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Tag: 2014

  • Jonathan Ashworth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Jonathan Ashworth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department is (a) undertaking or (b) plans to undertake a review of the check-off union subscription provision.

    David Mundell

    The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly, all staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other government bodies who remain responsible for all employment matters including payroll deductions for union subscriptions.

  • Jeremy Corbyn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Jeremy Corbyn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Corbyn on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what research her Department has undertaken into the humanitarian effects of the occupation of the West Bank and the blockade of Gaza.

    Mr Alan Duncan

    Israeli movement and access restrictions do tremendous damage to the Palestinian economy; the World Bank has estimated that easing restrictions on Area C alone could increase Palestinian GDP by 35%. In Gaza, Israeli restrictions on movements of goods and people do tremendous damage to the economy and living standards of ordinary people. 80% of the households in Gaza are below the poverty line, and 57% are food insecure. The UN predicts that by 2020 Gaza may no longer be a ‘liveable’ place.

  • Lord Taylor of Warwick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lord Taylor of Warwick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick on 2014-03-26.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to tackle unauthorised absences of pupils during term-time.

    Lord Nash

    We know from evidence that pupils who have regular attendance at school are four times more likely to achieve five or more A*-C grades at GCSE including English and maths than those pupils who are persistently absent. This is why the Department for Education reduced the threshold at which pupils are classified as being persistently absent, from 20 to 15 per cent of school missed. This measure enables schools to identify earlier those pupils with troubling attendance patterns, and to do something about them.

    In 2012, we increased the level of the school attendance penalty fines of £50 and £100 to £60 and £120 respectively; and in 2013 reduced the overall timescales for paying fines from 42 to 28 days. Our reforms are working. In 2012/13, 300,895 pupils were persistently absent, down from 433,130 in 2009/10. This is a fall of almost a third. 130,000 fewer pupils were missing 15% of school in 2012/13 compared to 2010/11.

  • Philip Hollobone – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Philip Hollobone – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    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.

  • Lord Morris of Aberavon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Lord Morris of Aberavon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    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.

  • Kelvin Hopkins – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Kelvin Hopkins – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    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].

  • Dr Julian Huppert – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Dr Julian Huppert – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    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.

  • Roger Godsiff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Roger Godsiff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    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.

  • Henry Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Henry Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    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.

  • Alex Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Alex Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    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.