Tag: 2014

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will ensure that the needs of cyclists are considered when infrastructure contracts are awarded.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    In August 2013 the Prime Minister announced his intention to "cycle proof" the road network – in other words, to ensure that people using cycles are considered from the design stage of new and improved road infrastructure. Cycle proofing is a process which over time ensures that the built environment generally, and roads specifically, are seen to be safe, convenient and pleasant for cycle use by people of all ages and abilities.

    Work to cycle proof roads has already begun. The Highways Agency has recently published its Strategic Business Plan[1] which sets out how they will improve facilities for people cycling or walking alongside the strategic road network. Designated funding has been allocated to make provision for vulnerable users when designing and building major schemes and where feasible make it safer and easier for cyclists and pedestrians to access local routes when crossing the strategic road network. For cyclists the Agency will:

    · Invest £100m to improve access, integration and facilities on and around the network;

    · Undertake studies at 600 sites identified in conjunction with Sustrans and the National Cycling Charity to decide the best potential solution for each location;

    · Provide additional professional development training for those engineers and planners responsible for designing schemes to include appropriate cycling provision;

    · Produce its first National Cycling Strategy by the end of 2015.

    All contracts on the Agency’s network use the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges[2] (DMRB) for the design of works and the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works[3] as the specification. The DMRB incorporates requirements, processes and procedures to ensure that the needs of vulnerable road users are considered and included at scheme design stage.

    The Department is currently finalising the Cycling Delivery Plan. Several actions outlined in that Plan will contribute further to this cycle proofing work. The Department will seek to ensure roads projects that receive government funding, as well as those conducted by local authorities, are cycle proofed. This means that the needs of people using cycles are considered from the design stage.

    The Department is also working to ensure Highways engineers have evidence based tools with which to design high quality conditions for cycling on England’s roads. This includes updating the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions, and – where suitable and appropriate – endorsing the use of new standards and guidance produced by other authorities in the UK.

    We do of course consider the needs of all users of public transport, including cyclists, at railway stations. That is why we have allocated almost £30 million for cycling facilities and we are on track to triple the number of cycle parking spaces at railway stations.

    [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/387252/141215_Strategic_business_plan.pdf

    [2] http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/dmrb/

    [3] http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/mchw/

    “

  • Ann McKechin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Ann McKechin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann McKechin on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effects of fracking on rural communities; and if she will make a statement.

    Dan Rogerson

    Shale gas exploitation has the potential to benefit rural communities. It will create jobs in the industry and supply chain. Communities will also benefit locally from a share of the revenues and from additional business rates. The Department of Energy and Climate Change lead on the economic benefits of shale gas. Any potential impacts, including those on the local environment, are fully considered through the rigorous permitting and planning processes.

  • Mary Creagh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Mary Creagh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Creagh on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what budget was allocated by her Department to AMPLIFY in each financial year from 2009-10; and what budget is allocated to that organisation for 2015-16.

    Justine Greening

    Information on previous budget allocations is available at http://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/. 2015-16 allocations remain subject to ministerial approval.

    “

  • John Stanley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    John Stanley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Stanley on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will issue a direction to the Chief Executive of Network Rail to reply to the letter of 3 June 2014 from the right hon. Member for Tonbridge and Malling, and his subsequent letter pressing for a reply, regarding the establishment of a business and innovation centre at the Station Masters House at Edenbridge Town Station.

    Claire Perry

    Network Rail operates at arm’s-length from the Department, without day-to-day supervision, and is not expected to involve Ministers in its regular operational decisions such as the establishment of a business and innovation centre at Edenbridge Town station.

    However, this is an unacceptable delay and Network Rail advises that Mark Carne’s reply to the right Hon Member for Tonbridge and Malling is due to be sent on 23 January.

    Network Rail held a site meeting in December with the train operator Southern and the group proposing to use the Station Masters House, to look at the rooms in question and to discuss the proposals for future use. Network Rail is continuing its discussions about the lease with all parties to find a way forward in the near future. Both Network Rail and Southern are supportive of this proposal.

  • Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-01-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure that shops secure the physical safety of their customers during future Black Friday promotions; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Mark Harper

    Retailers are responsible for ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of customers under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

    When organising special events such as Black Friday retailers must plan their activities to effectively control and manage risks. Regulation of retail activities sits with the relevant local authority.

