The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the Government Actuary’s Department provided Ministers with estimates of additional monies received from extra contributions to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme before 19 March; and if so, if he will publish such estimates.
Mr David Laws
The Government Actuary’s Department has provided no such estimate to the Secretary of State for Education.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers were accommodated in (a) hotels and (b) bed and breakfasts, hostels and other establishments that provide lodging paid on a short-term basis in (i) Barnsley, (ii) Yorkshire and Humberside and (iii) the UK in each year since May 2010.
James Brokenshire
The department does not collect specific data on asylum applicants accommodated
in contingency accommodation. COMPASS providers have a responsibility to
provide suitable accommodation to asylum applicants. The COMPASS contracts
allow providers to use alternative or temporary initial accommodation (IA) as
contingency in exceptional circumstances, for example when the existing
nominated IA is full. This may include the use of hotels for a short term
period until such time as the asylum seeker is accommodated in the IA or
provided with dispersal accommodation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to improve care for veterans suffering with psychological injuries after their service.
Anna Soubry
I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave on 8 May 2014, (Official Report, column 277W) to the hon Member for Portsmouth South (Mr Hancock). In addition to the initiatives outlined in that answer, I would also note that the mental health of our personnel and veterans is a top priority for the Government and that is why we have committed £7.2 million to ensure there is extensive mental health support in place for those who need it.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-03-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to introduce GPS technology for the electronic monitoring of offenders.
Jeremy Wright
The new contracts will introduce state-of-the-art satellite tagging that will allow us to keep a closer watch over offenders in the community. We are working to take this forward as quickly as possible, with a view to beginning roll out by the end of the year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the Government Actuary’s Department will publish details of the valuation of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
Mr David Laws
The Government Actuary provides advice to the Secretary of State for Education on the valuation of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme and his Department is currently finalising its work. The Secretary of State plans to publish the outcome of the valuation, including the Actuary’s full report, in June 2014.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much has been spent from the public purse on accommodating asylum seekers in (a) hotels and (b) bed and breakfasts, hostels and other establishments that provide lodging paid on a short-term basis in each year since May 2010; and how much was spent in each region.
James Brokenshire
Accommodation is provided to asylum applicants through contracts with third party suppliers. Providers are required to provide accommodation that is safe, fit for purpose and correctly equipped in line with the contractual Statement of Requirements agreed between themselves and the Home Office.
There is no added expense to the Home Office when providers use B&B or hotel accommodation as short term contingency accommodation. Any and all additional costs are borne by the provider.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps he has taken to reduce child obesity in Barnsley.
Jane Ellison
In April 2013, local responsibility for the prevention and management of obesity transferred from primary care trusts to local authorities.
Barnsley’s Health and Wellbeing board, run by Barnsley Council, is drafting a Health and Wellbeing strategy for the borough to support children and young people in avoiding the potential health problems related to child obesity, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases later in life.
Our national approach to tackling obesity includes engaging with a wide range of partners including businesses, health professionals and individuals. We have set national ambition for a downward trend in excess weight in children and have a well-developed and wide-ranging programme of actions. Obesity rates in children are levelling off.
Some of the key initiatives are Change4Life, Change4Life Sports Clubs, the National Child Measurement Programme and School Sports Funding.
This is in addition to measures being taken by other Government departments such as the School Food Plan, published by the Department for Education last year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-03-06.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what points he has identified from the recent flooding crisis to enable COBR to work more effectively.
Francis Maude
COBR has met regularly over the past 3 months to ensure that affected communities get the support they need quickly and effectively.
As the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced in his written statement to House on 6 March, in future whenever there is a significant risk we will use COBR systems to ensure that all organisations at national and local level are adequately prepared and ready to respond.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the average change in the number of days people will spend claiming benefits as a result of the help-to-work scheme.
Esther McVey
We have a strong evidence base which shows that Help to Work has a positive impact in terms of reducing the number of days claimants spend on benefit.
Over almost two years, claimants who took part in a trailblazer for Community Work Placement (CWP) and Mandatory Intervention Regime (MIR) spent on average 21 (CWP) and 26 (MIR) fewer days on benefits than an equivalent group of JSA claimants.
They also spent more time in work than the control group: 9 days for CWP and 11 days for MIR participants.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure oversight and scrutiny of private contractors responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers.
James Brokenshire
The providers are contractually required to provide safe, habitable, fit for
purpose and correctly equipped accommodation to comply with the Housing Act
2004 and the Decent Homes Standard. The COMPASS contracts contain high
standards and requirements to be met by providers in the services they provide
to asylum applicants. The contracts also contain robust monitoring mechanism
including regular meetings and inspection of services. Where standards are not
met, Providers reimburse the department in the form of service credits.