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Tag: 2014

  • Baroness Masham of Ilton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Baroness Masham of Ilton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton on 2014-06-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the Department of Health plans to cover the cost of the number of children requiring specialised healthcare due to the effects of fetal valproate syndrome.

    Earl Howe

    The health and care needs of children with fetal valproate syndrome will be met by a range of services and in the majority of cases the local clinical commissioning group (CCG) will decide on the level of provision of services, taking into account the needs of the population it serves. The CCG’s decisions are underpinned by clinical insight and knowledge of local healthcare needs.

  • Karl Turner – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Karl Turner – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2014-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he is taking to reduce the effect of rises in rural and off-grid energy bills on the cost of living.

    Gregory Barker

    In addition to the £50 reduction in energy bills we have delivered, we are committed to helping the most vulnerable, including those in rural areas and off-grid.

    This year’s Buy Oil Early campaign, coordinated by DECC, was launched by industry in September. DECC has also worked with industry and consumer representative organisations to provide guidance on forming oil buying clubs which will allow savings through bulk buying.

    Making homes more energy efficient is vital in order to reduce energy bills. The Green Deal offers a way for homeowners to identify and pay for the most effective energy efficiency measures for their home, such as insulation and more efficient boilers.

    Customers on a low income or in a hard-to-insulate property may be able get additional support through the Energy Company Obligation. We are also currently consulting on changes to the Energy Company Obligation that will drive greater delivery to off-gas households and make it easier for suppliers to deliver to rural areas.

    Renewable heating systems allow off-gas grid householders to switch from more expensive fossil fuels. The launch of the domestic Renewable Heat Incentive by Easter will provide payments to homeowners and help drive the uptake of such systems.

    DECC is also working to ensure the fuel poverty strategy will reflect the needs of the most severely fuel poor in off-gas grid areas when it is published later this year.

  • Lord Empey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Lord Empey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2014-06-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Office of the Attorney General has any records of royal pardons granted between 1987 and 1997.

    Lord Wallace of Tankerness

    The Attorney General has no formal role in the issue of Royal Pardons and therefore there are no records of Royal Pardons held by the Attorney General’s Office.

  • David Winnick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    David Winnick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Winnick on 2014-04-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether customers phoning Ofgem can speak to an employee in addition to using the automatic system; whether it is Ofgem’s policy to advise callers to contact the nearest citizen’s advice bureau for queries on energy firms and prices; and if he will make a statement.

    Michael Fallon

    Telephone calls to Ofgem’s main telephone number initially lead to an automated system, where complaints or inquiries about an energy company or a need for advice lead to a recorded message advising the person to contact the relevant energy company or Government-funded Citizen’s consumer service. If callers wish to speak to a named person, have an inquiry about Ofgem policies or have any other inquiry they will be transferred to a person.

  • Sharon Hodgson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Sharon Hodgson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Attorney General, what proportion of staff within the Law Officers’ Departments who have been subject to formal disciplinary proceedings in each of the last five financial years classed themselves as white British.

    Oliver Heald

    I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to her by the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 16th June (Official Report, Col 433W).

  • Mary Creagh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Mary Creagh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Creagh on 2014-04-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many drivers who received driving convictions undertook (a) one, (b ) two, (c) three and (d) four or more speed awareness courses in (i) 2010 to 2014 and (ii) 2005 to 2009.

    Karen Bradley

    This information is not held centrally. A motorist is prohibited from taking
    more than one speed awareness course under the national scheme within a 3 years
    period from the date of the offence.

  • Sharon Hodgson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Sharon Hodgson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what targets his Department has for increasing diversity; and what progress has been made on meeting those targets in the last year.

    Mr Francis Maude

    To win the global race we need the best civil servants regardless of their background so we must recruit, retain and promote on the basis of merit. We want to see more talented people, whatever their background, reach the very top roles.

    There has been for many years a majority of women in the Civil Service but this was not reflected into the Senior Civil Service.

    Although there has been a small increase in the proportion of women in the Senior Civil Service since 2010, and in the proportion of civil servants who declare that they are from an ethnic minority background, there is still much to do.

    We know that for too long talent management in the Civil Service has been weak. That’s why I have commissioned research to examine the blockages preventing women from reaching the most senior levels of the Civil Service.

    A plan to address these issues will be published this summer.

  • Jim Fitzpatrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Jim Fitzpatrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Fitzpatrick on 2014-04-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will take steps to reform civil procedure rules to clarify courts’ powers to strike out cases due to exaggerated or fabricated personal injury claims; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    The Government is committed to turning the tide on fraudulent personal injury claims. To this end, it is considering what specific reforms might be appropriate, including whether the Law Commission should be asked to consider this issue. We will make our conclusions known in due course.

    No figures are available on the number of exaggerated or fabricated personal injury claims struck out by the courts. Figures for 2011 published by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) indicate that whiplash claims cost customers more than £2 billion a year and add £90 to the average motor insurance premium.

    The ABI describe 7% of all motor claims in 2011 – worth £441m – as fraudulent. In addition, they estimate that a further £1 billion of motor insurance fraud went undetected in 2011.

    As announced last year, we are working with stakeholders in the industry to tighten the medical evidence process so that only evidence from accredited experts can be considered, and the costs for those reports can be fixed. This will mean people can no longer profit from exaggerated or fraudulent compensation claims but victims with genuine cases can still get the help they deserve. We are introducing these reforms later in the year. We are also working to secure better data on motor accident cases, including the number of fraudulent cases.

  • Sharon Hodgson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Sharon Hodgson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what targets his Department has for increasing diversity; and what progress has been made on meeting those targets in the last year.

    Anna Soubry

    The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not have targets for increasing diversity.

    In 2012 the MOD published its Strategic Equality Objectives in accordance with the statutory requirements flowing from the Equality Act 2010 to promote equality. These objectives, including the advancement of equality of opportunity, were endorsed by the Defence Board to reflect the fact that the duty to promote equality sits squarely at the top of the Department.

    In September 2013, the Permanent Secretary and Chief of the Defence Staff announced the establishment of a Defence Diversity and Inclusion Programme, with the aim of making a tangible and meaningful change in the MOD’s approach to diversity and diversity outcomes.

    The primary aim of the programme is to make the workforce more representative of society at all levels, and metrics will be used to measure success.

    The MOD publishes a biannual breakdown of diversity statistics which contains analysis of all diversity categories for both civilian and Service Personnel. The most recent report, published on 29 May 2014, can be found at the following address: http://www.dasa.mod.uk/index.php/publications/personnel/combined/diversity-dashboard

  • Philip Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Philip Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2014-04-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average custodial sentence was for people of each gender sentenced in the West Yorkshire Police Force area to immediate custody for (a) summary only offences, (b) either way offences and (c) indictable only offences; and for which offences such people were sentenced.

    Jeremy Wright

    The sentencing framework and sentencing guidelines apply equally to all offenders. Sentencing is entirely a matter for the courts, taking account of all the circumstances of each case. This will include all aggravating and mitigating factors, the criminal history of the offender and a guilty plea.

    Defendants are now more likely to be convicted for committing crime and sent to prison for longer than they were a decade ago. In addition criminals convicted since 2010 are more likely to receive an immediate custodial sentence, both overall and for a first time offence.

    Offenders sentenced at all courts, by gender, class type, offence type in West Yorkshire police force area from 2008 to 2012 (latest available) can be viewed in the table. In many cases the numbers are too small for the average custodial sentence length to be meaningful.

    Court proceedings data for 2013 are planned for publication in May 2014.