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Tag: 2015

  • Barry Sheerman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Barry Sheerman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-11-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that guidance on changes to the disabled students’ allowance is easily accessible to (a) parents and (b) schools.

    Edward Timpson

    Reforms to the special educational needs and disability system mean local authorities must publish information in their Local Offers about support available to young people in Higher Education (HE), including Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs) and the process and timescales for making an application for DSAs. We would expect this information to cover changes to DSAs.

    The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is currently considering the responses made to the recent consultation on proposed changes to DSAs, and the government response to the consultation will be published in due course. The proposed changes aim to make HE as accessible as possible, to re-balance support between HE providers and DSAs, and to improve value for money.DSAs will remain available to complement the support provided by institutions, and students will continue to receive the support they need.

    BIS has been clear that any changes implemented will take effect from August 2016 for the Academic year 2016/17. BIS will be working closely with the Student Loans Company and other stakeholders, to ensure that correct information is easily available.

  • Kevin Brennan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Kevin Brennan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2015 to Question 18925, which visits referred to that (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department made included a visit to a food bank.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The Department does not hold the information requested. Ministers have conducted visits to food banks in various capacities, including in their roles as Members of Parliament.

  • Alasdair McDonnell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Alasdair McDonnell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alasdair McDonnell on 2015-11-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of UK withdrawal from the EU on the importation of electricity from the Republic of Ireland into Northern Ireland.

    Andrea Leadsom

    We are hoping to reform our relationship with the EU. The Government is focused on delivering a successful renegotiation.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Andy Slaughter – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what representations she has made to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees with regards to the Calais refugee camp.

    James Brokenshire

    The management of the migrant camps in Calais is the responsibility of the French Government. This includes decisions on whether to involve any particular organisation in the camps’ management.

    The UK Government notes however the welcome given by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to the joint declaration to address the issues in Calais signed by the UK and France on 20 August 2015. The UNHCR welcomed the plan to move migrants away from Calais to suitable facilities elsewhere in France and the effort to identify those vulnerable to trafficking, particularly women and children. Both Governments agree with the UNHCR that Calais is a symptom of the wider migration issue facing Europe, which must be addressed.

  • Kerry McCarthy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Kerry McCarthy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2015-11-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much her Department spent on cleaning rivers and waterways in each of the last five years; and what estimate she has made of the level of such funding in each of the next five years.

    Rory Stewart

    Over the past five years, Defra has made significant investment to protect and improve the water environment through a number of different mechanisms. These include funds for local improvement projects, Countryside Stewardship, Catchment Sensitive Farming, Grant-in-Aid to the Environment Agency (EA), and funding for flood risk alleviation schemes which have wider co-benefits for the water environment.

    Defra’s funding is just one contribution. The EA estimates that around £5 billion per year is invested across the public, private and voluntary sectors just to protect our waters from deterioration in the face of challenges of population growth and climate change.

    Funding in future years is subject to the Government’s Spending Review.

  • George Howarth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    George Howarth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Howarth on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to collect data on the needs of (a) looked after children, (b) children in need, (c) victims of abuse and (d) children living in poverty in the prevalence survey on children and young people’s mental health.

    Alistair Burt

    The aim of the survey is to estimate the prevalence of mental health disorders in the general population aged two to 19 years. The survey will use a similar methodology to the last survey from 2004 to ensure comparability. A representative sample will be drawn from households in England (and Scotland). None of the specific groups listed in the question have been excluded from the survey.

    The number of looked after children and children in need in the general population are relatively low. This may limit the amount of data the survey can collect on these groups.

    We anticipate the final report of the survey will include some analysis of mental health disorders by characteristics including socio-economic factors. The contractor has also been asked to consider how to improve questions around the impact of abuse on children and young people’s mental health.

  • Kerry McCarthy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Kerry McCarthy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2015-11-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the level of funding for the (a) Food Crime Unit and (b) Food Standards Agency.

    Jane Ellison

    As part of the Spending Review process, discussions are ongoing between officials from the Food Standards Agency and the Health Spending Team at HM Treasury on funding for the Food Crime Unit and Food Standards Agency.

  • Stephen Pound – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Stephen Pound – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Pound on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with the Irish government on the implications for relations between the UK and the Republic of Ireland of the UK voting to leave the EU in the EU referendum.

    Mr Ben Wallace

    The Prime Minister believes that the UK’s best future lies within a reformed European Union. He is focused on addressing the concerns of the people of the United Kingdom and is confident that the right agreement can be reached.

    Northern Ireland Office Ministers meet regularly with Irish Government Ministers to discuss a range of issues and will continue to do so.

  • Stuart Andrew – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Stuart Andrew – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stuart Andrew on 2015-11-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was allocated to fund influenza vaccinations for clinical staff in the independent and voluntary sector in 2014-15; and how much of that funding was spent on (a) residential, (b) domiciliary and (c) other community care services.

    Jane Ellison

    Funding is not provided centrally for the vaccination of health and social care workers. Flu vaccination for all health and social care workers, including clinical staff working in the independent and voluntary sector is an occupational health issue and is the responsibility of the employer.

  • John Mann – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    John Mann – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has served any French cheeses at receptions within that Department in the last five years.

    George Eustice

    No French cheese has been served at receptions held by the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the last five years.