Tag: 2016

  • Baroness Smith of Basildon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Baroness Smith of Basildon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Smith of Basildon on 2016-09-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many cases under the Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 have been referred to the Crown Prosecution Service in each year from 2005 to date.

    Lord Keen of Elie

    While the Crown Prosecution Service and the police work with each other at an early stage on Female Genital Mutilation cases to ensure all avenues of enquiry can be pursued, the CPS only records data on the Case Management System following a positive decision to charge a case.

    The Casework Management System records that one FGM case was charged in 2014 and resulted in an acquittal in 2015.

  • Robert Flello – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Robert Flello – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2016-01-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the scenarios and charges in the Removal, Storage and Disposal of Vehicles Regulations 2008 were last reviewed to ascertain whether they should be updated.

    Mike Penning

    The current scenarios and charging regime in the Removal, Storage and Disposal of Vehicle Regulations dates from 2008, when a table of varying rates for different prescribed scenarios replaced the previous flat rate charge in place since 1989. The Government keeps these scenarios and charges under regular review. Currently, there are no plans to change this.

  • Chris Stephens – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Chris Stephens – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2016-02-09.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assurances HM Revenue and Customs obtains from its potential contractors and suppliers on the level of their compliance with UK tax obligations.

    Mr David Gauke

    Prior to engagement, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) require a new contractor or supplier to provide their tax details, and to agree to HMRC performing revenue compliance checks throughout the procurement process, using information from its own records and taking appropriate action where required in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

    Contracts for such engagements include clauses requiring that at all times the contractor or supplier shall comply with all statutes and regulations relating to direct or indirect taxes, and that failure to comply may constitute a material breach of the contract.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many new recruits who have joined the Army Reserve since 1 April 2015 have (a) started and (b) finished phase (i) one and (ii) two training.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    Both Reserve and Regular recruits undertake initial Phase 1 training in order to become effective soldiers and then proceed to Phase 2 training, where they receive the specific training they need to carry out their defined role. On successful completion of Phase 2, they join the Army Reserve Trained Strength.

    For Reserve recruits, Phase 1 initial training consists of two components; Phase 1(A) is delivered as a single week long course or over four weekends. Phase 1(B) is a 15.5 day long course. Phase 2 role-specific training courses are delivered over one period not exceeding 16 days.

    Army Reserve recruits are expected to commence Phase 1 training as soon as possible after enlistment. However, factors such as arranging time off work, exam attendance, family commitments, injury or medical clearance can delay a recruit from starting Phase 1 training. Some new soldier entrants are enlisted at risk whilst waiting to be declared medically fit. These entrants are described as Phase 0.

    Army Reservists are required to attend at least one period of annual continuous training per year not exceeding 16 days. It is therefore expected that Army Reservists will complete Phase 1 during their first year of service and Phase 2 during their second year of service. Some Army Reservists however are able to complete Phase 1 and Phase 2 training during their first year of service, as demonstrated by the information in the table below concerning the 2015 entrants.

    The figures in the table below are as at 1 January 2016 and have been rounded to the nearest 10.

    January-December 2015

    April- December 2015

    New Entrants to the FR20 Army Reserves

    3,640

    2,740

    Phase 0/Phase 1 Trainee

    2,700

    2,250

    Phase 2 Trainee (completed Phase 1)

    500

    280

    On Trained FR20 Strength (completed Phase 2)

    310

    130

    Left Army Reserves

    140

    70

  • Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what consideration his Department is giving to the fast tracking for treatment for vocational drivers with obstructive sleep apnoea as part of NICE’s approach to clinical guidelines and quality standards.

    George Freeman

    The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has been asked to develop a clinical guideline and quality standard on sleep disordered breathing (including obstructive sleep apnoea). NICE will develop the scope of the clinical guideline, including the key questions that will be addressed by the guidance, in consultation with stakeholders.

    NICE has advised that there is currently no timetable for developing this guidance.

  • Andrea Jenkyns – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Andrea Jenkyns – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrea Jenkyns on 2016-05-09.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the amount of funding the UK is due to receive in each year to 2030 of (a) regional development funds and (b) structural funds under future EU multi-annual financial frameworks.

    Mr David Gauke

    The amount allocated by year to each operational programme for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund (ESF) in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for the 2014-2020 period is set out in table 1.6 of the United Kingdom’s Partnership Agreement with the European Commission, which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/european-structural-and-investment-funds-uk-partnership-agreement.

    ERDF and ESF allocations beyond the 2014-2020 period will be agreed as part of future European Union Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations.

  • Lord Taylor of Warwick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Taylor of Warwick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick on 2016-06-29.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the relationships between Norway and the EU, and Switzerland and the EU, could be used as models for the UK’s relationship with the EU after leaving that Union.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The Government provided an assessment of alternative models that the UK could pursue in its paper "Alternatives to membership: possible models for the United Kingdom outside the European Union", which was presented to Parliament in March this year. It will be for the next Prime Minister to determine, along with their Cabinet, the right approach to take and the right outcome to negotiate.

  • Lord Eames – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Lord Eames – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Eames on 2016-09-08.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government to what extent the Northern Ireland Executive will be involved in any proposals to alter the status of the land border between the UK and the EU.

    Lord Dunlop

    As the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland have made clear, in putting into effect the decision of the people of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union the Government wants to ensure that the unique interests of Northern Ireland are protected. This is particularly the case in relation to the land border with the Republic of Ireland. In so doing we will engage fully with the Northern Ireland Executive.

  • Ian C. Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Ian C. Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian C. Lucas on 2016-01-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of pension freedoms policy on the cost to local authorities of residential care.

    Alistair Burt

    The pension freedom reforms are a fundamental change to how people can access their pension savings. The Government believes it is important to monitor these changes to understand their effects on the market and consumers. The impact of people’s pension choice can affect the extent to which they have to contribute to their social care costs.

    The Department of Health, working with other Government Departments, assessed the potential effect of the policy on the cost to local authorities of residential care to be small compared to overall expenditure on residential care.

  • Angus Brendan MacNeil – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Angus Brendan MacNeil – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Brendan MacNeil on 2016-02-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress is being made on introducing data sharing arrangements between the Valuation Office Agency and the Department for Work and Pensions that would allow the up-front identification of fuel poor households; and whether she plans that those arrangements will be introduced in 2017 in time to support the new energy efficiency obligation announced in the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015.

    Andrea Leadsom

    We intend to consult this year on the future design of the Energy Company Obligation, including the use of Government data to help identify fuel poor households in greatest need of support. The Government is considering how access to data, including that held by the Valuation Office Agency, could be improved for the purposes of providing assistance to fuel poor households.