Tag: 2015

  • Frank Field – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Frank Field – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place in the Library copies of the letter he wrote to the Rt hon. Member for East Ham on Universal Credit in January 2015.

    Steve Webb

    The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions wrote to the Rt Hon Member for East Ham on 22 January. In line with the conventions of the House, correspondence between Ministers and MPs are confidential as far as the Department is concerned, and it is a matter for the MP to decide whether to make it more widely available. The Department has no issue if the Rt Hon Member for East Ham chooses to place a copy of the letter in the library.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department provides to its managers on how many days training should be made available to staff.

    Mr Francis Maude

    We want to ensure that the Civil Service is ready to meet the challenges of the twenty first century.

    Through our programme of Civil Service Reform the Government is working to address long-standing weaknesses in four key skills areas: commercial, programme and project delivery, digital delivery, and leading and managing change across the Civil Service.

    Civil Servants are encouraged to take at least five days learning a year but the key point is to ensure that civil servants have the particular skills they need to do their jobs well. The Functional Heads, most of whom report to the Chief Executive of the Civil Service, will set the learning curricula for their functions.

    Most learning is now provided by Civil Service Learning.

    Complete central records are not held on the number of days training, training budgets or training expenditure.

  • Austin Mitchell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Austin Mitchell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Austin Mitchell on 2015-02-12.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many companies have applied the lower rate of corporation tax associated with patent box legislation.

    Mr David Gauke

    The patent box was introduced in April 2013 and companies have up to two years from the end of their accounting period to elect into the regime. The first complete set of data will therefore not be available before end April 2016.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the average number of days training of full-time equivalent staff employed in his Department was in each of the last three financial years.

    Anna Soubry

    The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is committed to helping all employees realise their full potential. This is why all civilian staff are strongly encouraged to take up the offer of completing five days training each year. I am pleased to report that the Department is investing an additional £10 million to develop the skills of our civilian personnel.

    The MOD does not hold information centrally on the average number of days training of full-time equivalent staff. Some data is available from Civil Service Learning for the period July 2012 – June 2013. This showed that the average number of days training of full-time equivalent staff via Civil Service Learning was 1.3 days per head.

    However, this is not a true indication of the total number of days training staff have undertaken, as staff may receive training through a variety of other measures. The Defence Academy undertakes training and development which is specific to Defence, including command and staff courses, languages, acquisition and technology training for military and civilian personnel. It also has a considerable range of leadership, management, project management and commercial training which is specific to Defence.

    The Defence Learning Portal hosts e-learning including a wide range of military and technical training, and mandatory training for civilian and military personnel. This is complemented by a range of learning and development opportunities available to predominately civilian staff, through Civil Service Learning.

    There is also a range of other activities such as coaching, mentoring, shadowing and 360 degree feedback which count towards five training days a year, but may not be recorded officially.

  • Henry Bellingham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Henry Bellingham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Bellingham on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if the Government will take steps to prioritise support for families with children when they fall behind on their bills to energy companies.

    Matthew Hancock

    This Government has implemented a range of measures to help vulnerable households reduce their energy bills, including Cold Weather Payments and the Warm Home Discount.

    For those customers who fall behind on payments, suppliers are obliged to take their ability to pay into account when setting a repayment plan. Some suppliers also provide special grants and services to help families. Further information is available free from the Home Heat Helpline on 0800 33 66 99.

  • Caroline Flint – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Caroline Flint – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Flint on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 9 February 2015 to Question 222816, how many full-time equivalent staff were employed under reachback contracts in each of the last five years.

    Matthew Hancock

    The NDA did not record the number of individuals employed full-time under reachback contracts between 2009-2011. The number of full-time equivalent staff employed under reachback contracts in each of the last three years are:

    • 2011-12 126
    • 2012-13 149
    • 2013-14 134.
  • Peter Luff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Peter Luff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Luff on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans he has to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the UK establishing diplomatic relations with Nepal.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    We are keen to commemorate the establishment of relations with Nepal, given the historic and warm relationship between our two countries, and the outstanding service rendered by the UK by the Gurkhas. The UK is working closely with the government of Nepal on the plans for the bicentenary which will culminate in March 2016 to mark the ratification of the Treaty of Segauli signed in March 1816. Plans are underway to mark this important anniversary in both the UK and Nepal, including through a series of cultural and educational events with senior level engagement.

    Separately, the bicentenary of the commencement of Gurkha recruitment – ‘Gurkha 200’ – will be marked between March and June 2015. More information can be found on: http://www.gurkha200.co.uk/.

    “

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average number of days training of full-time equivalent staff employed in his Department was in each of the last three financial years.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    The Department is committed to developing its staff. Individuals and local teams arrange a variety of developmental activities, including formal training courses. The number of hours/days for each individual is not recorded centrally. To gather this information would incur disproportionate costs.

  • Virendra Sharma – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Virendra Sharma – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Mayor of London on the level of violent crime in London.

    Lynne Featherstone

    Home Office Ministers have regular meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous administrations, it is not the Government’s practice to provide details of all such meetings.

    According to the latest crime figures published by the Office for National Statistics, the Crime Survey for England and Wales shows violent crime is down by 23% under this Government, and this is supported by NHS data on hospital admissions for assault which also indicates violence is falling.

    The number of violence offences recorded by the police in the year to September 2014 rose by 16% compared with the previous year, with the Metropolitan Police one of the forces seeing a rise. The Office for National Statistics noted that the increase in police recorded violence is partly due to improved reporting and recording of violence and particularly of domestic abuse. This improvement follows Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary’s inspection of crime recording in every police force in England and Wales, which the Home Secretary commissioned in 2013, and which found significant under-recording of crime. The data shows that forces are acting on the findings.

    We also know that some violent crimes like domestic and sexual violence are under-reported. We welcome more people reporting them to the police and we want to see more cases being brought to justice.

  • John McDonnell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    John McDonnell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John McDonnell on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people applied for compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014.

    Mike Penning

    According to latest figures, in the financial year 2013-14 we made payments totalling more than £242m to victims of violent crime.

    We also aim to make our application process as simple as possible. Applicants need only complete one form when applying to Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) and we have an online application service. Those who have no access to online services, or who need additional support, can apply by phone. Depending on the nature of the claim, applicants may be asked to provide evidence to support their claim, for example: medical reports or employment information.

    In the last financial year 94 per cent of applicants we surveyed after receiving their decision, including people who were refused compensation, said they were happy with our service.

    Where necessary, CICA will ask applicants to provide basic medical evidence to support their claim. Applicants are expected to meet the cost of a medical report up to the value of £50. If additional medical information is required this will be paid for by CICA. If an applicant cannot afford to pay for the initial medical report, CICA will pay and deduct this from any award of compensation made. There are no other charges associated with making a claim.

    An application received in one financial year may not necessarily be resolved in the same financial year. Although we aim to make compensation payments as quickly as possible, we have a duty to the taxpayer to investigate claims properly while ensuring that the applicant gets the level of compensation they deserve. In some cases it may not be in the best interests of an applicant to finalise a claim before the long term implications of an injury can be properly assessed.

    Question

    2013

    2014

    (224448)

    How many victims were granted compensation by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority

    21,846*

    16,238*

    (22449)

    How many people applied for compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority

    33,574

    32,297

    *This is the total number of victims compensated and their claims concluded within those calendar years.