The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of how long is needed to bring the Army Reserves to full strength as set out in Army 2020.
Mr Mark Francois
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement and paper my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Philip Hammond) placed in the Library of the House on 19 December 2013 (Official report, column 124WS).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce homophobic and transphobic hate crimes against LGBT people.
Norman Baker
Tackling all forms of hate crime, including that motivated by hatred of a person’s sexual orientation or transgender identity is an issue the coalition Government takes very seriously.
On 1 May 2014 we published ‘Challenge it, Report it, Stop it – Delivering the Government’s Hate Crime Action Plan’. This progress report provides an overview of our achievements since the action plan was first published in March 2012 and sets out our key priorities for the remainder of this Parliament. A specific action in the plan includes tackling homophobia and transphobia in sports.
We are meeting the coalition commitment to improve the recording of hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation and transgender identity and are working with the police and other partners to encourage more victims to come forward. We have supported voluntary sector organisations to develop third party reporting services for LGBT victims.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-03-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to ensure that any foreign company found to have abandoned its pension responsibilities to UK pension holders can be made to refund that pension deficit.
Steve Webb
I refer the hon. Member to the Written Answer I gave him on 23 January 2014, Official Report, Column 267W.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the budgets for criminal justice and emergency services will be devolved to Police and Crime Commissioners; and what the total budget is that Police and Crime Commissioners will inherit.
Damian Green
There are no current plans to transfer responsibility, and the budgets, for the criminal justice system or the emergency services to Police and Crime Commissioners.
The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act contains a duty to cooperate for Police and Crime Commissioners and criminal justice partners which – although broad – sets the framework for Commissioners to play a substantial local leadership role. Commissioners are taking a prominent role in local justice matters and are, for example, taking seats (sometimes even as Chair) at their local criminal justice boards.
The Government is further extending the remit of PCCs who will assume responsibility for commissioning local victims’ services in October 2014 – complementing their other responsibilities to respond to local views and needs when drawing up plans to cut crime.
The Government is also driving collaboration between local emergency services to deliver more effective services and better value for money for the public. We are providing funding through the Home Office Police Innovation Fund and DCLG’s Transformation Challenge Award and Fire Transformation Fund to support emergency services collaboration projects.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what operational contingency plans he has made for future capability requirements in the event of further flooding.
Mr Mark Francois
This winter’s severe weather and consequent flooding represented a significant test of the nation’s civil resilience framework and demonstrated the effectiveness of military contingency planning. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) was able to generate a 5,000-strong taskforce and engage our specialist capabilities to fill gaps without detrimental impact to operations or significant training disruption. The MOD continues to plan against a broad range of civil emergencies in support of wider Government contingency planning.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what representations (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have received on the use of constraint in secure colleges.
Jeremy Wright
During the passage of the Criminal Justice and Courts Bill through this House my officials and I have received representations from Members of the House and a number of stakeholders on the use of reasonable force for the purposes of ensuring good order and discipline in Secure Colleges.
The Bill provides for the use of force by a custody officer in discharging his or her duties, but only in circumstances authorised by Secure College rules. At Report stage on 16 May 2014 I announced that we will be consulting on the approach to the Rules, while the Bill is still before Parliament.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-03-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether members of the Carrington Wire Pension Fund are able to access the Pension Protection Fund.
Steve Webb
The Carrington Wire Defined Benefit Pension Scheme entered a Pension Protection Fund (PPF) assessment period in February 2013.
During a PPF assessment period the PPF establishes whether the scheme can afford to secure benefits which are at least equal to the compensation that the PPF would pay. The scheme will transfer to the PPF unless it has sufficient assets to pay benefits greater or equal to PPF compensation levels or it is rescued, for instance, by another employer taking responsibility for it.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-04-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the code governing detention of teenagers under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act will be redrafted to ensure that 17 year olds in custody are treated as teenagers by the police.
Damian Green
I refer the Hon. Gentleman to the answer given by the Minister for Modern Slavery and Organised Crime of 8th April 2014, Official Report , Column 202W.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many new jobs have been created in (a) 2011, (b) 2012 and (c) 2013 in (i) Barnsley central constituency, (ii) Yorkshire and the Humber and (iii) England.
Mr Nick Hurd
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what equality impact assessments his Department has carried out on the proposed introduction of a secure college.
Jeremy Wright
In accordance with the Ministry of Justice’s duties under the Equality Act 2010, we considered the impact of the proposals set out in the Government’s response to the Transforming Youth Custody Consultation in January 2014. We will consider equalities impacts further as part of the consultation on the approach to the Secure College Rules during the passage of the Criminal Justice and Court Bill through Parliament, and throughout the development of the Project.