The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Palmer on 2016-01-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much severance pay was offered, and subsequently paid, to the Chairman of the Environment Agency prior to his resignation.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Sir Philip Dilley will work until the end of January to allow a measured transition. He will receive no severance package.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2016-02-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance her Department has issued to its officials to support implementation of the Family Test.
George Eustice
The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014. Produced in collaboration with third sector partners from the Relationship Alliance, the guidance outlines the basis for the Family Test and provides policy officials with information on how the test should be applied when formulating policy and my Department follows that guidance – Family Test Guidance. Defra has a team leading on the Family Test who collaborate with the Department for Work and Pensions.
Defra is following the guidance to embed and implement the test in the policymaking process and where the test identifies impacts on the family it will be evidenced as part of the formal Impact Assessment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2016-02-24.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers have sufficient network bandwidth capabilities to make full use of the situational awareness and tactics which the F-35 can offer the Royal Navy; and what plans they have to enhance that use.
Earl Howe
The current network bandwidth installed on the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers is sufficient to carry out the endorsed scope of carrier strike operations. As with all programmes, requirements and opportunities are kept under constant review and amended where necessary.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2016-03-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the value was of (a) jobseeker’s allowance and (b) employment and support allowance sanctions imposed by his Department in each of the last five years.
Priti Patel
The Department does not make an estimate of the value of benefit withdrawn as a result of benefit sanctions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-04-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the most common reasons are why people who are remanded in custody do not go on to receive subsequent prison sentences.
Mike Penning
The reasons why some people who are remanded in custody do not then go onto receive prison sentences are not recorded. The decision to remand an individual into custody is taken by the independent judiciary. The presumption is in favour of bail, but the judiciary will use their discretion to remand an individual into custody, taking into account a number of factors including the seriousness of the crime and whether a remand into custody will be necessary to prevent absconding, committing further offences or interference with witnesses.
If a defendant is subsequently given a custodial sentence, the time they have spent on a remand into custody will be deducted from their sentence.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the level of vehicular noise on the M1 passing Mill Hill town.
Andrew Jones
In response to the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs provided noise maps for transport sources such as roads, which identify noise ‘Important Areas’, the most seriously affected locations. Those which are located next to the trunk road and motorway network in England are required to be investigated by Highways England.
Between the A41 near Apex Corner and M1 junction 2 in the Mill Hill area, four locations on the M1 have been identified as being noise ‘Important Areas’. Highways England are continuing investigations into these sites, including a study at a location opposite Mill Hill Broadway station to see if a noise barrier is practical here, which is expected to be completed by March 2017.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what arrangements have been made for the process of approval of expenses claims submitted by the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam under the Public Duty Cost Allowance.
Ben Gummer
The purpose of the Public Duties Cost Allowance is to assist former Prime Ministers with the costs of continuing to fulfil duties associated with their previous position in public life. Exceptionally, the then Prime Minister agreed that the former Deputy Prime Minister , the Rt Hon Member for Sheffield Hallam, should be able to have access to the allowance to recognise the special position he held in the Coalition Government. Other former Deputy Prime Ministers are not eligible for the allowance. The allowance is set at a maximum limit of £115,000 per annum. The amounts paid are a reimbursement of expenses, accounted for in the published Cabinet Office Annual Reports and Accounts. The former Deputy Prime Minister is eligible for the allowance from the date of leaving ministerial office for the duration of this Parliament.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Parminter on 2016-10-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made on the implementation, through public procurement policy, of their commitment to achieve 100 per cent sourcing of credibly certified sustainable palm oil by the end of 2015.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government Buying Standard for food and catering was amended in October 2012 to state that, from the end of 2015, all palm oil used for cooking and as an ingredient in food shall be sustainably produced. The Government has been making good progress towards meeting this requirement, with the majority of departments reporting that their catering contractors are complying with it. The next report on progress under the Greening Government Commitments, covering 2015/16, will include an update on sustainable procurement issues, including palm oil.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Donoughue on 2016-01-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are aware of any intermittency issues concerning renewable generating capacity installed using finance from the UK International Climate Fund.
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Through the International Climate Fund (ICF) we support a number of renewable energy projects in developing countries, with the aim to increase the availability of affordable, reliable and sustainable energy. On the grid, we support a diverse portfolio of renewable energies which are planned to contribute to generation diversity and system stability; we also support off-grid renewable energy systems, which are integrated with storage technologies. ICF support not only keeps the lights on, but also improves health and education, spurs economic growth and creates jobs. Our work is aligned with the new Global Goals, particularly Goal 7, to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all by 2030.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-02-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps NHS England is taking to standardise the collection of data on cholesterol.
Jane Ellison
The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) provides information and data for commissioners, analysts and clinicians in health and social care and is responsible for matters relating to standardisation of the collection of cholesterol data.
The HSCIC administers the Health Survey for England which is an annual survey of the general population. Since 2008, it has included measurements of total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The data is publically available from the UK Data Service.
Additionally, cholesterol testing in primary care for people diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes is included in the Quality Outcomes Framework. This information from this is published every year by the HSCIC.