The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-03-24.
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what his Office’s policy is on allowing officials to appear before all-party parliamentary groups.
Mr Nick Clegg
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 26 Mar 2014, Column 300W.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stewart Jackson on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department has taken to support children with special educational needs in (a) Peterborough and (b) England.
Mr Edward Timpson
Part 3 of the Children and Families Act 2014, to be implemented from this September, introduces the largest reform to the system for special educational needs and disability for 30 years. It builds on the experience of 20 pathfinders and will place children and families at the heart of a more integrated system focused on improving outcomes for children and young people.
The Department for Education is providing substantial funding to local areas to deliver the reforms. Last week, the Department announced an injection of an additional £45.2 million in 2014-15 on top of the £70 million Special Educational Needs (SEN) Reform Grant already provided this year for implementing the reforms. Peterborough will receive £200,615 of this most recent funding on top of the £307,940 SEN Reform Grant it has already received.
We are also providing £30 million over two years to voluntary, community and private sector organisations to provide independent supporters to families to help them navigate the new system.Bids to offer independent supporters have been invited by 25 June. The Department for Education’s strategic partner, the Council for Disabled Children, will then work with interested organisations to secure support for families across the whole of England.
This is supplemented by a wide range of activity to support implementation, from Pathfinder local authorities sharing their experience particular aspects of the reforms, through to funding for a range of specialist voluntary and community sector experts to provide materials and support for professionals on specific conditions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Huw Irranca-Davies on 2014-03-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether changes in the number of puppies and dogs imported from EU member states since January 2012 are consistent with AHLVA risk assessment in 2010.
George Eustice
The quantitative risk assessment carried out prior to harmonisation with the EU pet travel rules in 2012 took into account, amongst other things, a number of variables including increases in the number of pets entering the UK. The risk assessment was published in 2011 and is available here:
http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/atoz/rabies/documents/se0535-rabies-qra.pdf
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether Ministers or officials of his Department have (a) met the Attorney General of Nigeria since January 2012 and (b) had any conversations about the sale of the OPL 245 oil concession in Nigeria involving Shell and ENI with (i) the Attorney General of Nigeria and (ii) any other senior official of the Nigerian government.
Mark Simmonds
No FCO Ministers have met the Nigerian Attorney General since January 2012. Given the range and frequency of meetings between FCO officials with the Nigerian Attorney General, I am unable to offer a full list of them. The Metropolitan Police Proceeds of Corruption Unit are investigating complaints made about the case of oil block OPL-245 in Nigeria. Because this is an on-going investigation, it would not be appropriate to comment any further.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Aidan Burley on 2014-04-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what timetable he has adopted for the introduction of a Statutory Code and Adjudicator in the public house sector.
Jenny Willott
Between April and June 2013 the Government consulted on proposals to establish a statutory Code of Practice and an independent Adjudicator, which are aimed at supporting pub tenants. The Government received over one thousand one hundred written responses to the consultation on pub companies and their tenants and over seven thousand responses to the online survey conducted in parallel. We are considering the evidence carefully, to ensure that intervention is both proportionate and targeted, and we intend to publish a Government Response to the consultation as soon as we can.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many unfilled vacancies there were on 1 June 2014 in (a) each community rehabilitation company and (b) the National Probation Service.
Jeremy Wright
The National Probation Service (NPS) and Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) commenced operation on 1 June, and all staff have now moved to the new structure. Detailed information on vacancies is not held centrally. CRCs and NPS Divisions are currently developing their workforce plans, building on the staff structures inherited from Trusts. Once these are completed, they will be reviewed centrally and will inform the current round of recruitment for trainee probation officers. In the meantime, NPS Deputy Directors and CRCs are continuing to monitor and manage staffing in their areas.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2014-03-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2014, Official Report, column 693W, on bus services: disability, how many public service vehicles (a) in each region and (b) operated by each operator have been issued with PSVAR certificates.
Stephen Hammond
I refer the Honourable Member to my answer of 20th March 2014. As indicated there the Department for Transport’s annual bus statistics (published in September 2013) show that 78% of buses in England have been issued with PSVAR certificates, while 92% of buses are low floor.
The following table provides a breakdown of PSVAR certificates for each region:
| Region | Buses with certificates | %Buses having certificates |
| East Midlands | 1,400 | 72% |
| East of England | 1,970 | 67% |
| London | 8,880 | 97% |
| North East | 1,370 | 73% |
| North West | 3,900 | 76% |
| South East | 2,690 | 71% |
| South West | 1,950 | 63% |
| West Midlands | 2,730 | 77% |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 2,800 | 69% |
| England | 27,680 | 78% |
The figures in this table are compiled from annual operator returns to the Department for Transport, which are not broken down by region. To compile the regional level estimates, each operator has been assigned to its main region of operation.
The returns are made under the Statistics of Trade Act 1947, and figures for individual operators are therefore considered as commercially confidential.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham on 2014-06-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the delay by the British Embassy in Doha in issuing new passports to children born to United Kingdom parents in Qatar; and whether they have held discussions with the local authorities over the law in Qatar under which fines may be imposed on foreign nationals who are not in possession of a passport by the age of two months.
Baroness Warsi
The British Embassy in Doha no longer issues passports. We have raised with the Qatari authorities the issue of fines imposed on British nationals without a passport, and are working to find an agreed solution. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is working closely with Her Majesty’s Passport Office to overcome any problems that result from a delay in the issuing of British passports. In line with the recent statement on 12 June by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right Hon Friend the Member for Maidenhead, South East (Theresa May), any British nationals facing a problem should consult the Embassy to discuss this – including the alternatives for urgent travel to the UK without a full passport.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Simon Kirby on 2014-04-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with chief constables in England and Wales about hate crimes against LGBT people; and if she will make a statement.
Norman Baker
The Coalition Government is committed to tackling all forms of hate crime and
works closely with the National Policing Lead on hate crime.
We will shortly publish our progress report on the Government’s hate crime
action plan, which will set out a range of activities that have been taken
forward, including by the police.
New hate crime guidance, which includes information on dealing with cases of
hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities will be
issued by the College of Policing this Spring.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton on 2014-06-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans are being made to improve the collection of information about children and adults affected by anti-convulsant drugs during pregnancy.
Earl Howe
The Department and The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency have met representatives of Independent Fetal Anti Convuslant Trust (In-FACT) to discuss issues relating the prescribing of anti-epileptic drugs to women of child bearing age. We are considering what action might be taken. This includes looking at our current data collection systems to see how information on the incidence of fetal anti convulsant syndrome can be improved.