The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ben Howlett on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will consider issuing guidance restricting the taking of photos and videos following the Shoreham air show crash.
James Wharton
This is not a matter for the Department for Communities and Local Government.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to promote digital inclusion in Easington constituency (a) in general and (b) for hard to reach groups who have never accessed online content.
Matthew Hancock
Information provided by ONS for the period January to March 2015 shows that 11% of adults in the UK (5.9 million) had never used the internet. In 2015 14% of households in Great Britain had no internet access.Official data at local constituency level is not available.
The Digital Inclusion Strategy launched in 2014 outlined that by 2016 we will have reduced the number of people who are offline by 25% and by 2020 everyone who can be online should be online. 85 partners work with government to reach this goal, including the Tinder Foundation, Post Office, Argos, Barclays, LGA, Go ON UK, Society of Chief Librarians, Digital Unite and Age UK.
The government recognises that there are many reasons for not being online. We will always provide assisted digital support for people who need help accessing government services.
Many of these partners have local delivery networks, and work with hard to reach groups. Details of local resources can be found from a number of sources, including libraries and the Post Office. A range of services are available in Easington, including Easington Colliery Library, which provides internet and email facilities; and there are a number of UK Online Centres in the Easington area.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on free school meals for children aged between four and seven.
Mr Sam Gyimah
The government recognises the benefits of providing a healthy school meal to the most disadvantaged children. Children in England who receive, or whose parents receive, specified benefits[1] are entitled to receive free school meals. Free meals were also extended to disadvantaged students in further education institutions from September 2014.
Since 1 September 2014, state-funded schools in England have been required by law to provide free lunches to all pupils in reception, year one or year two.
The provision of universal infant free school meals was a commitment in the Conservative Party Manifesto.
[1] Income Support (IS); Income Based Jobseekers Allowance (IBJSA); an income-related employment and support allowance; support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999; Child Tax Credit (provided they are not entitled to Working Tax Credit) with an annual income, as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), that does not exceed £16,190; the guarantee element of State Pension Credit; or Universal Credit. Where a parent is entitled to Working Tax Credit run-on – the payment someone receives for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit -their children are entitled to free school meals.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many (a) free schools and (b) academies with a religious character have been opened in each of the last five years.
Edward Timpson
The government is committed to ensuring that faith designated free schools and new academies provide additional places not just for pupils of their own faith but for pupils from other faiths or no faith. It is for individual schools to decide whether or not to adopt faith based admission arrangements.Those that do may give priority when oversubscribed to a maximum of 50% of applicants with reference to their faith. The department does not collect data on schools that are oversubscribed or on religious diversity in those schools that adopt faith based admission arrangements.
The number of free schools and new provision academies with a religious character opening between September 2010 and October 2015 by academic year is detailed in the table below.
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Numbers of free schools and new provision academies with a religious character opening between September 2010 and October 2015 by academic year |
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Academic year of opening |
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2010/11 |
2011/12 |
2012/13 |
2013/14 |
2014/15 |
2015/16 |
Total |
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Free Schools and New Provision Academies |
0 |
7 |
12 |
22 |
15 |
12 |
68 |
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2015 to Question 8254, how many levy exemption certificates there were in each region and constituent part of the UK in each of the last four years; and what the type of renewable and low carbon technology was for each such certificate in each of those years.
Andrea Leadsom
Ofgem publish annual summary information on the number of levy exemption certificates issued by country of generation and by renewable technology type. Information for the period April 2009 to March 2015 is set out in two reports available on the Ofgem website at:
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to move the UK’s energy supply to more renewable resources.
Andrea Leadsom
Renewable electricity capacity has trebled since 2010. The most recent step we have taken to support deployment is the introduction of Contracts for Difference, which gives companies long-term revenue certainty and drives down costs for consumers through competition. We will set out our proposals in respect of the next CFD allocation round in due course.
Under existing renewable heat schemes, the Government has supported around 40,000 homes and 12,000 businesses, schools, farms and other organisations with new renewable heating systems. Almost 5 terawatt hours of eligible heat have been generated and paid for under the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) at the end of August 2015.
The Government is investing £500 million over the next 5 years in making ultra-low emission vehicles more accessible to families and businesses across the country, and fuel suppliers are already required to meet a 4.75% renewable transport fuel target by ensuring that sustainable biofuel is supplied.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Laurence Robertson on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the prevalence of the use of barren cages in gamebird units in contravention of the welfare code for gamebirds; and if she will make a statement.
George Eustice
Recent Defra funded research into the use of cages for gamebirds showed that enrichment and space allowance, in the forms provided, had little impact on the welfare of caged pheasants. However, egg production and quality and most measures of pheasant welfare were improved in cages compared to floor pens. For the partridges, the behavioural results indicated that enrichment might be positive for welfare and was probably a more valuable modification than increasing the size of an otherwise barren cage. However, the research also concluded that there might be penalties from parasitism and reduced egg production if enrichment is offered at a conventional space allowance. The published research can be found:
We intend to discuss the findings of the research with industry and welfare organisations as part of next year’s review of the “Code of Practice for the Welfare of Gamebirds Reared for Sporting Purposes”.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to ensure the development of co-operation with Spain on tackling serious crime in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.
Mr David Lidington
Responsibility for law enforcement in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters lies with Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar. The UK worked in close consultation with both the Government of Gibraltar and the Government of Spain to reach an agreement on 28 August on stepping up law enforcement cooperation. We have since raised this issue with the Spanish authorities at various levels; I raised the matter most recently with the Spanish Minister for Europe, Fernando Eguidazu, on 12 September.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Wayne David on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the government of Saudi Arabia on the case of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr who was sentenced to death by crucifixion.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
We are very concerned about the case Ali Mohammed Al Nimr. We have raised this case with the Saudi Arabian authorities at a senior level including by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond). We will continue to follow this case closely. The UK opposes the death penalty in all cases. Ministers, our Ambassador, and the Embassy team frequently raise the issue of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities, bilaterally and through the European Union.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Elliott on 2015-10-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Saudi Arabian counterpart on the death sentence handed out to Ali Mohammed Baqir al-Nimr.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
We are very concerned about the case of Ali Mohammed Al Nimr. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) raised this case with the Saudi Arabian authorities at a senior level. We will continue to follow this case closely. The UK opposes the death penalty in all cases. Ministers, our Ambassador, and the Embassy team frequently raise the issue of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities, bilaterally and through the European Union.