Tag: 2016

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-02-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of air quality in London.

    Rory Stewart

    We assess compliance annually for a range of pollutants covered by European directives for all UK zones, including Greater London. The latest compliance report Air Pollution in the UK 2014 was published in September last year and is available on the UK-Air website:

    http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/library/annualreport/viewonline?year=2014_issue_1

    The air quality plan we published in December last year sets out the measures we are taking to reduce levels of nitrogen dioxide in London. The plan is available on the GOV.UK website at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/air-quality-in-the-uk-plan-to-reduce-nitrogen-dioxide-emissions

    “

  • Martyn Day – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Martyn Day – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-03-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to require all oil products sold in the UK to carry a Certificate of Origin to ensure that they do not come from Daesh-controlled areas.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    There is no evidence of oil products originating from Daesh-controlled areas reaching the UK market. The majority of Daesh’s oil is refined and sold within the territory it controls with the rest being sold in other parts of Syria and Iraq, including to the Asad regime, and smaller amounts being smuggled onto the regional black market. By halting and reversing Daesh’s territorial advance, Global Coalition military action has squeezed Daesh’s revenue sources. Our targeting of Daesh’s oil facilities has reduced its production capability by 25%, which equates to approximately 10% of their total income.

    In parallel to this military assault on Daesh’s oil facilities, the UK has led efforts to create and enforce an international sanctions regime to cut Daesh off from trading with international markets, including in oil products. This regime is underpinned by UN Security Council Resolutions 2178, 2199, 1267 and 2253. We work closely with our regional partners to ensure these sanctions are fully implemented. We also work closely with the oil industry in the UK, and further afield, to prevent Daesh procuring the equipment and fuel additives it needs to keep its oil production going.

  • Baroness Lister of Burtersett – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Baroness Lister of Burtersett – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett on 2016-03-23.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to ensure there is adequate funding for children with special educational needs in early years education.

    Lord Nash

    We have already announced over £1bn more for the early years entitlements within the ring-fenced Dedicated Schools Grant by 2019-20, which includes £300m per year to uplift the average funding rate to providers. We are also providing protection for high needs funding that will make sure that the level of funding rises in proportion to the number of children, including those under 5. This will make sure that local authorities continue to have the flexibility to target funding where it is most needed to help children with special educational needs and disabilities and their families, including the youngest children. Further consideration will be given to funding for children with special educational needs in early years education as part of a consultation later this year.

    Local authorities are required by law to secure free entitlement places for parents that want their child to take them up. The Government is committed to ensuring that all families have access to high quality, flexible and affordable childcare and parents with children with special educational needs should have the same opportunities as other parents through access to high quality childcare. The Children and Families Act requires local authorities to have a ‘local offer’ which includes a statement on how they intend to tailor the childcare on offer for children with special educational needs and disabilities.

    Early implementation of 30 hours from September 2016 provides a real opportunity to develop innovative approaches to providing flexible childcare for working parents whose children are disabled or have special educational needs. Through Early Implementation, York, Northumberland, Newham and Wigan are among 8 LAs delivering the 30 hours entitlement from September 2016, a year earlier than planned. This will include delivering targeted places focusing on children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

    They will also be supported by Early Implementer Innovator areas including Brighton and Hove, Hampshire and Trafford, who will test the offer and how it works under specific circumstances, including developing approaches to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities.

  • Ruth Cadbury – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Ruth Cadbury – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ruth Cadbury on 2016-05-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what account his Department has taken of the additional costs of insulating and ventilating schools and hospitals affected by the new flightpaths of a third runway in estimating the cost of a third runway at Heathrow Airport.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    In its Final Report the Airports Commission recommended that support for schools, including insulation of school buildings, should be a priority component of Heathrow Airport Limited’s community compensation package.

    The Government is continuing to consider the comprehensive evidence published by the Airports Commission before reaching a view on its preferred scheme. In December the Government announced that we are undertaking a package of further work on developing the best possible package of measures to mitigate the impacts of expansion on local communities. This work includes the impact on schools.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-06-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effect on VAT receipts of changes to personal injury law and procedure announced in the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015 before making that announcement; and if he will make a statement.

    Dominic Raab

    The Ministry of Justice received and analysed data from numerous sources when formulating the announcement in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. It will continue to work with a wide range of stakeholders including other Government Departments, solicitors and insurers in taking forward the new reforms. The Government will consult on the detail of these measures in due course. The consultation will be accompanied by a detailed impact assessment.

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

    Lord Empey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2016-09-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the Royal Navy’s Type 45 fleet will be fully operational after modifications to their electrical propulsion systems.

    Earl Howe

    I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave on 19 April 2016 to Question number HL7485 to the noble Lord, Lord West of Spithead.

  • Roger Godsiff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Roger Godsiff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2016-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if his Department will examine the effect of the revaluation of business rates for self-owned rooftop solar power on the solar industry taking account of the draft list of rateable values, published by the Valuation Office Agency.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    Business rates are based on valuations from the Valuation Office Agency and we do not intervene in their independent assessments. We have proposed a £3.4 billion transitional relief scheme to ensure that no ratepayer is unfairly penalised by the 2017 revaluation.

  • Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Will Quince on 2016-01-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will bring forward proposals to require all owners and managers of care homes to give a copy of the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2013 to care workers on appointment.

    Ben Gummer

    There are no plans to require care homes owners and managers to give a copy of Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 to all new employees.

    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. It monitors, inspects and regulates services against fundamental standards of quality and safety below which care should never fall.

    One of the fundamental standards covers good governance and requires that a provider seeks and acts on feedback from relevant persons, including staff, for the purpose of continually evaluating and improving such services. A further fundamental standard requires that employees receive appropriate support, training and professional development.

    One of the areas the CQC inspections consider is how the service demonstrates good management and leadership. The CQC Key Lines of Enquiry state that a provider should have policies in place to investigate whistleblowing concerns and that any investigations are thorough, questioning and objective. The service should also record and learn from these investigations so such incidents are less likely to happen again.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-02-05.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Public Sector Transparency Board last met.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Public Sector Transparency Board has been replaced with the Data Steering Group.

  • Royston Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Royston Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Royston Smith on 2016-03-02.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government plans to take to celebrate HM the Queen’s 90th birthday.

    John Penrose

    Representatives of the Government will be attending a number of events to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday including a National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral and The Queen’s Birthday Parade on Horseguards Parade.