The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Hollobone on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the level of unemployment in Kettering constituency was (a) in May 2010 and (b) is at present; and how many net new jobs have been created in the Kettering economy since May 2010.
Mr Nick Hurd
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Morris of Aberavon on 2014-03-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord de Mauley on 19 March (WA 34–5), what discussions they have had with the Environment Agency in recent years about the case for, and value of, dredging; and whether Ministers considered at any point the Environmental Agency’s plans for the Somerset Levels.
Lord De Mauley
We have had frequent discussions with the Environment Agency over the last few years about flood risk management, including the contribution and value of dredging, in Somerset and across the country. We have also been kept up to date with Environment Agency’s plans for the Somerset Levels.
The Environment Agency will continue to undertake dredging where it is shown to be a genuinely cost effective way of managing flood risk, taking account of the other options available. In some areas, dredging will be the most cost effective approach. In others, it would divert resources away from other flood risk management activities which are far more beneficial to local communities, such as maintaining pumps, sluice gates or raised embankments. The Environment Agency will therefore continue to review the case for dredging area by area, given its variable impact on reducing flood risk.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kelvin Hopkins on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had with train operating companies on changes in staffing for revenue protection functions.
Stephen Hammond
Staffing levels and the roles to which staff are allocated are matters for the train operator, as long as they continue to deliver the services that meet the requirements of the Franchise Agreement.
Train operating companies do sometimes inform us of staff restructuring; for example as was explained in the answer to the hon. member for Coventry South on 17 June 2014 [Official Report, column 530W].
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Julian Huppert on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will place in the Library a copy of the report, The medical implications of vehicle-mounted water cannon with special reference to the Ziegler Wasserwerfer 9000 (WaWe 9) system, published by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in 2013.
Damian Green
The Home Secretary has now received the request to authorise water cannon for
use by the police in England and Wales. She is considering this request and
will announce her decision in due course and lay the relevant information in
the House Library.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance he gives to jobcentre staff on informing jobseekers of cancellation of their jobseeker’s allowance claim.
Esther McVey
All jobcentre staff have access to comprehensive and clear procedures, guidance and learning which equips them to advise customers appropriately
Additionally, everyone claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance is provided with information about the conditions under which it is paid and the potential consequences of not complying. Where a doubt is identified and the case is to be referred to a decision maker, this is explained to the claimant and information provided about what will happen next.
If a sanction or disallowance is applied or the Jobseeker’s Allowance claim is cancelled, the claimant is notified of this in writing.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what (a) direct and (b) indirect bilateral funding arrangements his Department has with governmental or non-governmental projects and bodies in Argentina.
Gregory Barker
The Department does not at present provide bilateral funding to Argentina.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will take steps to ensure that the funding of infrastructure projects in the Jordan Valley is not dependent on approval from the Israeli government.
Justine Greening
We continue to believe the best approach to development in Area C is to engage constructively with Israel to help Palestinian communities to plan and build for their future without fear of demolition. We consistently emphasise the need for unfettered humanitarian provision, including necessary infrastructure.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Julian Huppert on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will review the strategic policing requirement of water cannon based on planning assumptions around three spontaneous sets of disorder ahead of their deployment in London.
Damian Green
The Home Secretary has now received the request to authorise water cannon for
use by the police in England and Wales. She is considering this request and
will announce her decision in due course and lay the relevant information in
the House Library.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2014-06-11.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a statutory definition of a personal service company to enable HM Revenue and Customs to make a better informed assessment of those using such devices to artificially reduce income tax.
Mr David Gauke
There are currently no plans to create a statutory definition of a personal service company. Working through a personal service company does not indicate that a person is artificially reducing their tax.
The Government keeps all areas of the tax system under review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sarah Teather on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his plans are for HMP The Verne.
Jeremy Wright
HM Prison The Verne started taking immigration detainees as scheduled from 24 March 2014. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) will retain The Verne as a prison in the short term but its population will comprise immigration detainees as planned with the Home Office.
NOMS intends to review the designation of The Verne later this year, with the intention of completing the re-designation to an immigration removal centre by the end of September 2014.
All foreign national offenders (FNOs) sentenced to custody are referred to the Home Office for them to consider deportation at the earliest possible opportunity.
The Ministry of Justice and the Home Office are committed to working together to expedite the removal of foreign criminals. NOMS will always supply sufficient prison places for those committed by the courts.