Tag: 2016

  • Gloria De Piero – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Gloria De Piero – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gloria De Piero on 2016-03-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the median hourly pay was for (a) all employees aged 21 to 24 and (b) full-time employees aged 21 to 24 in (i) cash terms and (ii) adjusted for inflation in each year since 2008.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The Department pays monthly salaries and therefore does not record median hourly rates of pay.

  • Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-04-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that police officers receive appropriate psychological support after witnessing traumatic events.

    Mike Penning

    Policing, by its nature, can be a stressful and demanding job and it is the responsibility of chief officers, supported by the College of Policing, to ensure that good management systems are in place to support police in their work.

    The Government recognise the importance of police welfare. In October 2014 we allocated £10 million to help support emergency services personnel and volunteers, focused on mental health, physical recuperation and bereavement support for those who need it.

    The Home Office is working with the national policing lead for wellbeing and engagement on the development of his strategy but this must remain a sector led initiative.

  • Andrew Percy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Andrew Percy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Percy on 2016-05-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Advanced Cancer Care Equality Strategy for Gender and Sexual Minorities study in improving palliative and end-of-life care for LGBT people.

    Ben Gummer

    We are committed to ensuring that everyone who is at, or approaching, the end of life has access to high quality, compassionate care that is tailored to their individual needs and preferences.

    Many people already receive excellent end of life care but, as shown by the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) recent review of inequalities in end of life care, A different ending: Addressing inequalities in end of life care, there is clearly more that can be done to ensure that all patients experience good quality care, regardless of their age, gender, race, condition, sexual orientation or gender identity.

    We welcome the CQC’s review and we will work together with NHS England to use its findings, and those of the ACCESSCare: Advanced Cancer Care Equality Strategy for Sexual Minorities study, when it is published, to inform ongoing work to reduce inequalities in access to care.

  • Lord Kilclooney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Kilclooney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kilclooney on 2016-07-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the recent actions of the government of Bahrain towards the main Shia opposition group; what is their assessment of the state of human rights in that country; and whether the development of a new Royal Naval base in Bahrain is progressing.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson), issued a statement on 17 July expressing concerns about the Bahraini High Administrative Court’s decision to dissolve the main Bahraini Shia opposition political society Al Wefaq. We continue to follow the case closely. We have urged the Government of Bahrain to protect political freedoms and representation for all Bahraini citizens and to encourage all sides to engage in constructive and inclusive dialogue to promote social cohesion and inclusivity.

    We regularly discuss human rights and reform with the Government of Bahrain and it is a standing agenda item for the biannual UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group meeting, held most recently in June 2016. The former Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), also raised concerns about recent developments with the Bahraini Foreign Minister on 14 June, and during his visit to Bahrain on 30 May.

    We have begun work on the future UK maritime hub at Mina Salman in Bahrain, HMS Juffair, to support Royal Navy deployments. We continue to maintain a naval presence which includes mine countermeasure ships, frigates, destroyers and maritime helicopters to contribute to the stability of the region and to make sure vital sea lanes remain open in the region.

  • David Winnick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    David Winnick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Winnick on 2016-10-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the hon. Member for Walsall North did not receive a written response to his letter of 25 May 2016 on a constituent’s concern about personal independence payments, ref NM580509C/PIP 10531938/101; when a reply will be received to that letter and the follow-up letter of 3 October 2016; and for what reasons those delays occurred.

    Penny Mordaunt

    The Department for Work and Pensions apologises for any delay in responding. We have been investigating the issues raised in your Parliamentary Question but unfortunately there is no trace of your stated correspondence within the department. Therefore we are unable to respond at this time. The department requests that the honourable gentleman for Walsall North sends in duplicate copies, to enable the department to understand the content, investigate further and provide an appropriate response.

  • Steve Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Steve Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2015-12-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to review the effectiveness of the general power of competence.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    The Conservative led coalition Government gave a commitment that a post implementation review of the provisions of the Localism Act 2011, including the provisions relating to the general power of competence, would be undertaken within three to five years following implementation. We will honour that commitment.

  • The Marquess of Lothian – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The Marquess of Lothian – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2016-01-27.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the French Prime Minster concerning his recent statement that total, global and ruthless war must be conducted against Daesh; and whether he considers that total war would require the deployment of ground troops.

    Earl of Courtown

    The British Government shares a commitment with the Government of France to comprehensively defeat Daesh, and we are determined to work together to this end as part of an international coalition, as demonstrated by UN Security Council resolutions 2249 and 2254, amongst others. We continue to work very closely with the French government in a number of areas in order to coordinate as effectively as possible the international effort to degrade and defeat Daesh. France is one of our closest and most valued partners in the Global Counter-Daesh Coalition.

    We frequently discuss cooperation against Daesh with a range of French colleagues. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), met the French Foreign Minister in Rome on 2 February and discussed the campaign against Daesh and counter terrorism, amongst other issues.

    The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), has said that the UK will not deploy troops in ground combat operations. We and our Coalition partners, including France, have been clear that defeating Daesh in Syria and Iraq will not be achieved by the large scale deployment of foreign ground troops.

  • Margaret Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Margaret Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Greenwood on 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department provides to its staff on proactively making callers claiming universal credit or seeking advice by telephone related to that benefit aware that they can be rung back free of charge.

    Priti Patel

    The department does not hold guidance on this.

    As we continue to develop the Universal Credit service we will introduce greater opportunities for claimants to manage their claim on-line reducing the need for claimants to use the telephone to contact us.

  • Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer on 2016-03-16.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether agroforestry measures under the CAP could help provide an incentive for farmers to plant some trees on pasture as opposed to clearing scrub and trees from pasture, and what assessment they have made of whether CAP Pillar 1 Ecological Focus Areas or Pillar 2 Article 23 measures would be more appropriate for English needs.

    Lord Gardiner of Kimble

    The Countryside Stewardship scheme provides options for farmers to manage both grassland and scrub in environmentally beneficial ways. Countryside Stewardship also provides opportunities to plant trees. These options can be used to deliver environmental enhancements and could contribute to agroforestry without needing to apply the Article 23 measure.

    CAP Pillar 1 Ecological Focus Areas can only include agroforestry where this is supported under Pillar 2 Article 23 measures (agroforestry). We have not implemented the agroforestry measure in England.

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

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-04-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the projected cost savings are from the closure of the Marine Offices in (a) Brixham, (b) Leith and (c) Newlyn; and what the value is of (i) land and (ii) buildings on each site.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    (a) The Brixham Marine Office was co-located with the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre that closed on 31 October 2014 when the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) stopped search and rescue coordination from there. The Brixham building was disposed of on 22 May 15, realising a value of £1.2M for the (i) land and (ii) building combined.

    (b) The lapse of the Leith Marine Office lease will realise a saving of £17K per annum.

    The only value to the MCA is the value of the lease. The value of the (i) land and (ii) building assets reside with landlord.

    (c) The Newlyn Office lease was surrendered on 30 April 2015, realising a saving of £1K per annum.

    The only value to the MCA is the value of the lease. The value of the (i) land and (ii) building assets reside with landlord.