Tag: 2016

Martyn Day – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps is he is taking to support the youth work sector; and if he will take steps to support that sector through sustainable funding, investment in research and incentives to encourage volunteering.

Mr Rob Wilson

It is the responsibility of local authorities to decide how to allocate funding for youth services according to local need, through the existing statutory duty (Education Act 2006, Section 507B). Government launched the Delivering Differently for Young People Programme to offer practical support to local authorities in exploring innovative and sustainable models for delivering youth services. Government continues to support the Centre for Youth Impact to work with youth organisations to undertake research to measure impact and demonstrate value to funders and commissioners. We are also committed to expanding National Citizen Service, which many youth sector organisations help to deliver. Government is taking new steps to encourage and enable social action. This includes a further £15m investment in the next phase of the Centre for Social Action. We want social action to become a lifelong habit.

01/01/2023
Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-04-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the conclusion in the report from Sense, entitled Making the case for play, published in February 2016, that a misguided interpretation and approach to health and safety is creating a barrier to accessing play settings and activities for children with multiple needs.

Mr Sam Gyimah

I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given on 11 April to PQ 32244, which I have also set out below:

The government recognises that play is essential for children’s development and this is covered in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework. Play has an important role in supporting all young children to develop and prepare for later learning, and the EYFS is clear that “practitioners must consider the individual needs, interests, and stage of development of each child in their care… to plan a challenging and enjoyable experience for each child in all of the areas of learning and development.” Health and safety should not create a barrier to accessing play activities for children with multiple needs.

The staff working in early years settings as Early Years Educators (level 3) and Early Years Teachers (graduates) are required to have an understanding of different pedagogical approaches, including the role of play in supporting early learning and development. The criteria for the Early Years Educator and standards for Early Years Teacher Status qualifications are set by the department. However, it is the responsibility of early years settings to provide play opportunities for their children and pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Ofsted conducts a regular cycle of inspection to ensure that provision meets the required quality and safety standards and assesses the extent to which the learning and care provided by the setting meets the needs of the range of children who attend, including the needs of any children who have SEND.

As you may be aware, the Childcare Act 2016 expands the free childcare entitlement from 15 to 30 hours for three- and four-year-olds of working parents. As part of the Early Implementer Package announced on Tuesday 2 February, local authorities involved will be using the opportunity to test and showcase how childcare can be delivered in a way that improves access for children with SEND. The department also launched a consultation on 3 April seeking views on key elements of the operation and delivery of the 30 hours and we specifically welcome views on provision for children with SEND. The consultation is available at: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/30-hour-free-childcare-entitlement.

“

01/01/2023
Lord Myners – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Myners on 2016-05-23.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support Turkey joining the EU, and what pre-conditions they believe should attach to such admission.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The Government supports the process of Turkey’s EU accession, which remains the most effective means of encouraging reform, stability and democracy in Turkey. But as the Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), has made it clear that the question of Turkey actually joining the EU is ‘not remotely on the cards’, indeed that he does not believe it will happen ‘for decades’. Every Member State has a veto, at every stage of the process.

Turkey would need to undergo substantial reform before we could consider Turkish accession to the EU, particularly in terms of rule of law, freedom of speech, and socio-economic convergence with EU standards. Furthermore, the Government will not agree to any further EU enlargement without new arrangements for transitional controls on freedom of movement. We do not want to take the risk, as we did in 2004, of very large movements of people after a new accession. Under the European Union Act 2011, any new Accession Treaty would require parliamentary approval by primary legislation before it could be ratified.

01/01/2023
Calum Kerr – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Calum Kerr on 2016-07-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she will take to protect businesses in the digital sector as the UK prepares to leave the EU.

Matt Hancock

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is working closely with all of our sectors to make sure they have a voice as we prepare for negotiations to exit the European Union. We will continue to have regular engagement with organisations from across the digital sector to make sure their views and concerns are represented fully in our preparations for exit negotiations.

