The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, What recent discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues about the Government’s policy on devolution and decentralisation.
Mr Nick Clegg
I meet regularly with Ministerial colleagues to discuss this Government’s policy of decentralising responsibility to the most appropriate levels.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will provide additional support to jobseekers whose jobseeker’s allowance is sanctioned because they experience a series of short illnesses.
Esther McVey
Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) is a benefit for people that are available for, and actively seeking employment. It allows for two separate periods of sickness of up to 14 days within a 12 month period. Work Coaches take individual circumstances, including health into account when agreeing a Claimant Commitment. Claimants that are unable to meet their conditionality because of sickness can be signposted to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sir Greg Knight on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many old oil and gas wells there are in the UK for which no firm or company is responsible; and how such wells are monitored for leaks.
Michael Fallon
A recently published paper by the ReFINE research consortium estimates that there are between fifty and a hundred historic wells in the UK for which no responsible person can be identified.
Oil and gas wells in the UK which have no further usefulness are treated to ensure the retention of any fluids within the well. The bore is sealed with concrete plugs, while the well head it cut off below ground level and a steel cap welded to the top. The abandonment operations are subject to scrutiny by the HSE and the independent well examiner, and must comply with relevant industry standards. The site will then be restored to the appropriate standard prescribed by planning conditions.
Wells are not monitored after the completion of the abandonment and site restoration operations. The ReFINE paper confirms that there are no pollution issues associated with historic oil and gas wells in the UK.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Lazarowicz on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her health priorities are in discussions on the post-2015 development framework.
Justine Greening
The UK objective for post-2015 is to agree a simple, inspiring, measurable set of goals centred on eradicating extreme poverty that should finish the job that the millennium development goals started. The goal should be outcome focused, measuring reductions in preventable death and disease and giving women and girls sexual and reproductive health rights.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Julian Huppert on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on how many injuries have been associated with the use of water cannon in Northern Ireland.
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.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people applied to the UK Embassy in Dublin for British Passports between 2011 and 2014.
James Brokenshire
This information is not held by the Home Office.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr David Blunkett on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what restrictions, by category of prisoner, are placed on access to (a) a prisoner’s own books and (b) books from the prison library in the first four weeks of a prison sentence.
Jeremy Wright
Up to 12 books may be held by prisoners in their cell at any one time. Prisoners may have additional books stored locally at the prison. Every prison has a library, to which every prisoner has access.
Access to books is not determined by category of prisoner and nor does it differ for those in the first four weeks of their sentence.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ben Wallace on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his US counterpart on the extension of the lease for Diego Garcia Airbase.
Mark Simmonds
We welcome the US presence on Diego Garcia, and we have said we want to see it continue. The current agreement does not conclude until December 2016, and we have not yet held substantive discussions with the US about this subject. I expect my officials to begin doing so later this year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Graham Stuart on 2014-03-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of average waiting times for Atos (a) personal independence payments and (b) work assessments in Beverley and Holderness constituency; and what steps he is taking to achieve a reduction in waiting times for such assessments.
Mike Penning
It is not possible to provide data on waiting times for Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance claimants in the Beverley and Holderness constituency. Information for this specific geographical area is not routinely reported to DWP by Atos Healthcare.
We announced in a Written Ministerial Statement on 27 March our plans to achieve a reduction in waiting times and next steps. Atos Healthcare will be withdrawing from delivery of Work Capability Assessments in Great Britain before the end of the current contract
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Aidan Burley on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of women in Cannock Chase constituency were in work in each of the last five years.
Mr Nick Hurd
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.