The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2016-02-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what official domestic visits he has made since May 2015; and what the purpose of each such visit was.
Greg Clark
I have carried out a wide range of domestic visits since May 2015. Transparency data is recorded on the Department’s website.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether an impact assessment has been undertaken of the proposal in Question 35 of his Department’s consultation on the extension of charging overseas visitors and migrants using the NHS in England.
Alistair Burt
In relation to the Department’s recent consultation on extending charging to overseas visitors using the National Health Service in England, a lack of available data means that it has not been possible to estimate the cost to industry of the proposal to remove the exemption from charge category for overseas visitors working on United Kingdom-registered ships. However, the proposal was included in the Impact Assessment and is thought to be small overall.
We are currently analysing responses to the consultation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2016-04-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on signing the Luxembourg rail protocol.
Claire Perry
The United Kingdom signed the Luxembourg Rail Protocol on the 26th February 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2016-06-07.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the UK’s tax treaties with developing countries on tackling poverty in those countries.
Mr David Gauke
The UK regularly reviews its treaty network and actively engages with developing countries. Discussions with Malawi over a new tax treaty began some years ago, and substantive agreement has been reached at official level. It is hoped that the treaty will be signed shortly. Although the UK’s starting point in negotiations is based closely on the OECD model double taxation convention, the Government recognises that developing countries will sometimes have different preferences, and treaties the UK has recently signed demonstrate that we are willing to accommodate at least some of those preferences as part of a balanced agreement. But the nature of the negotiating process is that it remains confidential to the two sides until the treaty is signed.
By governing the taxation of cross-border income flows in a predictable manner and eliminating double taxation and excessive taxation, tax treaties promote international trade and investment, leading to sustainable tax revenues, which are vital in financing for development.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sarah Wollaston on 2016-09-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vacant posts at each grade there are at the National Maritime Operations Centre in Fareham.
Mr John Hayes
The current vacancies at the National Maritime Operations Centre in Fareham are as follows:
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-10-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to improve street works organisation and reinstatement.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Government wants to deliver better journeys for drivers. Roadworks are essential, but that doesn’t mean they should be in place any longer than is absolutely necessary. We are continuing with our work to modernise and update legislation and statutory guidance where this is necessary and where it will lead to improvements in the way that road and street works are managed.
Recent examples include consultations earlier this year on updated statutory guidance relating to inspections and modernised regulations relating to the qualifications regime. In 2015, we updated regulations and guidance on permit schemes that are now in place in almost 60% of local authority areas and which are resulting in more effective management of street works and reductions in the duration of works. We are also working with stakeholders to review the Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in the Highway (SROH).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Jenrick on 2016-01-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average level of funding per pupil has been in secondary schools in Nottinghamshire in each year since 2010.
Mr Sam Gyimah
Funding from the Department is primarily allocated at a local authority level, in this case the Nottinghamshire local authority. Since the introduction of the dedicated schools grant (DSG) in 2006-07, figures are no longer available to be shown split by phase of education.
Figures for financial years 2010 to 2013 are shown below in cash terms:
|
Average revenue per pupil funding (£) |
2010-11 |
2011-12 |
2012-13 |
|
Nottinghamshire LA |
4,810 |
4,750 |
4,750 |
Per pupil figures use DSG allocations plus other schools related grants, e.g. school standards grant, school standards grant (personalisation), standards fund, and pupils aged 3-15, rounded to the nearest £10. Most of the additional grants were mainstreamed into DSG in 2011-12.
The changes to DSG funding in financial year 2013-14 with funding allocated through three blocks, namely schools, early years and high needs, means there is no longer a comparable overall figure with previous years. The table below shows the DSG schools block unit funding figures in cash terms for Nottinghamshire LA.
|
DSG schools block per pupil funding (£) |
2013-2014 |
2014-2015 |
2015-2016 |
2016-2017 |
|
Nottinghamshire LA |
4,351 |
4,351 |
4,352 |
4,355 |
Since 2011-12, schools have received the Pupil Premium which targets funding at pupils from the most deprived backgrounds to help them achieve their full potential. In 2011-12, the premium was allocated for each pupil known to be eligible for Free School Meals, looked after children and children of parents in the armed services. In 2012-13 coverage was expanded to include pupils known to have been eligible for Free School Meals at any point in the last six years. The amounts per pupil amounts for each type of pupil are shown in following table in cash terms:
|
Pupil Premium per pupil (£) |
2011-2012 |
2012-2013 |
2013-2014 |
2014-2015 |
2015-2016 |
|
Free School Meal Pupil Primary |
£488 |
£623 |
£953 |
£1323 |
£1320 |
|
Free School Meal Pupil Secondary |
£488 |
£623 |
£900 |
£935 |
£935 |
|
Service Children |
£200 |
£250 |
£300 |
£300 |
£300 |
|
Looked After Children |
£488 |
£623 |
£900 |
£1900* |
£1900* |
*Also includes children adopted from care
Total Pupil Premium allocations for Nottinghamshire local authority and schools in the Newark constituency for each year are shown in the following table in cash terms:
|
Pupil Premium Allocations (£ millions) |
2011-2012 |
2012-2013 |
2013-2014 |
2014-2015 |
2015-16 (prov.) |
|
Nottinghamshire LA |
7.380 |
14.710 |
22.903 |
30.420 |
30.163 |
|
Newark constituency |
0.678 |
1.404 |
2.203 |
2.899 |
2.815 |
Figures for Newark exclude the looked after children element as this is not available at a parliamentary constituency level.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-02-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many employees are employed at the Sheffield office of the (a) Skills Funding Agency and (b) the Insolvency Service.
Joseph Johnson
As at 31st January 2016, the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills have a) 13 employees in the Skills Funding Agency and b) Nil employees in the Insolvency Service based in its office in Sheffield.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-02-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the rate of pay is for cleaners in his Department.
Mr Edward Vaizey
DCMS shares premises with other Government Departments – HMRC and DfE – that are responsible for the employment and payment of cleaning staff.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the enforcement of age discrimination legislation in respect of people seeking employment.
Caroline Dinenage
Age is a protected characteristic in the Equality Act 2010. Where differential treatment because of age cannot be objectively justified, this will constitute unlawful age discrimination both in employment and in the provision of goods and services. Enforcement of the Act’s employment provisions is undertaken by Employment Tribunals, to which a person must make a claim if they feel that they have been discriminated against because of age.
Prior to an Employment Tribunal claim, conciliation services are provided by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Services (Acas). According to the Employment tribunal statistics, 1,087 age discrimination claims were made to Employment Tribunals in 2014/15. 70% (761) of these claims were either withdrawn or successfully conciliated by Acas without the need for a full hearing. The Acas process is intended to enable employers and employees to resolve disputes without the need for a full Employment Tribunal hearing.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission’s enforcement powers under the Equality Act 2006 apply to age discrimination as they do to other protected characteristics.