Tag: 2016

  • Lord Radice – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord Radice – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Radice on 2016-04-26.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what contribution they are making to Operation Sophia (EUNAVFOR MED), and what assessment they have made of the success of that operation to date.

    Earl Howe

    The UK is making a significant contribution to Operation Sophia, the European Union’s naval operation countering migrant smugglers in the central Mediterranean. HMS ENTERPRISE has been deployed since 4 July 2015 (with a Merlin helicopter between July and October), and was joined by HMS RICHMOND for October and November. The UK is also contributing five staff officers in the Operational Headquarters.

    HMS ENTERPRISE’s work has been valuable in developing a picture of the maritime environment and smuggling routes, and UK ships have picked up almost a third of the total number of migrants rescued. HMS ENTERPRISE will remain deployed to Operation Sophia until the end of August. The UK contribution to Operation Sophia is one part of the Government’s overall comprehensive approach to tackling the migrant crisis, which seeks to address the root causes of migration as well as its consequences.

  • Richard Drax – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    Richard Drax – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Drax on 2016-06-08.

    To ask the Prime Minister, with reference to the oral Answer of 8 June 2016, Official Report, which treaty changes (a) protect the UK from ever closer union and (b) provides protection for the UK’s currency; and on what date he plans those treaty changes to be made.

    Mr David Cameron

    The central element of the deal that the Government secured at the February European Council is an International Law Decision agreed by all the Heads of State or Government of the Member States of the EU. This decision includes a binding and irreversible commitment that the Member States will at the next opportunity amend the EU Treaties to address key UK concerns. The Treaties will be amended to include the legally-binding principles, enshrined in the international law decision, that will make sure that the UK is not penalised, excluded or discriminated against by EU rules because we have chosen to keep the pound, and the recognition that the UK is not committed to further political integration into the EU and that the concept of ‘ever closer union’ will not apply to the UK in future. The Decision will take effect if the British people vote to remain in the EU.

  • David Simpson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    David Simpson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2016-09-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to introduce new care models across the UK similar to those introduced in England to date.

    David Mowat

    New care models have been proposed by NHS England as an approach to address the three major challenges facing the health and care system highlighted in the Five Year Forward View: the health and wellbeing gap, the care and quality gap, and the funding and efficiency gap.

    NHS England has no jurisdiction over any of the other health services within the United Kingdom and therefore not within our remit to impose plans upon them.

    Decision making is devolved and therefore it is for each of the separate health services to determine individually.

  • Clive Efford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Clive Efford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Efford on 2016-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to monitor the environmental effect of flights going to and from London City Airport; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr John Hayes

    Under the Environmental Noise (England) Regulations 2006 (SI. 2006 No. 2238), airports such as London City are required to produce noise action plans at least every five years. This requires an assessment of noise impacts around airports and for the airport to identify suitable measures to address noise problems. The Secretary of State is responsible for approving noise action plans.

    London City Airport also funds the employment of an Airport Monitoring Officer at the London Borough of Newham. This role includes ensuring that the airport complies with requirements placed upon them, including those related to the environment – such as not operating flights at night.

  • Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-01-06.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average time taken is by (a) Concentrix and (b) HM Revenue and Customs to process each tax credit claim adjustment; and what guidance there is in Concentrix’s contract on how long it should take to process each tax credit claim adjustment.

    Mr David Gauke

    The average time taken by Concentrix to carry out a tax credit intervention – from writing to the claimant, receiving and investigating any response, through to closing the case and making any adjustment to the award – is 91 days. The average time taken by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is 64 days, but the figures are not comparable because the profiles of cases worked by Concentrix and by HMRC are different.

    Concentrix are required under their contract with HMRC to complete 80% of High Risk Change of Circumstances interventions (these are a subset of Concentrix’s caseload consisting of the highest risk cases) within 75 days and 100% of such cases within 90 days. So far in 2015/16 they have closed 95.5% of these interventions within 75 days.

  • Baroness Meacher – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Baroness Meacher – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Meacher on 2016-02-01.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of comments be the Chief Executive of Mumsnet stating that the Department for Education’s proposal to prevent organisations from objecting to the admission arrangements of schools will add to parental dissatisfaction”.”

    Lord Nash

    The Government’s proposed changes are designed to make sure that the Schools Adjudicator can concentrate on parental complaints. We want to ensure that the Adjudicator is able to focus on any concerns which parents may have about the fairness of the admission arrangements of their local school and that the Adjudicator is not held up by the need to consider objections referred by interest groups from outside the area.

    The changes are still subject to a full public consultation and the Department will give careful consideration to all the views expressed in that consultation.

  • Tom Watson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Tom Watson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-02-25.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to improve Black and minority ethnic representation in the Senior Civil Service his Department.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Cabinet Office promotes a number of cross Government talent schemes to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and disabled staff, to accelerate their promotion to Senior Civil Service roles. This includes Civil Service wide talent schemes such the Future Leaders Scheme (aimed at G6&7 staff) and the Senior Leaders Scheme (aimed at SCS Pay Band 1). Additionally, it promotes development schemes aimed specifically at BAME and disabled staff including the Accelerate talent programme (for SCS) and the Positive Action Pathway (for staff below SCS).

  • Flick Drummond – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Flick Drummond – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Flick Drummond on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of fitting Mark 41 vertical launch capability to the Type 45 destroyer.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 directed that further investigation be undertaken into the potential of the Type 45 Destroyers to operate in a Ballistic Missile Defence role. This work is under way and a range of potential capability development routes are being considered. It would be inappropriate to comment on specific missile systems at this stage.

  • Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-04-26.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Malawi regarding bringing the perpetrators of albinism-related crimes to justice.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    On 27 April our High Commissioner to Malawi raised the increase in human rights violations against persons with albinism at a meeting with the Malawian Foreign Minister. President Mutharika has condemned the attacks and ordered increased effort to bring the perpetrators to justice.

  • Jonathan Ashworth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Jonathan Ashworth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2016-06-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he has met Mark Samworth, owner of the food manufacturing company Samworths, in the last six months.

    Anna Soubry

    Details of Ministerial meetings are published quarterly alongside gifts, hospitality and travel on the GOV.UK website.