01/01/2023
David Hanson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were prosecuted in their absence for (a) serious sexual offences, (b) class A drug use and (c) manslaughter in each year since 2010.

Mr Sam Gyimah

Information on whether or not a defendant is in attendance at their hearing is not held centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

01/01/2023
Stuart C. McDonald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stuart C. McDonald on 2016-01-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many refused asylum seekers with dependants have been supported under section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 for (a) up to two years, (b) more than two years and (c) more than four years.

James Brokenshire

The table below shows the number of failed asylum seekers that have been supported under section 95 for the requested periods. This data defines refused asylum seekers as those who have been found to not require international protection and have received a final decision on their application.

Time On Support Count

Under 2 Years 1903

Under 4 Years 1283

Over 4 Years 249

Total = 3435

01/01/2023
Paul Flynn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2016-01-25.

To ask the Prime Minister, whether he visited the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2016, in his official capacity.

Mr David Cameron

Details of Ministerial overseas travel is published quarterly and is available on the gov.uk website.

01/01/2023
Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-02-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the charge for a Royal Marine bugler to attend ceremonies, such as the annual memorial parade for Colour Sergeant Prettyjohns RMLI VC, is calculated.

Earl Howe

The costs are calculated in accordance with Treasury guidance, the Departmental Management and Charging Policy and the Tri-Service Policy for the Service Bands and Military Musicians.

The Departmental Management and Charging Policy states that "The Armed Forces may be asked to participate in commemorative events organised by external bodies, such as commercial organisations and charities (including Service and ex-Service charities). Such events must not be at a cost to the Department." Charities and Ex-Service/Regimental Associations are eligible to receive an abatement for the capitation rates of military personnel. The cost of the additional insurances, transport and subsistence (if applicable) and the contract and administration fees are marginal costs and therefore cannot be abated without incurring a cost against the Department.

01/01/2023
David Mackintosh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Mackintosh on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to improve the diversity of (a) public appointments and (b) staffing in his Department.

Matthew Hancock

All public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointment’s Code of Practice. The Government is committed to increasing the diversity of public appointments. The Centre for Public Appointments in the Cabinet Office supports departments on all issues relating to the diversity of public appointments. Steps we are taking to increase diversity include streamlining the application process, placing an emphasis on ability over previous experience and increasing awareness of opportunities by using a central website, social media and engaging with a variety of diversity networks and groups.

The Cabinet Office recruits staff in line with the Civil Service Commissioners Principles which ensures that candidates are selected based on fair and open competition and on merit. To reduce bias in selection, the Cabinet Office will be implementing name-blind recruitment methods from 1st April. In addition, recruitment and selection training, which has a core focus on raising awareness of unconscious bias, is also offered to all Chairs of recruitment panels.

On 24 March, we published our 2016 Talent Action Plan for the Civil Service. It provides a progress update on initiatives to increase diversity in the Civil Service, including cross-Government talent programmes aimed at under-represented groups. It also sets out how we will increase social mobility in the Civil Service. The 2016 Talent Action Plan is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/talent-action-plan-2016-removing-the-barriers-to-success

“

01/01/2023
David Anderson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2016-04-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether her Department has made a detailed assessment of the effect of the Government’s energy policy carbon dioxide emissions in the UK in each year since 2010; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom

Provisional statistics for 2015 indicate that greenhouse gas emissions have fallen 38% since 1990 and 17% since 2010.

Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 1990

Units: MtCO₂e

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015(p)

Emissions reduction since 1990

-24%

-31%

-28%

-30%

-35%

-38%

Source: DECC (2016) Provisional UK greenhouse gas emissions national statistics 2015

A significant proportion of this reduction is being driven by policies. For those policies where we have been able to estimate the emissions impacts, annual estimates are detailed in Annex D of our Energy and Emissions Projections, available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/updated-energy-and-emissions-projections-2015.

“

01/01/2023

Units: MtCO₂e	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015(p)
Emissions reduction since 1990	-24%	-31%	-28%	-30%	-35%	-38%