The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to reduce funding for hearing aids in 2014-15.
Norman Lamb
The level of provision of hearing aids is a matter for local commissioners and is based on the needs of the local population.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary, Everyone’s Business: Improving the police response to domestic abuse, who the members of the National Oversight Group are; and whether the group has yet met.
Norman Baker
I will write to the Hon Member.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2014-06-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who within her Department authorised the passing of information about forthcoming proscription orders to The Sun newspaper; and whether that authorisation was agreed by a Minister or special adviser in her Department.
James Brokenshire
No Minister or Special Adviser at the Home Office authorised the release of information about the forthcoming proscription to The Sun newspaper.
I have written in response to the point of order reiterating that we take Parliamentary business very seriously and always seek to follow Mr Speaker’s preference that the House is informed first of the Home Secretary’s intention to proscribe terrorist groups. This was our intent on this occasion.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2014-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to increase agricultural exports as part of the export-led recovery.
George Eustice
Defra and UKTI with industry are working together to increase exports in the agri-food sector. We launched a refreshed Exports Action Plan last October. It commits us to deliver £500m of value to the UK economy by supporting 1,000 companies by October 2015. Food and drink exports in 2013 reached £18.9bn, against £18.2bn in 2012, and are now 50% higher than 10 years ago. UKTI has established a dedicated team with civil servants and industry experts to improve the value and volume of inward investment and exports in agricultural technology. This team is working with UKTI posts overseas to help UK based agri-technology companies succeed in international markets.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Murphy on 2014-06-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with regional organisations in Pakistan and neighbouring countries about honour killings.
Justine Greening
Following the brutal murder of Farzana Parveen in Lahore on 27 May, I raised this issue at various levels in the Government of Pakistan. The Foreign Secretary and senior HMG officials in Pakistan have also publically and privately condemned the appalling crime of ‘honour killings’ and called for immediate action to bring the culprits of the 27 May attack to justice.
HMG regularly engages with the government and civil society in Pakistan on women’s rights and violence against women, including so-called ‘honour killings’. Across DFID’s programmes in Pakistan we are helping women and girls to live healthy and secure lives.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2014-04-08.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of unresolved cases of mis-selling of mortgage endowment policies.
Andrea Leadsom
The Government has not made an estimate of the number of unresolved cases of mis-selling of mortgage endowment policies.
If a borrower feels the risks were not explained properly to them when they took out an endowment mortgage, in the first instance they should complain to the company through which they bought the product. Customers who then feel that their complaint has not been dealt with satisfactorily are able to refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) – an independent body set up to provide arbitration in such cases, which is free for consumers to use.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Yasmin Qureshi on 2014-06-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the treatment of child victims and witnesses within the courts system.
Damian Green
We do everything we can to support child witnesses and help them give their best possible evidence to bring offenders to justice.We are piloting recorded pre-trial cross-examination, allowing vulnerable witnesses for the first time to give evidence in advance of trial.
In ‘Transforming the Criminal Justice System: Strategy and Action Plan’ (June 2013), the Ministry of Justice committed to improving the consistency and take-up of special measures for vulnerable and intimidated victims and witnesses, such as the use of live-link, screens in court and the use of an intermediary (communication specialist). We are working with other criminal justice agencies to deliver this.
Child victims and witnesses are automatically eligible for special measures when giving evidence in court. The presumption in most cases is that they should give their evidence by video-recorded statement, and that any subsequent cross-examination is conducted by live-link with a supporter present who has been approved by the court.
The pre-trial cross-examination pilot ends in October 2014 and the evaluation of the pilot will inform plans for any future rollout of the measure.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2014-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many service complaints have been received following armed forces personnel being disciplined after receiving a police caution; and if he will make a statement.
Anna Soubry
None.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Crausby on 2014-06-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time to process a personal independence payment claim has been in each month since it was introduced.
Mike Penning
The information you have requested is not currently available.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Gibb on 2014-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether Ofsted’s interpretation of closing the attainment gap between pupils eligible and not eligible for free school meals relates to the gap in attainment nationally or in the school being inspected.
Mr David Laws
This question is a matter for Ofsted. I have asked Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.