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Tag: 2016

  • Lord Moonie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord Moonie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2016-04-26.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many allegations of sexual assault and rape were made (1) by, and (2) against, members of the armed forces in the past year.

    Earl Howe

    All allegations of sexual assault and rape made by or against members of the Armed Forces are taken very seriously by the Ministry of Defence (MOD).

    This information is not held in the requested format. Only allegations of sexual assault and rape made by a member of the Armed Forces against another member of the Armed Forces (or Person Subject to Service Law) are investigated by the Service Police. Allegations of such offences made by civilians in the UK are usually investigated by the appropriate civilian police force, while allegations made by civilians overseas will be investigated in accordance with the appropriate agreement in place between the UK and that country. The MOD does not hold information on investigations conducted by civilian police forces.

    In 2015 the Service Police investigated 20 cases of rape and 49 cases of sexual assault. Of the 20 allegations of rape, 19 cases were against 22 members of the Armed Forces; the status of the suspect in one case is unidentified. Eight of the victims of these alleged offences were members of the Armed Forces.

    Of the 49 allegations of sexual assault, 46 cases were against 49 members of the Armed Forces; in one case the suspect was a civilian subject to Service Law and the status of the suspects in two cases is unidentified. 49 of the victims of these alleged offences were members of the Armed Forces.

  • Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-06-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 4 May 2016 to Question 35935, when he plans to publish the report of the review into the supported housing sector.

    Justin Tomlinson

    We expect to publish the review report shortly.

  • Nigel Evans – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Nigel Evans – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-09-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is planning to take to assist farmers in the (a) North West and (b) Ribble Valley constituency with transitional funding after the UK leaves the EU.

    George Eustice

    Supporting our farmers and protecting the environment will form an important part of our exit from the EU. The Secretary of State is very clear this needs to be looked at carefully and is looking forward to working with industry and the public to develop new proposals that support our agricultural industry as we leave the EU.

    On the 13th August, the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the agricultural sector will receive the same level of funding that it would have received under Pillar 1 of the Common Agricultural Policy until the end of the Multiannual Financial Framework in 2020. Any agri-environment agreements, including those continuing beyond departure from the EU, finalised before the Autumn Statement will be fully funded, and there will be a further announcement before the Autumn Statement.

  • Diana Johnson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Diana Johnson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Conclusive Grounds decisions reached through the National Referral Mechanism for victims of human trafficking and slavery took longer than 45 days in each year since 2009-10; and what central government funding was provided for decisions that were taken longer than 45 days in each of those years.

    Sarah Newton

    The information requested is set out in the table below:

    Financial Year

    Cases where Conclusive Decision exceeded 45 days*

    2009/10

    298

    2010/11

    353

    2011/12

    429

    2012/13

    636

    2013/14

    1089

    2014/15

    1314

    2015/16

    1376

    Whilst significant anomalies have been removed from the data, all statistical information has been drawn from internal management information and has not been quality assured to the same standard as published information. It Includes unknown. Specialist and tailored support continues to be offered to all potential victims until a conclusive grounds decision is made. It is not possible to accurately specify the precise costs of those cases which take longer than 45 days to conclude.

  • Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-01-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to paragraph 3.22 of English Apprenticeships: Our 2020 Vision, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of the planned 30,000 transport-related apprenticeships which will be taken up by apprentices with special educational needs or disabilities.

    Nick Boles

    Apprenticeships are full time jobs with training. We do not interfere in employers’ recruitment decisions or set specific quotas for the number of apprenticeships to be taken up by people with special educational needs or disabilities.

    All employers must fulfil their duties as set out in the Equality Act 2010 for apprentices as they would for other employees. We believe that the overwhelming majority of young people with special educational needs and disabilities are capable of sustainable, paid employment with the right preparation and support. For many, apprenticeships are the best route into paid employment. To support this, people aged 16 and over can apply for Access to Work funding for adjustments to the workplace. In addition, reasonable adjustments are available for any qualifications within apprenticeships to ensure the apprentice has every opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.

  • Lord Ouseley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Ouseley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ouseley on 2016-02-01.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what analysis has been undertaken about the impact and demands for public health and care services due to loneliness and isolation suffered by pensioners, in the light of the Local Government Association’s estimate that more than one million people aged over 65 are lonely.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The Department recognises that loneliness can have a negative impact on a person’s general health and has prioritised prevention through the Care Act 2014. The Department has not undertaken an analysis of the impact loneliness places on public health and care services. We do take account of research in developing our policies, including or example, the Campaign to End Loneliness report Loneliness: the State We’re In (2012) which shows that loneliness has an effect on mortality that is similar in size to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, is worse for us than obesity, and is also associated with conditions such as cardiovascular disease. A copy of the Campaign to End Loneliness report is attached.

    The Local Government Association has highlighted that loneliness is a complex problem. A range of interventions and solutions are required to identify adults who are lonely or socially isolated and to provide them with the support they require.

    As part of Public Health England’s programme of work to support local action on health inequalities, we commissioned the UCL Institute of Health Equity to produce a series of resources setting out practical approaches that local areas could adopt to reduce health inequalities. One resource in the series focuses on social isolation across the lifecourse. It provides information and guidance to support local authorities, NHS clinical commissioning groups and their stakeholders to develop effective strategies to prevent and reduce social isolation. A copy of Reducing social isolation across the lifecourse is attached.

  • Baroness Tonge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Baroness Tonge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-02-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to work with the UK members of parliament who are attending the forthcoming World Humanitarian Summit in May.

    Baroness Verma

    The UK is committed to making the World Humanitarian Summit a success and recognises that this requires coordination with a large number of interested parties.

  • Bill Esterson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Bill Esterson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bill Esterson on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on what date his Department plans to publish the final version of the Pubs Code.

    Anna Soubry

    The Government intends to bring the regulations into force by the end of May 2016.

  • Lord Naseby – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Naseby – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Naseby on 2016-04-26.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much of the grant awarded to Action on Smoking and Health in 2015–16 was unspent at the end of that financial year.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The Department has received an application for grant funding from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) for the 2016-17 financial year. The application process is iterative to ensure the final objectives are in line with Departmental aims and the application that the Department currently holds is a draft application. Draft applications for grant funding are not published.

    There was no underspend of the grant awarded to ASH in 2015-16 and, in each of the last five years, the funding has been spent in the relevant financial year.

  • Zac Goldsmith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Zac Goldsmith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Zac Goldsmith on 2016-06-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether all government vessels are checked by rodent detection dogs before visiting locations where rodents have been eradicated in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

    James Duddridge

    The Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands operates a wide range of peer-reviewed rodent detection and mitigation measures which seek to prevent rodents from entering the Territory. It works closely with those organisations with a footprint on South Georgia to ensure best practice guidelines are implemented. At present these measures do not include the use of a rodent detection dog, although the feasibility of this is under active consideration with relevant stakeholders as part of wider discussions to continually improve biosecurity.