Tag: Diana Johnson

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-09-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what funding has been provided to the (a) Kurdistan Regional Government Peshmerga, (b) Kurdish government in Northern Syria and (c) Yazidi community to (i) gather evidence of alleged acts of genocide and (ii) support displaced persons in refugee camps.

James Wharton

Since June 2014, DFID has committed £129.5 million in humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable internally displaced people in Iraq, including Yezidis and those living in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. To date, the UK has pledged over £2.3 billion in response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the region. Our support is reaching vulnerable and displaced Syrians, including those living in areas controlled by Kurdish groups.

On 21 July the Foreign Secretary announced that the UK will lead a global campaign to hold Daesh to account for its crimes. In Iraq, the Foreign Office has funded projects to support the documentation of Daesh crimes and preservation of evidence. In Syria, UK funding supports a range of NGO partners to compile case files of evidence of atrocities approximating to International Criminal Court (ICC) standards.

DFID has not provided funding to the Peshmerga, or to the governing authorities in Kurdish-dominated parts of Syria.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-10-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 16 November 2015 to Question 13604, on tenancy deposit schemes, what the total value was of the deposit money (a) given back to tenants and (b) withheld by landlords in each of the schemes for each of the years listed.

Gavin Barwell

The three Government approved Tenancy Deposit Schemes in England help ensure that tenants are treated fairly at the end of their tenancy through protecting deposits.

A deposit can be protected in a custodial scheme where the deposit is paid (submitted) and held by the scheme until the end of the tenancy. The scheme will pay the deposit back (return) to the tenant if they have fulfilled all their obligations at the end of the tenancy. A deposit can also be protected in an insured scheme, where the landlord or agent holds the deposit and pays it back to the tenant at the end of the tenancy. The deposit is not submitted to or returned by the scheme.

The figures available for the number of deposits protected for tenants in Greater London since 2011, are set out in Table 1, and for deposits submitted and returned in Table 2.

Table 1 – tenant’s deposits protected in Greater London

Year	Total number of deposits protected
2011-12	434,031
2012-13	398,635
2013-14	453,200
2014-15	499,098
2015-16	545,937

Table 2 – tenant’s deposits submitted and returned in Greater London

Year	Number of deposits submitted	Number of deposits returned
2011-12	74,202	55,550
2012-13	77,709	62,341
2013-14	82,613	67,583
2014-15	88,465	70,105
2015-16	90,849	76,305

The differences between the number of deposits submitted and returned are due to different lengths of tenancies, cases going through the dispute resolution process, and the protection of more deposits as the private rental market continues to grow.

Overall, 98 per cent of all deposits protected in England since the launch of the tenancy deposit scheme in 2007, are returned to the tenant at the end of their tenancy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to extend the time period for a Conclusive Grounds Decision in the National Referral Mechanism from 45 to 90 days.

Sarah Newton

All potential victims of modern slavery receive intensive and specialist support for a minimum of 45 days, plus a further 14 days if they are conclusively found to be a victim to assist with their return home, their reintegration into society or their transfer to mainstream support.

This level of support means that the UK is exceeding its obligations under Article 12 of the European Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings (ECAT). The Government is piloting changes to aspects of the National Referral Mechanism and we will consider whether changes to existing arrangements are needed once the pilot has been evaluated.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-10-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many European Economic Area citizens in the UK have permanent residence cards; and how many applications for such cards there have been in each of the last 12 months.

Mr Robert Goodwill

Under EU law, European Economic Area (EEA) nationals qualify for a right of permanent residence in the UK provided that certain conditions are met. The Prime Minister has been clear that she wants to protect the status of EU nationals already living in the UK, and the only circumstances in which that would not be possible are if British citizens’ rights in other EU Member States were not protected in return in the course of agreement with the EU.

For those EEA nationals who are in the UK and have a right of permanent residence, it is not mandatory to apply for documentation confirming that right. Statistics of decisions and grants of permanent residence documentation issued to EEA nationals are published quarterly in table ee_02_q of Immigration Statistics. The most recent edition is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2016/list-of-tables#european-economic-area-eea

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-10-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, with reference to the Answer of 10 October 2016 to Question 46333, how much has been spent on the functions of the Department for International Trade; and what estimate he has made of how much will be spent on those functions by the end of the current fiscal year.

Mark Garnier

Following her appointment on 13 July 2016 the Prime Minister established the Department for International Trade (DIT). Until such time as a transfer of functions order establishes my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade as a corporation sole, DIT remains a unified Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) department for accounting purposes. The transfer of functions order (No 2016/ 992) laid on 19 October 2016 will come into effect on 9 November 2016.

