The below Parliamentary question was asked by Katy Clark on 2014-04-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will investigate reports that Osama Hussain Al-Najjar has been tortured while held in custody in the UAE.
Hugh Robertson
We are aware of these reports, and will continue to monitor reporting of Osama Hussain Al-Najjar’s case.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by James Duddridge on 2014-06-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will place in the Library the underlying data to Chart B.5 on page 97 of the Budget 2014 Red Book in (a) percentage of gross domestic product and (b) £ million.
Priti Patel
The data (the Office for Budget Responsibility’s forecast for debt in 2015-16 and HM Treasury projections for debt in 2035-36 under different policy assumptions with and without illustrative shocks) has been placed in the Library of the House. The forecast and projections have been provided both as a percentage of GDP and in £million in today’s terms.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2014-04-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase trust in the Metropolitan Police.
Damian Green
The majority of police officers serving in London and elsewhere do their jobs
well, serving their communities with dedication and professionalism. We are
building on this by:
• Delivering the first-ever Code of Ethics, which is due to be published
shortly by the College of Policing. The Code sets out clearly the high
standards of behaviour expected from all police officers and staff of all ranks;
• Establishing, through the College of Policing, a set of national registers of
chief officer reward packages, gifts and hospitality and business interests
including second jobs. The College is also producing a national register of
"struck-off" officers to record those dismissed for misconduct, ensuring that
those individuals are not re-employed by the police;
• Legislating for a new offence of police corruption, supplementing the
existing offence of misconduct in public office and focusing clearly on those
who hold police powers, as an amendment to the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill
already before Parliament;
• Strengthening the Independent Police Complaints Commission so that it will
have responsibility for dealing with all serious and sensitive cases involving
the police. HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary has also been commissioned to
look specifically at the anti-corruption capability of police forces, including
professional standards departments;
• Advertising now for Direct Entry to the police this autumn at Superintendent
level, which will bring a fresh perspective and approach and will open up
policing culture; and
• Introducing a comprehensive package of reform to stop and search which will
contribute to a significant reduction in the overall use of the powers, better
and more intelligence-led stop-and-search, and improved stop-to-arrest ratios.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, with reference to paragraph 18 of Investing in Britain’s Future, Cm 8669, produced in June 2013, how he intends to spend the £250 million allocated to broadband in 2015-16 and 2016-17.
Mr Edward Vaizey
With local match funding, the £250m allocated to broadband in 2015-16 and 2016-17 will enable superfast broadband coverage to be extended to 95% of premises by 2017. The Department announced indicative funding allocations for local broadband project areas in February 2014. The first procurements for projects using this funding are now under way.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-04-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 26W, on nurseries, for what reasons his Department is reviewing provision of workplace nurseries; when that review will be complete; how many families access his Department’s workplace nursery provision; how much workplace nursery provision by his Department costs each year; and whether his Department claims tax relief on workplace nurseries.
Mike Penning
There are currently seven workplace nurseries in operation, by third parties, on DWP premises.
The Department’s current contracts with its nursery providers are soon expiring. Therefore, it is appropriate to review future nursery provision in general and consider whether it is appropriate and cost effective to continue to contract for on site services.
In addition, as part of its remuneration package, the Department supports employees through a salary sacrifice scheme where employees can give up part of their salary in return for childcare vouchers, which allows for significant savings through tax relief. This gives parents support in order to make their own choices for childcare. Consequently, as suitable alternatives exist, it is no longer appropriate to continue to contract for workplace nursery provision.
There are currently 361 families who access DWP’s workplace nurseries.
The cost of nursery provision:
2013/14 YTD (Feb): £29,112
2012/13: £50,693
2011/12: £80,811
2010/11: £88,494
The Department doesn’t claim tax relief on workplace nurseries
No information is held on Executive agencies and non-departmental bodies. There would be a disproportionate cost to source that information.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Williamson on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what provision is in place for a member of school staff to contest an unjust or open-ended suspension.
Mr David Laws
School staff who believe that they have been unfairly suspended or subjected to an unreasonable period of suspension can choose to submit a formal grievance to their employer.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 2014-04-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they are making in hosting Syrian refugees.
Lord Taylor of Holbeach
The first group of Syrian refugees arrived in the UK on 25 March as part of the Government’s Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) Scheme. The next group of refugees is expected to arrive this month, with further groups to follow on a regular basis. We continue to work with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to establish a steady flow of cases.
Whilst there is no set quota, we predict that the VPR scheme will support several hundred people over the next three years.
A number of local authorities have indicated that they would like to participate in the scheme, and we are in discussions with other local authorities who have expressed an interest.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Geraint Davies on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what funds have been provided from his departmental expenditure limit for nuclear decommissioning in the 2014-15 financial year.
Michael Fallon
The net DEL figure for 2014/15 is £2,298.7m.
Source: DECC 2014-15 Main Estimate Explanatory Memorandum
The below Parliamentary question was asked by on 2014-04-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the findings of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons about the medical treatment in the High Security Unit and Special Security unit in HMP Belmarsh that led to his recommendation that patients should receive confidential medical consultations and treatment that preserves privacy and dignity
Lord Wallace of Saltaire
The HSU / SSU is visited daily by a nurse who will speak with every prisoner to establish whether there are any issues. The GP will visit the unit weekly (as a minimum). As part of the HMIP Action Plan that is being developed the Operating Standards are currently under review which will address the issue regarding quarterly reviews.
The reference in the report was regarding one prisoner who was seen with discipline staff present; the privacy and dignity of prisoners is taken very seriously within HMP Belmarsh, however this must be balanced against the risk that the individual poses to others. Prisoners will be seen without escorting staff unless the risk is deemed to be too high, this is an exceptional circumstance rather than the rule.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will raise with the Moroccan Ambassador to the UK the situation of the political prisoners in Saharawi; and what information he has received from HM Ambassador in Morocco on the state of health of Abdalah Boukiod.
Hugh Robertson
We regularly emphasise to Morocco the importance of full respect for human rights in Western Sahara. Minister Robertson discussed this issue during his trip to Rabat in March this year. We are aware of reports that Abdalah Boukiod has been on hunger strike since 20 May. We do not have further information on the state of his health.