Tag: 2016

  • Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-01-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length of time to wait is for a reconsideration of a decision by (a) his Department and (b) a tribunal hearing in (i) Brighton and Hove and (ii) the UK in the latest period for which figures are available.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The only published statistics in relation to reconsideration clearance times in the UK are in the link below:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/mandatory-reconsiderations-of-dwp-benefit-decisions-data-to-october-2014

    Information is not available in relation to Brighton and Hove.

    The latest information in relation to clearance times for appeals in the UK is in the link below:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-july-to-september-2015 – see Table 4.3

    Information for Brighton and Hove is as follows:

    April- September 2015

    Brighton

    20 wks

    UK

    18 wks

    Source: SSCS Reports September 2016

    “

  • Edward Leigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Edward Leigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Leigh on 2016-02-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department’s consultation on out-of-school education settings, launched on 26 November 2015, whether proposals to register out-of-school settings will require Ofsted inspectors to travel to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland to inspect tuition, training or instruction given outside of England by English-based institutions.

    Edward Timpson

    The Government wants children to be educated in a safe environment where they are not taught hateful and extremist views that undermine British values.

    The proposal to regulate out-of-school education settings, as set out in the recently published call for evidence, applies to settings located and operating in England only. It is not proposed that Ofsted inspect settings operating in the devolved administrations.

    Officials in the Department have been in contact with their counterparts in Wales and Scotland to discuss the proposal, but oversight of out-of-school education settings operating in those countries is a matter for the devolved administrations.

  • Nick Herbert – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Nick Herbert – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Herbert on 2016-03-22.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the level of goods exports to the EU from (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) each English region as a proportion of (i) total exports and (ii) GVA from each of those areas.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) publish data on the total value of the UK’s import and export trade in goods by region:

    https://www.uktradeinfo.com/Statistics/RTS/Pages/default.aspx

    The latest data for 2015 shows that the value of goods exports to the EU as a proportion of total goods exports is as follows:

    Region

    Goods exports to the EU (£000s)

    Total goods exports (£000s)

    %

    North East

    7,001,603

    12,141,343

    57.7

    North West

    11,578,566

    24,838,093

    46.6

    Yorkshire

    7,785,133

    16,575,590

    47.0

    East Midlands

    8,684,722

    19,318,347

    45.0

    West Midlands

    12,035,888

    28,964,501

    41.6

    East of England

    11,411,149

    21,327,266

    53.5

    London

    12,727,129

    32,428,175

    39.2

    South East

    19,003,485

    40,521,161

    46.9

    South West

    9,718,023

    15,272,223

    63.6

    Wales

    5,024,163

    12,200,136

    41.2

    Scotland

    6,719,840

    17,467,865

    38.5

    Northern Ireland

    3,462,494

    6,327,320

    54.7

    The ONS publish regional GVA on an annual basis. The latest data available is for 2014: http://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/grossvalueaddedgva/bulletins/regionalgrossvalueaddedincomeapproach/december2015

    The value of goods exports to the EU in 2014 as a proportion of GVA is as follows:

    Region

    Goods exports to the EU (£m)

    Gross Value Added (£m)

    %

    North East

    6,989

    47,702

    14.7

    North West

    13,474

    149,869

    9.0

    Yorkshire

    8,456

    106,467

    7.9

    East Midlands

    8,883

    95,178

    9.3

    West Midlands

    11,529

    114,755

    10.0

    East of England

    13,958

    138,801

    10.1

    London

    12,292

    364,310

    3.4

    South East

    19,899

    239,698

    8.3

    South West

    8,180

    121,070

    6.8

    Wales

    5,761

    54,336

    10.6

    Scotland

    8,364

    123,543

    6.8

    Northern Ireland

    3,630

    34,384

    10.6
  • Lord Colwyn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Colwyn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Colwyn on 2016-04-27.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of the reported rise in expenditure by NHS Ambulance Trusts, they intend to extend agency spending caps to private ambulance services.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The Government has already taken decisive action to support the National Health Service to be the most efficient health system in the world. That is why a series of tough financial controls were introduced last year to help the NHS tackle some of the extortionate rates charged and overspending on agency staff.

    In November 2015, hourly price caps were introduced limiting the amount the NHS can pay to an agency for temporary staff. These were reduced gradually over a number of months and will apply to all ambulance trusts and ambulance foundation trusts from 1 July 2016.

  • Gordon Marsden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Gordon Marsden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gordon Marsden on 2016-06-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what projections have been made of the number of EU students in receipt of student loans likely to be studying in England in (a) 2020, (b) 2030 and (c) 2040.

    Joseph Johnson

    The latest estimate of the number of EU students in England in receipt of undergraduate full and part-time fee loans is 45,000 in 2015/16.

    The Government recognises the important contribution that international students make to the UK. Their presence brings an international outlook and diversity to UK university campuses, benefiting UK students and long term UK links post-graduation.

  • Roberta Blackman-Woods – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Roberta Blackman-Woods – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roberta Blackman-Woods on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to his oral contribution of 20 July 2016, Official Report, column 849, when his Department will make an announcement on the exemption of specialist supported housing from changes to housing benefit.

    Caroline Nokes

    The Secretary of State has confirmed that the Government expects to make an announcement on the way forward for supported housing in early autumn.

  • Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received on allowing local authorities to balance their budgets over a period longer than 12 months since 1 October 2015; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    Government receives representations on a range of local government finance issues. The annual balanced budget requirement is a key element of the local authority financial control framework. It means that the council is content that underlying income will cover ongoing costs and future commitments in a sustainable and manageable way.

    In addition to preparing annual balanced budgets local authorities should prepare multi-year Medium Term Financial Plans. In order to support effective multi-year financial planning the then Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government published an historic four year local government finance settlement on 8 February 2016. Councils across England applied for the four year offer on the 14 October and the government will respond as soon as practicable.

  • Liz Kendall – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Liz Kendall – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz Kendall on 2016-01-08.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people of each gender work in his Department.

    Harriett Baldwin

    Gender and Diversity information can also be found in the Annual Report and Accounts. Please see link below:-

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hm-treasury-annual-report-and-accounts-2014-to-2015

    “

  • Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 2016-01-28.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the future viability of the Thames Barrier will be considered as part of the National Flood Resilience Review.

    Lord Bridges of Headley

    The viability of the Thames Barrier has been extensively reviewed, and conclusions were published in 2012. This Review will focus on updating our climate modelling and stress-testing the nation’s resilience to flood risk.

    We will make appropriate decisions on next steps using any new evidence that comes out of that work.

  • Nick Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Nick Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Smith on 2016-02-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans her Department has for the UK to participate in the revised European School Milk Scheme due to be implemented from August 2017.

    George Eustice

    If the European Parliament formally endorses the proposal for a revised School Milk Scheme in Plenary on 8 March 2016, it is likely to enter into force in spring 2016 and apply in schools from August 2017. We will use this period to consider the new requirements and consult with interested parties. Decisions about the scheme can be made at regional or national level.