The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2016 to Question 26056, when the Data Steering Group last met; who attended that meeting; and if he will publish the (a) minutes of that meeting and (b) programme of work of that group.
Matthew Hancock
This information is in the public domain and available at www.gov.uk.
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Marlesford on 2016-03-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many valid British passports are currently held, and how many of those passport holders also hold passports of another state.
Lord Bates
There are 49 million valid UK passports in circulation. Records are not held centrally of persons holding both a UK passport and foreign passport.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Chalk on 2016-04-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to protect and support victims of stalking.
Karen Bradley
Stalking is a deeply disturbing crime which can leave its victims living in fear for years. That is why we introduced new legislation in 2012 which made stalking an offence in its own right.
The latest published figures on stalking show that this legislation is taking effect. In 2014-15, over 1,100 prosecutions were commenced under the new offences, a nearly 50% rise from the previous year. The number of referrals by the police to the CPS, the number of convictions and the number of custodial sentences have also risen.
However, legislation alone is not enough and we are determined to provide all victims of stalking with the protection and support that they need. As part of the dedicated funding to tackle violence against women and girls we provide support to the Suzy Lamplugh Trust for its National Stalking Helpline to provide support and advice to victims.
The Home Office is currently considering the results of a public consultation on the possible introduction of a Stalking Protection Order aimed at providing immediate and earlier protection for victims. Through the Police Innovation Fund, we are supporting the police to identify ways to manage the significant volume of online material in abuse, harassment and stalking cases, so that evidence can be collected more easily and a strong case built to bring a prosecution.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Tyler on 2016-05-18.
To ask the Chairman of Committees what have been the (1) security, and (2) other, costs to the House administration in preparing for and conducting the State Opening of Parliament in each of the last five years.
Lord Laming
State Opening is the major ceremonial event of the parliamentary calendar and the Estate is significantly reconfigured for hosting it. Its traditions date back as far as the sixteenth century and it is the only regular occasion when the three constituent parts of Parliament meet: the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The event is broadcast to the nation by the main UK TV channels and also to many international networks with high viewing figures across the globe.
The security costs to the House administration in preparing for and conducting the State Opening of Parliament in each of the last five years are set out in the table below. These figures are additional to the fixed cost base for police officers and staff, tasked daily with protecting the Parliamentary Estate. They are indicative, due to the complex nature of police officer and staff allocation for a large scale operation.
|
Year |
Amount (£) |
|
2012 |
c.15,000 |
|
2013 |
17,234 |
|
2014 |
10,300 |
|
2015 |
15,814 |
|
2016 |
c.15,000 |
Estimates of other costs are set out in the table below. These include supply and fit of additional structures, preparations of the interior, additional lighting, move and reinstallation of the vehicle security barrier, construction costs of reconfiguring the Lords chamber and Royal Gallery, building media facilities within the Palace of Westminster, storage of equipment throughout the year, and other domestic and administrative costs.
The costs for 2016 are based on estimates only at this stage, because not all invoices have yet been received from relevant suppliers. Some costs are annual rather than tied to a particular State Opening of Parliament; these annual costs have been attributed to the next State Opening.
Since 2015, a proportion of overtime has been captured specifically in relation to the State Opening of Parliament. This accounts for the apparent steep increase in overall ‘other’ costs for that and the subsequent year, but it should be noted that these costs always existed, but were assigned to separate budgets.
|
Year |
Amount (£) |
|
2012 |
251,341 |
|
2013 |
261,504 |
|
2014 |
280,707 |
|
2015 |
325,937 |
|
2016 |
c.326,000 |
The House of Lords pays a proportion of these costs, many of which are costs from services shared with the House of Commons. This information does not represent the full cost of State Opening, as costs will also have been incurred by other bodies, which may include Westminster City Council, the Metropolitan Police and the Royal Household.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rosie Cooper on 2016-07-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment NICE has made of the need for clinical guidelines on hidradenitis suppurativa.
Nicola Blackwood
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has advised that it has not made any assessment of the need to develop a clinical guideline on the care of people with hidradenitis suppurativa, nor has it been asked to develop a clinical guideline on this condition.
NICE published technology appraisal guidance on adalimumab (Humira) for treating moderate to severe hidradenitis suppurativa (TA392) on 22 June 2016, which recommends its use. Commissioners now have three months in which to put in place funding arrangements.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of the staff employed by his Department are non-UK nationals.
David Mowat
Nationality is not a mandatory field in the Department’s Business Management System where the details of staff are registered. This means that a fraction of the workforce are ‘undeclared’ with respect to nationality.
All the figures given in the table below are as of 6 October 2016. These figures do not include contractors, temporary agency workers or the staff of service companies.
|
Nationality |
Headcount in category |
Proportion of workforce in category |
|
British |
1,572 |
82% |
|
Non-UK |
104 |
2% |
|
Undeclared |
247 |
13% |
|
Total employed |
1,923 |
100% |
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Davis on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his Written Statement of 20 July 2015, HCWS 149, if he will make it his policy to publish the (a) numbers, (b) units and (c) dates of embedded service of UK personnel embedded in other nations’ armed forces on a monthly basis.
Michael Fallon
I refer my right hon. Friend to my Written Ministerial Statement of 17 December 2015 (Official Report, column WS431).
For operational security reasons we will not routinely identify units, location or dates.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what account his Department has taken of (a) new nuclear developments and (b) tidal lagoon projects in West Cumbria in devolving its Northern Powerhouse agenda.
James Wharton
Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership has identified nuclear and energy excellence as a key priority contributing significant growth opportunities for the Cumbria economy. Discussions with Cumbria about their Devolution deal proposals are progressing well. I am pleased they have strong ambitions to drive growth across the Cumbria area by improving the delivery of skills, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and business support.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luke Hall on 2016-03-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what information the Certification Officer holds on the number of members of the National Union of Mineworkers in each year from 2003-04 to present.
Nick Boles
The number of members of the National Union of Mineworkers in each year from 2003-04 to present, as submitted to the Certification Officer, are provided in the two links below.
2003-2012
2012-2014
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-union-of-mineworkers-annual-returns
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-04-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what fee his Department agreed with Learndirect in connection with its negotiated exit from the Drive and Vehicle Standards Agency contract for provision of the UK Driving Theory Test.
Andrew Jones
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and learndirect Ltd have concluded an exit from the contract for the provision of the UK Driving Theory Test, which was due to transfer to learndirect Ltd in September 2016.
The supplementary agreement to that exit is subject to commercial confidentiality. The agreement with Pearson Vue, the current provider of the theory test, to extend their contract is expected to lead to overall net benefits of more than £8million over four years to the theory test service and its customers.