Tag: 2016

  • Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pieces of recording equipment are available in each region of the UK for the purposes of recording work capability assessments.

    Priti Patel

    Centre for Health and Disability Assessments offer audio recordings to customers who request them in advance, or on the day, and recording machines are now available at every assessment centre. For every 10,000 Work Capability Assessments completed the Department receives an average of 66 requests for an audio recorded assessment.

    There are currently 24 audio-recording machines in Scotland and the North East; 43 in North and Central England; 39 in Wales and the West, and; 22 in London and South England, totalling 128 for Great Britain.

    (Source: Centre for Health Disability Assessments)

  • Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many appeal tribunal decisions in relation to re-assessments of entitlement of disability living allowance for children found in favour of the Department for Work and Pensions in the last three years for which figures are available.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    The information requested is not held centrally.

  • Chuka Umunna – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Chuka Umunna – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many citizens of EU countries other than the UK work in (a) his Department and (b) agencies and other bodies for which his Department is responsible.

    Kris Hopkins

    My Department does not hold this information and to obtain it would incur disproportionate costs.

    My department has two executive non-departmental public bodies – the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland; and one advisory non-departmental public body – the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. As these bodies are independent of Government, the hon Member may wish to write to the Commissions directly on these matters – contact details are set out below:

    ALB

    Status

    Contact Details

    Parades Commission for Northern Ireland

    Executive NDPB

    info@paradescommission.org

    Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission

    Executive NDPB

    information@nihrc.org

    Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland

    Advisory NDPB

    contact@boundarycommission.org.uk

  • Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-01-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2016 to Question 20599, how many (a) page views and (b) visitors the www.livingwage.gov.uk website has had in each week since its launch.

    Nick Boles

    Since the launch of the National Living Wage website we have achieved the following:

    Week

    Page views

    Visitors

    December 6 to 12 (launched on the 7th)

    8,667

    7,789

    Dec 13 to Dec 19

    10,235

    9,207

    December 20 to 26

    6,241

    5,003

    December 27 to January 2

    7,153

    5,742

    January 3 to 9

    17,900

    13,853

    January 10 to 16

    22,945

    17,794

    January 17 to 19 (partial week as answered on Jan 20)

    16,312

    12,641

  • Chris Law – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Chris Law – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Law on 2016-02-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the City Deal for Dundee and neighbouring authorities; and when the Government plans to make a decision on that deal.

    David Mundell

    I have met separately with local authorities in Dundee, Angus and Perth and I was able to confirm that the UK Government is interested to hear from any local authority or group of local authorities interested in pursuing a City Deal. To date, we have not received formal proposals from any of those Councils.

  • David Anderson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    David Anderson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 February 2016 to Question 26409, what squadrons or elements other than Reaper Squadrons 39 and 13 make up the Reaper force as a whole.

    Penny Mordaunt

    No other squadrons or elements make up the Reaper Force. However, individuals in Reaper Force posts who are to be embedded with other countries’ armed forces are usually allocated to 54(Reserve) Squadron, for administrative reasons.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many new recruits joined (a) 22 Special Air Service Regiment, (b) Special Boat Service, (c) Special Reconnaissance Regiment, (d) 18 Signal Regiment, (e) Special Forces Support Group and (f) Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing in each of the last 10 years; and how many personnel left each of those units in each such year.

    Penny Mordaunt

    This Government has demonstrated its commitment to our Special Forces by announcing a £2 billion programme of investment over the course of this Parliament. All military operations, including the activities of the Special Forces, are discussed and scrutinised at the highest levels of Government, including at the National Security Council. However, as it is the longstanding policy of the Government not to comment on our Special Forces, or to release information relating to them, I cannot comment on specific questions about personnel, equipment, discussions or activities in relation to these units.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on peace and stability in Europe and around the world of the UK leaving the EU.

    Mr Philip Hammond

    As a leading member of the EU, the UK is a major influence on EU external policy and is able to shape the use of the EU’s available policy tools to enhance our security: for example, sanctions policy in respect of Russia and Iran and capacity building support to the states of the Western Balkans. I am in no doubt that Britain’s leading role in this process greatly contributes to the effectiveness of EU policy initiatives and thus maintaining peace and stability in Europe and beyond. All of that would be lost if Britain were to leave the European Union. I am clear that Britain is stronger, safer more prosperous inside the EU than it would be outside.

  • Martin Docherty-Hughes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Martin Docherty-Hughes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martin Docherty-Hughes on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many incidents involving unmanned drones and aircraft in the proximity of UK airports have been reported in each month in each of the last five years.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The following table show the number of incidents involving unmanned drones that have been reported by pilots, air traffic control and the general public for each month since 2015. There is no specific data relating to incidents in the proximity of UK airports and very low levels of reporting prior to 2015. These figures should be viewed with the following caveats:

    • The numbers also include possible drone events in the UK where there is insufficient time to positively identify if an ‘object’ was definitely a drone.
    • Lag in process reporting could result in re-categorisation of incidents, which could have an impact on the numbers.

    2015

    Jan

    2

    Feb

    3

    Mar

    2

    Apr

    9

    May

    5

    Jun

    6

    Jul

    11

    Aug

    10

    Sep

    12

    Oct

    9

    Nov

    6

    Dec

    2

    2016

    Jan

    4

    Feb

    9

    Mar

    31

    Apr

    27

    May

    25

  • Rob Marris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Rob Marris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the number of accessible taxis.

    Andrew Jones

    Government is committed to giving disabled people the same access to transport services as other members of society. It also recognises the particularly significant role played by taxis and private hire vehicle (PHV) operators for many disabled people, in helping them to remain active and independent.

    It is for local authorities to specify a number of accessible vehicles to be within their licensed taxi and private hire vehicle fleet, and to take account of their public sector equality duties when doing so.