The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what reforms his Department plans to make to the Work Programme following the downgrading of the project’s rating from green to amber by the Major Projects Authority.
Esther McVey
The Major Projects Authority has not downgraded the Work Programmes project rating. The rating was amber in 2012/13 and has remained amber in 2013/14.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Doocey on 2014-06-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many times the Crown Prosecution Service has made a charging decision not to proceed on the use of section 71 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 in each of the last five years where the victim was under 18 at the time of commission of the offence.
Lord Wallace of Tankerness
The Crown Prosecution Service does not hold figures centrally for the number of cases where a decision was made not to charge under section 71 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, including those cases where the victim was under 18 at the time of commission of the offence. To obtain such information would require a manual examination of records which would incur a disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2014-06-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many suspects of terrorist-related offences have been given assurances by letter that they will not be subject to investigation.
Baroness Randerson
The administrative scheme relating to so-called “On the Runs” did not promise people that they would not be subject to investigation. Rather, the letters issued were only a statement of fact at a particular point in time that the individuals concerned were not sought for arrest.
As the Noble Lord may be aware the Report by Lady Justice Hallett into the “On the Runs” administrative scheme will be published by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 17 July 2014.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Attorney General, how many directors of companies were disqualified as a result of a criminal investigation by the Serious Fraud Office in (a) 2012-13 and (b) each of the five preceding years.
Oliver Heald
The number of directors of companies disqualified on conviction following prosecution by the Serious Fraud Office were as follows:
|
2012/13 |
2011/12 |
2010/11 |
2009/10 |
2008/09 |
|
5 |
18 |
6 |
8 |
22 |
Data prior to 2008 is not collated centrally and it is not possible to provide the information requested without incurring a disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lyn Brown on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many crew were available in each fire and rescue authority area during the 24-hour strike on 12 June 2014; and how many crew are available in each area on non-strike days.
Brandon Lewis
The levels of crewing available for each authority, whether or not during periods of strike action, are dependent upon a number of factors. These include the duty system being worked locally, availability of on-call firefighters and, during strike periods, local contingency arrangements, which are the responsibility of each fire and rescue authority. The Department collects details of appliance availability from local fire and rescue authorities on a confidential basis. The arrangements for business continuity planning during strike action are kept under review by the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser.
The principles of the recall to duty protocol, published as National Joint Council for Fire and Rescue Services Circular NJC/09/13, were agreed between the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser, the Fire Brigades Union and the National Employers. Appendix 1 applies to fire and rescue authorities in England and makes clear that the Chief Fire Officers are responsible for arrangements locally, in accordance with their service’s major incident policies. I am confident that should there be a major disaster, striking firefighters would return to work.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many children in poverty lived in a household that did not receive a Warm Home Discount in 2013-14.
Gregory Barker
Under the “broader group” schemes offered by suppliers participating within the Warm Home Discount, considerable assistance is offered to vulnerable groups such as low-income families and those with long-term illnesses and disabilities. In scheme year 3 (2013/14) all seven participating suppliers (British Gas, EDF, E.On, First Utility, N Power, Scottish Power and SSE) made broader group support open to low-income families with children aged under five years.
We expect around 600,000 broader group rebates worth £135 to have been provided in 2013/14. However, final figures for the number of such payments will be published in Ofgem’s annual scheme report in the autumn.
Participating energy suppliers are not required to provide the Government with a breakdown of the payments made to different groups of customers. As a result, we cannot calculate how many low income families received the Warm Home Discount, nor how many did not.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many successful matches there have been between DNA profiles taken from crime scenes and those stored on the National DNA Database in each of the last two years.
Karen Bradley
The requested data are as follows:
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will take steps to encourage universities in the UK to enter into partnerships and twinning arrangements with the British University in Egypt.
Mr David Willetts
I am keen that UK universities broaden their engagement with their Egyptian counterparts in recognition of the country’s growing research strengths. The newly created UK – Egypt Newton – Mosharafa Fund presents a real opportunity to take UK – Egypt institutional engagement to another level, by investing £20 million over five years in a bilateral partnership focussed on science, research, innovation and education.
The British University Egypt will be eligible to apply for calls once the fund is launched.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the average lettings agency fees charged to tenants in the private rented sector (a) at the start of a new tenancy and (b) when a tenancy is renewed.
Kris Hopkins
My Department has not made its own estimate of the average lettings agency fees charged to tenants in the private rented sector but has taken note of the figures reported by independent organisations, such as the Office of Fair Trading, Shelter and Which.
The Government is currently legislating through the Consumer Rights Bill to ensure there is full transparency on fees charged by all letting agencies, ending hidden fees.
By contrast, I would observe that the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has commented that the policy proposals of HM Opposition on fees would harm tenants, as it would lead to: “increases in rents to cover the additional costs visited upon landlords” and a “reduction in supply” (RICS, Letting agent fees for tenants: a tale of two amendments, 15 May 2014).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department (a) spent in each of the last 10 years and (b) plans to spend in each of the next three years on maintaining war graves; and if he will make a statement.
Anna Soubry
As the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War approaches, it is right that we acknowledge the important work undertaken by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) to commemorate those who gave their lives during both World Wars.
The CWGC receives financial contributions from its member nations based on the number of graves it maintains on behalf of each nation. Accordingly the UK Government contributes 78.43% to the total CWGC funding.
Financial records are retained for seven years. Information held by the Ministry of Defence indicates that over the last seven financial years the UK Government has made the following payments to CWGC for the maintenance of graves of those who died during the First and Second World Wars. The figures include UK VAT:
2007-08 – £34,799,000
2008-09 – £35,153,000
2009-10 – £46,545,000
2010-11 – £43,341,000
2011-12 – £46,288,000
2012-13 – £44,636,487
2013-14 – £47,318,041
With regard to future funding, the UK will continue to meet its obligation to pay the appropriate percentage (currently 78.43%) of the total CWGC funding.
The Department for Culture, Media & Sport is discussing with the CWGC the scope for enhancing information and interpretation at burial sites as part of the centenary commemorations.