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Tag: 2015

  • Caroline Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Caroline Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2015 to Question 11184, on China: nuclear power, what guarantees are in place to ensure that details of the operation of nuclear power stations that represent a potential threat in the hands of a foreign power do not reach the Chinese government; what access the Chinese government will have to the details of (a) operational information and (b) security regulations relating to those UK nuclear power stations with Chinese (i) investment and (ii) involvement in construction; whether input will be sought from Chinese (A) investors and (B) government officials for reviews of the regulatory framework for security in the civil nuclear industry; and if she will make a statement.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003 (as amended) require those holding Sensitive Nuclear Information to have in place robust security measures approved by the Office for Nuclear Regulation in order to protect this information. The Nuclear Industries Security Regulations are in the public domain.

    The Office for Nuclear Regulation conducts inspections to ensure compliance with security requirements and has powers of enforcement in the event of a breach.

    All employees and contractors in the civil nuclear industry are subject to robust personnel security and vetting arrangements in line with policies set out by Government in the annual Security Policy Framework.

    The Department keeps the regulatory framework for civil nuclear security under review. It may from time to time consult on possible changes to the regulatory framework. It maintains a dialogue with investors on issues relating to nuclear new build, but has no plans at present to consult investors in new nuclear build specifically on any changes to the regulatory framework.

  • Andrew Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Andrew Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Smith on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the potential of introducing tax on sugar-sweetened drinks to improve liver disease health outcomes in England.

    Jane Ellison

    There are no plans to introduce a tax on sugar-sweetened drinks. However all taxes are kept under review, with decisions being a matter for the Chancellor as part of the Budget process.

    Public Health England’s (PHE) report Sugar Reduction: The evidence for action was published on the GOV.UK website on 22 October. We continue to work very closely with PHE and this evidence is integral to our ongoing policy development. We will publish our childhood obesity strategy in the new year.

    Sugar Reduction: The evidence for action is available at:

    www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/470179/Sugar_reduction_The_evidence_for_action.pdf

    “

  • Luciana Berger – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Luciana Berger – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Sure Start children’s centres offer perinatal mental health support for new and expectant mothers.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    The Department for Education does not routinely collect the information requested. While perinatal mental health is important to the government, we believe that children’s centres are best placed to decide which services to offer, based on an assessment of local needs.

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to increase the number of successful prosecutions for incidences of rape.

    Karen Bradley

    Rape and sexual violence are devastating crimes which we remain committed to tackling. We continue to work with the police to look at ways to improve their response to rape and sexual assault. We have supported the publication of data on rape for every police force in the country as a basis for improving recording and investigations of rape. The Rape Action Plan, led by the Crown Prosecution Service, ensures that investigators and prosecutors have both the right tools for handling rape cases, and improved referrals from the police to prosecutors to increase successful prosecutions.

    We want victims to have the confidence to report these crimes to the police, knowing they will get the support they need and that everything will be done to bring offenders to justice. Police recorded rape increased by 43% (to 31,621 offences) in the year ending June 2015 compared with the previous year. This significant rise in the reporting of rape is the result of a renewed focus on the quality of crime recording and a greater willingness of victims to come forward. These can only be positive developments in our fight to end abuse.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Andy Slaughter – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost to the public purse was of legal fees in the case of Bondada, R (on the application of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2015] EWHC 2661 (Admin) (15 October 2015).

    James Brokenshire

    Costs incurred are £48, 575.35, including applicant’s costs of £31, 118.79.

  • David Mowat – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    David Mowat – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Mowat on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on how many days the Crown Court sat in each court chamber at Warrington in (a) 2013, (b) 2014 and (c) 2015.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    The information requested can be found in the table below.

    Crown Court sittings at Warrington (days):

    Period

    Courtroom 1

    Courtroom 2

    County Court courtroom

    January to December 2013

    132

    120

    2

    January to December 2014

    105

    182

    1

    January to September 2015

    87

    104

    4

    There are two dedicated Crown courtrooms in Warrington Combined Court, which also houses the County Court. The final column therefore sets out the number of days sat in County Court accommodation when, exceptionally, the Crown courtrooms were unavailable.

  • Antoinette Sandbach – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Antoinette Sandbach – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Antoinette Sandbach on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that the effect of noise from High Speed 2 on rural communities is minimised.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    HS2 applies the aims of the Noise Policy Statement for England (2010) whichseeks to avoid, minimise and mitigate significant adverse impacts on health and quality of life. This is undertaken through the design, construction and operation of HS2 infrastructure. Phase One includes extensive noise mitigation to reduce impacts on communities, including rural ones.

  • Frank Field – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Frank Field – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2015 to Question 11226, for what reasons decisions were not made on 118,039 of the applications his Department received in the period between October 2014 and September 2015 for Short Term Benefit Advance.

    Priti Patel

    We only collect limited data on those requests for a Short Term Benefit Advances that are refused although we do know that the vast majority of refusals are either because:
    (i) There was a doubt about whether the claimant would be entitled to the benefit being claimed and, therefore, we could not be sure that there was any benefit to advance or
    (ii) Actual benefit was paid instead, which is a better outcome for the claimant.

  • Helen Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Helen Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2015-10-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make it his policy to ensure that cash retentions in the construction industry are placed in trust to safeguard them against possible bankruptcy; and if he will make a statement.

    Nick Boles

    The Government does not collect data on the different types of unsecured debts and the creditors to whom they are owed across the full range of formal insolvency procedures.

    The Government acknowledges that some people are unhappy with the system of retentions as it stands, but it is an embedded feature of the construction industry.

    Therefore, our general approach is towork with the industry through the Construction Leadership Council and its supply chain payment charter; endorsing its commitment to zero retentions by 2025. Achieving this commitment will involve far-reaching changes to the way the sector works.

    It is not clear that requiring money to be placed in trust funds is the best way to overcome any shortcomings in the system of retentions: it would impose a financial burden on construction clients, many of whom are themselves small businesses, and where there is financial weakness, may itself make insolvency more likely. The Government is commissioning research on the costs and benefits of the retention system and alternatives, including the use of trust funds. This will inform future action.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2015 to Question 11448, what estimate her Department has made of the cost of providing free school meals for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils in each of the next five years.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    The government is currently conducting a Spending Review across all its programmes. Our assessment of cost scenarios forms part of that review.