The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hywel Williams on 2014-05-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that a bilingual registered duty lawyer is available at all times in Crown courts in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Shailesh Vara
It has not proved possible to respond to the honourable Member in the time available before Prorogation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-12.
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, with reference to the Answer of 23 April 2012, Official Report, column 623W, on the electoral register, what steps he has taken to improve student registration in the run up to individual electoral registration.
Greg Clark
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Seabeck on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of seafarer fatigue on maritime safety; and what steps his Department is taking to enforce manning levels on vessels.
Stephen Hammond
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the Marine Accident Investigation Branch were active participants in the multi-partner HORIZON research project, an EC-funded study, which used simulators to identify the effect on seafarers of working hours and interrupted rest. The project report demonstrates conclusively the links between certain watch keeping patterns and the performance of seafarers (looking particularly at “sleepiness”).
The Government is committed to reducing the effects of fatigue on maritime safety and the health of seafarers. The output from HORIZON has been used to provide practical guidance to seafarers. The MCA remains involved with research on seafarer fatigue with other industry stakeholders.
MCA Surveyors routinely inspect UK ships and foreign flag ships in UK waters and verify hours of work records for compliance with the regulations, and check ships are safely manned in accordance the requirements of the International Maritime Organisation convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW).
The UK is leading the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control Concentrated Inspection Campaign to ensure compliance with the hours of rest requirements of watchkeepers under STCW which will run from 1 September 2014 to 30 November 2014.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if his Department will provide incentives to developers to ensure that new homes planned for construction in 2014-15 will be (a) wheelchair accessible and (b) built to lifetime homes standards.
Stephen Williams
Part M of the Building Regulations set minimum access standards for new homes. The Government plans to introduce an optional level of accessibility above these minimum access standards which will set out criteria for age friendly, accessible and adaptable standards. The Government also plans to set out within Part M an optional standard which will set out criteria related to the specific needs of wheelchair adaptable and accessible housing.
Furthermore, the National Planning Policy Framework already sets out that Local Plans should take into account the current and future needs of range of households including older and disabled people.
This combination of Building Regulations and national planning policy sets a robust framework to promote adaptable and accessible housing.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the Government’s assessment is of the effectiveness of warning labels on alcoholic beverages regarding drinking during pregnancy; and what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of making such labels mandatory.
Jane Ellison
Research in the evidence around the effectiveness of alcohol harm reduction communications and related campaigns suggests that labelling and point of sale information can have an impact on consumption, in conjunction with broader campaigns to raise consumer awareness and education on the health risks linked to alcohol consumption.
As part of the Public Health Responsibility Deal, alcohol retailers and producers have committed to putting an agreed warning or a pregnancy warning logo on 80% of labels on bottles and cans by the end of 2013. An independent market survey is underway to measure compliance. This level of coverage should allow the majority of consumers to see the pregnancy warning and logo.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Eilidh Whiteford on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to promote the Access to Work scheme to disabled people in Scotland.
Mike Penning
Access to Work is a valued and succesful national programme that makes a real difference to the working lives of disabled people throughout the UK.
The Department for Work and Pensions has actively marketed Access to Work to raise awareness of the programme through a national marketing campaign lasting throughout 2013. This included activity to further strengthen our partnerships with key stakeholders and organisations, developing marketing materials, attending key events and digital marketing. The campaign involved a wide range of communications activities, including press releases, presentations at disability and employer events, articles in disability publications and engagement in direct marketing to large employers. It also included use of digital media, paid advertising links in popular search engines, magazine adverts and awareness training for Jobcentre Plus Disability Employment Advisors.
Access to Work also featued in the launch of the Department’s Disability Confident campaign in July 2013 and at subsequent local events, including Glasgow on 4 March 2014.
The Department for Work and Pensions has worked closely with the Public Health division of the Scottish Government to raise awareness of Access to Work with health professionals. This included sharing information on the NHS Scotland’s Knowledge Network and the Health and Employability Delivery Group.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Crausby on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that overcrowding on trains is (a) regulated and (b) effectively monitored.
Stephen Hammond
Capacity provided by franchised rail operators is monitored by the Department through regular passenger counts. The results enable the Department to liaise with operators where capacity problems are identified, and to ensure that potential solutions are investigated.
It is for the rail industry to plan to fully deploy available rolling stock to best meet passenger demand, and take all reasonable steps to minimise any crowding.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with their counterparts in HM Treasury on the operation of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000; and if he will make a statement.
Gregory Barker
My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, ministers and officials have regular contact with counterparts from other Government Departments, including HM Treasury, on a range of issues, including fuel poverty.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women (a) of each age group, (b) in each health authority area and (c) of each type of complication and cause of death died following health complications after abortion procedures in (i) 2012, (ii) 2013 and (iii) 2014 to date.
Jane Ellison
In 2012, no deaths were recorded on Abortion Notification form HSA4 submitted to the Chief Medical Officers of England and Wales. No data have been published by the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Death for the years requested but will be available in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many surveillance aircraft with capacity to intercept telephone or other electronic telecommunications his Department operates.
Mr Mark Francois
I am withholding the information requested as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.