The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how self-reported data from local authorities on the Troubled Families programme is audited.
Kris Hopkins
All results are approved within each local authority’s internal audit arrangements and under the statutory authority of the Chief Executive. My Department then undertakes a verification process on a sample of claims made.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Fitzpatrick on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were (a) cautioned, (b) proceeded against and (c) convicted of an offence under the provisions of the (i) Game Act 1831, (ii) Deer Act 1991, (iii) Protection of Badgers Act 1992, (iv) Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, (v) Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996, (vi) Animal Welfare Act 2006, (vii) Conservation (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1994 and Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010, (viii) Hunting Act 2004, (ix) Night Poaching Act 1828, (x) Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997, (xi) Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, (xii) Pests Act 1954 and (xiii) Conservation of Seals Act 1970 in each year since 2009.
Mike Penning
The number of offenders cautioned and defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts and found guilty at all courts for offences (all in England and Wales from 2009 to 2013) under the Game Act 1831 can be viewed in Table 1, under the Deer Act 1991 in Table 2, under the Protection of Badgers act 1992 in Table 3, under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 in Table 4, under the Wild Mammals (Protection) Act 1996 in Table 5, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in Table 6, under the Conservation of Seals Act 1970 in Table 7, under the Night Poaching Act 1828 in Table 8, under the Control of Trade in Endangered Species (Enforcement) Regulations 1997 in Table 9, under the Hunting Act 2004 in Table 10 and under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 in Table 11. The tables can be found in the Library. Data for the Pests Act 1954, the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 and the Conservation (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1994 is held as part of a miscellaneous group that cannot be separately analysed.We are very clear that serious offences will always go to court where tough punishments are available to the independent judiciary, who make their sentencing decisions based on the individual facts of the case.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there has been any testing (a) in Southern Australia and (b) elsewhere of the ability of the Taranis system to identify or strike targets autonomously.
Mr Philip Dunne
I am withholding details of the locations at which Taranis flight trials have taken place for the purpose of safeguarding national security. The Ministry of Defence has no plans to create weapons that operate without human control. Trained members of the Armed Forces will always be involved in the command and control of unmanned air systems.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dominic Raab on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent estimate his Department has made of the potential effect of the adjusted funding arrangement in the Scotland Bill on per capita spending in Scotland.
David Mundell
The Scotland Act 2012 provides the Scottish Government and Parliament with new tax and borrowing powers. The effect of these powers on public spending in Scotland will therefore depend on the decisions taken by the Scottish Government and Parliament.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Greatrex on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) amount and (b) proportion of the budget of the Environment Agency is allocated to staff and other departmental costs associated with the regulation of hydraulic fracturing and unconventional gas in each year between 2010-11 and 2014-15.
Dan Rogerson
The Environment Agency does not keep separate records of its regulatory costs for hydraulic fracturing and unconventional gas so we cannot provide figures for previous years.
For 2014-15 the Environment Agency has allocated £2.6 million to its work on onshore oil and gas. This is 0.39% of the Environment Agency’s total revenue budget.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Phillips on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking with his European counterparts to encourage the reduction of fuel consumption by heavy-duty vehicles across the EU.
Mr Robert Goodwill
We are committed to reducing the fuel consumption of heavy duty vehicles. We continue to work closely with both the UK industry and our European counterparts to ensure that the recently published EU Strategy for improving heavy duty vehicle fuel consumption and reducing CO2 emissions reflects UK interests, and is ambitious but deliverable, proportionate and cost effective.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much notice the Environment Agency is required to give to companies ahead of inspections of fracking sites in England and Wales.
Dan Rogerson
The Environment Agency does not need to give companies operating hydraulic fracturing sites in England any notice of inspections and can make unannounced visits.
Sites in Wales are regulated by Natural Resources Wales.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2014-06-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance his Department issues to employers on helping employees with the cost of childcare.
Nicky Morgan
HM Revenue & Customs has published extensive guidance to help employers run successful childcare schemes, including the Employer Helpbook E18 ‘How you can help your employees with childcare’.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has issued any authorisations under section 42(3) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 which permit intrusive surveillance by unmanned aircraft systems in the UK.
James Brokenshire
As a matter of long-standing practice we do not comment on the operational use
of covert surveillance, or provide a breakdown of the number of warrants signed
by particular Secretaries of State, or in relation to specific circumstances or
methods of surveillance.
Existing regulation relating to surveillance includes the surveillance camera
code of practice issued under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, which
provides a framework of good practice for surveillance camera operators and
sets out obligations arising from other legislation including those for the
processing of personal data under the Data Protection Act 1998 and a public
authority’s duty to adhere to the Human Rights Act 1998. Any covert
surveillance undertaken by a public authority which is likely to obtain private
information would be subject to authorisation under the Regulation of
Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Pamela Nash on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what arrears validation processes are carried out on Child Support Agency cases which do not form part of the caseload before those arrears are transferred to the Child Maintenance Service for collection.
Steve Webb
The Department is prioritising the closure over the next three years of cases with an ongoing child maintenance liability, and taking steps to minimise disruption as far as possible for parents who wish the statutory service to continue collecting maintenance on their behalf. Plans for handling cases where there is no ongoing liability, but arrears are owed, are still under consideration. Where there is a link between one of these arrears only cases, and an application to the 2012 scheme, action will be taken to bring that arrears only case up-to-date, before moving it across to the Child Maintenance Service.