The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment the Government has made of the rates of productivity of young employed people in the UK.
Mr Rob Wilson
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2015-10-13.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to promote Pension Wise.
Harriett Baldwin
The government launched a comprehensive nationwide marketing campaign in late August. This will ensure that more people are aware of Pension Wise, of how it can help them, and that they can – and do – access high-quality, impartial guidance on making the most of the new pension flexibilities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emma Reynolds on 2015-10-13.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on foreign direct investment of the UK leaving the EU.
Mr David Gauke
As the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne) has noted, the best outcome for the UK economy is that we achieve major economic reform of the EU. The Prime Minister is focused on success: he believes he can and will succeed in reforming and renegotiating our relationship with the EU, and campaigning to keep the UK in the EU on that basis.
The Confederation of British Industry and British Chambers of Commerce have both come out to say they support the reform agenda the Prime Minister is seeking to deliver.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many households occupy social housing in each London borough; and how many such households in each such borough have an annual income above £40,000.
Brandon Lewis
Data on the number of dwellings by tenure and district can be found in Live Table 100 which is available to download at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-dwelling-stock-including-vacants
The Department collects its data on household income from the English Housing Survey which does not go down to the district level.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what key policy aims he achieved during the recent visit to the UK by the US Secretary of Defense.
Michael Fallon
Secretary Carter and I discussed a range of issues including current operations, Russia, and the Strategic Defence and Security Review. We discussed ways in which we can further strengthen our collaboration and agreed to work together on a combined approach to defence innovation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons his Department applied a 1,500-character limit for individual submissions to his Department’s consultation on the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Michael Fallon
The character limit was removed in August 2015. Individuals and organisations are, as ever, welcome to write to the Secretary of State, any of the other Strategic Defence and Security Review Departments or their Member of Parliament.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what new departmental resources have been committed to support the UK-China joint research and innovation centre; which UK personnel have been appointed to this work to date; what process was followed in making those appointments; and where each such post was advertised.
Andrea Leadsom
The Joint Research and Innovation Centre (JRIC) is envisaged to be the subject of a commercial agreement between the National Nuclear Laboratory and the Chinese National Nuclear Corporation.
These two organisations are still in the process of negotiating such an agreement and will need to consider details on the structures, funding, governance and accountability of the JRIC. As such, it is too early for Government to be able to comment on the outcomes of such a negotiation.
We continue to maintain an interest in developments of these discussions and will work, where appropriate, with our counterparts in the Chinese government to ensure that outcomes are mutually beneficial to the research landscape of both nations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Australian counterpart on the effect of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull coming into office on Australian-UK relations.
Mr Hugo Swire
The UK and Australia continue to enjoy a close and productive partnership. At the heart of this are regular dialogues between Ministers on important policy issues. Our shared values and interests mean that dialogues continue even as counterparts change. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) most recently spoke to Malcolm Turnbull on 8 October. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) is also in regular contact with his Australian counterpart.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Saudi Arabian counterpart against that country’s policy of judicially-sanctioned capital punishment.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
The Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances, especially in cases which do not meet the minimum standards defined by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We believe it undermines human dignity and there is no evidence that it works as a deterrent. Ministers, our Ambassador in Riyadh and the Embassy team raise the issue of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities, both bilaterally and through the European Union.
We recognise that total abolition of the death penalty is unlikely in Saudi Arabia in the near future. Our focus is therefore on encouraging the introduction of EU minimum standards for the death penalty as a first step, and on supporting access to justice and rule of law.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received from groups representing junior doctors on their current working conditions; and if he will make a statement.
Ben Gummer
Junior doctors play a vital role in our National Health Service and deserve a professional and fair contract that supports patient care. We also want to work with NHS staff to better support a seven day NHS. This is why the Government wants to reduce the number of hours worked by juniors and has guaranteed that average earnings will be maintained.
The best deal for junior doctors will be achieved by the British Medical Association (BMA) coming to the table to negotiate on their behalf. This is a view shared by the medical Royal Colleges, NHS Providers and others. To this end, the Government has provided the BMA and junior doctors with cast iron reassurances about its approach to a new contract and sincerely hopes that the BMA will return to the table.
Ministers receive regular representations from groups representing junior doctors.
My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State met Mark Porter, BMA Council Chair and Dr Johann Malawana as part of an introductory meeting following Dr Malawana’s election as Chair of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee (JDC). Ministers also meet regularly with representatives of medical Royal Colleges on a range of issues. At a recent meeting junior doctors working conditions were raised and the junior doctor training experience discussed.
Recent written representations on junior doctors working conditions have been received by Ministers from:
Dr Mark Porter, BMA Council chair and Dr Johann Malawana, BMA JDC chair.
Professor Maureen Baker, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners Council.
Dr Clifford Mann, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, on behalf of ten royal college presidents.
Professor Sir Simon Wessely, President of the Royal college of Psychiatrists.
A related e-petition with created by M J Peluso has been published at the following link: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/108782
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