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Tag: 2016

  • The Marquess of Lothian – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The Marquess of Lothian – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2016-04-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to protect the UK’s rivers, lakes and wetlands from agricultural pollution, and what assessment they have made of whether the water protection zones are being used effectively in this regard.

    Lord Gardiner of Kimble

    Given that environmental protection is a devolved matter, I am replying in regard to the position in England.

    This Government is committed to protecting and improving our water environment and supporting competitive agriculture. The recently published river basin management plans set out the actions that we will take over the next six years to improve water quality. The plans promote integrated catchment management and local decision making.

    We have a wide range of actions to tackle water pollution from agriculture ranging from advice, voluntary and incentivised rules to regulation. For example, there are regulations to reduce the risk of nitrate pollution in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones.

    Building on these regulations, Countryside Stewardship supports farmers who want to do more than the legal requirements and good practice by providing £400 million in funding to helping improve water quality and to manage flood risk.

    We are also working towards better targeting of farm inspections with risk based enforcement that recognises good performance.

    In addition to Government action, the agricultural industry is playing its part by developing an offer, explaining how it will help farmers to better protect the water environment.

    All of this is underpinned by advice to farmers which is delivered through the Farming Advice Service and Catchment Sensitive Farming, £106 million has been invested through Catchment Sensitive Farming over the past 8 years to mitigate the impact of agricultural activities on the water environment

    Further actions at national and local level are planned. Defra recently consulted on new rules to address sediment and phosphate pollution from agriculture. The consultation proposed some clear, simple and basic rules for all farmers, which would make a contribution to further protecting the water environment. Ministers are considering how to proceed in light of this consultation.

    We are using a wide variety of measures to protect and improve our water environment. Water Protection Zones (WPZs) are a further tool. The Government is currently considering what further action will be required to meet the conservation objectives for our most precious protected sites. This will consider the full range of mechanisms, including WPZs.

  • Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2016-05-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average length is of nursing, midwifery and allied healthcare students’ clinical placements taken in each year of their degree.

    Ben Gummer

    The information about the average length of clinical placements for nursing, midwifery and allied healthcare students taken in each year of their degree is not collected by the Department.

  • Deidre Brock – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Deidre Brock – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-07-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to bring forward proposals to change any aspect of current legislation on food, animal feed safety and food hygiene formerly dealt with by the EU after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

    Nicola Blackwood

    Until we leave, the United Kingdom will remain a full member of the European Union, with all of the rights and obligations. The content of future food and feed legislation will be dependent on the outcome of negotiations on the UK’s exit from the European Union. The Food Standard Agency’s priority will remain the same: to protect the interests of consumers in relation to food.

  • Desmond Swayne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Desmond Swayne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Desmond Swayne on 2016-10-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the new high commissioner for St Lucia will be accredited to the Court of St James.

    Sir Alan Duncan

    The request is proceeding in line with normal procedures. We will respond to the St Lucia High Commission when the process is completed.

  • Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck on 2015-12-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the reoffending rates are for (a) young people who do not complete an accredited qualification in prison, (b) young people who do complete an accredited qualification in prison, (c) all other offenders who complete an accredited qualification in prison, (d) all other offenders who do not complete an accredited qualification in prison and (e) offenders who leave prison unable to read and write.

    Andrew Selous

    Re-offending rates are not currently available broken down by different levels of education attainment. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Ministry of Justice have, however, jointly commissioned an evaluation of prisoner learning. This study, which is currently underway, aims to use linked administrative datasets to analyse the short-term impact of prisoner education on re-offending outcomes among adult prisoners. The analysis will examine learning aims, rather than accredited qualifications specifically. The study is currently underway and will complete in mid-2016. It will also feed into the independently led review of Education in Prisons being undertaken by Dame Sally Coates.

    Separately, the Department for Business Innovation and Skills publish information on the number of prisoners achieving an accredited qualification in prison, including qualifications in English at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/learner-participation-outcomes-and-level-of-highest-qualification-held (See tables 7.1 and 7.2 on page 36 for offender learning)

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  • Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2016-01-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many affordable housing completions there were in Ellesmere Port and Neston constituency for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

    Brandon Lewis

    Figures on the numbers of affordable housing completions for each local authority area in England in each year since 1991-92 are published by the department in Live Table 1008 which is available to download at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply

    The figures are not compiled on the basis of parliamentary constituencies.

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  • 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 2016-02-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, by what date he expects all local authorities to be fully reimbursed for flood compensation payments they have made to households.

    James Wharton

    To date over £48 million has been paid out to local authorities through the Community and Business Recovery Fund and Council Tax and Business Rates discounts to assist households and businesses affected by the floods caused by Storms Desmond and Eva.

    Local authorities have not notified the Department of any allowable costs not covered by the sums transferred. It is expected that further payments will be made shortly as flooded property numbers are confirmed and further funds requested.

  • 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 2016-03-15.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many non-taxpaying individuals have been required by HM Revenue and Customs to repay tax paid to charities under Gift Aid in the last (a) 12 months and (b) five years; and what the total value was of the required repayments in those periods.

    Mr David Gauke

    During the period between February 2015 to January 2016, HM Revenue and Customs recovered some £858,261.00. In 2014/15 it was £700,000, in 2013/14 £844,646.00 and in 2012/13 £398,020. All of these figures reflect amounts recovered from both non-taxpaying individuals and tax payers. We do not hold figures for periods before 2012/13.

  • Karl Turner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Karl Turner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2016-04-19.

    To ask the Attorney General, what his policy is on expanding the Unduly Lenient Scheme; and if he will consult on any such changes before their introduction.

    Jeremy Wright

    The Government has committed to extending the scope of the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme and is carefully considering its approach.

  • Michelle Donelan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Michelle Donelan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Donelan on 2016-05-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether it is planned that the Government’s childhood obesity strategy will include targets for industry to reduce levels of (a) fat and (b) salt in food and drink.

    Jane Ellison

    Our Childhood Obesity Strategy, which will be launched in the summer, will look at everything that contributes to a child becoming overweight and obese. It will set out what more can be done by all.