Tag: 2016

  • threat levels and theatre of operations.” – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    threat levels and theatre of operations.” – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by threat levels and theatre of operations.” on 2016-01-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 18 December 2015 (HL4511), how they define command” in that answer; and whether command of helicopters in all Royal Navy warships will be dependent on a variety of factors such as

    Earl Howe

    Command and control definitions are outlined in Joint Defence Publication 3-00. As with most other capabilities, command of all Carrier Enabled Power Projection assets would be dependent on a variety of factors, such as, but not limited to, the specific task, whether it is a national or coalition commitment, threat levels and theatre of operations. Any deviation from this default command and control position will continue to be considered over the course of the programme, utilising experience and military judgement from a broad range of sources.

  • Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-02-03.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress his Department and the FCA have made on the Connaught Income Fund Series 1.

    Harriett Baldwin

    The FCA is an independent, non-governmental organisation, and so it would not be appropriate for the government to intervene in, or comment on, their ongoing investigation into the Connaught Income Fund Series 1.

    On 29 January, the FCA published on their website an update to investors on the Connaught Income Fund. This update outlines that a settlement has been reached between the liquidators of the fund and Capita Financial Managers Ltd. The FCA have asked the liquidators to distribute the settlement sum to investors as soon as possible. The update also states that while the FCA’s investigation is ongoing, they will not provide any comments or details on progress because to do so may later turn out to be misleading.

  • Kate Hollern – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Kate Hollern – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hollern on 2016-02-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the risk provision is in the cost estimate announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review for the Successor submarine programme.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    As stated in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, our latest cost estimate for manufacturing the four Successor submarine programme is £31 billion, plus a contingency of £10 billion. This includes an assessment of the likely inflation over the lifetime of the programme and the risks appropriate for a project at this stage.

    I am withholding the specific estimate for inflation and risk, as to do so would prejudice the Department’s commercial interests.

  • Baroness Nye – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Baroness Nye – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Nye on 2016-03-23.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many level 3 Craft, Creative Arts and Design (9.2) vocational qualifications were completed in each year since 2011 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland combined.

    Lord Nash

    As there is no formal definition of what constitutes “Craft, Creative Arts and Design”, it has not been possible to provide the information that is requested.

  • Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-04-28.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 April 2016 to Question 34460, how many concerns have been captured centrally under the HM Revenue and Customs Whistleblowing and Raising a Concern Policy in the last five years; and how those concerns have been categorised for management of other purposes by his Department.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has a Whistleblowing and Raising a concern policy. Since April 2014 concerns raised under this policy have been captured centrally. Prior to this date, details were only held locally.

    According to records held centrally by HMRC, for the period 1st April 2014 to 31st March 2015, 78 cases were logged under the Whistleblowing and Raising a Concern Policy, of which:

    • 52 were defined as whistleblowers;

    • 20 were defined as wrongdoing (but not whistleblowing);

    • 2 were defined as grievance; and

    • 4 could not be categorised.

      From 1st April 2015 to date, HMRC has received a further 91 cases, of which 18 have been defined as whistleblowers. The 18 cases were categorised as per wrongdoing type, namely:

      Payroll and Expenses 3

      Conditions of service 11

      Revenue & Benefits 3

      Assets, IT & Comms 1

  • Gordon Marsden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Gordon Marsden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gordon Marsden on 2016-06-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the operational readiness of the Student Loans Company to administer postgraduate loan applications between June and October 2016.

    Joseph Johnson

    The Student Loans Company will open for applications for the new master’s loan for postgraduate study from the end of June 2016 and the Department has been working closely with the company to ensure its systems and operational staff are ready to manage the loan’s administration.

  • Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl McCartney on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to prepare for the UK to leave the EU since 23 June 2016; and what further such steps his Department plans to take in the remainder of 2016.

    Mike Penning

    The Department for Exiting the EU has responsibility for overseeing preparations for the withdrawal of the UK from the EU and conducting these withdrawal negotiations in support of the Prime Minister. In doing this, it is working very closely with other Government departments, including the Ministry of Defence, and a wide range of other interested parties.

  • Rosie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Rosie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rosie Cooper on 2016-10-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, by what process interested parties in Skelmersdale may express an interest in obtaining the 3G floodlit 11-a-side football pitch at the former Glenburn Sports College site to ensure continued community access to the facility.

    Edward Timpson

    Ownership of the site of the former Glenburn Sports College is currently under review in the Department. The site was originally owned by Lancashire County Council, and was then transferred to the Glenburn Education Trust when the school became a foundation school.

    However, when the school closed earlier this year, the governing body was required under the law to apply for a Secretary of State determination as to the future of the site. No application was made, and in the absence of a determination, the Department is considering a representation from the local authority that the land should revert to them.

    Any parties wishing to express an interest in facilities on the site should approach Lancashire County Council in the first instance, though any plans for future use will be for the eventual agreed holder of the site to take forward. The land will continue to be protected under legislation against disposal without the consent of the Secretary of State. As part of considering whether to grant consent, the Secretary of State will consider if the land can be redeployed for education.

  • Lord Ouseley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lord Ouseley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ouseley on 2016-01-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Ofsted report highlighting a 60 per cent increase in the number of children who have died as a result of abuse and neglect in the past year.

    Lord Nash

    The death of any child is a tragedy. We want all children at risk of abuse or neglect to be identified early, to have timely and proportionate assessments of their individual needs, and to have the right services provided at the right time.

    The Ofsted statistical release, Serious Incident Notifications from local authority children’s services 2015, reports a 17 percent increase in the number of cases of child death being notified to Ofsted compared to the previous year. The rise in numbers of deaths reported to Ofsted does not necessarily indicate a rise in the number of child deaths. The official figures for the number of child deaths in 2014-2015 will be published by Office for National Statistics (ONS) later in the year.

    The Ofsted statistical release contains experimental data, based on information supplied by local authorities about serious incident notifications. What constitutes a serious incident is set out in statutory guidance, Working Together 2015. The Ofsted report is just one of a range of data sources relating to serious incidents involving children. It is not, however, the official source of data on child deaths, which is collected by the ONS. The Government also publishes reviews of homicide and child deaths, which together enable a more accurate assessment of the number and causes of child death.

  • Graham Evans – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Graham Evans – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Evans on 2016-02-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to devolve powers to the local level under the Northern Powerhouse.

    James Wharton

    Devolution deals are progressing well across the north having already been agreed with Greater Manchester, Sheffield, Tees Valley, the North East and Liverpool, all of which will see directly elected mayors introduced in return for substantial new powers and budgets. Discussions with other areas across the north are progressing.