The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average cost was of a primary school meal in each local authority in (a) 2012 and (b) 2013.
Mr David Laws
The Department for Education does not hold the information requested.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department plans to take to monitor how many primary schools offer a hot meal option to all pupils in reception, year one and year two from September 2014.
Mr David Laws
We have made it clear that, as schools implement the universal infant free school meals policy, they should ensure that pupils are routinely offered the option of a hot meal.
We will monitor the take-up of school meals through the Schools Census for children in reception, year one and year two beginning in the autumn term of the 2014/15 academic year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-03-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much in discretionary housing payments has been allocated in Corby and East Northamptonshire constituency for those affected by the under-occupancy penalty in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15.
Steve Webb
Discretionary Housing Payments(DHP) are allocated by Local Authority not parliamentary constituency. The table below details the overall DHP allocation and the Removal of the Spare Room Subsidy (RSRS) element for Corby and East Northhamptonshire local authorities.
|
Government allocation of DHP by Local authority |
2013/14 |
2014/15 |
||
|
RSRS |
Total DHP |
RSRS |
Total DHP |
|
|
Corby |
£25,669 |
£92,250 |
£92,809 |
£134,854 |
|
East Northamptonshire |
£24,304 |
£85,490 |
£59,253 |
£99,565 |
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the spending power is for (a) Wokingham Council and (b) Newcastle upon Tyne City Council in (i) 2013-14, (ii) 2014-15 and (iii) 2015-16.
Brandon Lewis
[Holding Reply: Thursday 1 May 2014]
Spending power figures by local authority are published as part of the Local Government Finance Settlement, which is laid before the House each year. This information is also reasonably accessible to the hon. Member on my Department’s website at:
www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2014-to-2015 (2014-15 and provisional 2015-16)
www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1314/settle.htm (2013-14)
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-03-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what progress he has made on measures to allow town and parish councils to send agendas electronically.
Brandon Lewis
Schedule 12 of the Local Government Act 1972 requires local authorities (both principal and parish councils) to send summonses to attend meetings by post. Reflecting the take-up of digital communications, Ministers are minded to issue an Order under Section 8 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000 to facilitate this being done electronically; although we do believe that councillors should continue to have a right to receive communications in hard copy by post should they wish, and that this should be reflected in any legislative change.
We will be undertaking an informal sounding shortly on the wording of any draft Order with key partners, including the Local Government Association and the National Association of Local Councils.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-05-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the creation of a Single Fraud Investigation Service on the level of fraud against local authorities.
Esther McVey
The introduction of single fraud investigation service will ensure that all allegations of local authority welfare benefit fraud are investigated appropriately in accordance with a single policy. As such the SFIS project strengthens the approach to investigating and tackling welfare benefit fraud in local authorities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-03-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Government Response to Lord Heseltine’s report No Stone Unturned: in Pursuit of Growth, when he expects to publish a draft legislative reform order to ensure that the current legislation on combined authorities is fit for purpose.
Brandon Lewis
As I told the House on 18 March 2014, Official Report, Column 704, and as my rt. hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Mr Eric Pickles) indicated on 3 March 2014, Official Report, Column 621, we are minded to amend legislation to allow councils that do not share the same boundaries to join a combined authority, if they wish. This change can be delivered through a Legislative Reform Order, subject to statutory consultation and approval of Parliament.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-04-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect on the public funds available to local authorities of the creation of a Single Fraud Investigation Service.
Esther McVey
The Local Authority Administration Grant for 2014/15 will not be reduced due to the implementation of the Single Fraud Investigation Service. The proposals for 2015/16 and 2016/17 onwards are currently out for consultation with our key stakeholders, including Local Government representative groups.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the financial effect on local authorities when the single tier state pension is introduced in 2016-17 and local authorities no longer receive a national insurance rebate from the contracting out of pensions.
Brandon Lewis
The Government is currently in discussions with the Local Government Association on this matter.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the threat to human rights defenders and journalists in Honduras.
Mr Hugo Swire
The Government attaches great importance to the support of human rights and democracy around the world. The human rights situation in Honduras is undoubtedly of concern, particularly in regard to human rights defenders and journalists, who have been known to face particular threats. The limited investigative capacity of judicial institutions in Honduras means it is often difficult to determine who is responsible for such crimes. However, Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Honduras set out in a recent statement to mark Press Freedom Day on 3 May, the British Government is working to support the efforts of the Honduran Attorney General’s Office and other institutions to tackle impunity human rights abuses, including crimes perpetrated against journalists and human rights defenders.