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Tag: 2014

  • Douglas Alexander – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Douglas Alexander – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Alexander on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 10 April 2014, Official Report, column 377W, on Sri Lanka, what assessment he has made of the suitability of President Rajapaksa to serve as Chairperson in Office of the Commonwealth.

    Mr William Hague

    The position of Chair in Office, which is occupied by the host of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) for two years after the event, was formally created in 2009. No formal guidance exists on the role. The decision for Sri Lanka to host CHOGM, and become Chair in Office thereafter, was taken at CHOGM in 2009. There has been no consensus amongst member states to revisit this decision.

  • The Countess of Mar – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The Countess of Mar – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Countess of Mar on 2014-03-27.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Nash on 26 March (WA 121), whether local education authorities are required to record details of children with disabilities as defined by the Equality Act 2010.

    Lord Nash

    Local authorities have a duty to open and maintain a register of disabled children and young people under section 17 (part 1 schedule 2) of the Children Act 1989. This duty uses the Children Act definition of disability which differs from the Equality Act definition.

  • Gloria De Piero – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Gloria De Piero – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gloria De Piero on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many women received statutory maternity pay for how long in the latest period for which figures are available.

    Steve Webb

    The total number of women that started receiving Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) in 2011/12 was 355,000 and the average number receiving SMP at any point in time during the year was 273,000. These figures are estimated based on a 1% sample of National Insurance records.

    This figure is for Great Britain only. Northern Ireland figures are the responsibility of the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland.

    The duration of SMP claims cannot be estimated from National Insurance records, as these only contain information on the amount of SMP paid across the year and not when SMP claims begin and end. However the Department publishes the Maternity and Paternity Rights and Women Returners Survey, which provides an indication of SMP claim durations, with the latest publication being in 2009/10. In 2008, about half of women eligible for SMP took maternity pay for the statutory number of weeks (39 weeks). Findings can be accessed at the link below (Section 3.3 and Table 3.5 contain information on SMP durations):

    <https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/maternity-and-paternity-rights-and-women-returners-survey-200910-rr777>

    Notes:

    • Estimates of the number of women receiving SMP are based on the Lifetime Labour Market Database (L2) which is a 1 per cent sample of National Insurance Records.
    • Estimates are subject to change due to further information becoming available through the National Insurance Recording System.

    “

  • Lord Barnett – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Barnett – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Barnett on 2014-03-27.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that an agreement between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Governor of the Bank of England overrides the reserve powers given to HM Treasury in section 19(2) of the Bank of England Act 1998.

    Lord Newby

    The powers set out in section 19 of the Bank of England Act 1998 cannot be removed or amended except by further legislation approved by Parliament which amends that section of the 1998 Act.

    The Treasury may only make an order giving directions under section 19 after consultation with the Governor of the Bank of England, if the directions are required in the public interest and by extreme economic circumstances.

    Since the Monetary Policy Committee was given operational independence in 1997, covering the worst financial crisis in generations leading to the deepest recession since the Second World War, these powers have never been used.

  • Andrew Stephenson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Andrew Stephenson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Stephenson on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department has spent on grassroots sport in (a) Pendle, (b) East Lancashire and (c) the North West in each of the last five years.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    Figures in the table show Sport England direct investment only. The figures do not include additional money being spent on grassroots sports by national governing bodies and other national partners in which Sport England has invested £493 million to get more people playing sport across England.

    2009-10

    2010-11

    2011-12

    2012-13

    2013-14

    Total

    Pendle

    £1500

    £16,506

    £19,560

    £306,404

    £167,996

    £511,966

    Lancashire

    £1,430,187

    £1,160,438

    £2,105,677

    £3,239,373

    £4,212,095

    £12,147,770

    North West

    £8,220,417

    £14,081,270

    £11,875,216

    £12,653,474

    £18,754,769

    £65,585,146
  • Roberta Blackman-Woods – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Roberta Blackman-Woods – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roberta Blackman-Woods on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 025 of the section entitled Viability in his Department’s online National Planning Policy Guidance, what the different funding mechanisms available are.

    Nick Boles

    I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 3 April 2014, Official Report, Column 780-782W.

  • Peter Luff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Peter Luff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Luff on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what continued professional development assistance is provided to design and technology teachers.

    Elizabeth Truss

    The Government is committed to raising the quality of teaching in all subjects, including Design and Technology (D&T). Headteachers and teachers are best placed to make decisions about what professional development they require in order to meet the needs of their pupils and school. A network of Teaching Schools has been established to improve the capacity of schools to take the lead in the training and development of teachers and create more opportunities for peer-to-peer learning. The Teachers’ Standards set a clear benchmark for the level of practice expected of all teachers, and provide a valuable tool to help headteachers and teachers identify and address development needs through regular appraisal.

    The D&T expert subject group, set up to provide support to teachers implementing the new D&T curriculum, comprises of leading professionals in D&T who work to clarify the key areas on which teachers most need further support, identifying the topics that can present the greatest challenge when discussing with pupils. The group liaises with relevant specialists and providers to develop and produce new resources where necessary. DATA, in partnership with others, have developed a range of resources including an annotated programme of study, providing advice and explanatory notes on implementation.

  • John Glen – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    John Glen – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Glen on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will introduce an online pension calculator for use by those who have left the armed forces.

    Anna Soubry

    The Armed Forces Benefits, Pension, Scheme Pays and Redundancy Calculators are available for serving Armed Forces personnel, but will not provide an accurate forecast for ex-Service personnel. They are able to request pension forecasts directly from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) which will be re-named Defence Business Services – Veterans UK with effect from 1 April 2014.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when the construction contract for a Secure College awarded to Wates was put out to tender.

    Jeremy Wright

    Invitations to tender for the design and build of the Secure College pathfinder were issued under the Ministry of Justice’s Strategic Alliance Framework Agreement on 31 January 2014, shortly after we published the Government response to the Transforming Youth Custody consultation on 17 January and announced plans for the Secure College pathfinder in the East Midlands.

  • Neil Carmichael – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Neil Carmichael – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Carmichael on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what conclusions he has drawn from the 3D Printer Project Report for enriching teaching across STEM and Design subjects in schools.

    Elizabeth Truss

    The schools involved in the 2012-13 pilot 3D Printer Project explored innovative ways of teaching STEM subjects, stimulating pupil interest and enriching the curriculum. Participating schools explored the potential benefits and challenges of using this technology in the curriculum and some shared their experiences with other schools wishing to introduce 3D printers. As set out in the report, feedback confirmed that 3D printers have significant potential as a teaching resource and can have a positive impact on pupil engagement and learning.

    In October the Secretary of State for Education commissioned a further 3D Printer Project, working with the Design and Technology Association and 42 teaching school alliances, to further develop our understanding of the educational opportunities offered by 3D printers. Like the pilot project, it is exploring new ways of teaching STEM subjects using a 3D printer, but with an emphasis on using it in ways that enhance learning over other approaches. The schools involved will develop and deliver continuous professional development (CPD) on using a 3D printer to teach STEM subjects to teachers across their teaching school alliances. We plan to make the best of the STEM teaching and CPD resources developed by the participants available to schools across England.