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Tag: 2015

  • Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will conduct or commission an investigation into the knock-on effects of current engineering works at London Bridge.

    Claire Perry

    Network Rail and train operators Southern and Thameslink are fully aware of the issues that caused the disruption to services into London Bridge from 5 January. Since that date they have worked closely to resolve these issues and improve reliability.

    Network Rail, Southern and Thameslink have committed to incorporate lessons learned from these events into the planning of future phases of work at London Bridge. They will also incorporate lessons learnt from the disruption seen at Kings Cross and Paddington over Christmas and the recommendation included in the recent ORR report into these issues.

    I do not consider a further investigation necessary.

  • Kate Green – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Kate Green – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Written Statement of 10 February 2015, HCWS 269, on Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme, what the additional administrative safeguards referred to in that statement are.

    Mr Mark Harper

    The administrative safeguards are related to audit, management information and ongoing support of the Employers’ Liability Tracing Office. They provide additional insight into the live running of the Scheme for the insurance industry, but do not impact in any way upon the Scheme itself.

  • Lord Bradshaw – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Bradshaw – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2015-02-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much revenue is raised through the O licences of goods vehicles.

    Baroness Kramer

    The revenue that has been raised by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is £8.2m for the 10 months ending 31 January 2015 (£9.9m for the full year in 2014) from Operator Licences of Goods Vehicles.

  • The Lord Bishop of Worcester – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The Lord Bishop of Worcester – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Worcester on 2015-02-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking, as a member of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, to bring about renewed discussions with Russia on a possible Euro-Atlantic security community.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The UK has regular discussions with Russia and all other participating States under the auspices of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), including through the Helsinki +40 process, towards the goal of a security community as outlined at the OSCE Astana Summit 2010. I recently met Michael Link, the Director of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), and emphasised the need to uphold the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security and the rule of law through strong commitments and institutions. The UK continues to underline to Russia that its illegal annexation of Crimea and its destabilising actions in eastern Ukraine are unacceptable, and a violation of fundamental OSCE principles and commitments. Additionally, in December 2014 the OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office launched an Eminent Persons Panel, with a remit to make recommendations on how to take forward an inclusive and constructive dialogue across the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian regions, and to reflect on how to ensure effective adherence to the Helsinki Principles that OSCE participating States have signed up to. The UK looks forward to engaging with the work of the panel this year.

  • Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2015-02-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Turkey about proposals to convert many secular schools into Imam Hatip schools and the forced enrolment of pupils into Imam Hatip schools in 2014.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    Our Embassy in Ankara regularly discusses education policies with senior Turkish cabinet ministers and officials, and Turkish education unions. In January our Ambassador met with Mehmet Görmez, President of the Diyanet (Presidency of Religious Affairs in Turkey), and discussed religious education and Imam Hatip schools with him. More widely, we regularly raise human rights issues with the Turkish government, including the importance of freedom of religion and safeguarding the rights of minority groups.

  • Edward Leigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Edward Leigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Leigh on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress he has made on recruitment to the Army Reserve.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    In the quarter to December 2014 the Army Reserve has seen 1,490 join its strength, an increase of 147% compared to the same quarter in 2013.

    We have unblocked the enlistment pipeline and are engaged in national and local marketing. Employers are signing up for awards for supporting their reservist employees.

    The upturn is gathering speed.

  • Cathy Jamieson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Cathy Jamieson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cathy Jamieson on 2015-02-11.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff have been recruited to deliver the Pension Wise scheme; and what the salary bands are to which those staff have been appointed.

    Andrea Leadsom

    All guidance specialists working for Pension Wise will receive high quality and rigorous training, whether they are delivering guidance face to face or over the phone. They will be required to pass a certificated test to demonstrate they have the necessary technical knowledge and guidance skills to deliver the guidance. The training programme is designed in accordance with FCA standards, and will be accredited by the Chartered Insurance Institute, a well-respected professional standards body in the financial services industry.

    HM Treasury’s delivery partners, TPAS and Citizens Advice, Citizens Advice Scotland and Citizens Advice Northern Ireland are currently recruiting guidance specialists. Recruitment strategies and the setting of pay scales is the responsibility of individual delivery partners.

    At Budget 2014, the Chancellor allocated a development fund of up to £20m to establish the initial guidance service. Spending on advertising will be published as part of the government’s Transparency Agenda. Initial funding to The Pension Advisory Service (TPAS) and the Citizen Advice organisations will be included in the HM Treasury Accounts to be published in July.

  • Graham Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Graham Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2015-02-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will hold discussions with the English Premier League on increased investment in grassroots football, in response to the recent sale of broadcasting rights.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    I have regular discussions with the Premier League and will continue to press the importance that this huge investment needs to benefit the game as a whole. This includes benefiting clubs lower down the football pyramid, supporters, and the grassroots of the game, through increased investment in facilities, community programmes and other schemes.

  • 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 2015-02-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the staff costs and other operating expenditure of NDA Properties Limited in (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2015-16, including through third-party management fees.

    Matthew Hancock

    NDA Properties Limited forecasts its staff costs and other operating expenditure at £433,804 in 2014-15 and £390,000 in 2015-16.

  • Andrew Percy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Andrew Percy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Percy on 2015-02-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has conducted a study on the viability of a New Medicines Fund for England.

    George Freeman

    We have no plans to do so.

    On 12 January 2015, NHS England announced that it plans to further increase the level of investment for drugs in the Cancer Drugs Fund to an expected £340 million in 2015-16.

    The Government is implementing all of the commitments in the 2014 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) on improving access to innovative medicines commensurate with the outcomes they offer patients. In addition, NHS England and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry are pressing ahead with plans to maximise the benefits of the PPRS by improving access to and optimising the use of medicines to improve patient outcomes.

    More generally, we have launched an ‘Innovative Medicines and Medical Technology Review’ of the pathways for the development, assessment, and adoption of innovative medicines and medical technology. This review will consider how to speed up access for National Health Service patients to cost-effective new diagnostics, medicines and devices. The review will examine the pathway from ‘first in human’ trials, through licensing and health technology appraisal, to commissioning and clinical practice. It will set out both short and long-term options for action by Government and relevant bodies, including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and NHS England, and mark a major contribution to the policy debate.