The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many full-time equivalent staff in his Department were allocated to deal with representations from hon. Members to address constituents’ concerns on 1 October (a) 2011, (b) 2012, (c) 2013, (d) 2014 and (e) 2015.
Justin Tomlinson
Many staff across the Department spend a proportion of their time working on ministerial correspondence.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Birt on 2015-10-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest estimate of (1) the number of instances of internet frauds committed annually in the United Kingdom, and (2) the level of financial loss that is caused annually in the United Kingdom by internet fraud.
Lord Bates
The Home Office does not hold data centrally on the number of internet frauds committed annually in the United Kingdom. The Office for National Statistics recently published a provisional estimate of 5.1 million fraud offences a year in England and Wales, based on trial data from a survey of 2,000 people. This did not include details of how many frauds were internet related.
The ONS also published the number of frauds referred to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) in the year to June 2015 – 599,689. It is not possible to establish exactly how many of these were internet related.
The Home Office does not hold data centrally on the level of financial loss caused annually in the UK by internet fraud. The Home Office ‘Costs of cyber crime’ working group seeks to agree on the best available data for formulating any estimates and develop an agreed model for assessing the social and economic costs of cyber crime. Working group members are drawn from a field of multi-disciplinary academics, industry representatives and other experts involved in cyber crime and cyber security
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Parminter on 2015-10-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish the responses that were received following the letter sent by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Water, Forestry, Rural Affairs and Resource Management to all departments in March asking how each was addressing the timber procurement policy.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
We have no plans to publish the responses from Permanent Secretaries to Defra officials; however, where appropriate, Departments have covered timber under their supply chain reporting under the Greening Government Commitments.
Defra officials and the Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET) have used the responses to the letter sent to 15 Departments, to inform facilitated discussions with Departments. These discussions provided targeted support for effective Timber Procurement Policy (TPP) reporting for managers and leaders, as well as an opportunity to share good practice. For example, a standard set of legal clauses has been developed (in line with guidance from Cabinet Office) for use in future construction procurement projects, to mandate compliance against the TPP and provide for appropriate evidence from the supply chain. Other Departments have Guidance Notes to support the TPP and have included CPET-recommended wording in technical specifications. CPET continue to train new procurers across Government, to ensure they understand how to implement the TPP. This week 30 staff from MoD are attending training.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2015-10-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the PKK’s declaration of a unilateral cease-fire, what representations they have made to the government of Turkey following Turkish air attacks in south-east Turkey and northern Iraq.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)’s announcement that they will refrain from attacks is a positive step but they now need to ensure it is respected. The British Government’s position is that: Turkey has the right to defend itself against PKK attacks; PKK violence must end; and, we support a resumption of the peace process. We stand ready to help in any way we can.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 2015-10-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish the Memorandum of Understanding between the United Kingdom and the government of Saudi Arabia, which was signed on 11 September 2014.
Lord Faulks
The Information Commissioner’s Office has upheld the decision not to publish this Memorandum of Understanding. That correspondence, dated 10 August 2015, can be found on the website of the Information Commissioner’s Office.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick on 2015-10-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the International Business Advisory Council’s statement that implementing the World Trade Organisation’s trade facilitation agreement should be a priority for governments.
Lord Maude of Horsham
The Government strongly supports the World |trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on Trade Facilitation and encourages other WTO Members to ratify so that the agreement can enter into force as soon as possible.
Implementation of the Agreement will reduce the costs of cross-border trade, benefitting consumers and business alike. Once implemented, studies suggest the Agreement will add over £70 billion to the global economy. Of this, we expect a benefit to the UK of up to £1bn.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Spellar on 2015-10-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what preparations his Department has made for (a) upcoming changes in EU legislation regarding the chemical PFOA and (b) the technical effect of that legislation on the performance of camouflage print on the Army’s multi-terrain pattern uniforms and ensemble.
Mr Philip Dunne
The upcoming change to EU legislation on the use of Perfluorooctanoic acid is a matter for the contractor, who has to meet the specifications set by the Ministry of Defence. We do not expect the change in EU legislation to adversely affect the production or performance of combat clothing used by the UK’s Armed Forces.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Green on 2015-10-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to promote STEM subjects and STEM career opportunities in schools.
Nick Gibb
The government has taken action by introducing a more engaging and knowledge rich curriculum, and by improving the quality of STEM teaching though a number of measures such as offering incentives to attract top graduates into teaching. We are also funding high quality professional development opportunities for STEM teachers including industrial placements.
The statutory guidance underpinning a school’s duty to secure independent careers guidance is clear about the importance of STEM subjects. It states that schools should ensure that, as early as possible, pupils understand that a wide range of career choices require good knowledge of maths and the sciences.
The Careers & Enterprise Company will strengthen links between employers, schools and colleges and careers and enterprise organisations. The “Your Life” campaign, launched by the government last year, aims to change the perceptions of science and mathematics among all young people.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Tami on 2015-10-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the decision to remove treatments for multiple myeloma from the Cancer Drugs Fund list on survival rates for patients with that condition.
George Freeman
NHS England has advised that no assessment has been made of the impact of these changes to the national Cancer Drugs Fund list on survival rates for multiple myeloma. These changes have not yet been finalised and agreed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2015-10-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of support provided by the third sector in supporting people with eating disorders.
Alistair Burt
The Department has not made a formal assessment, but we greatly value the role of the voluntary sector in providing support for children and young people with mental health needs, and work closely with a number of leading charities at a national level and throughout the system.
NHS England is responsible for the approval and assurance of clinical commissioning group (CCG) plans for locally-commissioned services, including services for people with eating disorders.
In line with guidance published by NHS England in August, CCGs have produced Local Transformation Plans (LTPs) for children and young people’s mental health with their local partners, including those in the voluntary sector, in line with the proposal in Future in mind. The deadline for receipt of these LTPs was 16 October and they are now being considered by NHS England.