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Tag: 2015

  • Paul Blomfield – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Paul Blomfield – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will assess the need for any changes to the budget of the Gangmasters’ Licensing Authority as part of in consideration of the responses to its consultation, Labour market exploitation: improving enforcement, published in October 2015.

    Mike Penning

    The consultation closed on 7 December. The Government is considering its response and, as part of that, the funding necessary for the GLA to operate effectively in the context of the departmental financial allocations following the recent Spending Review.

  • Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2015-11-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made an assessment of the report Four Nations – How Evidence-based are Alcohol Policies and Programmes Across the UK? published in November by the Alliance for Useful Evidence, and if so, what lessons they have drawn for their own plans to reduce alcohol-related harm.

    Lord Bates

    We have noted the report. It misrepresents the Government’s position on minimum unit pricing and health as a licensing objective. Minimum unit pricing will remain under review whilst we monitor carefully the legal developments and the implementation of this policy in Scotland. We have consulted on health as a licensing objective and will continue to look at its feasibility.

    Our assessment of alcohol-related harm is that it costs society over £21 billion per year. To address this we will build on the 2012 Alcohol Strategy to tackle alcohol as a driver of crime and support people to stay healthy, while working with partners at a local and national level to reduce the impact of alcohol misuse.

  • Jenny Chapman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jenny Chapman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jenny Chapman on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prisoners were awaiting initial psychiatric assessment (a) on the last date for which figures are available and (b) in each month of the last three years.

    Alistair Burt

    Data are not collected centrally on the number of prisoners waiting for an initial psychiatric assessment. Data on prisoners in receipt of an assessment and awaiting transfer to secure hospitals under sections 47 and 48 of the Mental Health Act 1983 are collected by NHS England since April 2015, through Health and Justice Indicators of Performance (HJIPs) and available data are shown in the attached table, Health and Justice Indicators of Performance – Mental Health Secure Assessment and Transfer. NHS England intends to publish HJIP data online from April 2016.

  • Kate Osamor – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Kate Osamor – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Osamor on 2015-11-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of the Government’s proposed reductions in tax credits on the pupil premium.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    As my Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor announced on 25 November, the government is not proceeding with the changes to the tax credit threshold and taper announced at the Summer Budget 2015.

    We are determined to deliver educational excellence everywhere so that every child, regardless of background, reaches their potential. That is why we are delivering on our commitment to continue providing the pupil premium, protected at current rates, so schools receive additional money for pupils from the poorest backgrounds.

  • John Mann – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission

    John Mann – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, how many people in the UK were registered on a UK Parliamentary electoral register on 1 December (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014 and (f) 2015.

    Mr Gary Streeter

    The number of entries on UK Parliamentary registers for the years requested, are set out in the table below. Due to the implementation of individual electoral registration revised, registers were not published in December 2013 but in February and March 2014.

    Register

    UK Parliamentary register (including attainers)

    December 2010

    45,844,691

    December 2011

    46,107,152

    December 2012

    46,353,871

    December 2013 (published Feb/Mar 2014)

    46,139,940

    December 2014

    45,325,078

    Figures for the December 2015 registers are not yet available and this data will be published as soon as possible after 1 February, once those areas that have had by-elections have published their registers.

  • Daniel Zeichner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Daniel Zeichner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-11-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to reduce the sale of exotic animals online.

    George Eustice

    We are currently reviewing animal licensing schemes, including that for the sale of pet animals, and aim to consult publicly on a set of proposals shortly. In the meantime, the welfare of all animals, including exotics, at the point of sale is protected by the Pet Animals Act 1951. The Act covers sales over the internet as long as the person selling the animals is based in Great Britain. However, we understand the concerns about internet sales and have been working closely with the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG), a group of animal welfare, veterinary, keeping and industry organisations, who have agreed, with several internet advertising sites, a set of minimum standards for animals sold over the internet. The work has so far resulted in over 130,000 inappropriate adverts being removed from the internet. We will continue to work with the PAAG so that more internet sites adopt the minimum standards.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what feedback his Department has received from (a) service users, (b) employers and (c) GPs on the Fit for Work service since its launch.

    Justin Tomlinson

    An evaluation strategy is in place for Fit for Work. As part of this, a formal process evaluation is being undertaken. The formal evaluation will include feedback from employee users of the service, GPs and employers. Return to work will also be covered. Monthly performance group meetings take place between the Department and the providers in both England/Wales and Scotland together with weekly meetings to discuss management information and performance issues.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-11-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many Diplomatic Service personnel were employed in Asia in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    There were the following number of Diplomatic Service personnel in Asia:

    2015 – 419 (total FCO employees – 487)
    2014 – 437 (total FCO employees – 519)
    2013 – 479 (total FCO employees – 552)
    2012 – 471 (total FCO employees – 535)
    2011 – 460 (total FCO employees – 535)

    The reduction in Diplomatic Service personnel reflects the localisation of support grade roles, which are now filled by locally engaged staff.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many calls have been made to the Fit for Work helpline in each month since its launch.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The number of calls made to the Fit for Work helpline each month since the launch of the service is :

    December 2014 54
    January 2015 198
    February 2015 316
    March 2015 364
    April 2015 331
    May 2015 408
    June 2015 501
    July 2015 602
    August 2015 653
    September 2015 852
    October 2015 965
    November 2015 1084

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-11-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Royal Colleges on the potential merits of making available on the NHS radioactive dye to diagnose cancer.

    Jane Ellison

    There have been no discussions with the Royal Colleges on this matter.