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Tag: 2014

  • Tim Farron – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Tim Farron – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2015-01-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in the US administration on strengthening diplomatic ties between the US and UK.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    We place great importance on the strength of the diplomatic relationship we hold with the US. We have regular discussions with the US administration on a range of key foreign policy issues, including most recently during the visit of the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) to the US on 15 and 16 January. In a joint press conference with President Obama, the Prime Minister stated that “For almost two centuries, …, America and Britain have stood as kindred spirits in defending our freedoms and advancing our shared prosperity”. The President acknowledged the UK as “one of my closest and most trusted partners in the world”.

  • David Ruffley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    David Ruffley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Ruffley on 2015-01-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were admitted to hospital for alcohol-related conditions through A&E in NHS hospitals in (a) Suffolk, (b) Bedfordshire, (c) Cambridgeshire, (d) Essex, (e) Hertfordshire and (f) Norfolk in each year since 2005.

    Jane Ellison

    Information is not available in the format or for the period requested.

    Information on the sum of alcohol attributable fractions of finished admission episodes for hospital providers in the east of England with an admission through accident and emergency departments from 2005-06 to 2012-13 is shown in the attached table.

  • Emma Lewell-Buck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Emma Lewell-Buck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emma Lewell-Buck on 2015-01-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the reoffending rate was for sex offenders whose original conviction was for sexual offences against children in the most recent period for which figures are available.

    Andrew Selous

    The one year proven re-offending rate for offenders convicted of sexual offences against children for the 2012 period (the latest data available) was 8.5%.

    A proven re-offence is defined as any offence committed in a one year follow-up period and receiving a court conviction, caution, reprimand or warning in the one year follow-up. Following this one year period, a further six month waiting period is allowed for cases to progress through the courts.

    The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has established a Sex Offender Management Board to coordinate the better management of sex offenders across the system, including the provision of treatment programmes in custody.

    All high risk sex offenders and Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) cases will be managed by the public sector National Probation Service (NPS).

  • Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2015-01-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will assess the implications for his policies of the recommendations in the report by MIND entitled We’ve got work to do, published in December 2014; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Mark Harper

    We are committed to helping those with mental health conditions to stay in or get back to work and ensuring we offer the best possible support. This is why, with the Department of Health, we are piloting the most promising and evidence-based approaches to supporting individuals with mental health conditions recommended in the expert report Psychological Wellbeing and Work: Improving Service Provision and Outcomes.

    These pilots will contribute to a better evidence base and will inform our thinking about next steps not only for government, but for all who have a role to play including employers, commissioners, service providers and individuals.

    The Disability Confident Campaign is working alongside others, including Mind, on events to raise awareness of Access to Work’s Mental Health Support Service. Last year over 1,400 people who had a mental health condition as their primary condition were supported by Access to Work – an almost threefold increase in the volumes supported compared to 2010/11.

  • Lord Kilclooney – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Kilclooney – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kilclooney on 2015-01-15.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any representations to the government of Pakistan about the proposed resumption of the use of the death penalty in Pakistan; and what is their assessment of the use of the death penalty in Pakistan.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    We have consistently pressed the Government of Pakistan on the issue of the death penalty. It is our longstanding policy to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. We fully understand Pakistan’s resolve to protect society from terrorism but there is no conclusive evidence that capital punishment is an effective deterrent. The UK remains opposed to the death penalty in all cases.

  • Lord Morris of Aberavon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Lord Morris of Aberavon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Morris of Aberavon on 2015-01-15.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government when Maxwellisation” letters were sent to witnesses to the Chilcot inquiry.”

    Lord Wallace of Saltaire

    The timing of Maxwellisation is a matter for the independent Inquiry.

  • Lord Tyler – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Lord Tyler – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Tyler on 2015-01-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many recipients of the Winter Fuel Payment are higher rate taxpayers.

    Lord Freud

    Eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments is based on female State Pension age. The latest estimates we have show that there are currently around 600,000 higher and additional rate taxpayers in Great Britain in 2014/15 who are above the female State Pension age and therefore qualify for Winter Fuel Payments1.

    We ask people who want to return their payment to do so by post so that it can be dealt with securely under existing Departmental financial processes and recorded against their Winter Fuel Payment account. We also ask for a covering letter indicating whether or not they wish us to continue to issue payments in future years.

    Returned payments should be sent to the address on the issuing letter or to the office that pays the claimant’s benefit.

    The latest estimates we have show that treating Winter Fuel Payments as taxable income would bring in around £250 million a year of additional revenue2.

    Notes:

    1. This estimate is based on the 2011/12 Survey of Personal Incomes using economic assumptions consistent with the OBR’s November 2014 economic and fiscal outlook.

    The estimate uses ONS population projections at mid year 2012 adjusted for financial years.

    The estimate is rounded to the nearest 100,000.

    2. This estimate is based on DWP modelling using HMRC taxpayer data from November 2012 and Winter Fuel Payment caseload data from Winter 2013.

    This takes into account revenue from Basic, Higher and Additional rate taxpayers.

    Winter Fuel Payment rates are assumed to be £200 per year for recipients under 80 and £300 a year for recipients aged 80 and over.

  • Lord Moonie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord Moonie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2015-01-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the cause of the accident involving a British Royal Air Force Airbus A330-200 (RRR2740) from Royal Air Force Brize Norton at St John’s, Newfoundland; what was the cost of repairing the damage; and what additional costs were incurred while it was out of service.

    Lord Astor of Hever

    The RAF is undertaking an Occurrence Safety Investigation (OSI) into the incident involving Voyager ZZ331 at St John’s International Airport on 19 December 2014. Whilst taxiing to its parking bay under the guidance of ground handling staff, the aircraft’s wing struck a hangar. It would be inappropriate to comment further on the cause until the OSI is completed.

    The costs incurred as a result of the incident are still to be finalised, but the damage caused was relatively minor.

  • Lord West of Spithead – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord West of Spithead – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-01-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the decision has been made as to the location of the Operational Conversion Unit for the F35B aircraft.

    Lord Astor of Hever

    The Lightning II (F-35B) Operational Conversion Unit will be located at RAF Marham.

  • Paul Burstow – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Paul Burstow – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Burstow on 2015-01-14.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the contribution of 13 January 2015 by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Official Report, columns 218-22WH, on care sector, when the last round of proactive investigation work by HM Revenue and Customs (a) began and (b) finished; when the current proactive work began; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously and has increased the financial penalty percentage from 50% to 100% of the unpaid wages owed to workers, and the maximum penalty from £5,000 to £20,000. These new limits are now in force where arrears are identified in pay reference periods on or after 7 March 2014. The Government is in the process of introducing primary legislation so that the maximum £20,000 penalty will apply to each underpaid worker.

    In response to the questions arising from the contribution of 13 January 2015 by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Official Report, columns 218- 222WH, on the care sector:

    Investigations into the 94 cases have been underway since 29 December 2011 – largely stemming from the particular period of enforcement referred to by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business.

    HMRC already accept third party complaints and review all information received. All information received from third parties is handled sensitively. HMRC are unable to give feedback to third parties on any action taken or progress made, as all worker information is strictly confidential.

    HMRC’s proactive work informing the ‘National Minimum Wage: Compliance in the social care sector’ report, commenced in April 2011 and evaluated enforcement in the social care sector over the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013. We are continuing to evaluate this work, and HMRC are undertaking new targeted enforcement work in the care sector as set out by the BIS Minister on 15 January 2015.