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Tag: 2015

  • Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Smith on 2015-10-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether primary legislation is required to implement the proposals on the adult skills budget in the Sheffield City Region Devolution Agreement, announced on 2 October 2015.

    Nick Boles

    One of the conditions for full devolution of adult skills funding in relation to the Sheffield City Region is that Parliament has legislated to enable transfer of the current statutory duties on my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to secure appropriate facilities for further education for adults from the relevant budget and for provision to be free in certain circumstances. Primary legislation would be needed for that purpose.

  • Joan Ryan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Joan Ryan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Joan Ryan on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the findings and recommendations of the National Deaf Children’s Society report, One year on: impact of changes to the special educational needs system on deaf children, published on 1 September 2015; and if she will make a statement.

    Edward Timpson

    The Children and Families Act 2014 introduced significant reforms to the Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) system. The new statutory framework will ensure that support is focused on needs and aspirations, enabling all pupils to achieve better outcomes in education and adult life.

    Since the Act came into force, in September 2014, there have been a number of significant changes to the SEND system, including the publication of ‘local offers’ of SEN services by local authorities; the introduction of streamlined education, health and care assessments; and new statutory protections for young people aged 16-25 in further education.

    Implementing these reforms requires substantial cultural and procedural change at local level. We are closely monitoring implementation and we are continuing to provide support.

    Local authorities in England each received a share of a £70 million reform grant in 2014-15; and of a further £45.2 million in 2014-15 and £31.7 million in 2015-16 to meet the additional costs of implementing the new SEN duties. Peer support is available to local authorities and their partners through a network of regional lead authorities. And we have funded a range of grants and contracts to provide advice and support to local authorities and their partners across education, health and social care. This includes support to parents and young people, through parent carer forums and the Independent Support programme (£15m per year in 2014-15 and 2015-16).

  • Henry Bellingham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Henry Bellingham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Bellingham on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much revenue has been raised by the Agriculture and Horticulture Board through levies collected from the sale of pigs in the last 10 years.

    George Eustice

    Levies are raised by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board on pigs slaughtered for human consumption within England. Approximately 81% of this levy is paid by the pig producer, with around 19% also paid by the pig slaughterer or live exporter.

    Over the last 10 financial years ending 31 March 2015, £80 million in English pig levy has been collected. This is broken down as follows:

    2014/15 £9.023m

    2013/14 £8.735m

    2012/13 £8.555m

    2011/12 £8.235m

    2010/11 £7.735m

    2009/10 £7.564m

    2008/09 £6.921m

    2007/08 £7.986m

    2006/07 £7.631m*

    2005/06 £7.617m*

    The figures are for gross levy before deduction of levy collection costs, and are sourced from Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Audited Annual Report & Accounts. The 2005/06 and 2006/07 figures are sourced from the Meat and Livestock Commission Annual Report and Accounts.

  • Fabian Hamilton – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Fabian Hamilton – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fabian Hamilton on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Chinese government on Gendun Choeki Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama; and whether his Department has requested documentation and photographs to support the Chinese government’s statement that he is leading a normal life.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    As I stated during a Westminster Hall Debate on Tibet on 18 June, we continue to raise the issue of the Panchen Lama with the Chinese authorities. We have urged them to ensure that the restrictions on his freedom of movement and communication are lifted, so that he may select the career, education or religious life of his choosing, wherever he is. We have also supported calls by the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child for the relevant authorities to facilitate a meeting between the Panchen Lama and independent international observers.

  • Justin Madders – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Justin Madders – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress he has made on introducing independent medical examiners to the death certification process.

    Ben Gummer

    We will provide an update on our plans once the Spending Review has been completed.

  • Julian Sturdy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Julian Sturdy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Sturdy on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress he has made on reform of the NHS funding formula to clinical commissioning groups.

    Alistair Burt

    NHS England has responsibility for determining allocations to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). The Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation, an independent advisory group, is undertaking a full review of the formula used to determine allocations for individual CCGs. The review is nearing completion and we expect their recommendations to be presented at the NHS England Board meeting in December

  • Stuart McDonald – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Stuart McDonald – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stuart McDonald on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) prosecutions have taken place and (b) penalty notices have been issued under paragraphs (i) 15 and (ii) 16 of the Accession of Croatia (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2013 in each year since those regulations entered into force.

    James Brokenshire

    The number of prosecutions under Regulations 12 and 13 of the Accession (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2006, in each of the years the regulations were in force, 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2013, is shown in Table 1. The data in the table has been provided by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and is not held by the Home Office. MoJ Court Proceedings Database holds information on defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales.

    The Regulations only allowed for employees to be served with a Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) under Regulation 13. The sanction against employers under Regulation 12 was prosecution through the Courts. The Home Office does not hold Management Information for this period which would explain why the prosecution numbers are low. Management information in Table 2 shows the number of FPNs notified to the Home Office as having been served in each of the financial years the Accession (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2006 were in force.

    The Home Office has no record of any Fixed Penalty Notices being issued to Croatian nationals working in breach of the Accession of Croatia (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2013. The Home Office has not issued any civil penalties to employers in respect of breaches of the Accession of Croatia (Immigration and Worker Authorisation) Regulations 2013.

  • Matthew Offord – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Matthew Offord – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of political and economic progress in Somalia.

    Grant Shapps

    During my recent visit in July, I saw the complex challenges that Somalia faces after more than two decades of conflict. Despite this, real progress is being made in reaching a political settlement, tackling the threat posed by Al Shabaab, and rebuilding the economy and the state. Credible elections next year will be a further important step forward. As one of Somalia’s leading international partners, we are doing everything we can to support the completion of the federal map, the electoral process, and the economic development of the country.

  • Justin Madders – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Justin Madders – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of pilotage standards at Londonderry Port.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Competent Harbour Authorities, such as the Londonderry Port & Harbour Commissioners, have a statutory duty to determine what pilotage services need to be provided to secure the safety of ships navigating their waters, and may authorise those persons they consider suitably qualified to act as pilots. The Department has no power to oversee or direct them in their execution of these duties.

  • Luciana Berger – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Luciana Berger – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish guidance for Jobcentre Plus staff Managing Customers’ Self-Harm and Suicidal Declarations; and if he will place a copy in the Library.

    Priti Patel

    A copy of the current guidance was placed in the Library on 20th July 2015.