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Tag: 2015

  • 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.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what her Department’s training budget was in each of the last three financial years.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    My Department’s training budget in each of the last three financial years is shown below:

    Year

    Budget (£)

    2012/13

    32,000

    2013/14

    40,000

    2014/15

    40,000

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

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

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

    Esther McVey

    There is no specified number of days an individual should have for training as it would depend on an individual’s job role, the length of time they have been in post, any changes to their job role and their personal capability level and developmental needs.

    Training can be undertaken as attendance at formal classroom based events recorded as training days but developmental needs can also be met through less formal activities – job shadowing, mentoring, on the job learning, downloading resources from Civil Service Learning and so on.

    In line with the Departmental People Performance Policy, development needs are set and reviewed as part of regular discussion between an individual and their line manager looking at continuous development to maintain and potentially enhance performance. From these discussions the amount of developmental activity necessary (including formal training days) will emerge for each person.

    In addition the Civil Service Reform Plan outlines a Civil Service wide commitment to each individual having at least 5 days a year of developmental activity but this will not be just training – many other activities would contribute to an individual’s 5 days a year.

  • Hilary Benn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Hilary Benn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensures that in cases where jobseeker’s allowance claimants are sanctioned, local authorities suspend housing benefit only in cases where it is appropriate to do so.

    Esther McVey

    I refer the Hon. member to the reply given to the Rt Hon. Member for East Ham on 5 January 2015.

  • Lord Browne of Belmont – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Browne of Belmont – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Browne of Belmont on 2015-02-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people have been apprehended when illegally entering the United Kingdom in Northern Ireland at the border with the Republic of Ireland in each of the last three years.

    Lord Bates

    I refer the noble Lord to the answer of 26th January 2015, to Question 221443 given by my hon. Friend the Immigration and Security Minister James Brokenshire.