The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz McInnes on 2015-11-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the change was in the number of firefighter posts in the Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service in 2013-14.
Greg Clark
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 6 November 2015, PQ 13946.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lavery on 2015-12-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a statutory duty for the fire and rescue service to respond to a major flooding incident; and if he will make a statement.
Mike Penning
I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Home Office.
Both the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 detail the roles and powers of fire and rescue authorities, in respect of both emergency response and rescue in a wide range of situations, including from flooding. Fire and rescue authorities are expected to undertake integrated risk management planning, dovetailed with the community risk register overseen by the Local Resilience Forum (a multi-agency grouping of which fire and rescue authorities are key members). Integrated Risk Management Plans identify the full range of risks that an authority’s service is expected to respond to and are subject to consultation. The National Fire Framework published in July 2012 and given statutory effect in August 2012 makes this clear and I believe that fire and rescue authorities are fully competent to deliver on this.
The Government has had no recent representations on this arrangement and in light of how well fire services have responded to recent flooding suggests there is no need for review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2015-11-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft have been exported in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Philip Dunne
In 2012 the Sultanate of Oman placed an order with BAE Systems for 12 Typhoon aircraft which are currently being assembled in Lancashire. Deliveries of Typhoon aircraft to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are ongoing. The State of Kuwait recently confirmed that it intends to purchase 28 Typhoon aircraft.
The Government remains at the forefront of export campaigns for Typhoon working actively with industry and the Eurofighter Partner Nations to support potential Typhoon sales to a number of countries.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently announced that the Ministry of Defence will assume leadership for a number of strategic export campaigns, including Typhoon.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2015-12-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he had with small businesses and entrepreneurs on the planned closure of the Business Growth Service.
Anna Soubry
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills continues to have discussions with businesses and their representatives. They have told us that there is strong appetite in the private sector to fill the gap in the market and develop sustainable offers of support.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Callum McCaig on 2015-11-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the implications for the security of electricity supply for winter 2015-16 of the announced closure of Longannet, Ferrybridge and Eggborough power stations.
Andrea Leadsom
There is no impact on security of supply for winter 15/16 as these power stations are expected to be available for generation throughout this winter. Assessments about plant availability are made during National Grid’s winter outlook process which will inform the final view presented in National Grid’s Winter Outlook Report.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change takes security of supply very seriously and has worked with National Grid to put in place a plan to secure electricity supplies even in tough system conditions such as cold weather
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2015-12-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what work his Department is undertaking with partner countries to address the inequalities experienced by Bedouin Arab communities in Israel.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
We are concerned about the inequalities faced by Bedouin Arab communities in Israel. The British Embassy in Tel Aviv is particularly focused on issues related to housing and supports several Arab town planning projects in Green Line Israel. These projects provide professional training and practical solutions for dozens of urban planners and engineers in Arab towns, helping them to overcome planning obstacles. This year our projects include: establishing an engineers’ task-force, professional advice for Arab local authorities in planning matters and a piece of research into planning obstacles.
We continue to lodge our concerns about ongoing evictions and demolitions with contacts at Israel’s Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Agriculture and to encourage the development of a policy based on genuine consultation, which secures the buy-in of the community. We have pursued this with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s chief advisor on Arab affairs, who told us that the state has invested 1.2 billion NIS in Bedouin education, employment and infrastructure.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2015-11-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of developing zero subsidy Contracts for Difference auctions for the electricity supply market; and if she will make a statement.
Andrea Leadsom
Stakeholders have suggested the concept of a market stabilising Contracts for Difference (CfD) and we are listening to ideas from industry about how this can be achieved and how we can best ensure a level playing field between renewable and other generation technologies. We are still working up ideas and would welcome continued input from stakeholders.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Howarth on 2015-12-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what mechanisms are in place to enable priority access to child and adolescent mental health services for (a) all vulnerable groups of young people and (b) victims of abuse in cases of urgent need.
Alistair Burt
Access to child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) is based on the clinical assessment of each individual’s needs and as such there are generally no mechanisms in place that enable priority access to CAMHS for specific groups. We recognise that some children and young people who have particular vulnerabilities may be more likely to develop mental health problems.
The local transformation planning process, currently being implemented by clinical commissioning group across England, covers the full spectrum of services for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing including how the needs of vulnerable groups of young people, such as those who are victims of child sexual abuse and exploitation, will be met. Local services will then be developed accordingly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emma Reynolds on 2015-11-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which of her Department’s projects have received funding under the European Marine Fisheries Fund 2007 to 2013; what the location is of each such project; and how much each such project received.
George Eustice
Details of English projects which have received support under the European Fisheries Fund in the period 2007-13 are publicly available at: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/448524/European_Transparency_Initiative.pdf.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2015-12-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what information he holds on the public satisfaction rating of HM Land Registry.
Anna Soubry
Reports from Quarter 2 2015 show that the customer satisfaction score from the customer satisfaction survey is currently 95%.