The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Efford on 2015-11-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect of a Sport Betting Right on betting operators; and if he will make a statement.
Tracey Crouch
The government has no plans to introduce a sport betting right.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-12-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 December 2015 to Question 18388, when he expects to publish the results of the Government’s evaluation of the effects of ending unsupervised stakes above £50 on fixed odds betting terminals in betting shops.
Tracey Crouch
I hope to publish the evaluation early in the new year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) the amount of any underspend expected against departmental expenditure limits in the current fiscal year and (b) his Department’s latest forecast of total AME spend for this year is; and what the forecasts were for those sums at the time of the Summer Budget 2015 and March Budget 2015.
Michael Fallon
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is not forecasting an underspend against its total Departmental expenditure limit in 2015-16. The forecast of total Annually Managed Expenditure spend for 2015-16 is included in MOD’s Main Estimate [https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/441360/PU_1815_Main_Estimates_book_WEB.pdf]. These forecasts will be updated in our Supplementary Estimate.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2015-12-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Tornado and Typhoon jets operating in the Iraq and Syria region are fitted with the TCASS II Collision Warning System.
Mr Philip Dunne
Six Tornado aircraft operating over Syria and Iraq are fitted with the Honeywell Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) II, a system designed to de-conflict aircraft operating in civil airspace. This is the first system to be deployed in a combat jet fleet globally, although TCAS is not used in operational theatres for security reasons.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by William Wragg on 2015-11-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that local education authorities do not specify the designs of building extensions when attributing funding from the Education Funding Agency to schools for building projects, as in relation to the case of Greave Primary School in Hazel Grove.
Edward Timpson
School building baseline designs were introduced in October 2012 to help finalise briefs for school building projects and for discussion with local planning departments. It is for contractors to develop them into detailed schemes, or propose alternatives. Guidance on the designs is available online[1].
Officials from the Department have had regular dialogue with the local authority, the school and its representatives as part of ongoing work to monitor and progress the project.
While there has been no representation, the Secretary of State and the Department will work with all parties to support the successful delivery of this school’s expansion project.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/baseline-designs-for-schools-guidance
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Whitehead on 2015-12-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether she plans to produce an updated version of her Department’s carbon capture and storage scoping document.
Andrea Leadsom
The Government continues to view Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as having a potential role in the long-term decarbonisation of the UK’s power and industrial sectors. The detailed design and implementation of CCS policy changes are currently being assessed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-11-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to (a) recruit more teachers and (b) otherwise ensure that schools do not experience a shortage of teaching staff.
Nick Gibb
Teaching continues to be a hugely popular career. There are more teachers in England’s classrooms than ever and record levels of high quality graduates are entering the profession. There are now 454,900 full time equivalent teachers, an increase of 5,200 from 2014 and 13,100 from 2010.
Teacher recruitment remains a challenge as the economy improves. The Government has increased Scholarships and bursaries and for the best qualified graduates in priority subjects. We have also supported the growth of Teach First and announced a £67m package to recruit an additional 2,500 mathematics and physics teachers to improve the knowledge and skills of 15,000 existing teachers. For 2016/17, initial teacher training providers will have freedom to recruit as many trainees as they need within limited controls.
The School Direct training route has been allocated over 17,500 training places this year, representing 40 per cent of all training places. We are also supporting schools to retain good teachers by improving pupil behaviour, tackling unnecessary workload and increasing pay flexibility.
We are also creating a National Teaching Service (NTS). By 2020 this will have placed 1,500 high-performing teachers and middle leaders in underperforming schools in areas of England that struggle to recruit or retain high quality teachers. A pilot NTS scheme, starting in North West England in September 2016, will aim to attract 100 teachers and middle leaders into the region.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-12-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Education on ensuring that children have access to the countryside and learn about wildlife.
Rory Stewart
The Secretary of State is working closely with Department for Education Ministers to ensure the national curriculum gives all children the opportunity to learn about nature and the environment. In particular, we are providing more opportunities for school children to plant, care for and learn about trees. This will give young children the chance to understand and connect with nature, and play a role in making their school grounds and local communities cleaner and greener.
Defra, Natural England and English Heritage have also funded the Natural Connections project which aims to increase the number of school- aged children experiencing the full range of benefits that come from learning in local natural environments. The approach is being piloted in 5 areas across the South West of England and has involved 125 schools.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-11-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when she will make a decision to proceed with the order for a Chinese-designed reactor at Bradwell.
Andrea Leadsom
EDF and its partner CGN have announced they intend to develop a new nuclear power station at Bradwell but have not yet confirmed a timescale for the project. It is therefore too soon to indicate a timescale for the planning and regulatory consents which such a project would need.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2015-12-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if the Government will publish an updated Tobacco Control Plan for England.
Jane Ellison
This Government is committed to reducing the prevalence of smoking in England to further improve and protect the health of the nation. In line with this commitment Government plan to publish a new tobacco control strategy for England next year.