Tag: 2014

  • David Hanson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    David Hanson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2014-07-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has received from local authorities within Compass asylum contract areas on the (a) suitability of accommodation for asylum seekers provided by Compass, (b) overcrowding in that accommodation, (c) the need for local authorities to be notified when asylum seekers became resident there and (d) additional services required from local authorities when large numbers of asylum seekers move to an area.

    James Brokenshire

    COMPASS Accommodation providers must abide by specific standards, including rules on shared dwellings. The Home Office monitors the performance of the providers against quality and safety standards to ensure the suitability of accommodation provided for asylum seekers and works with providers to improve these where necessary. Poor performance by the providers can also have financial ramifications if they are found to be non-compliant.The Home Office has established working arrangements with all local authorities to consider the placement of asylum seekers in each area to ensure minimal impact on services and community cohesion. Local authorities are notified of all asylum seekers moving into their area, and they have an obligation to perform a duty of care for all their residents regarding health, social services and schooling for minors. In addition Home Office has appointed three Service Delivery Managers (SDM) to work in partnership with the COMPASS providers and external stakeholders, principally local authorities. The role of the SDM is to arbitrate in difficulties between providers and local authorities.

  • Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Simon Kirby on 2014-07-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will estimate the annual cost to her Department of (a) stationery and (b) postage incurred when sending a ministerial reply to hon. Members; and if she will make a statement.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    Based on approximately 3,500 replies a year we estimate the annual cost of replying to hon. members as: a) £525, b) £1,650.

  • Peter Bone – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    Peter Bone – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Bone on 2014-07-16.

    To ask the Leader of the House, how many days were allocated to business not introduced by a Government Minister in each of the last 10 years.

    Mr William Hague

    The statistics requested are not maintained as business is not always allocated on the basis of whole days. The number of days allocated to Opposition Days, Backbench business, select committee business and private Members’ bills each session is specified in the Standing Orders of the House. The number of hours spent each Session on different categories of business is recorded in the Sessional Returns.

  • Austin Mitchell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Austin Mitchell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Austin Mitchell on 2014-07-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, to whom and by what mechanism is Rail North accountable.

    Claire Perry

    The Rail North consortium has been formed by 30 Local Transport Authorities (LTAs) in the North of England to help deliver a vision for a strengthened role for rail in supporting economic growth in the region. The LTAs are currently formalising Rail North’s governance. This will comprise:

    • an Association of Local Transport Authorities formed under the Local Government Act 1972, governed by a Leaders’ Committee, which all 30 LTAs will be eligible to join;

    • a Special Purpose Vehicle (company limited by guarantee) called Rail North Ltd. All LTAs who are members of the Association would be entitled to be members of Rail North Ltd, with each of the geographical subgroups established by the Leaders Committee being able to appoint one elected member to the Board of Rail North Ltd. It is expected that the company will be formed in the next few weeks.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-07-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total expenditure on housing benefit in London was in each year since 2010.

    Steve Webb

    The information requested is shown in the table below.

    Total Housing Benefit expenditure in Greater London

    2010/11

    2011/12

    2012/13

    £ million, nominal

    5,539

    5,890

    6,081

    £ million, 2014/15 prices

    5,961

    6,198

    6,327

    Source: Local Authority subsidy returns

    Notes:

    1. Benefit expenditure is available for financial years only.

    2. The last period for which a full year of expenditure is available is 2012/13. Figures for 2013/14 will be published later in the year.

    3. Figures at 2014/15 prices are deflated using GDP deflators published following the 2014 Budget, and published at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/299805/GDP_Deflators_Qtrly_National_Accounts_March_2014_update.xls

    4. Expenditure data shown here for 2012/13 may differ slightly from published expenditure information due to more up to date local authority data received after the data had been published.

    “

  • Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many staff (a) in his Department and (b) its executive agencies are currently working wholly or in part on the issue of Sunday trading.

    Jo Swinson

    a) No staff in BIS are currently working full time on the issue of Sunday Trading. There are two policy staff and one lawyer that have Sunday Trading as part of their wider portfolio e.g. providing briefing on policy and employment aspects, answering PQs, drafting responses to Bill amendments and information requests, providing correspondence advice. In addition there are 2 staff that deal with standard correspondence some small proportion of which will include responding to letters referring to Sunday Trading legislation.

    b) We are not aware of any staff in Executive Agencies of BIS that are specifically assigned to work on the issue of Sunday Trading.

  • Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what services Healthcare UK offers to organisations based in the devolved regions.

    Matthew Hancock

    As a constituent part of UK Trade and Investment, Healthcare UK has responsibility for the provision of support and assistance to new and existing healthcare exporters of goods and services across the UK and for promoting the UK and all its constituent parts to foreign investors.

    The devolved administrations are responsible for devising and implementing additional programmes to meet the particular needs of companies based in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales and for promoting Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales to foreign investors.

  • Charlie Elphicke – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Charlie Elphicke – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlie Elphicke on 2014-07-15.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when HM Revenue and Customs will next audit the (a) compliance and (b) performance of Mapeley STEPS Contractor Limited in respect of the Five Year Plan under 17.1 (a) of the private finance initiative contract between HM Revenue and Customs and Mapeley STEPS Contractor Limited.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) monitors the performance of its contractor regularly under a range of provisions. Commercial discussions between HMRC and its suppliers are confidential.

  • Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average debt level per capita is of local authorities in (a) England and (b) the North West; and what the level of debt per capita is in Warrington Borough Council.

    Kris Hopkins

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the rt.hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East (Mr Nicholas Brown) on 14 July 2014, Official Report, Column 532W.

    My Department does not publish regional statistics.

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will estimate the cost of restructuring the shipbuilding agreement with BAE Systems.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 November 2013, (Official Report, column 696W).