UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: 2014

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will introduce a maximum charge for homecare and other non-residential social services.

    Norman Lamb

    Through the Care Bill we are making the biggest change to the care and support system in more than 65 years. The Bill reforms what people pay for care and support and how they pay to create a system that is a fair partnership between people needing care, their families and tax-payers.

    The reforms will place a cap on lifetime care costs. This means that people will no longer face the possibility of catastrophic care costs, providing peace of mind and enabling them to plan for their future. New regulations and guidance on how to financially assess people will ensure that, while they are contributing towards the cost of their care, they will only pay what they can afford.

  • Nic Dakin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Nic Dakin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nic Dakin on 2014-05-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to apply in all circumstances the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s principles that local councils should have first refusal when assets are being disposed of.

    Mr Mark Francois

    There is no such principle. In accordance with Treasury guidelines the Department is required to achieve best value for money in the sale of each site.

    In the case of Kirton in Lindsey, following the aborted sale to the Homes and Communities Agency, the MOD decided to proceed straight to the open market. The department will be happy to receive a tender from North Lincolnshire District Council to be considered along with all other bids in fair and open competition.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-05-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects the Pension Regulator to conclude its investigation into the Carrington Wire pension scheme.

    Steve Webb

    This is a matter for the Pensions Regulator which has operational independence.

    Inevitably in complex cases involving foreign companies where it appears that scheme abandonment may have taken place, it can take some time for the Regulator to complete the thorough investigations needed to establish whether the legal tests in relation to its ‘anti-avoidance’ powers, including the power to issue contribution notices, are met.

  • Gordon Henderson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Gordon Henderson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gordon Henderson on 2014-05-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to criminalise psychological abuse and coercive control in domestic violence situations.

    Norman Baker

    I will write to the Hon. Member.

  • Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe on 2014-05-08.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will define the challenges referred to in the Department of Health’s April 2014 publication Living Well for Longer that they have laid before the drinks industry to reduce alcohol harm to health that is linked to premature avoidable deaths.

    Earl Howe

    In July 2013, the Government set a challenge to the alcohol industry to ask them to do more to reduce alcohol harm through the Public Health Responsibility Deal alcohol network. The challenge was formally set out in the 17 July 2013 Government’s response document Next steps following the consultation on delivering the Government’s alcohol strategy. It says:

    “The Government believes that the alcohol industry can go further to show that voluntary action can deliver the significant changes needed. It is now challenging industry to take action in other areas, increasing their level of ambition and ownership of the issues, to reduce alcohol-related crime and disorder and health harms, tackle the harmful effects of binge drinking and to support growth in local economies. This includes seeking rapid action in the following areas: supporting targeted local action; tackling the high strength or high volume products that can cause the most harm; promoting and displaying alcohol responsibly in shops; and improving education around drinking.”

  • Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies on voluntary restrictions by network providers of adult content of recent proposals from the European Parliament on a European single market for electronic communications.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    We are aware that there some concerns that the European Parliament’s amendments to the draft Connected Continent regulation may restrict ISPs ability to block illegal content or to filter adult content at the request of customers. The UK Government supports the aims of the Connect Continent package, but let me clear that we will not agree to any proposals that restrict the ability of parents to protect their children from inappropriate content on line. We are confident that this was not the intention of the European Parliament and we are working with EU Member States, the European Commission and the European Parliament to deliver a final package that promotes an open, safe and secure internet.

  • Christopher Chope – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Christopher Chope – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what basis the Government calculates entitlement to holiday pay for civil servants.

    Mr Francis Maude

    This is a matter delegated to individual Civil Service Departments and agencies under the Civil Service Management Code (CSMC).

  • Bill Wiggin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Bill Wiggin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bill Wiggin on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools in North Herefordshire have unsuccessfully applied for free school status.

    Mr Edward Timpson

    There have been two applications to establish free schools in North Herefordshire: one in 2012 was successful and one in 2013 was unsuccessful.

    A list of all applications to establish free schools is published online at:

    Wave 1 and 2:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/name-local-authority-previous-school-name-and-faith-designation-of-applications-to-open-a-free-school-waves-1-and-2

    Wave 3:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/name-local-authority-previous-school-name-and-faith-designation-of-applications-to-open-a-free-school-wave-3

    Wave 4:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-schools-wave-4-application-information

    Wave 5:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/free-schools-wave-5-application-information

    “

  • David Lammy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    David Lammy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Lammy on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help find the 230 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram; and whether the UK will commit military aid to the search effort if required.

    Mark Simmonds

    Since the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State, Nigeria, we have been in regular contact with the Nigerian Government to offer our assistance. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), spoke to the Nigerian Foreign Minister on 18 April immediately after the abductions and offered the UK’s assistance. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) spoke to the Nigerian President on 7 May. The Nigerian President accepted our offer of a team of experts led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and including Ministry of Defence (MOD), Department for International Development (DFID) and Police representatives. The team arrived in Abuja on 9 May and will be talking to the Nigerians to offer advice on how the Nigerians can defeat Boko Haram and bring stability to the north of Nigeria.

    It is too soon to comment on what specific assistance we will give. However, the team will provide expertise in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, military mentoring and training, victim support and economic development. Human rights compliance is, and will remain, an essential element of any UK assistance in Nigeria.

  • Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress he has made in implementing the Simple Payment initiative; how many people use it; and what steps he has taken to ensure its resilience.

    Mike Penning

    The Simple Payment service is continuously monitored to ensure satisfactory performance. As a result 99.82% of transactions over the past 6 months have completed successfully at the first attempt.

    There are in total 137,617 customers registered to use the service.