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Tag: 2016

  • Lord St John of Bletso – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Lord St John of Bletso – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord St John of Bletso on 2016-04-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to provide aid to assist in alleviating the impact of the current drought in Zimbabwe.

    Baroness Verma

    The UK was one of the first to respond widespread food insecurity resulting from a poor 2015 harvest and the emerging El Niño. Since September 2015, we have been supporting over 350,000 people in the worst affected areas, through cash transfers, in a £15m programme ending in July 2016.

    An estimated 2.8 million people currently face food insecurity in Zimbabwe, so the UK is also helping to build their longer term resilience to future droughts. Our programmes provide training to smallholder farmers strengthening their ability to cope with the effects of climate change; and supporting them to grow drought resistant crops – such as ground nuts, sesame and mung bean for sale to the market.

  • Sue Hayman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    Sue Hayman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sue Hayman on 2016-05-05.

    To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral contribution of 20 April 2016, Official Report, column 915, in response to the Question from the hon. Member for Workington, and with reference to the letter to him of 21 April 2016 from that hon. Member and the oral contribution from that hon. Member of 25 April 2016, Official Report, column 1187, what scheme is in place to assist rural pharmacies; and what other support is provided by the Government to support independent pharmacies.

    Mr David Cameron

    This year the Government is spending over £150 million more a year on pharmacies than in 2009/10. We are currently consulting on the introduction of a Pharmacy Access Scheme which will provide more NHS funds to many independent and rural pharmacies on the basis of factors such as location and the health needs of the local population. Details of the consultation on the ‘Community Pharmacy 2016/17 and beyond’ can be found on the GOV.UK website.

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-06-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to encourage the take-up of creative subjects in secondary schools.

    Nick Gibb

    The Government believes that every child should experience a high quality education throughout their time at school including in creative subjects such as music, art and design. All state-funded schools must provide a broad and balanced curriculum that promotes the spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development of pupils at the school and of society.

    In maintained schools music and art and design are compulsory subjects within the national curriculum for 5-14 year olds. Maintained schools are also required to teach their pupils dance, as part of the PE curriculum for 5-14 year olds and drama, as part of the English curriculum for 5-16 year olds.

    We have reformed GCSEs to make them more rigorous and to match expectations in the highest performing jurisdictions around the world. Since the English Baccalaureate (Ebacc) was first introduced the proportion of pupils in state-funded schools taking at least one GCSE in an arts subject has increased, rising from 46 per cent in 2011 to 50 per cent in 2015. From September 2016, schools will be teaching new gold standard GCSEs in music, dance, drama and art and design and new AS and A levels in music, dance and drama and theatre.

    Between 2012-16, the Department invested over £460 million in a diverse portfolio of arts and music education programmes that are designed to improve access to the arts for all children, regardless of their background, and to develop talent across the country.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many adult patients with uveitis have had access to treatment with anti-TNF therapy through the individual funding request process since July 2015.

    David Mowat

    Between 1 July 2015 and 31 July 2016, fewer than 10 patients accessed anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy through the individual funding request process.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-01-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what languages his Department’s overseas health team is trained to speak.

    Justin Tomlinson

    There is no requirement for DWP staff to have foreign language skills when dealing with EEA Member States in relation to the reimbursement process under the EHIC regulations.

  • Chris Stephens – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Chris Stephens – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2016-02-08.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assurances HM Revenue and Customs seeks from its contractors and suppliers that they are fully compliant with their UK tax obligations.

    Mr David Gauke

    Prior to engagement, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) require a new contractor or supplier to provide their tax details, and to agree to HMRC performing revenue compliance checks throughout the procurement process, using information from its own records and taking appropriate action where required in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015.

    Contracts for such engagements include clauses requiring that at all times the contractor or supplier shall comply with all statutes and regulations relating to direct or indirect taxes, and that failure to comply may constitute a material breach of the contract.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-03-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effect on court fee income of changes to personal injury law and procedure prior to making his announcement in the 2015 Autumn Statement; and if he will make a statement.

    Dominic Raab

    The government will consult on the detail of the new reforms in due course. The consultation will be accompanied by an impact assessment.

  • Karl Turner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Karl Turner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2016-04-11.

    To ask the Attorney General, how many cases of alleged (a) rape, (b) sexual assault and (c) domestic violence where the alleged offending took place in the UK were referred to the Services Prosecuting Authority for a charging decision in (i) 2013, (ii) 2014 and (iii) 2015.

    Robert Buckland

    Figures for all referrals received by the Service Prosecuting Authority of Rape, Sexual Assault & Domestic violence covering the period 2013 to 2015 where the alleged offence took place in the UK.

    Year

    Rape referral received

    Sexual assault referral received

    Domestic violence referral received

    2013

    7

    22

    4

    2014

    3

    23

    6

    2015

    7

    22

    9
  • Baroness Thomas of Winchester – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Baroness Thomas of Winchester – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2016-05-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Altmann on 4 May (HL Deb, col 1503), what rate of support claimants of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment will be guaranteed to receive if they cannot walk safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time period, (1) for more than 20 metres, or (2) for more than 50 metres.

    Baroness Altmann

    Claimants who can stand and then move no more than 20 metres will receive the enhanced rate of the mobility component of PIP. Claimants who can stand and then move more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres are guaranteed to receive at least the standard rate of the mobility component. In some cases, depending on the individual’s circumstances, they may receive the enhanced rate If they score points from the other mobility activity.

  • Margaret Ferrier – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Margaret Ferrier – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he plans to raise the national living wage to the same rate as the living wage set by the Living Wage Foundation.

    Nick Boles

    The Government’s ambition is for the National Living Wage to reach 60% of median earnings by 2020 – which would currently be around £9 per hour. The Government has asked the Low Pay Commission to recommend the National Living Wage rate going forward.