The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to sign off the Great Western direct award.
Claire Perry
We currently expect to conclude negotiations with First Great Western, and finalise the second Directly Awarded franchise contract during March 2015, for the provision of services from September 2015.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2015-02-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many complaints the DVLA has received about delays in people receiving driving licences in each year since 2010.
Claire Perry
Specific reasons for complaints about drivers’ driving licence applications, such as delays, are not available for 2010 to 2013 and are only available for 2014 onwards. For 2014, there were 2606 complaints due to delays in issuing a driving licence.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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/.
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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.