Tag: Diana Johnson

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2015-12-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many press and public relations staff are employed by (a) her Department, (b) Ofqual, (c) Ofsted, (d) the National College for Teaching and Leadership, (e) the Office of the Children’s Commissioner and (f) the Equalities Office; how many of those employees earn more than (i) £50,000 and (ii) £100,000; and what the total expenditure was on press and public relations by each of those organisations in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb

The Department for Education communications group, which covers press and public relations work, employs 34.1 permanent members of staff. This includes 2.5 staff members for the Government Equalities Office. Nine of these staff members earn more than £50,000 and none more than £100,000.

With regard to Ofsted, these matters are for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw. I have asked him to write to you and a copy of his reply will be placed in the libraries of the House.

With regard to Ofqual, these matters are for its Chief Regulator, Glenys Stacey. I have asked her to write to you and a copy of her reply will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many press and public relations staff are employed by her Department; how many of those employees are paid more than (a) £50,000 and (b) £100,000; and what the total expenditure was on press and public relations by her Department in the most recent year for which figures are available.

George Eustice

Defra is in the midst of a transformation programme which is yielding significant reductions in communication staff.Defra currently employs 41 full time staff to deliver press and public relations. Nine staff are paid over £50,000 per annum. No staff are paid over £100,000 per annum.

Our controls on communication spending have saved over £1million in 2015/16. The total committed expenditure for Defra’s press and public relations programme for 2015/16 is £46,761.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-02-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the government of (a) Italy and (b) Egypt on the case of Giulio Regini.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We are aware of the tragic death of Mr Regini, an Italian national, following his disappearance on 25 January and pass our condolences to his friends and family at this difficult time. We support Italian and Egyptian efforts to investigate into the circumstances of his death.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the Government has made representations to the Egyptian government on the case of Giulio Regeni; whether those representations were made by Ministers or by HM Ambassador to Egypt; and which of those representations were made in person.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We regularly raise the case of Giulio Regeni with the Egyptian authorities. Most recently, I raised our concerns in a call to the Egyptian Ambassador on 11 April. These concerns have been reiterated by senior diplomats including the Permanent Under Secretary, Simon McDonald, who raised Mr Regeni’s case with the Egyptian Ambassador when they met on 11 April. Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Cairo raised the case directly with the Egyptian Prime Minister’s security advisor on 3 March; both he and officials in Cairo and London continue to raise the case on a regular basis, most recently in mid April.

The Government published a response to the petition regarding Mr Regeni on 25th April: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/120832

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-06-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to increase the number of driving test inspectors based at the Hull testing site so as to ensure a driving test at that site can be booked within one month.

Andrew Jones

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency acknowledges that waiting times at Hull are unacceptable and that this test centre is in need of additional resource and there will be three extra examiners going into this test centre over coming months. This and new contractual overtime rates will reduce waiting times at Hull.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-07-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, whether any staff of EU institutions will be eligible to transfer their employment to the UK Government under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006.

Mr Robin Walker

The new Department for Exiting the European Union will oversee negotiations to leave the EU and establish the future relationship between the UK and EU. At every step of the negotiations we want to get the best deal for Britain and for the British people, including for British nationals employed by the EU institutions.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-07-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to reduce the number of military planes flying over Hull particularly at night.

Mark Lancaster

The Ministry of Defence takes its responsibilities to the general public very seriously indeed and would prefer not to cause any disturbance to the general public, including to those in Hull. However, there are no uninhabited areas of the UK large enough to cater for essential training needs.

Flying operations in the UK Military Low Flying System are avoided within major built-up areas (generally those with a population of over 10,000), although it is not always possible to avoid flying over the outskirts of towns and villages. A range of measures are in place to provide a balance between military training requirements and the need to avoid excessive noise on the ground. These include restrictions placed on the height, speeds and operating procedures of military aircraft in the UK Military Low Flying System.

Realistic training at night is essential to ensure aircrew are proficient in the necessary skills and to exploit our technological edge. The amount of night low flying remains proportional to the operational requirement.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-07-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has held with administrations of the House and of the House of Lords on the capacity of Parliament to process additional legislation required as a result of the UK exiting the EU.

Mr David Jones

We are considering the detailed arrangements for ensuring that Parliament can provide proper scrutiny of any legislation resulting from our decision to leave the European Union and will be taking this forward with the administrations of both Houses.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-09-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will make it his policy to ensure the UK maintains the requirements of Council Directive 1999/74/EC on battery hens.

Mr David Jones

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to her by my Hon. Friend the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (written question 43718).

The EU-wide ban on keeping hens in ‘battery’ (conventional) cages in 2012 represented a significant welfare advance across the EU, was supported by the UK and has been implemented in full. The Government has a manifesto commitment to protect farm animal welfare and to push for high animal welfare standards to be incorporated into farming policy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-09-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 9 May 2016 to Question 36104, whether the Government (a) received a copy of Saudi Arabia’s inquiry into alleged breaches of international humanitarian law in Yemen and (b) has encouraged Saudi Arabia to publish any findings of their investigations.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The Saudi led Coalition Joint Investigations Assessment Team (JIAT) announced the outcome of eight investigations on 4 August. The outcome of these investigations are available to the public.