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Tag: 2015

  • Lord Pearson of Rannoch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Lord Pearson of Rannoch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch on 2015-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the United Kingdom does not have a free trade agreement with China, and what assessment they have made of whether such an agreement would help to boost trade between the United Kingdom and China.

    Lord Maude of Horsham

    The recent EU Trade Strategy emphasised the EU’s engagement in deepening and rebalancing our relationship with China in a mutually beneficial way. The ongoing negotiation of a bilateral investment agreement is the top priority towards this objective and will bring substantial benefits for both the UK and the EU. The UK Government fully supports the ambition of further deepening the EU-China relationship through an FTA. Whilst no formal assessment has yet been made to ascertain the impact of an FTA with China we anticipate the benefits will be significant.

  • Lord Hylton – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Hylton – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2015-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of Oxfam’s proposals for the worldwide resettlement of the most vulnerable 10 per cent of the Iraqi and Syrian refugees who are outside their home countries.

    Lord Bates

    The UK has been at the forefront of the response to the crisis in Syria. We have pledged over £1.1 billion, our largest ever humanitarian response to a single crisis. We are the second largest bilateral donor after the US. Approximately half of UK assistance is targeted towards the Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Iraq. By meeting basic humanitarian needs and helping to create new opportunities we aim to help Syrians to build a life in neighbouring countries.

    The UK’s position is that funding provided to the region is a more sustainable way of dealing with the refugee crisis rather than encouraging dangerous onward migration journeys. For this reason, the UK’s resettlement offer focuses on supporting the most vulnerable Syrians directly from the region who would best be protected in countries like the UK.

  • Lord Falconer of Thoroton – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Lord Falconer of Thoroton – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 2015-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether and when they expect to introduce proposals on earned release for offenders; whether such proposals will involve legislation; and whether they will be subject to consultation.

    Lord Faulks

    The level of re-offending following a custodial sentence is too high and we are looking at a variety of ways to make sure that when offenders leave prison they are better rehabilitated and better equipped to lead a crime-free life. We are attracted to the idea of earned release for those offenders who make a commitment to serious educational activity, who show by their changed attitude that they wish to contribute to society and who work hard to acquire proper qualifications which are externally validated and respected by employers. We are currently considering the options available in this area.

  • Bob Stewart – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Bob Stewart – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Stewart on 2015-10-23.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to bring forward legislation for a city tax on tourists and other visitors.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government has no plans to introduce a ‘city tax’ on tourists or visitors to the UK.

  • Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of Royal Navy (a) officers and (b) ratings in each branch, specialisation and arm were unavailable to be deployed in each year from 2005-06 to 2014-15.

    Mark Lancaster

    The information is not held in the format requested. However, the number and proportion of Naval Service officers and ratings in each branch who were categorised as non-deployable as at April of each year from 2010 is provided below. Information is not available prior to 2010.

    All totals are rounded in accordance with the Defence Statistics rounding policy.

    Branch

    2010

    2011

    2012

    2013

    2014

    2015

    Officer

    Engineer

    10

    20

    20

    20

    30

    30

    1%

    1%

    1%

    1%

    2%

    2%

    Logistics

    10

    10

    10

    ~

    10

    10

    2%

    1%

    3%

    1%

    2%

    2%

    Medical

    10

    10

    10

    10

    20

    10

    1%

    2%

    2%

    3%

    4%

    3%

    Royal Marines

    ~

    10

    10

    10

    10

    20

    1%

    1%

    1%

    2%

    1%

    2%

    Warfare

    30

    30

    20

    30

    30

    30

    1%

    1%

    1%

    1%

    1%

    1%

    Rating

    Engineer

    300

    320

    280

    350

    270

    280

    1%

    3%

    3%

    4%

    3%

    2%

    Logistics

    170

    170

    160

    170

    100

    110

    2%

    5%

    6%

    6%

    4%

    5%

    Medical

    50

    50

    30

    40

    30

    40

    1%

    6%

    4%

    5%

    4%

    5%

    Royal Marines

    280

    260

    320

    260

    160

    150

    1%

    4%

    5%

    4%

    2%

    2%

    Warfare

    260

    290

    280

    290

    150

    150

    4%

    4%

    4%

    5%

    3%

    3%

    All numbers are rounded to the nearest 5 with numbers that would be round

    to 0 represented by ‘~’.

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Andrew Gwynne – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much was paid in (a) year end and (b) in-year bonuses to officials of her Department in each of the last three years.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Department uses performance related pay to help drive high performance and to recognise exceptional contributions and achievements over and above what is expected of people in fulfilling their employment contracts.

    These payments, which are in-line with HMT Pay Guidance, are cost effective as they are not consolidated into basic pay and have to be re-earned every year.

    Since 2010-11 the Government has restricted awards for senior civil servants to the top 25% of performers.

    In-year performance related awards are used to recognise and incentivise corporate behaviours and values which might not be fully reflected in annual performance appraisal reports. These are also used to reward staff for exceptional pieces of work or for taking on additional responsibilities.

    End-year non-consolidated performance awards are used to reward the department’s highest performers as assessed in their end of year appraisal reports.

    A breakdown of the In-Year and the End-Year awards is given in the table below:

    Table 1

    Financial Year

    In-Year Performance Awards

    End-Year Performance Awards

    2014-2015

    £247,606

    £996,901

    2013-2014

    £377,617

    £882,521

    2012-2013

    £372,315

    £869,665

  • 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 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in receipt of the independent living fund in each of the last five years had a diagnosed mental health condition.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The Independent Living Fund closed on 30 June 2015. The information requested is not held by the Department for Work and Pensions and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Such information as is available can be found on page 10 of the equality impact assessment published on 6 March 2014: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/287236/closure-of-ilf-equality-analysis.pdf.

    “

  • Philip Davies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Philip Davies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library a copy of the delivery agreement and agreed deliverables between his Department and the Chartered Institute for Trading Standards.

    Jane Ellison

    The Department has a contract with itsa Ltd, the business arm of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, for the enforcement of tobacco legislation and support for local authorities. The award letter and supporting documents for this contract are available online at:

    https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive/contract/1072169/

    “

  • Louise Haigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the House of Commons Commission

    Louise Haigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the House of Commons Commission

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will review the right of access for the City of London Remembrancer to the Chamber of the House.

    Tom Brake

    I understand that the Remembrancer is one of some 17 Roll A Parliamentary Agents who work with the promoters of private Bills. Parliamentary Agents are permitted to observe proceedings from the Under Gallery in the Chamber, that is, the visitors’ seats “under the gallery” facing the Speaker, for the purposes of their work. Other visitors may also sometimes sit in the Under Gallery.

    Access to the Chamber and its surroundings is not a matter for the Commission.

  • Justin Madders – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Justin Madders – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of the delays in state pension payments to British citizens living abroad.

    Justin Tomlinson

    Over 90% of International State Pension customer claims or change of circumstances are cleared within target. Those that are not cleared within these timescales reflect unavoidable delays that are a consequence of international postal services, additional work to ensure that evidence submitted is appropriate and robust and requirements to liaise with international authorities.