    The Health and Safety Executive is in discussion with both the retail industry trade associations and Local Authorities about the implications of initiatives such as Black Friday promotions.

  • Mary Creagh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Mary Creagh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Creagh on 2015-01-13.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total amount of non-fiscal spending in each year from 2009-10 to 2014-15 is (a) in real terms and (b) as a proportion of total government spending.

    Danny Alexander

    “Non-fiscal spend” is not a formal term in the UK National Accounting framework. It is sometimes used to refer to items of public expenditure, which although included in departmental budgets, are either not classified as spending in the National Accounts or use a different source.

  • Louise Ellman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Louise Ellman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Ellman on 2015-01-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on keeping Holocaust education part of the national curriculum.

    Mr Nick Gibb

    The Holocaust remains a compulsory part of the new national curriculum for history which was introduced in September 2014. On 13 January the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the Government is committed to continuing to fund the Holocaust Educational Trust’s valuable ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ project in the next Parliament.

    To mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, and with the help of the Holocaust Educational Trust, the Department held an event for staff on 15 January for Holocaust Memorial Day. A Holocaust survivor and two of the Holocaust Educational Trust’s young ambassadors gave presentations to staff.

  • Paul Flynn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Paul Flynn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2014-07-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what dates the no-fly zones around nuclear facilities have been violated since May 2010; and what steps his Department has taken to ensure such violations do not occur in future.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) maintains a complaint log for three years. Since June 2011, it has received 12 complaints from onsite Security Guards about aircraft which they believe may have overflown their respective sites at low level. 　 The dates of these incidents were:

    12/06/2011 25/07/2012 25/08/2013
    14/06/2011 02/01/2013 09/09/2013
    24/06/2011 14/01/2013 03/10/2013
    17/08/2011 15/08/2013 21/05/2014

    All these recorded incidents were investigated, but due to a lack of evidence the only case which led to a successful prosecution occurred on 25 August 2013 and involved the use of a small unmanned aerial vehicle.

    The need to report to the CAA all aircraft which appear to be low flying is written in the nuclear site’s security procedures manual. 　The successful prosecution demonstrates that the CAA investigates all such reported incidents and that it will take enforcement action when there is sufficient evidence available.　In addition, both the CAA and the Department for Energy and Climate Change seek to learn what they can from the investigations into reported incidents.

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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-07-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how the £1 million pledged by the UK to the UN’s Safe Schools Initiative is being used to ensure that children are being protected.

    Lynne Featherstone

    DFID is providing technical support to the design and development of the Safe Schools Initiative, as well as working through our existing education programmes in northern Nigeria to ensure safe access to learning. The Safe Schools Initiative was launched in May. The Government of Nigeria are leading on implementation. The aim is to provide a response for the protection of schools and the prevention of future attacks on schools. It will include a combination of school-based and community interventions to create safer environments in which schools can operate, improve school security measures and support provision of safe opportunities for learning.

  • Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Grahame M. Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2014-07-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which senior medical and administrative staff responsible for the operation of the Gamma Knife Centre at St Bartholomew’s Hospital Trust are employees of (a) the Trust and (b) the Hospital Corporation of America.

    Jane Ellison

    We are advised that three senior neurosurgery consultants are responsible for the Gamma Knife operation at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, along with one neuro interventional radiologist and two clinical oncologists. All are employed by Barts Health NHS Trust, and are overseen by the Clinical Director for Neurosciences and the Group Director for Emergency Care and Acute Medicine, both of whom are clinicians.

    HCA employs one senior administrator, the Acting Chief Operating Officer for the Harley Street Clinic, along with the physicist and nursing staff and an administration co-ordinator who work in the Gamma Knife centre at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.

    We are advised that HCA owns the Gamma Knife based at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and that HCA pays a rental fee to Barts Health NHS Trust.

    We understand that, as the Gamma Knife was purchased by HCA, St Bartholomew’s Hospital (then part of Barts and The London NHS Trust) incurred minimal set up costs for the establishment of the service in 2009. This included costs for associated building work to accommodate the facility.

    Gamma Knife surgery is funded by NHS England as the commissioner for all specialist services. We are advised that Barts Health NHS Trust receives approximately £9,200 per patient from NHS England and that HCA charges Barts Health £7,310 per patient treated by the Gamma Knife facility at St Bartholomew’s Hospital.

    If the hon. Member wishes to obtain further information about the Gamma Knife facility at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, he may wish to contact Barts Health NHS Trust directly.