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Tag: 2015

  • Thangam Debbonaire – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Thangam Debbonaire – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thangam Debbonaire on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons her Department did not renew the Choices contract in detention centres; and what assessment the Government has made of the effect of that decision on the number of people in detention taking up voluntary return and being removed from the UK.

    James Brokenshire

    Additional packages of assistance for those detained pending removal to depart the UK were stopped in March 2014. This reflects the need for those who are here illegally to make a voluntary return at the earliest stage. This should occur before enforcement action and detention is required. Since this change, the overall number of illegal migrants whose voluntary departure is facilitated by the Home Office and its partners has continued to increase.

  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will raise with (a) his ministerial colleagues and (b) the International Labour Organisation the extent of non-compliance amongst open registers with the minimum standards for seafarers’ rights established in the Maritime Labour Convention 2006.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) carry out Port State Control inspections on board foreign vessels in UK waters. The Port State Control regime has a requirement of no more favourable treatment to other vessels many of which are registered in these so called “open registers”.

  • Ruth Smeeth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Ruth Smeeth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ruth Smeeth on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many lawyers are employed by Network Rail to deal with contractual interface issues.

    Claire Perry

    Network Rail has 26 lawyers in the company. None are employed full time to deal specifically with these types of contractual interface issues. Those in the Routes Legal Team (c 12 lawyers) will spend a percentage of their time on these issues and to a lesser extent those in the Corporate Legal Team (c 3 lawyers).Input from the team will vary considerably depending on the nature and size of the issue that has arisen.

  • Owen Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Owen Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many days were lost to sickness in his Department in each of the last 10 years.

    Justin Tomlinson

    We have greatly reduced sickness absence in DWP from an average of 11.1 days per employee eight years ago to just 6.4 days per employee now. This is below the figure for the public sector of 7.9 days on average per employee, which was independently reported by the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development in its latest sickness absence report.

    The number of working days lost to sickness within the Department for Work and Pensions in each of the last 10 years is recorded in the following table.

    Period

    Working Days Lost to Sickness Absence

    Average Working Days Lost per Employee

    2014/15

    527,961

    6.5

    2013/14

    620,122

    6.9

    2012/13

    699,731

    7.4

    2011/12

    671,412

    7.3

    2010/11

    846,168

    8.1

    2009/10

    911,809

    8.5

    2008/09

    849,448

    8.9

    2007/08

    1,053,768

    10.1

    2006/07

    1,361,196

    11.1

    2005

    1,233,162

    10.1
  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support is available for people with diabetes to ensure that they can continue to live independently.

    Jane Ellison

    The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence quality standard for diabetes sets out that people with diabetes should receive a structured educational programme as this is key to ensuring that they are able to manage their condition as successfully as possible.

    While there is still much room for improvement, the proportion of people with diabetes being offered structured education is rising. 16% of people newly diagnosed with diabetes were offered structured education in 2012/13 compared to just over 8% of those diagnosed in 2009. In the same period the number of people newly diagnosed with diabetes offered or attending structured education rose from 11% to over 18%.

    Improving the outcomes of people with and at risk of diabetes is of great concern to this Government and we will put forward our plans in due course.

  • Peter Kyle – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Peter Kyle – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many visa applications to her Department’s super premium service have been rejected in the last 12 months.

    James Brokenshire

    Please see the information given below. Between 1 October 2014 and 30 September 2015 the super premium service refused 6 cases.

    Case Priority

    First Case Outcome

    No. Of Cases

    Super Premium Service

    Granted

    385

    Super Premium Service

    Refused

    6
  • Douglas Carswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Douglas Carswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans his Department has to publish the Memorandum of Understanding with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, signed in September 2014.

    Andrew Selous

    The Information Commissioner’s Office has upheld the decision not to publish this Memorandum of Understanding. That correspondence can be found here: https://ico.org.uk/media/action-weve-taken/decision-notices/2015/1432375/fs_50579089.pdf.

  • Margaret Ferrier – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Margaret Ferrier – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 September 2015 to Question 9645, for what reasons median end to end times for processing personal independence payments did not change between April 2015 and July 2015; and if he will make a statement.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The current processing times represent a stable position for both DWP and our Assessment Providers and reflect the significant progress made to improve the claims process by both parties over the preceding months. We continue to look at all of our processes and activities to identify any further areas for improvement, or to drive out even greater efficiency.

  • Ben Howlett – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Ben Howlett – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ben Howlett on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to encourage collaboration between higher education institutions and the creative economy.

    Joseph Johnson

    The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) is sponsored by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and supports collaboration between Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and the creative economy using a variety of mechanisms including knowledge exchange centres and collaborative doctoral studentships.

    AHRC will invest £16m during the period 2012-16 in the Knowledge Exchange Hubs for the Creative Economy. These Hubs, based in Bristol, Dundee, London and Lancaster, have drawn over 350 businesses, 320 academics and 170 third sector organisations into new forms of collaboration.

    Innovate UK encourages collaboration between HEIs and the creative economy through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (8 currently being supported in the Creative Industries) and through support of the creative industries council’s strategy.

  • Laurence Robertson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Laurence Robertson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Laurence Robertson on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the progress achieved by the UK Business and Human Rights Action Plan against the aims and objectives set out in it.

    Anna Soubry

    Progress on the UK’s National Action Plan to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights is covered in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Human Rights and Democracy annual report, last published in March 2015. We have made considerable progress, for example on improved reporting requirements. We will continue to update our action plan, reflecting the progress we have made as well as covering other related action taking place across Government such as the Modern Slavery Act.