Tag: 2014

Richard Fuller – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Fuller on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will support an international enquiry into the events at the Golden Temple in Amritsar in 1984.

Mr Hugo Swire

This is a matter between the Sikh Community and government of India. The purpose of the Cabinet Secretary’s recent investigation and report on the Indian operation at Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar in 1984, was to establish the extent of UK Government involvement in the Indian government’s plans for military operations, not the operation itself, or the actions of the Indian government.

November 1, 2022
Richard Benyon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Benyon on 2014-03-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what strategic priorities her Department has given to the National Wildlife Crime Unit in each of the last five years; and on what key areas her Department has instructed that unit to focus until 2016.

Norman Baker

The Home Office recognises the importance of wildlife crime, and is providing specific funding of £136,000 for the National Wildlife Crime Unit in each of the next two financial years.

The Home Office does not set specific priorities for the National Wildlife Crime Unit, other than to tackle wildlife crime. The Unit produces a tactical assessment of wildlife crime across the UK every six months. This assessment is then considered by the UK Tasking and Co-ordinating Group, which includes the Home Office and Defra.

November 1, 2022
Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-06-04.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what use his Department has made of the National Wellbeing Index introduced by the Office for National Statistics in formulating policy since the introduction of that Index in 2011; and what policies his Department has introduced to improve national wellbeing as defined in that Index since 2010.

Nicky Morgan

As the Prime Minister has said “we’ll start measuring our progress as a country not just by how our economy is growing, but by our quality of life.”

The National Wellbeing Index and Measures of Wellbeing provides a rich contribution to the debate about the health and happiness of the people of the United Kingdom.

These are relatively new statistical series, meaning that the evidence base on wellbeing, and the implications for policy making, are still being developed. The ONS Wellbeing statistics released on the 4^th June made a helpful contribution to this debate. They revealed for example, that those households that receive more of their income from benefits are more likely to have lower life satisfaction. This government has overseen record employment levels and is reforming the benefit system so that it always pays to work and people are not trapped in a life on benefits.

November 1, 2022
Richard Fuller – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Fuller on 2014-04-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the quality and performance of UK Trade and Investment support for UK-Nigeria partnerships in (a) financial services, (b) the creative industries and (c) educational services.

Michael Fallon

UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) carries out an in-depth assessment of its overall impact each quarter via the Performance Impact Monitoring Survey (PIMS). Generic assessments of specific sectors are carried out externally on behalf of UKTI. The business impact of individual services and activities is also monitored by the teams delivering them.

UKTI delivers a range of services in relation to Nigeria in the sectors specified, both bespoke services for individual companies and broader activities. These are in line with sector strategies for the market. Some recent examples include a financial services mission to Nigeria in March organised by UKTI, in partnership with Nigerian Diaspora individuals working in the City of London. Also in March, UKTI Nigeria worked with UK and Nigerian stakeholders to deliver an SME event in Lagos focused on creative industries. This was followed in early April by a videoconference between UK and Nigerian companies engaged in fashion retail. UKTI was also involved in a local education event in Lagos in early April during which Nigerian requirements were successfully matched to UK companies offering relevant expertise.

All participants who commented on these events reported that they found their participation useful. All have identified follow up actions and UKTI will be monitoring successes which ensue.

November 1, 2022
Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what use his Department has made of the National Wellbeing Index introduced by the Office for National Statistics in formulating policy since the introduction of that Index in 2011; and what policies his Department has introduced to improve national wellbeing as defined in that Index since 2010.

Gregory Barker

The National Wellbeing Index contains two measures directly related to DECC’s priorities: “Energy consumed within the UK from renewable sources” and “Total greenhouse gas emissions”, where latest data shows the positive impact being made by DECC. For example in 2013, provisional data shows 15% of electricity being produced from renewable sources – a new high. To provide further support for renewable and other forms of low carbon generation DECC is implementing Electricity Market Reform, in particular provisions for Feed-in-Tariffs with Contracts for Difference. Since 2010 DECC has also launched the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme to provide support for renewable heat in both the domestic and non-domestic sectors.

More broadly, a number of DECC’s policies, such as the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) which funds efficient boilers and insulation measures to low income and vulnerable households and is now guaranteed until at least 2017, contribute toward other aspects of the National Wellbeing Index, for example “Getting by financially”.

November 1, 2022
Cathy Jamieson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cathy Jamieson on 2014-03-18.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people and what proportion of the working age population have been in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance for over (a) two and (b) five years in (i) Scotland and (ii) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency.

Nick Hurd

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

November 1, 2022
Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-06-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training (a) Atos staff and (b) staff of his Department are given in mental health for the purposes of assessing whether claimants are fit for work.

Mike Penning

All healthcare professionals receive training in mental health issues as part of their induction training, are required to engage in a programme of continuing medical education which includes modules on mental health issues, and have access to Mental Function Champions.

Atos training and guidance materials are regularly reviewed and external experts including the Royal College of Psychiatrists are involved in quality assurance.

All healthcare professionals are monitored to ensure that their work meets the required quality standards. If a problem is identified, the healthcare professional may be required to undertake tailored training, which may involve training in mental health issues if required.

DWP staff receive training in respect of decisions concerning medical or disability issues, including mental health. Specifically learning is provided on:
- understanding the WCA descriptors
- gathering evidence from the claimant and medical professionals
- using the evidence to apply the descriptors and determine capability for work.
Within the learning emphasis is placed on the on-going support available to Decision Makers from Atos Healthcare to interpret and understand medical information.

In the Independent Review of the Work Capability Assessment published in December 2013, Doctor Litchfield made a number of recommendations related to training in mental health which have been accepted subject to further scoping work.
November 1, 2022
Mr Gareth Thomas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Gareth Thomas on 2014-03-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the processing time target is for personal independence payment (PIP) claims; and what proportion of such claims took longer than this target time to process since the introduction of PIPs.

Mike Penning

As you will appreciate, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a new benefit and processes are currently bedding in. There are no time limits or targets on processing times to claims for PIP but we are taking the necessary action to improve the processing times.

November 1, 2022
Gareth Thomas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2014-06-10.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Sir John Holmes independent medal review began; when that review is due to be completed; whether any preliminary reports from that review (a) have been published and (b) are due to be published; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Francis Maude

I refer the hon. Member to the my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s statements on 30 April 2012, (Official Report), Column Ref: 55WS and 17 July 2012 (Official Report) Column Ref 132WS.

An announcement will be made once the full set of reviews is complete and has been approvedin the usual way.

November 1, 2022

Gavin Williamson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Williamson on 2014-03-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many planning appeals resulted in local authority decisions being overturned by the planning inspector in South Staffordshire in (a) 2009, (b) 2010, (c) 2011, (d) 2012 and (e) 2013.

Nick Boles

Planning is a quasi-judicial process; it is a long-standing feature of the planning system that there is a right of appeal, just as there are with other local quasi-judicial decisions such as on licensing applications, gambling applications or parking fines.

The table below shows planning appeal decisions by calendar year for South Staffordshire District Council. To assist public scrutiny, I have provided comparative figures for a similar period before 2010.

Calendar Year	Allowed	Split	Dismissed	Total
2007	25	0	37	62
2008	27	1	53	81
2009	14	0	26	40
2010	18	0	35	53
2011	19	0	33	52
2012	16	0	26	42
2013	8	0	22	30

Whilst the precise number of appeals will fluctuate from year to year, this table shows that the number of appeals both (a) received and (b) allowed has fallen in recent years.

November 1, 2022