colleges to discuss potential improvements to the treatment of either brain injury or chronic fatigue syndrome.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-03-17.
To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to his Answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 22W, on the Electoral Register, whether the Electoral Commission plans to consider initiating voter national registration days or weeks for UK citizens.
Gary Streeter
The Electoral Commission informs me that it will consider the honourable member’s suggestions.
The Commission has previously organised voter registration drives specifically targeting overseas and armed forces voters, but not for widespread domestic registration.
The Commission is already in discussions with Bite the Ballot, who recently organised a National Voter Registration Day, about how it can help support their work.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-06-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many cases of alleged (a) rape, (b) sexual assault and (c) domestic violence where the alleged offending took place in the UK were prosecuted by the Services Prosecuting Authority in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011 and (iii) 2012.
Anna Soubry
The information requested is shown in the tables below:
| Referrals to the Service Prosecuting Authority | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
| Rape (Including attempted rape) | 1 | 6 | 9 |
| Sexual Assault | 25 | 30 | 12 |
| Domestic Violence | 8 | 7 | 5 |
|
Prosecutions (directions) by the Service Prosecuting Authority |
2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
| Rape (Including attempted rape) | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Sexual Assault | 13 | 15 | 9 |
| Domestic Violence | 2 | 4 | 4 |
In any given year the Service Prosecuting Authority will receive referrals which are then directed, disposed of, or tried in the following year, meaning there is no direct correlation between the numbers of cases referred and directed in any one year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2014-04-03.
To ask the Attorney General, what the average timescale was for the Crown Prosecution Service to provide the Metropolitan Police Service with advice on criminal charges against members of the public suspected of involvement in serious crimes in (a) 2011 to 2013 and (b) 2008 to 2010.
Oliver Heald
The table below shows, for the CPS in London, the average number of calendar days which have elapsed since the first decision was sought by the police to the date in which the last decision made was to charge. The records held by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) do not identify the number of cases referred to it for advice, by the alleged offence(s).
|
Average Time to a Decision to Charge |
|
|
2008 – 2010 |
6.7 |
|
2011 – 2013 |
6.2 |
The CPS in London deals with cases referred to it by both the Metropolitan Police Force and the City of London Police Force and it is not possible to further break down the figures provided without incurring a disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Fitzpatrick on 2014-06-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Food Standards Agency on joined-up action at both national and local level to tackle food fraud.
Jane Ellison
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) continues to develop its capability in relation to food fraud, working closely with other Government Departments including the Department of Health, local authorities and industry to detect and deter food fraud.
The FSA is building an enhanced intelligence gathering network to increase the opportunity to capture and act on intelligence which may be indicative of future risks relating to food fraud, as well as producing strategic and tactical assessments to share with relevant enforcement agencies. Through this, the FSA has strengthened its links with other enforcement agencies, including the National Trading Standards Board, National Crime Agency, the Intellectual Property Office and the Gangmasters Licencing Agency. The FSA is a member of the Government Agencies Intelligence Network and is sharing and receiving intelligence through this network to support cross-government investigations.
At a European level, the FSA is fully engaged with the European Commission Food Fraud Team and its network which is now sharing intelligence to support cross-Europe investigations.
The FSA also provide support to local authorities in their food fraud related investigations through the provision of financial support, expert advice and training.