Tag: 2016

  • Diana Johnson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Diana Johnson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2015-12-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many press and public relations staff are employed by (a) the office of Rail and Road, (b) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, (c) the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, (d) the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, (e) the Vehicle Certification Agency, (f) the British Transport Police Authority, (g) Directly Operated Railways limited, (h) High Speed 2 Ltd; (i) Highways England, (j) Northern Lighthouse Board, (k) Transport Focus, (l) Trinity House, (m) Civil Aviation Authority and (n) the Airports Commission; how many of those employees are paid more than (i) £50,000 and (ii) £100,000; and what the total expenditure was on press and public relations by each of those organisations in the most recent year for which figures are available.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Some of the information requested for the 14 organisations listed is not held by the Department and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

    However, the number of press and public relations staff currently employed by the Department’s executive agencies is provided in the table below. None of the press and PR staff have a full-time equivalent salary exceeding £50,000.

    Press and public relations staff
    (full-time equivalent )

    1 December 2015

    Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

    4

    Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

    4

    Maritime and Coastguard Agency

    3.2

    Vehicle Certification Agency

    Nil

    Total

    11.2

    The total of 11.2 full-time equivalent staff compares to an equivalent figure for these four executive agencies in 2009/10 (with DVSA previously being DSA and VOSA) of 15.5 full-time equivalent staff.

    Information on non-pay expenditure on press and public relations services held by the Department for the most recent financial year available is provided in the table below.

    Non-pay expenditure on press and
    public relations services

    2014-15
    £000s

    Office of Rail and Road

    108

    Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

    9

    Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

    42

    Highways Agency

    383

    Maritime and Coastguard Agency

    169

    Vehicle Certification Agency

    0

    British Transport Police Authority

    48

    High Speed Two (HS2) Ltd

    167

    Transport Focus

    47

    Airport Commission

    54

    Overall communications expenditure by the Department’s executive agencies in 2014-15 (including salaries) was £19 million lower than in 2009-10. Across Government the government communications profession reduced communications spending by a total of £1 billion during the last Parliament.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-01-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions his Department has had with NATO on tackling negative reporting on NATO and its member states from Russian media outlets.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    The UK works closely with NATO Allies to ensure there is close alignment in messaging and communications that demonstrates our joined up and credible alternative narrative to Russian misinformation. NATO communicates with a range of media outlets in the region to provide a balanced view of NATO aims and activities. However in Russia, state-controlled media outlets dominate the information environment and therefore crowd out independent voices.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-02-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that the agreement reached at the February European Council is not amended by the European Parliament after the date of the EU referendum.

    Mr David Lidington

    The central element of the agreement is an International Law Decision agreed by the Heads of State or Government of the Member States of the EU and is a binding international treaty. The European Commission has committed to bring forward new legislation where it is needed to implement the UK’s new settlement. These European Commission proposals will be subject to the normal legislative procedures set out in the Treaties. The President and representatives of the major political groups in the European Parliament were consulted on the UK’s new settlement and both Ministers and officials plan furhter contact with MEPs.

  • Alex Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Alex Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2016-03-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on what date an application was submitted for assistance from the EU Solidarity Fund to help communities affected by recent floods.

    James Wharton

    The Government submitted an initial UK application to the EU Solidarity Fund on Friday 26 February. The application included an estimate of eligible costs from Scotland, Wales, Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, North Yorkshire and the City of York, West Yorkshire, and Northumberland.

    Having made this initial application, we are in the process of refining our cost estimations and figures, and will work with the Commission to finalise details.

  • Margaret Hodge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Margaret Hodge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Hodge on 2016-04-19.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, who the tax assurance commissioner is in HM Revenue and Customs.

    Mr David Gauke

    Edward Troup remains the Tax Assurance Commissioner for HM Revenue and Customs.

  • Shabana Mahmood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Shabana Mahmood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Shabana Mahmood on 2016-05-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which teams in her Department work on counter-extremism strategy and policy; how many staff are employed in each of those teams; what the grade is of each of those staff; what the budget is for each team; and what the budget is for external expert consultancy services for each of those teams.

    Karen Bradley

    In May 2015 the Home Secretary established the Office for Counter-Extremism, which works on counter-extremism strategy and policy. As of May 2016 the office has 51 staff of the following grades: 7 at SCS PB2, SCS PB1 and Grade 6; 10 at Grade 7; 14 at SEO; 10 at HEO; 10 at EO.

    The 16/17 budget for the Office for Counter-Extremism is £22.5 million, with a maximum of £2.57 million available for external expert consultancy services.

  • Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2016-07-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 5 July 2016 to Question 41907, for what reasons the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State did not visit West Cumberland Hospital on 14 July 2016; and if he will visit that hospital as a matter of urgency.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State’s visit to Cumbria on 14 July 2016 was cancelled due to changes in Government. The Department continues to champion the Success Regime and my private office will be in touch in due course, as I look forward to visiting West Cumberland Hospital.

  • Tom Blenkinsop – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Tom Blenkinsop – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2016-10-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2016 to Question 44288, how many of these incidents led to fatalities.

    Penny Mordaunt

    There have been three incidents leading to fatalities.

    • Four people died as a result of an inrush of water at the Gleision Mine in South Wales on 15 September 2011;
    • One person died as a result of a fall of ground at Kellingley Colliery, North Yorkshire on 27 September 2011;
    • One person died as a result of a sudden and powerful release of gas from rocks at Boulby Mine in East Cleveland on 17 June 2016.
  • Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-12-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects to submit the full business case for universal credit to HM Treasury; and when he expects final approval of that case to be granted.

    Priti Patel

    The Strategic Business Case was submitted and signed off by HMT in 2014. As HMT colleagues stated at the PAC on 7 December (link below) the Outline Business Case was approved in December 2015 and the Full Business Case will be submitted in 2017.

    http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmworpen/1082/1082.pdf

    “

  • Tim Loughton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Tim Loughton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2016-01-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to publish the findings of the review into children’s residential care undertaken by Sir Martin Norey.

    Edward Timpson

    This review is being led independently by Sir Martin Narey. The review is currently expected to report to Government in spring 2016 and its findings will be published after this.