The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2015-10-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual running costs of RAF Waddington are; and what assessment he has made of RAF Waddington’s contribution to the local economy.
Mark Lancaster
The annual infrastructure running costs for RAF Waddington in the Financial Year 2014-15 were £5,566,795. No assessment has been made of RAF Waddington’s contribution to the local economy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-11-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the finance officer at Plaistow Jobcentre until December 2013 was not interviewed in the investigation which led to the dismissal of two advisers from that jobcentre in May 2014.
Priti Patel
Allegations of misuse of the Flexible Support Fund at Plaistow Jobcentre were investigated fully by the Department’s professionally trained investigators.
It is not appropriate for the Secretary of State to disclose detailed information regarding individuals who may or may not have been contacted by investigators, as providing this information would risk individuals being identified.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2015-10-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the cost was of (a) external and (b) internal legal advice on the approved and rejected proposals for an annexe to the Weald of Kent Grammar School.
Edward Timpson
The Weald of Kent School has set out its plans in expansion proposals. Pupils at the Sevenoaks annexe will attend the Tonbridge site at least once a week to attend a whole school assembly and additional lessons. The school will also operate a house system across the expanded school, regularly bringing students together on a range of curriculum projects. The length of the school day is a matter for the academy trust.
The newly expanded school will better meet the needs of parents in the community that the school currently serves. Over 41% of pupils at the Tonbridge site already travel from the Sevenoaks area. The travel arrangements between the sites will use existing bus companies to transport pupils who live in Sevenoaks to the Tonbridge site. The proposal indicates that the journey time is approximately 17 minutes and no additional funding is being provided to the academy to cover the costs.
The decision issued on 15 October 2015 was in respect of a proposal received on 14 September 2015. The Department can comment on the costs of external legal advice once we have the final costs bill.
The school would not have the required capital funding to expand on this scale at the existing site.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno on 2015-11-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which local authorities have agreed to accept Syrian and other refugees.
Lord Bates
Local authorities from across the UK participate in the four resettlement programmes which the UK operates. These run on a voluntary basis, and we do not disclose which are involved as resettlement can be a sensitive issue. Providing this information without their consent could deter other local authorities from participating in future.
It is at the discretion of Local Authorities to disclose whether or not they are involved with the Syrian Resettlement programme.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-10-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of the EU Water Framework Directive on the level of water available in London.
Rory Stewart
The Water Framework Directive aims to protect and improve surface waters and groundwater and promote sustainable water use so that we have a sufficient supply of good quality water for people and the environment. Actions to achieve this are set out in river basin management plans every 6 years.
On the 30th October, the Environment Agency published proposed updated plans which they submitted to the Secretary of State for approval, including the Thames plan which covers London. The preparation of the proposed plan has involved an assessment of current and future water availability in the Thames river basin.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2015-11-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many files from children’s homes in London that were previously supervised by the Home Office remain unopened because they are marked not for opening”; to which homes they relate; and how long those files have been closed.”
Lord Bates
Following a machinery of government change in the early 1970s, Home Office files relating to children’s home inspections were transferred to the Department for Health and Social Security. There are 49 files with ‘children’s home’ and ‘London’ in the catalogue description dating from 1931 onwards that are held at The National Archives. Details of the files, including whether they are closed, can be found through a search of The National Archives catalogue. Most are closed for 75 years from the date they went out of active use as they contain sensitive personal information where release would distress or endanger an individual who was a minor at the time the file was in use.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Osamor on 2015-10-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Mayor of London on the London Assembly’s report, Tackling TB in London, published on 27 October 2015.
Jane Ellison
My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health has not had discussions with the Mayor of London on the London Assembly’s report, Tackling TB in London. However, Ministers are regularly kept informed on progress made against the objectives of the national Tuberculosis (TB) strategy for England by Public Health England who, in turn, advise the Mayor on all health matters, including TB.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Warner on 2015-11-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the budget figures for the Department of Health and the Department for Communities and Local Government include provision for the implementation of the Dilnot Commission proposals for capping individual liability for social care, as under the Care Act 2014; and if so, in which years such provision has been made.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The Government remains committed to introducing the cap on reasonable care costs and extension of means tested support, which will come into force and be funded from April 2020. The Spending Review 2015 sets budgets for the next four years to 2019/20. The final year includes funding to cover the costs of local authorities preparing to implement the changes the following year. This start date is also indicated in the Autumn Statement 2015, as the delayed annually managed expenditure impact of this policy is shown with the policy starting in 2020.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2015-10-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will publish its strategic plan for housing Syrian refugees.
Richard Harrington
This is a voluntary scheme whereby local authorities sign up to accept refugees on a voluntary basis. Housing is one element they would take into consideration before participating. We are working closely with those local authorities that have indicated they wish to be involved as well as with the Local Government Associations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Byford on 2015-11-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the safety of chemicals in domestic refrigerators, in the light of recent reports by Which?.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Officials are in regular contact with industry and a range of other stakeholders about the safety of electrical products, including refrigerators. Officials are also regularly in contact with their opposite numbers in other Member States to discuss safety issues. However, no recent specific assessment has been made of the safety of chemicals used in these products.