Tag: 2016

  • Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-05-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 9 May 2016 to Question 36326, what representations she has received from (a) schools and (b) trades union representatives on the ability of academy trusts to charge teachers for car parking services on school grounds; and if she will make a statement.

    Edward Timpson

    It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

  • Glyn Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Glyn Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Glyn Davies on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to support British steelmaking.

    Anna Soubry

    This Government has taken unprecedented action to help our steel industry.

    We’re cutting electricity costs by hundreds of millions, tackling unfair trade and are the first EU country to introduce new flexibility in public procurement.

    We have also offered an unparalleled package of support to secure the long term future of Tata Steel’s UK operations.

    That is what the steel industry has asked for and that is what we are delivering.

  • Natalie McGarry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Natalie McGarry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Natalie McGarry on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps his Department has taken to encourage investment and growth in the number of jobs in Glasgow East constituency.

    David Mundell

    The UK Government is investing £500 million in the Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal, part of £1 billion of public investment that is being taken forward in partnership with the Scottish Government.

    The Deal will deliver 3 labour market projects including a £9 million employment scheme that will work with 4000 people in receipt of Employment Support Allowance and assist at least 600 in to sustained work. A £15 million integrated employment programme will work with 15,000 young people (aged 16-24) over the next three years, helping 5,000 in to sustained work.

    A new centre for Business Incubation and Development has been established in Glasgow with £4 million of City Deal funding and this is now providing support for growing small to medium sized enterprises.

  • Douglas Chapman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Douglas Chapman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-01-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the security and logistical implications of the Queen Elizabeth class carriers being unable to berth directly alongside the Mina Salman Support Facility in Bahrain.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The security and logistical implications of the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers while on operations overseas are subject to continual assessment and review. Irrespective of berthing or anchoring arrangements, it is normal business to conduct threat assessments prior to and during all port visits and deployed maintenance periods. This has been and will continue to be no different for Mina Salman port, and other port facilities in Bahrain.

    The Department does not disclose details of security risks and assessments pertaining to deployed operations as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-02-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many times the Minister of State for Culture and the Digital Economy has visited each region in the last year.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Minister of State for Culture and the Digital Economy has visited the following local authorities since Feburary 2015: ​Southampton City Council, City of Cardiff Council, Norwich City Council, Ipswich Borough Council, Watford Borough Council, Northampton Borough Council, Corby Borough Council, Brighton & Hove City Council, Coventry City Council, Bristol City Council, Sheffield City Council, Hull City Council, City of York Council, Leeds City Council, Chichester City Council, Guildford Borough Council, Manchester City Council, Liverpool City Council, Peterborough City Council, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, and Birmingham City Council. DCMS ministers make sure to experience the excellent work being carried out by their sectors across the country, whilst balancing their parliamentary and departmental duties in Westminster.

  • Douglas Chapman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Douglas Chapman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much funding the BBC World Service’s Russian language service received in each year from 2008 to date.

    Mr David Lidington

    The BBC World Service advises that the Russian language service received the following funding from 2007/2008 to 2013/2014:

    2007/08: £4.3 million
    2008/09: £5.2 million
    2009/10: £5.3 million
    2010/11: £5.2 million
    2011/12: £3.6 million
    2012/13: £3.4 million
    2013/14: £3.4 million

    The figures from April 2014 are not available.

    The BBC World Service will receive up to £85 million per year until 2020 to fund additional services to their existing programmes, in addition to licence fee funding.

  • Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many additional school places have been created by free schools that (a) have been provided between February 2014 to date and (b) are projected to be provided in 2016-17.

    Edward Timpson

    Since February 2014, 133 free schools have opened (2 in 2013/14, 79 in 2014/15 and 52 in 2015/16 academic years), creating over 71,000 new school places once at capacity. In academic year 2016/17 we expect to create over 20,000 new school places at capacity.

  • Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-05-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of replacing the NHS bursary with student loans on the number of healthcare students; and what steps he is taking to (a) maintain and (b) increase the number of such students.

    Ben Gummer

    The Government assessment undertaken to date is that nursing is consistently one of the most popular courses on University Central Administration Service with 57,000 applicants for around 20,000 nursing places in 2014. Midwifery and Allied Health Professional courses receive higher than average applications as well.

    Health Education England (HEE) funding for healthcare students is currently determined at a local level based on local need and is subject to annual workforce planning. For 2016-17, HEE will fund those commissions set out in the HEE Commissioning and Investment Plan for 2016-17. HEE will set out its plans for 2017/18 training commissions in its next annual Commissioning and Investment Plan or Workforce Plan for England which is expected to be published in December 2016 prior to the start of the financial year.

    We estimate that this reform will enable universities to provide up to 10,000 additional nursing and other health professional training places this Parliament. This reflects estimates on the level of unmet demand for places in the current system where, as an example, for nursing, around two out of three nursing applicants who currently apply for a place are turned down.

    Under the reforms full time students will have access to more upfront living cost support, typically 25% or more.

    A public consultation was published on the 7 April 2016. Preliminary Equalities Impact Analysis and Economic Impact Assessment were published alongside the consultation document.

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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-06-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that universities are offering disabled students appropriate levels of support.

    Joseph Johnson

    The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone with the potential has the opportunity to benefit from higher education, irrespective of their background or mode of learning. In the last academic year we saw record entry rates to higher education, including among those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

    Higher Education Institutions have responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to support their students, including those with disabilities. They have a clear legal duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people to ensure they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled students.

    Universities expect to spend more than £745 million through access agreements agreed with the Director of Fair Access on measures to improve access and success for students from disadvantaged groups, including disabled students – up significantly from £404 million in 2009.

    In addition, to support Higher Education (HE) providers to prepare for the changes to Disabled Students’ Allowances that come into effect from academic year 2016/17, the Department has supported the establishment of a sector-led group of stakeholders. The group’s focus is to communicate with senior leaders of HE providers, to help provide information about institutions’ responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments, and to encourage HE providers to develop inclusive learning environments.

  • Hilary Benn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union

    Hilary Benn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what meetings he has (a) had to date and (b) scheduled for a future date with trades unions.

    Mr Robin Walker

    We have already started a wide-ranging programme of engagement in order to build a national consensus, listening to organisations, institutions and companies in as many sectors as possible to establish their priorities and understand their concerns, and also to hear what they think the solutions could be.

    One of the Secretary of State’s first meetings was with the General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress. I and my Ministerial colleagues have also met with a wide range of representatives from business groups, the universities, the charity sector and farming and fisheries organisations.

    In the weeks ahead, we will continue to engage with as many other firms, organisations and bodies as possible, including with trade unions. We will also be holding roundtables with stakeholders in a series of sectors, to ensure that all views are reflected in our analysis of the options for the UK.