The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-05-18.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what change there was in the proportion of the working age population employed by the public sector in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland between 2005 and 2015.
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 Gloria De Piero on 2016-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many vacancies for (a) paramedics and (b) doctors there are in the East Midlands Ambulance Service.
Ben Gummer
The information requested is not held centrally. It may be available directly from East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the targets were for recruitment for each of the armed forces in each of the last five years.
Mike Penning
Information on the targets for recruitment for each of the Armed Forces in each of the last five years is shown below.
|
Financial Year |
2011-12 |
2012-13 |
2013-14 |
2014-15 |
2015-16 |
|
Regular Naval Service |
2,230 |
2,925 |
3,433 |
3,260 |
3,571 |
|
Maritime Reserves1 |
– |
– |
– |
740 |
760 |
|
Royal Fleet Auxiliary |
36 |
52 |
122 |
353 |
336 |
|
Total Naval Service |
2,266 |
2,977 |
3,555 |
4,353 |
4,667 |
|
Regular Army Service |
11,190 |
10,300 |
7,020 |
8,160 |
7,320 |
|
Army Reserves1 |
– |
– |
– |
4,900 |
7,270 |
|
Total Army Service |
11,190 |
10,300 |
10,575 |
13,060 |
14,590 |
|
Regular Royal Air Force Service |
1,561 |
1,586 |
1,731 |
2,212 |
2,670 |
|
Royal Air Force Reserves1 |
– |
– |
– |
600 |
750 |
|
Total Royal Air Force Service |
1,561 |
1,586 |
1,731 |
2,812 |
3,420 |
Notes:
1 There are no figures for these periods as centralised recruitment targets were not set until October 2013 following publication of the Reserves White paper.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mawhinney on 2016-01-20.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what powers they have, if any, to overrule local authorities that grant planning permission that allows residential or commercial properties to be built on land designated as a flood plain.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
The Secretary of State has specific intervention powers to consider an application for himself before a decision has been issued by the local planning authority and powers to revoke or modify a planning permission before the permission is implemented. Local planning authorities, through their Local Plans and planning decisions are expected to avoid inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding by directing development away from areas at highest risk, including floodplains. Between April 2011 and March 2015, over 99 percent of proposed new homes had planning outcomes in line with Environment Agency advice where they had been made aware of the decision.
All local planning authorities are expected to follow the strict tests set out in national planning policy and guidance. Where these tests are not met, national policy is very clear that new development should not be allowed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the political situation in Moldova on stability and security in that region.
Mr David Lidington
A more stable, secure and prosperous Moldova is important for the stability of the European neighbourhood. The situation in Moldova was discussed by EU Foreign Ministers on 15 February.
The EU Foreign Affairs Council concluded that the the current difficulties can be solved only via constructive dialogue among all political forces in the country, which takes into account the expectations of the people of the Republic of Moldova, and that tangible results on reforms are needed to restore trust.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Cooper on 2016-03-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with other Commonwealth leaders about the need to encourage further democratic reform in the Maldives.
Mr Hugo Swire
On 24 February, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) met in London to discuss the situation in the Maldives. Following that, I hosted a meeting for CMAG Ministers and senior officials. I welcomed CMAG’s conclusion that their consideration of the situation in Maldives should continue. I also supported their recommendations, in particular the need for the release of political leaders and a swift implementation of reforms to strengthen separation of powers and independence of the judiciary in Maldives. I encourage the Maldives Government to implement all of CMAG’s recommendations. I also discussed the situation in the Maldives with Foreign Minister McCully during my visit to New Zealand on 21 February and with Foreign Minister Samaraweera when I visited Sri Lanka in January.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2016-04-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) survivability, (b) sustainability and (c) readiness of NATO forces.
Mr Julian Brazier
The Readiness Action Plan (RAP), agreed at the NATO Summit in Wales in September 2014, is progressing well and it will deliver enhanced NATO Response Forces, including the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF), by the time of the NATO Summit in Warsaw in July 2016. The UK has played a leading role in the implementation of the RAP: we have committed to spending 2% of GDP on Defence, and 20% of that on new equipment; we will lead a capable and credible VJTF (Land) Brigade in 2017; we have increased our commitment to NATO’s Standing Naval Forces this year; and will continue to provide Airborne Early Warning, Air to Air Refuelling, Tornado and Typhoon aircraft to the VJTF (Air).
Considerable work on survivability, sustainability and readiness of NATO forces has been undertaken. The RAP includes a commitment to generate an enhanced NATO Response Force (eNRF) including a VJTF. To enhance survivability, the eNRF has been designed from the outset as a Joint, Multi-National force with an appropriate quantity and balance of forces needed to effectively conduct the full range of potential operations. Integral logistic structures, which include the newly created Multi-National Corps Headquarters in Poland and a Multi-National Division Headquarters in Romania, ensure the sustainability of the enhanced NRF and VJTF. Enhanced NRF forces are designed to meet the readiness timelines that are laid down in NATO’s strategic planning documents, including the Alliance’s Graduated Response Plans.
Considerable work on Interoperability has also been undertaken since the end of combat operations in Afghanistan at the end of 2014. This has built upon NATO’s Connected Forces Initiative to ensure that NATO’s Multi-National forces force are able to continue to operate together effectively beyond the end of combat operations in Afghanistan. For our lead of the VJTF (Land) in 2017, the British Army will operate alongside the armed forces from 13 contributing nations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-05-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made in updating tax treaties between the UK and (a) Malawi, (b) Lesotho and (c) Ghana.
Mr David Gauke
The UK is not currently involved in active treaty discussions with Tanzania.
Discussions with Malawi over a new tax treaty began some years ago, and substantive agreement has been reached at official level. The Government of Malawi have stated that they hope to be in a position to sign the new treaty in the near future.
The UK has negotiated a treaty with Lesotho and are currently seeking to arrange signature.
The UK is currently involved in negotiations with Ghana in agreeing a new tax treaty.
Nepal has approached the UK to begin negotiation of a tax treaty. We are seeking suitable dates for discussions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diane Abbott on 2016-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) treatment targets and (b) care processes are for people with (i) sickle cell disease and (ii) thalassaemia in each (A) clinical commissioning group area, (B) trust area and (C) national sickle cell and thalassaemia centre area in the most recent year for which figures are available.
George Freeman
NHS England has a published service specification for haemoglobinopathy which covers the requirements of commissioned services providing specialised services for patients with sickle cell disease or thalassaemia. The specification was developed by the Haemoglobinopathies Clinical Reference Group that covers Sickle Cell Disease, Thalassaemia and other very rare anaemias requiring lifelong transfusion and chelation. The specification reflects that although these are complex disorders they are often grouped together and managed by the same specialist team. It recognises that each condition will have distinct clinical manifestations and treatments.
Specialised services for haemoglobinopathy care B08/S/a:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/b08-speci-serv-haemo.pdf
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to promote breastfeeding in the curriculum.
Edward Timpson
Where there is a demand from parents and pupils, schools can choose to teach about any topic of interest, including breastfeeding. For example, it can be covered in schools’ personal, social, heath and economic (PSHE) lessons. The suggested programme of study for teachers by the PSHE Association does not specifically cover breastfeeding, but it includes teaching about parenthood and the development of parental skills. Schools can expand on these topics if they wish, and include breastfeeding if there is a demand to cover it.