Tag: 2015

  • Catherine McKinnell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Catherine McKinnell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2015-11-09.

    To ask the Attorney General, how many (a) victim liaison officers and (b) witness care officers were employed by the Crown Prosecution Service in each year since 2010-11.

    Robert Buckland

    The total number of (a) victim liaison officers and (b) witness care officers that were employed by the Crown Prosecution Service at the end of each year since 2010-11, can be seen in the table below.

    Victim Liaison [1]

    Witness Care

    FTE

    FTE

    2010/11

    N/A

    182.5

    2011/12

    N/A

    137.8

    2012/13

    N/A

    118.5

    2013/14

    N/A

    89.2

    2014/15

    44.11

    76.4

    Notes:

    Data extracted from the CPS HR Database iTrent as at the 31st March in each year. Data may be subject to change due to retrospective changes in the HR database. Data may differ from previously published data due to differing specifications.

    There has been a reduction in total staff numbers and the proportion of the workforce that is employed in witness care units from a peak in 2008. Witness care has been dealt with primarily by the joint CPS/police Witness Care Units. However, most of the staff in WCUs are, and have always been, police staff. Witness attendance rates (which are used as a proxy for satisfaction) have remained above 80%.

    [1] Dedicated Victim Liaison Units were established by the CPS in 2014

  • Peter Dowd – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Peter Dowd – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Dowd on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of the King’s Fund’s quarterly monitoring report, published in October 2015, that reductions in local authority social care budgets are adversely affecting health services.

    Alistair Burt

    The Department is working closely with both local government and the National Health Service to understand how pressures in adult social care services impact on the NHS, and how the sector can best work together to manage those pressures. The Autumn Statement identified £3.5 billion additional funding for adult social care by 2019/20.

    Since April, the Government’s £5.3 billion Better Care Fund (BCF) has provided much needed investment in better integrated care through locally developed plans and by putting resources where the local NHS and social services think they’re needed. The BCF has been the impetus for a greater degree of joint strategic commissioning between health and social care across England, with local leaders and clinical experts working closely together to both plan and deliver the most appropriate services for their local populations while making efficient use of limited resources.

    We are working closely with the Emergency Care Improvement Programme focusing on the 28 most challenged emergency systems and have embedded four social care professionals within the team to provide specific expertise. From this, eight high impact interventions have been developed which can support local systems in reducing Delayed Transfers of Care.

    Additional resource has been provided to bolster the current sector-led improvement support offer to local authorities, creating a flexible pool of experienced local authority social care experts to provide intensive support to challenged local systems and to deliver action plans designed in consultation with the Directors of Adult Social Services and local NHS colleagues.

  • Stella Creasy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Stella Creasy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stella Creasy on 2015-11-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent estimate he has made of the number of employees who receive payment of service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges through their employer; and in what industries such employees work.

    Nick Boles

    The Government has not made a recent estimate of the number of employees who receive payment of service charges, tips, gratuities and cover charges through their employer.

    The Government launched a call for evidence in this area which closed on 10th November. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills will analyse responses and make public the key findings in due course.

  • Gregory Campbell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Gregory Campbell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people applied for British passports through the passport section of the British embassy in Dublin in the last 12 months.

    James Brokenshire

    Her Majesty’s Passport Office Belfast commenced the repatriation of application processing for customers residing in the Republic of Ireland on 20th January 2014 and the decommissioning of passport processing at the British Embassy in Dublin was completed by 31st March 2014. Therefore, no applications for British passports will have been dealt with or issued by the British Embassy Dublin after 31 March 2014.

  • Paul Blomfield – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Paul Blomfield – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2015-11-09.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2015 to Question 13786, what penalties have been issued to employers in relation to the 60 cases opened since February 2015.

    Mr David Gauke

    None of the investigations opened in February 2015 have yet concluded. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) cannot comment on on-going investigations.

    HMRC’s role in these investigations is to ensure that the correct tax is paid and any employees who are entitled to the National Minimum Wage receive it.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-12-08.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment on the financial effect on the UK manufacturing sector of reductions to (a) capital allowances and (b) corporation tax since 2010.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government recognises the importance of the manufacturing sector in the UK economy.

    In order to support investment across the economy, including in the manufacturing sector, since 2010, the Government has reduced the corporation tax rate from 28% to 20%, and it is due to fall to 18% in 2020. Overall the corporation tax cuts delivered since 2010 will save businesses £10 billion a year from 2016. Further cuts in the corporation tax rate in this Parliament, to 19% in 2017 and 18% in 2020, will save small and large businesses a further £6.6 billion by 2021, and will benefit 1.1 million businesses. The manufacturing sector, alongside other sectors of the economy, have benefited from the corporation tax rate changes.

    At Summer Budget 2015, the government announced that it would increase the permanent level of the Annual Investment Allowance to £200,000, its highest ever permanent level. The sectors with most companies benefitting include manufacturing as well as wholesale and retail, and agriculture.

  • Craig Whittaker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Craig Whittaker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2015-11-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the value of artwork and antiques held by local authorities.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    The information requested is not available.

    However, the Department does collect information about total heritage assets held by local authorities which includes museum and gallery collections and works of art, as well as historical buildings, archaeological sites, military and scientific equipment of historical importance, historic motor vehicles, recordings of significant historical events etc.

    The latest local authority figures that have been published are for 2013-14 and can be found in the drop down table entitled “Capital outturn return (COR5) 2013 to 2014 receipts and fixed assets for England” at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/local-authority-capital-expenditure-and-financing-in-england-2013-to-2014-individual-local-authority-data

    “

  • Kirsten Oswald – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Kirsten Oswald – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2015-12-08.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will encourage the Financial Conduct Authority to bring its investigation into the Connaught Fund to an early conclusion; and if he will make a statement.

    Harriett Baldwin

    The FCA is an independent non-governmental body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry within the framework of statutory objectives and duties agreed by Parliament. Although the Treasury is responsible for setting the legal framework, oversight of business practicesis a matter for the FCA Board.

    The Government appreciates the real difficulties and the serious implications the Connaught issue has had for investors and is following the situation closely.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Sadiq Khan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2015-11-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the average cost of a home bought by a first-time buyer in each of the last 10 years for each London (a) borough and (b) constituency.

    Brandon Lewis

    Statistics on the average dwelling price for first time buyers in London boroughs and constituencies are not available.

    Statistics on house prices in England, London, London boroughs and constituencies are published by the Office for National Statistics at:

    http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/taxonomy/index.html?nscl=House+Price+Indices

    “

  • Michael Tomlinson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Michael Tomlinson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michael Tomlinson on 2015-12-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what financial support his Department plans to provide to local authorities to resettle Syrian refugees in years two to five of the vulnerable persons relocation scheme.

    Richard Harrington

    At the Spending Review the Government committed around £130 million to assist with local authority costs over years 2-5 of the scheme. This will be allocated on a tariff basis over four years, tapering from £5,000 per person in their second year in the UK, to £1,000 per person in year five. There will also be support for education and healthcare, and a special cases fund to assist the most vulnerable refugees.