The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-11-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many doctors trained in the UK emigrated in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2013 and (d) 2014; and what assessment he has made of the effect such emigration has had on the provision of emergency medicine.
Ben Gummer
This information is not collected centrally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer on 2015-12-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they currently monitor soil quality in the UK, including soil organic matter content, soil loss and the extent and severity of soil compaction; and if so, what data are available.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The 2007 Countryside Survey measured changes in soil organic matter content of soils in Great Britain. It also measured bulk density and a number of other physical and chemical characteristics of soil. A new baseline survey for soil carbon was carried out in 2009 as part of the EU Land Cover and Land Use Statistics (LUCAS) exercise. The 2015 LUCAS soil samples are currently being analysed.
Defra does not routinely monitor national rates of soil loss (erosion), but we are funding research to pilot a national soil erosion monitoring framework for monitoring soil erosion in England and Wales.
Defra also funded a survey of soil compaction levels in grasslands in England and Wales in 2011.
No formal assessment has been made of the sufficiency of the baseline data from which to measure changes in soil quality.
The Government recognises that soil is essential for underpinning a range of benefits, including food production, but also biodiversity, carbon storage and flood protection.
While the future direction of soils policy will be considered as part of the development of the 25 year plans for Food and Farming, and Environment, government is already taking action to improve soil quality.
This includes new rules underpinning cross compliance which anyone claiming Common Agricultural Policy payments must comply with. The rules require a minimum level of soil cover, prevention of erosion and measures to protect the organic matter levels of soil. The new rules take an outcome based approach, instead of the previous paper-based system, thereby focussing on environmental improvements while reducing burdens for farmers. The Government will continue to monitor the implementation of the new rules.
No single body or institution has responsibility for measuring and analysing soils in the UK. Soil testing is carried out by a mix of commercial laboratories and Public Analyst labs. Typically laboratories are accredited and adhere to British Standards on testing procedures. However, there are no regulations governing soil testing procedures themselves.
There are existing soil maps for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, which use different soil classifications. There are currently no plans to produce a new UK soil map, and we have not explored options for private sector investment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-11-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the operation of the National Crime Agency in Northern Ireland.
Mike Penning
Since 20 May 2015, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has been operating with full powers in Northern Ireland. As the NCA reported to the Northern Ireland Policing Board on 01 October 2015, the scope of NCA’s crime-fighting capability within the jurisdiction has increased. During the period April-June 2015, the NCA recorded 26 disruptions against organised crime groups and high priority threats operating in Northern Ireland. The NCA has worked in partnership with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the support that the NCA provides law enforcement partners, particularly the PSNI has been enhanced.
The NCA is committed to playing its role in tackling serious and organised crime in Northern Ireland. The NCA will be fully engaged in delivering the commitment outlined in ‘A Fresh Start: The Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan’ to undertake a concerted and enhanced effort to combat serious and organised and cross border crime.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Scriven on 2015-12-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 10 December (HL3975), what was the increase in demand they assumed and modelled for social care year on year for each year between 2015 and 2020.
Lord Prior of Brampton
To model the increased demographic demand on state funded adult social care the Department commissioned modelling from the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU). PSSRU’s analysis is currently in the process of being peer reviewed prior to publication.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nic Dakin on 2015-11-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department has taken to embed the family test into its policy making.
Caroline Dinenage
Officials in my Department have worked with colleagues at the Department for Work and Pensions to support the application of the Family Test in policy development. All policy teams within the Ministry of Justice have been made aware of the processes to be followed when applying the Test. In line with DWP guidance, potential impacts of policy on family functioning and relationships should be identified and brought to the attention of Ministers where appropriate. The guidance can be located at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/368894/family-test-guidance.pdf
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wigley on 2015-12-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to instruct the Office for National Statistics to require individuals to enter their full names in 2021 Census returns.
Lord Bridges of Headley
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nia Griffith on 2015-11-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how much his Department spent on (a) temporary agency staff, (b) consultants, (c) non-payroll staff, (d) administration and (e) marketing and advertising (i) in 2014-15 prices and (ii) as a proportion of his Department’s expenditure in each year since 2010-11.
Alun Cairns
The Wales Office spend on (a) temporary staff, (b) consultants, (c) non-payroll staff, (d) administration and (e) marketing and advertising as a proportion of Wales Office expenditure in each year since 2010-11 is shown in the table attached.
The numbers shown are actual spend as published in the Wales Office Departmental Annual Report and Accounts.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2015-12-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the cost to the public purse was of the internal review commissioned by his Department from McKinsey.
Joseph Johnson
The cost of the review conducted by McKinsey was disclosed on 9 November 2015 and can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bis-contract-with-mckinsey.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Avebury on 2015-11-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether it is now possible to establish baseline data that could be used to determine whether the law on caste discrimination is working effectively.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
This Government has been giving consideration to the legal position on caste discrimination in light of the Tirkey v Chandhok Employment Appeal Tribunal judgment which suggests there is an existing legal remedy for claims of caste-associated discrimination under the ‘ethnic origins’ element of Section 9 of the Equality Act 2010.
Our consideration of the research report commissioned by the coalition Government, designed to determine the feasibility of conducting a national survey to quantify the extent of caste discrimination in Britain, is part of this process.
We remain mindful of the Open Government Action Plan published by the Coalition Government in 2013, to the extent that this concerns the results of commissioned research.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2015-12-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Salford and Eccles constituency are in receipt of (a) pension credit and (b) the carer addition.
Justin Tomlinson
The number of claimants in receipt of Pension Credit in Salford and Eccles constituency as at May 2015 is 4,750, of which 440 are also in receipt of the carer addition.
Source: DWP, 100% data.
Notes:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/207966/espa.pdf.
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