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Tag: 2015

  • Lord Marlesford – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord Marlesford – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Marlesford on 2015-10-29.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the numerical strength of the moderate forces fighting against President Assad in Syria.

    Earl Howe

    Estimating the numerical strength of armed groups in Syria is challenging given the lack of data, the fluidity of the situation on the ground, and the multiplicity of groups. Nevertheless, we estimate that fighters loyal to the Free Syrian Army, which has close links to the Syrian National Coalition, which is the heart of the political opposition, run into tens of thousands.

  • Luciana Berger – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Luciana Berger – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2015-11-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 22 October 2015 to the hon. Member for Bath to Question 11880, how much of the funding for the Homelessness Change/Platform for Life programme has been (a) spent on and (b) allocated to mental health support.

    Alistair Burt

    The bidding and assessment process for the Homelessness Change/Platform for Life programme is now complete. We are looking forward to making an announcement of the successful bids shortly. Mental health is a key issue for homeless people – often part of a range of multiple and complex conditions. The programme will help address these mental health issues by providing decent accommodation and health support for some of the most vulnerable people in the community.

  • Diana Johnson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Diana Johnson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2015-10-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the 2013 Lough Erne G8 Leaders’ Communiqué, published on 18 June 2013, what progress has been made on implementing the commitments in paragraph 9 of that document; and if he will make a statement.

    Anna Soubry

    The World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on Trade Facilitation, agreed at the Bali Ministerial in December 2013, is expected to significantly reduce the costs of cross-border trade, including between developing countries.The Agreement was opened for acceptance by WTO Members in November 2014 and, to date, 51 WTO Members, including all EU Member States, have ratified.

  • Nicola Blackwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Nicola Blackwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicola Blackwood on 2015-11-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much of his Department’s funding allocated in the Spending Review 2015 will be for research and development expenditure up to 2020.

    Alistair Burt

    The Spending Review confirmed that the Government will invest more than £5 billion over the next five years in health research and development through the Department.

  • Graham Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Graham Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2015-10-29.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October 2015 to Question 12045, on tax credits, if he will publish that data in the form in which it is available.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Revenue and Customs is now able to provide the data in the format requested.

    The table below shows the number of mandatory reconsiderations for tax credits undertaken by Synnex-Concentix UK Ltd since the start of the contract. The data is accurate as at 2 November 2015.

    Within Week

    Number

    One

    1,136

    Two

    133

    Three

    160

    Four

    117

    Five

    97

    Six

    94

    Seven

    89

    Eight

    70

    Nine

    44

    Ten

    38

    More than ten

    106

  • Nicola Blackwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Nicola Blackwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicola Blackwood on 2015-11-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much of her Department’s funding allocated in the Spending Review 2015 will be for research and development expenditure up to 2020.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    DFID is a leader in funding high-quality high-impact development research, providing technologies and rigorous evidence to tackle critical development challenges – from new treatments for children with malaria to what approaches work to prevent violence against women. DFID’s funding for research and development expenditure up to 2020 will be determined through the Department’s internal resource allocation process. Decisions will be based on an analysis of critical development challenges, key evidence and technology gaps, and DFID’s areas of comparative advantage as a research funder. We committed in our manifesto to lead a major new global programme to accelerate the development of vaccines and drugs to eliminate the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, and in November announced the Ross Fund which will deliver on this commitment.

  • Ian Austin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Ian Austin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-10-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will introduce further proposals to protect airfields from redevelopment.

    Brandon Lewis

    National planning policy already requires local planning authorities to take account of airfields’ growth and role in serving business, leisure, training and emergency needs. In March we issued guidance emphasising the need for local planning authorities to have regard to the extent to which an aerodrome contributes to connectivity outside the authority’s own boundaries.

    Currently, all airfields, as land that has been previously developed, are regarded as brownfield land.

    We will work with the aviation sector to ensure the current policy relating to development on airfields is better understood.

  • Nicola Blackwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Nicola Blackwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicola Blackwood on 2015-11-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much of his Department’s funding allocated in the Comprehensive Spending Review 2015 will be for research and development expenditure up to 2020.

    David Mundell

    Spending Review 2015 set out settlements for departments and showed how the government will deliver on its priorities, eliminate the deficit, and deliver security and opportunity for working people. Final decisions on internal departmental funding allocations for future years, including for research and development, have not yet been made.

  • Sharon Hodgson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Sharon Hodgson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2015-10-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of provision of play opportunities for children with disabilities and complex needs.

    Edward Timpson

    Play has an important role in supporting all young children to develop and prepare for later learning. The importance of play is recognised in the Early Years Foundation Stage framework [1], which states: “Each area of learning and development must be implemented through planned, purposeful play and through a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activity. Play is essential for children’s development, building their confidence as they learn to explore, to think about problems, and relate to others. Children learn by leading their own play, and by taking part in play which is guided by adults.”

    Early Years educators and Early Years teachers are required to have an understanding of different pedagogical approaches, including the role of play in supporting early learning and development. It is for individual schools and settings to provide opportunities for play for their children and pupils, including those with special educational needs.

    We welcome the report published by Sense and their continuing efforts to support deafblind children and young people.

    As the Spending Review is underway, we are unable to give details of which programmes will be funded. We have committed to protecting the core schools budget throughout this Parliament at flat cash per pupil. We will look carefully at the impact of changes in schools’ and early years settings’ costs when making plans for education spending as part of the spending review.

    [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework–2

    “

  • Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-11-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what procedure his Department has for responding to whistle-blowing reports from staff at Jobcentre Plus.

    Justin Tomlinson

    DWP operates the standard Civil Service whistleblowing policy, but the Department’s procedures go further by also enabling staff to raise concerns via a dedicated hotline operated by an Internal Investigations team.

    DWP is committed to ensuring high standards of conduct in all that it does. For civil servants, these standards are reinforced by the Civil Service Code and the Department’s Standards of Behaviour.