Tag: Caroline Lucas

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-04-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department spent on the Defence and Security Equipment International Conference held in September 2015.

Mr Philip Dunne

Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) is an important event which supports the UK defence industry seeking to trade internationally and offers valuable defence engagement opportunities with our allies and partners. The support to DSEI 2015 was delivered through the course of normal departmental business and in-line with existing budgetary provisions. Any additional costs were recouped in line with standard practices

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-05-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which NHS bodies will authorise Sustainability and Transformation Plan footprints; what role NHS Improvement will play; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman

The NHS Shared Planning Guidance asked the National Health Service to develop proposed footprints for Sustainability and Transformation Plans by 29 January 2016, engaging with local authorities and other partners. The footprints were then reviewed by the national arm’s length bodies, including NHS Improvement, with regard to geography (including patient flow), scale, fit with footprints of existing change programmes, financial sustainability, and leadership capacity. There were one or two areas where further clarification was sought and, following further conversations locally, changes were agreed.

The process for Sustainability and Transformation Plans is designed to bring together health and care leaders to support improvements in health and care based on the needs of local populations. It does not alter the existing accountabilities of clinical commissioning groups, local authorities and NHS provider organisations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-06-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which organisation (a) was responsible and (b) carried out the modelling on punctuality and reliability of the combined impact of the infrastructure restrictions at London Bridge, the diversion of Thameslink services and the increased use of London Victoria as a terminus; how much that modelling cost; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry

Network Rail is responsible for the national rail timetable and modelled the timetable changes associated with the redevelopment of London Bridge station. We do not have information on the cost of individual modelling exercises.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-07-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish the report by the Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration on the handling of family reunion applications.

James Brokenshire

The final report on the handling of family reunion applications has not yet been sent to the Home Office by the Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration.

Arrangements for publication will be considered once the final report has been received

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2016 to Question 29005, if Ministers of his Department have concluded whether further steps are required to improve clarity and transparency on employment status for employers and individuals.

Margot James

These issues are still being considered by the recently established Cross-Government Working Group on Employment Status.

The group consists of officials who work on employment status policy from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), HM Treasury, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Office of Tax Simplification. The group is chaired by the head of employment status at HMRC.

Further information on the group and its work can be found on the Government website at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/cross-government-working-group-on-employment-status

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-09-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will lay a revised departmental minute detailing the most recent estimate of costs of Hinkley Point C before Parliament; and if he will lay such a minute at least 14 days in advance of signing any binding contract for that project.

Jesse Norman

A summary of the value for money analysis will be published alongside the contract and associated agreements when they have been entered into.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-10-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department plans to publish the consultation on the Government’s commitment to phase out coal-fired power stations.

Jesse Norman

Most of the UK’s existing coal fired power stations are old, relatively inefficient and require investment to reduce the level of damaging pollutants they emit. We expect to consult shortly on the closure of unabated coal stations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-11-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will list the average wholesale price for electricity in (a) nominal and (b) real pounds sterling for each year from 2000 to 2015.

Andrea Leadsom

DECC receives wholesale prices data from Argus Media on a daily basis. The following table shows the yearly average of day-ahead baseload prices since 2001 when this data is available from. We have converted the daily data into a yearly average, and converted nominal data into real data using HM Treasury’s GDP deflators1.

Calendar Year	Yearly Average (nominal)	Yearly Average (2014 prices)
2015*	41.5		41.9**
2014	42.5		42.5
2013	50.8		51.7
2012	45.3		47.0
2011	48.3		50.9
2010	42.0		45.2
2009	37.8		41.9
2008	74.8		84.7
2007	31.1		36.2
2006	42.6		51.0
2005	39.5		48.7
2004	23.3		29.6
2003	21.3		27.9
2002	16.8		22.5
2001***	21.3		29.4
Source: Argus Media
		* Data available until November 11th 2015
		** Percentage change on previous year in line with July 2015 Budget *** Data available since October 15th 2001

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/gdp-deflators-at-market-prices-and-money-gdp-october-2015-the-blue-book.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-11-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of (a) the extent to which UK pension funds are investing in fossil fuel and high carbon industries and (b) the potential effect of climate change on the stability of the UK pension sector; and if he will make a statement.

Justin Tomlinson

The Investment of UK pension funds is a matter for the trustees of the scheme. Trustees are required to take advice on investment from a suitably qualified person to ensure they are appropriate. Trustees make investments according to a statement of investment principles they prepare after taking advice. The statement will set out the extent to which the trustees take into account environmental considerations when making investments.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-11-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the average amount the Youth Justice Board will pay for each place for a child in (a) Medway secure training centre, (b)Oakhill secure training centre, (c) Rainsbrook secure training centre, (d) Cookham Wood young offender institution, (e) Feltham young offender institution, (f) Parc young offender institution, (g) Werrington young offender institution and (h) Wetherby young offender institution; and what the average amount the Youth Justice Board paid on average for each place for a child in each of those institutions was in (i) 2013-14 and (ii) 2014-15.

Andrew Selous

Secure Training Centres (STCs) typically cater for younger offenders with multiple or complex needs and therefore have smaller units and higher staff ratios than Young Offender Institutions (YOIs).

The Youth Justice Board calculates the average cost of custody per place per year based on assumed full occupancy of all youth secure establishments. Table 1 shows the average costs for a place per year at each of the specified STCs and YOIs for each year since 2013/14.

Table 1: Average costs per place per year by youth secure establishment

Establishment	2013/14	2014/15	2015/16
(a) Medway STC	£214,606	£157,110	£138,051
(b) Oakhill STC	£204,301	£210,926	£217,485
(c) Rainsbrook STC	£175,479	£181,194	£134,955
(d) Cookham Wood YOI	£76,051	£53,915	£81,089
(e) Feltham YOI	£53,690	£55,120	£68,548
(f) Parc YOI	£67,995	£68,611	£69,331
(g) Werrington YOI	£55,638	£57,090	£91,306
(h) Wetherby YOI	£46,688	£59,579	£70,505

Notes:

1. Prices not adjusted for inflation
2. Business rates are included for STCs (business rates are charged on non-domestic property).
3. Costs do not include VAT where this is applicable (STCs and Parc).
4. Advocacy service prices are included for STCs and YOIs. The advocacy service is an independent service that supports young people within the secure estate.
5. These costs do not include costs associated with escorting of young people between courts and secure accommodation.

In 2015/16 the YJB became responsible for commissioning education in public sector YOIs, which was previously funded through the Education Funding Agency. New YOI education contracts have also increased the number of education hours available to young people.

Costs at Medway and Rainsbrook STCs reduced between 2014/15 and 2015/16, following contract renegotiations and the removal of healthcare costs from these contracts. The Oakhill contract includes costs associated with healthcare, unlike the other two STCs.