DIT is a new Department and is in the process of establishing a separate and distinct budget for its operating costs. This will be shared with Parliament through the Autumn Statement and Supplementary Estimates.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2015-10-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects new rolling stock to be introduced on the forthcoming Transpennine Express franchise; and whether that rolling stock is planned to be diesel or electric powered.

Andrew Jones

Bids are currently being evaluated for the TransPennine Express (TPE) franchise and we expect to announce the winning bidder and its rolling stock plans by the end of the year. When the detailed plans for TransPennine electrification are confirmed, the Department will work with the TPE franchisee to ensure that the necessary rolling stock is put into place; this is expected to take place during the franchise term.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2015-11-16.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff of the Financial Conduct Authority and the Financial Services Authority worked on money laundering enforcement in each of the last five years.

Harriett Baldwin

This is an operational matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), who are operationally independent from Government. The question has been passed on to the FCA. The FCA will reply directly to the honourable member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2015-12-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish the criteria used for determining the points allocation given to a person receiving dialysis at home for the purpose of a personal independence payment allocation.

Justin Tomlinson

The PIP Assessment Guide for Health Professionals carrying out assessments includes guidance on the assessment criteria and how they should be applied.

Activity 3 – ‘Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition’ (page 97) explains how to assess a person receiving dialysis at home. This guidance can be accessed on the gov.uk website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449043/pip-assessment-guide.pdf

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many press and public relations staff are employed by (a) his Department, (b) the Competition and Markets Authority, (c) Land Registry, (d) the Ordnance Survey, (e) UK Trade and Investment, (f) Companies House, (g) the Met Office, (h) the UK Space Agency, (i) the Insolvency Service, (j) the National Measurement and Regulation Office, (k) the Intellectual Property Office, (l) the Skills Funding Agency, (m) the Arts and Humanities Research Council, (n) the Biotechnology and Biological Research Council, (o) the British Hallmarking Council, (p) the Competition Service, (q) the Economic and Social Research Council, (r) Innovate UK, (s) the Medical Research Council, (t) the Office for Fair Access, (u) the Student Loans Company, (v) the UK Atomic Energy Authority, (w) the UK Commission for Employment and Skills and (x) the Low Pay Commission; how many of these 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.

Joseph Johnson

The information requested will take time to collate. I will write to the Hon. Member as soon as it is available, and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many press and public relations are employed by (a) the Disabled People’s Employment Corporation, (b) Health and Safety Executive, (c) National Employment Savings Trust Corporation, (d) Pensions Advisory Service, (e) Pensions Regulator, (f) Pension Protection Fund Ombudsman, (g) Pensions Ombudsman, (h) Pension Protection Fund; how many of those employees were paid more than (i) £50,000 and (ii) £100,000; and what the total cost of running press office in each of those organisations was in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Justin Tomlinson

Across Government, the government communications profession saved £330 million for taxpayers last year compared to 2009 to 2010 – by making its campaigns more cost effective. This means that we reduced communications spending by a total of £1 billion during the last Parliament.

The Health and Safety Executive employs six full time press officers. No press officer is paid more than £50,000. The total cost of running the press office In 2014/15 was £858,000, including staff payroll costs of £291,000 and media monitoring, evaluation and other support services of £567,000.

The National Employment Savings Trust Corporation employs the equivalent of 3.3 full time staff to deliver press and public relations. One person is paid over £50,000 per annum. The total cost of running the press office in 2014/15 was £193,000, including staff payroll costs of £124,000 and non-staff costs of £69,000.

The Pensions Regulator employs two people in their press office, both of whom earn over £50,000 per annum. The total cost of running the press office in 2014/15 was £364,000, including staff payroll costs of £316,000 and media monitoring service costs of £48,000.

The Pension Protection Fund employs two members of staff whose duties are primarily related to press and public relations. One of these members of staff earns more than £50,000 per annum. The total cost of running the press office in 2014/15 was £169,000, including staff payroll costs of £132,000 and supplier costs of £37,000.

The Pensions Advisory Service, Pensions Ombudsman and Pensions Protection Fund Ombudsman do not have a press office, or employ any press or public relations staff. Since August 2015, the Pensions Ombudsman has engaged a part time Communications Manager at a salary less than £50,000 per annum.

The Disabled People’s Employment Corporation (GB) Ltd is a non-trading company, managing legacy issues following the sale of Remploy Ltd into the private sector in April 2015. DPEC is winding up its affairs and now employs no staff. In 2014/15, the company employed four staff in its Marketing Communications department, all earning over £50,000 per annum. The total cost of running the press office in 2014/15 was £418,000.