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Tag: Dan Jarvis

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps she has taken to help local authorities control the sale of legal highs.

    Norman Baker

    In December 2013 the Home Office published guidance for local authorities which sets out the range of legislative tools they can use to tackle the ‘head shops’
    where legal highs are often sold. This was developed in collaboration with the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Local Government Association and the Trading Standards Institute. The guidance covers offences head shops may be committing under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act 1985, and various consumer protection regulations.

    The Home Office also provides local authorities and their trading standards officers with technical and financial support with drug testing through the Forensic Early Warning System. This supports local authorities in their action against the sale of legal highs by helping them to identify the contents of legal high products. To date, we have brought well over 250 substances under control through the use of ‘generic’ legislation and temporary class drug orders. We also work closely with law enforcement to tackle this reckless trade. Concerted action, started in November 2013, has so far resulted in over 40 arrests and seizures of new psychoactive substances, including 9 kilograms by Kent Police.

    Last summer we also ran a targeted communications campaign to raise awareness of the risks in taking new psychoactive substances amongst young people; providing information on these substances through our FRANK online service.

    However, we accept that more can be done, hence my announcement on 12 December 2013 of a review by an expert panel to look at how the UK’s response to new psychoactive substances can be enhanced beyond the existing measures. The expert panel includes a senior policy advisor from the Local Government Association to inform the work of the panel from a local government perspective. The panel is due to report its recommendations by the end of spring 2014.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the implications for his department’s policies of the findings of The Armed Forces & Society survey produced by Lord Ashcroft.

    Anna Soubry

    The Ministry of Defence was grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Ashcroft for conducting what proved to be a very useful survey of the attitudes of the public and the Armed Forces towards each other. While there were many positive findings, of particular concern was the perception amongst a majority of the public that veterans would have physical or mental problems as a result of service. Lord Ashcroft described this as ‘not only untrue, but damaging’.

    The 2012 survey provided valuable insight into the relationship between the Armed Forces and the nation they serve. This relationship is at the heart of the Armed Forces Covenant, which we published in May 2011. A great deal has been achieved through this mechanism in the last few years across a wide range of areas, including healthcare, accommodation, education, and welfare.

    We will go on looking at what more we can do for our Armed Forces, their families, and Veterans, to ensure that they continue to receive the recognition they deserve, and if necessary, whatever help they may require.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the differences are between the current design for the secure college in Leicestershire and the plans for a Young Offender Institute at Glen Parva drawn up in 2009 by HLM Architects.

    Jeremy Wright

    The Secure College will be a step change from the traditional custodial environment of bars on windows and the initial design draws on innovation and learning from developments of community based schools and colleges. Although the Secure College will be fundamentally different from a Young Offender’s Institution, we are making use of the previous work where relevant.

    The plans drawn up in 2009 were focused on delivering facilities specifically designed for young people, albeit a different cohort. It is therefore inevitable there will be similarities between the design solutions. However, present designs are fully reflective of the broader cohort a Secure College could take and the accommodation has been configured accordingly to ensure their safety and well being.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Attorney General, what recent steps his Department has taken to increase the number of rape convictions.

    Oliver Heald

    Increasing the number of rape convictions continues to be a priority in the criminal justice system. On 6 June 2014, a Rape Action Plan was jointly published by the police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which sets out a series of actions designed to improve the criminal justice response in rape cases. This followed a Rape National Scrutiny Panel led by the Director of Public Prosecutions and the National Policing lead for rape, which considered the investigation and prosecution of rape cases including their referral from the police to the CPS. The Action plan can be found on the CPS website at; http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/equality/vaw/rape_action_plan.pdf

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  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will redraft the code governing detention of teenagers under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 to ensure that 17 year olds in custody are treated as teenagers by the police.

    Damian Green

    Following the High Court ruling in the judicial review HC vs (1) Secretary of
    State for the Home Department and (2) Commissioner of Police for the
    Metropolis, the Government made changes to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act
    1984 Codes of Practice C & H, which govern the treatment of detained persons in
    police custody. The changes, which came into effect on 21st October 2013, have
    the effect of requiring the police to treat 17 year olds in police custody as
    children by providing, as a matter of course, Appropriate Adults and to inform
    a person responsible for the welfare of the 17 year old of their detention.
    These changes are mandatory.

    I refer the Hon. Member to a statement made by my Rt. Hon. Friend (Damian Green) on 21st October 2013, Official Report, columns 4-6WS explaining these changes.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of history lessons were taught by non-subject specialists in each of the last five years.

    Mr David Laws

    Information on the percentage of history lessons taught to pupils in years 7 to 13 by non-subject specialists is publicly-available online, and published in the Main Tables at the following links:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-workforce-in-england-november-2010-provisional (Table 14)

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-workforce-in-england-november-2011 (Table 14)

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-workforce-in-england-november-2012 (Table 14)

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-workforce-in-england-november-2013 (Table 13)

    Data for 2009 is not available.

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  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which company designed the 2009 plans for a Young Offender Institute at Glen Parva; and how much such plans cost.

    Jeremy Wright

    Interserve designed the 2009 plans for a Young Offender Institution at Glen Parva with their designers, HLM Architects.

    The previous Government spent £5.6 million on developing the plans for a new Young Offender Institution at Glen Parva up to 2010. Although the Secure College pathfinder will be fundamentally different from a Young Offender’s Institution, we are making use of the previous work where relevant.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 364W, on Reserve Forces, what the current national recruitment rate to the Army Reserve is.

    Anna Soubry

    I refer the hon. member to the UK Armed Forces Quarterly Personnel Report which is published by Defence Statistics. This shows Reserve trained and untrained strength figures, as well as movements into the Future Reserves 2020 populations. It is available on the www.gov.uk website at the following link:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-armed-forces-quarterly-personnel-report-2014

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will take steps to encourage Betfair to recommence making payments to the voluntary British Greyhound Racing Fund.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    The Government would like to see greyhound racing remain a successful sport and encourages the greyhound and betting industries to continue to work constructively together, not least because they have a mutual interest in promoting effective welfare and integrity measures. However, the Government will not intervene in voluntary funding arrangements which are a matter for the Greyhound industry and its funders.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the proportion of secondary school students who studied the First World War as part of their (a) GCSE and (b) A-level studies in each year since May 2010.

    Elizabeth Truss

    The Department for Education does not hold information on the individual topics which students elect to take in their GCSE and A level examinations. Information on the proportion of pupils attempting GCSE history is published in the 2009/10[1], 2010/11[2], 2011/12[3] and 2012/13[4] GCSE and equivalent results statistical first release.

    Information on the number of entries in A level history is published in the 2012/13[5] A level statistical first release.

    [1]https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcse-and-equivalent-results-england-academic-year-2009-to-2010-revised (Table 9)

    [2]https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/revised-gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-academic-year-2010-to-2011 (Table 9)

    [3]https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/revised-gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-academic-year-2011-to-2012 (Table 9)

    [4]https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2012-to-2013-revised (Table 9)

    [5]https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-level-and-other-level-3-results-england-2012-to-2013-revised (Table 14)

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