Tag: 2015

  • 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 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many challenges to benefits sanctions have been overturned as a result of tribunal interventions where his Department has not made reasonable adjustments under disability equality law; how his Department takes into account information from social services or health service staff before imposing such sanctions; and what processes ensure that adjustments are made before such sanctions are imposed on disabled claimants.

    Esther McVey

    The exact information you request on tribunal Interventions is not available.

    However, Decision Makers ensure that all relevant claimant circumstances are carefully considered before imposing any sanction. This may include information from social services and health service staff if it was relevant to the case. We do not sanction vulnerable claimants without making every effort to contact them or their carer/healthcare professional first. Clear and detailed guidance is used by Decision Makers to ensure that the necessary processes are followed in a consistent manner.

  • Ann McKechin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Ann McKechin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann McKechin on 2015-02-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many jobseeker’s allowance applications processed by (a) Maryhill Job Centre and (b) Partick Job Centre were subject to monetary sanctions in (i) 2011, (ii) 2012, (iii) 2013 and (iv) 2014; and what the average length of such sanctions was in each such year.

    Esther McVey

    The number of Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) decisions to apply a sanction by Jobcentre Plus office is published at:

    https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

    Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:

    https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

    Information requested on the average length of sanctions is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

    “

  • 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, what the derivatives exposure is of each bank regulated by the UK authorities.

    Andrea Leadsom

    HM Treasury does not preserve specific information relating to the value, maturity or exposure of derivatives. Aggregate data on the derivative positions of UK banks is collected every quarter and made publicly available online by the Bank of England. The specific balance sheet position on derivatives for each bank will be published regularly in their annual report to shareholders.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, 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.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    We do not have this information. Records of completed learning and development activities are kept by staff as part of their performance development plans and discussions with line managers.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

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

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

    Mr Nick Gibb

    The civil service aspiration is for five days’ training and development for each member of staff every year.

    The majority of training and development is not formal training but is carried out within teams and groups and includes: research; on the job training; shadowing; mentoring; and coaching. Staff record their own personal development in line with the Department for Education’s Capability Review which is on an individual and local basis.

    Information on the amount of time spent undertaking informal training is not collated centrally.

  • 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, what estimate he has made of (a) the total number of hours, (b) full-time equivalent staff employed and (c) costs of reachback support in 2014-15 to date.

    Matthew Hancock

    Reachback Summary

    Actual Cost £k

    Hours

    Roles

    14/15 Year End Forecast as at Pd9

    10,821

    68,933

    63

    15/16 Forecast

    6,008

    37,050

    33
  • Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, for what reasons his Department will not be flying the Commonwealth Flag on Commonwealth Day; and by whom that decision was taken.

    Mr David Lidington

    In addition to flying the Union Flag at all times, it is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s policy to fly the flags of the nations of the United Kingdom on the appropriate national days, and the flags of the British Overseas Territories on the day that is most significant in each of their histories. The Foreign Secretary is responsible for FCO policy.

  • Luciana Berger – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Luciana Berger – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many block contracts are in place for mental health services in England; and what the aggregate value is of those contracts.

    Norman Lamb

    The information requested is not collected for mental health services commissioned by clinical commissioning groups. In 2014/15, the value of specialised mental health services was £1,757 billion. There were 93 block contracts in specialised mental health services representing 19% of the total value of specialised mental health services.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance her Department provides to its managers on how many days training should be made available to staff.

    Karen Bradley

    Managers in the Home Department have received the following guidance on the number of days learning and development, including formal training, that should be provided to staff :"Every civil servant should be spending at least 5 days a year on their own learning and development targeting those skills they most need for their current and future roles."

    We do not collect data centrally on all aspects of learning and development that are used to develop staff skills nor on training budgets so this could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

    Expenditure in the Home Department on training for the past 3 financial years was:

    2011/12: £14,860,807
    2012/13: £16,986,868
    2013/14: £24,715,417

    The increase in training expenditure figures in the last two years was a result of developing skills across the Home Office and in particular training new officers recruited in UK Visas and Immigration, Immigration Enforcement, Her Majesty’sPassport Office and Border Force.

  • Nigel Dodds – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Nigel Dodds – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will meet the Religious Liberty Commission to discuss placing respect for religious freedoms at the heart of development policy.

    Mr David Lidington

    Freedom of religion or belief is a priority for this government. We are keen to do all we can to advance it, working in co-operation with non-governmental organistions and the international community. My Noble Friend, The Right Hon. Baroness Anelay of St. Johns would be happy to meet with the Religious Liberty Commission, in the same way as we regularly meet the organisations from which its membership is formed.