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Tag: 2016

  • Lord Taylor of Warwick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Lord Taylor of Warwick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick on 2016-04-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is being done to ensure there is clear communication to people about the new state pension.

    Baroness Altmann

    The Department undertakes extensive research to ensure our communications are clear, targeted and effective.

    The ‘Know the Facts’ campaign, launched in November 2014, uses radio, print and digital advertising to raise awareness of the changes to the State Pension. It directs people to detailed information and material including blogs, videos and resource packs on GOV.UK, and encourages those closest to State Pension age to get a new State Pension statement.

    We continually improve all our communications, based on regular evaluation and feedback, to ensure messages are clear and informative. We also work closely with key intermediaries and stakeholders to share our messages widely.

    The new State Pension campaign includes specific messages to those who may benefit from ways to increase their State Pension; those who may be most at risk of not meeting the minimum qualifying period; and to explain the impact of past periods of contracting-out. We have also reassured pensioners on the old system that they are not affected by these changes.

    People can now also get a personalised State Pension statement online. They will be given a forecast of how much they could get when they reach State Pension age, and find out how to increase this amount. People who do not want to, or cannot use the online service, can continue to request a statement by phone or post.

  • Gavin Shuker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Gavin Shuker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Shuker on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on alleged violations of freedom of religion or belief in Crimea by the Russian authorities; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr David Lidington

    I am aware of concerning reports of violations of freedom of religion and belief in Russia. The Jehovah’s Witnesses community, for example, has found itself under attack in several parts of Russia, often through misuse of legislation designed to combat extremism. As set out in the FCO Human Rights Report, the UK is deeply concerned about the deteriorating environment for human rights in Russia. We will continue to offer our support to all those who seek peacefully to pursue their freedom of religion and belief.

  • David Nuttall – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    David Nuttall – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Nuttall on 2016-07-08.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what processes HM Revenue and Customs has for resolving complaints relating to class 2 national insurance contributions.

    Mr David Gauke

    Each year HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) receives and responds to 50 million phone calls and 15 million letters from Self Assessment and PAYE customers. HMRC commits to responding to complaints within 15 days of receipt and therefore expects that, excluding any that may be received in the last few weeks before abolition, outstanding complaints will have been cleared.

  • Baroness Altmann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Baroness Altmann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-09-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest estimate of the total number of employers who are potentially responsible for paying Pension Act 1995 section 75 debts of previous employers who are no longer part of their non-associated multi-employer defined benefit pension scheme.

    Lord Freud

    The information requested is not held by Government or the Pensions Regulator.

  • Helen Hayes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Helen Hayes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Hayes on 2016-01-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of applications for Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks (a) nationally, (b) in London and (c) in Dulwich and West Norwood constituency met each of the service’s published service standards for waiting times in each year since 2010.

    Karen Bradley

    The following tables show (a) the proportion of applications for enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks that met the Published Service Standards for waiting times nationally and (b) for applications received from people residing in London postcodes in each Financial Year from April 2010 to November 2015.

    Table A

    Period

    Total Apps Despatched

    21 Calendar Day Target

    21 Day Achievement

    56 Calendar Day Target

    56 Day Achievement

    Apr-10 to Mar-11

    4,124,609

    85%

    65.8%

    95%

    86.6%

    Apr-11 to Mar-12

    3,813,114

    85%

    88.4%

    95%

    96.7%

    Apr-12 to Mar-13

    3,801,064

    85%

    86.5%

    95%

    98.6%

    Apr-13 to Mar-14

    3,715,222

    85%

    84.3%

    95%

    97.3%

    Apr-14 to Mar-15

    3,833,149

    85%

    84.3%

    95%

    94.8%

    Apr-15 to Nov-15

    2,704,993

    85%

    85.5%

    95%

    94.6%

    Table B

    Period

    Total Apps Despatched

    21 Calendar Day Target

    21 Day Achievement

    56 Calendar Day Target

    56 Day Achievement

    Apr-10 to Mar-11

    395,164

    85%

    28.5%

    95%

    55.0%

    Apr-11 to Mar-12

    363,887

    85%

    76.6%

    95%

    88.8%

    Apr-12 to Mar-13

    358,900

    85%

    78.7%

    95%

    97.9%

    Apr-13 to Mar-14

    356,883

    85%

    78.0%

    95%

    95.4%

    Apr-14 to Mar-15

    371,608

    85%

    79.5%

    95%

    87.6%

    Apr-15 to Nov-15

    257,410

    85%

    81.9%

    95%

    85.0%

    The DBS is working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to improve its performance. An MPS Gold Group is overseeing the recovery plan and exploring all opportunities to process cases quickly, including the recruitment of additional staff. It is not possible to provide the figure for applications from Dulwich and West Norwood as this information is not collected.

  • Matthew Pennycook – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Matthew Pennycook – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to ensure that all new electricity generation facilities that emit greenhouse gases are prepared for carbon capture and storage.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Planning controls already ensure that new electricity generation facilities that emit greenhouse gases are prepared for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Currently most new thermal plants larger than 300 MWe must be constructed ‘carbon capture ready’, which means they must demonstrate that it would be technically and economically feasible to retrofit CCS. Any new coal plants must be constructed with CCS fitted to at least 300 MW of their proposed generating capacity.

  • Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-03-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many GP practices have a mental health specialist.

    Alistair Burt

    This information is not held centrally.

  • Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-04-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether there has been a reduction in the number of British seafarers being employed by the world’s merchant marine, and if there has, what action they are taking to ensure that the necessary numbers exist to meet national requirements for British seafarers in time of war.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    The latest UK seafarer statistics can be found in the attached document “Seafarer Statistics, 2015” that is also available on gov.uk.

    In 2015 the total number of UK seafarers active at sea was 23,380, an increase of 2% on the 2014 figure and 2.3% on 2013 figure. The figures for the last five years are shown below:

    Year

    2011

    2012

    2013

    2014

    2015

    Active seafarers at sea

    27,010

    24,100

    22,840

    22,910

    23,380

    The Maritime Growth Study, chaired by Lord Mountevans and published on 7 September 2015, recognised the need for more proactive action to replenish and develop the skills needed to maintain the UK position as a world-leading maritime centre. The Government has accepted the recommendations and has already let a research contract to Oxford Economics to establish the requirement for trained seafarers in the UK.

    However, the Government does not hold data on national requirements for British seafarers in time of war.

  • Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK nationals were employed by the European Parliament in each year since 2010; and how many such people were employed at administrator grade.

    Mr David Lidington

    The European Parliament does not publish statistics on numbers of permanent staff by nationality. According to our own records, the total the numbers of UK nationals employed by the European Parliament in each year since 2010 is:

    2010: 290
    2011: 306
    2012: 306
    2013: 291
    2014: 271
    2015: 251

    The latest figure available is for May 2016 and is 263.

  • Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2016-07-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many consultant-led NHS maternity units have been downgraded in each of the last six years.

    Ben Gummer

    This information is not held centrally.

    The Government is clear that the redesign of front-line health services, including maternity services, is a matter for the local National Health Service, where clinicians are best-placed to make the decisions in the best interests of their patients.

    All such decisions are locally led and any proposed changes to services are subject to meeting the four tests for service change: they must have support from general practitioner commissioners, be based on clinical evidence, demonstrate public and patient engagement, and consider patient choice.