The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jack Dromey on 2016-04-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many requests have been made by police forces for mutual aid in each year since 2010.
Mike Penning
The deployment of officers by police forces in England and Wales under mutual aid arrangements is an operational matter for those forces.
The Home Office does not routinely collect the requested information.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Judd on 2016-05-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made, bilaterally and multilaterally, to the government of Ethiopia about the case of Bekel Gerba, deputy chairman of the Oromo Federalist Congress, and 21 others, recently charged under the counter-terrorism law.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We remain deeply concerned about the handling of demonstrations in Oromia and the reported deaths of a number of protestors. We have repeatedly made representations to the Ethiopian government, including Prime Minister Desalegn, over the situation in that region. We also have concerns about those detained under the Anti-Terrorism Proclamation, including members of the opposition groups, journalists, peaceful protesters, and others seeking to express their rights to freedom of assembly or expression. We are developing a coordinated response in concert with international partners to consider how best to raise our concerns with the Government of Ethiopia on the continued detention of opposition leaders like Bekele Gerba.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2016-07-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of recent violence in Juba on the security situation in South Sudan; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
We are deeply concerned by the deterioration in the security situation in South Sudan. We condemn the fighting in Juba between government and opposition forces. These actions are entirely unacceptable. It is now vitally important that President Kiir and First Vice President Machar ensure their troops respect the recent ceasefire statements and avoid any further acts of violence. The former Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge) made statements on 9, 11 and 14 July calling for an immediate end to all violence and protection for all South Sudanese civilians.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when he next plans to meet his US counterpart to discuss Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership proposals.
Greg Hands
The UK continues to support an ambitious Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement between the EU and US. As such, Department for International Trade ministers and officials meet with US counterparts on an on-going basis to discuss matters relating to TTIP.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) permanent staff, (b) temporary staff and (c) contractors are employed at the Atomic Weapons Establishment; and how many such staff he expects to be employed at that Establishment in each of the next three years.
Michael Fallon
There are 4,920 permanent staff and 890 contractors employed at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE). These figures represent full time equivalent staff, rounded to the nearest ten.
Contractors working at AWE but employed by sub-contractor companies are not included as this information is not held centrally.
Over the next three years, staffing levels will depend on programme demand.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gordon Marsden on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, for what reasons he has decided to withdraw funding from the UK Commission for Employment and Skills; and if he will make a statement.
Nick Boles
The UK Commission for Employment and Skills’ (UKCES) work over the last parliament has helped in setting the skills agenda for the future; and their activities have created the conditions to move to the next phase of more devolution, greater employer ownership and the apprenticeship levy. We have, however, concluded that we need new structures to move onto that next phase and have announced the establishment in England of a new Institute for Apprenticeships.
In light of this, a decision was taken as part of the spending review by Whitehall Departments to withdraw funding from UKCES during 2016-17 in the context of the need to make savings in non-participation budgets to allow the core adult skills participation budgets to be protected in cash terms.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-03-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch will be responsible for overseeing the National Reporting and Learning System.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch will not be responsible for overseeing the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS). The national safety functions, including the responsibility for overseeing the NRLS, will be transferring to NHS Improvement from 1 April 2016. The Government announced this decision in July 2015.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2016-04-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of conflict in South Sudan on the availability of medicines in that country.
Mr Nick Hurd
The recurrent shortage of medical supplies in South Sudan is a result of the failure of the South Sudanese Government to take responsibility for the procurement of medicines for their people, against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict.
The UK, along with donor partners, has agreed a staggered strategy (to December 2016) to prevent a major drugs shortage crisis across the country. In addition, the DFID-led Health Pooled Fund will help in the procurement and supply of essential drugs between 2017 and 2018. This programme will also include the establishment of a robust, South Sudan government-led, system for the future procurement, management and distribution of medicines. The UK continues to advocate for the South Sudanese government to allocate sufficient funds to essential medicines for their people, and demands both the government and opposition to work together to urgently implement the August peace agreement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2016-05-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ensure that central government procurement policies are used whenever possible to create jobs with training for people from disadvantaged areas or with individual handicaps.
Lord Bridges of Headley
The Public Contracts Regulations (2015) allow Contracting Authorities to reserve contracts for sheltered workshops and suppliers whose main aim is the social and professional integration of disabled or disadvantaged persons, or provide for such contracts to be performed in the context of sheltered employment programmes.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Allan on 2016-07-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps he has taken to reduce childhood obesity.
Jane Ellison
Our Childhood Obesity Strategy, which will be launched in the summer, will look at everything that contributes to a child becoming overweight and obese. It will set out what more can be done by all.