Tag: Diana Johnson

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.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the total annual saving to the public purse has been of the closure of the Hull office of the Insolvency Service.

Anna Soubry

The decision to close the Hull office, with effect from 14 November 2014, was based on savings with a Net Present Value of £289,000 over 5 years. The profile of savings is such that they will mainly be realised towards the end of that period. Current information is that we are on course to achieve these savings.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-03-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to paragraph 1.89 of the Budget 2016, whether nursery schools are included in the plans to convert all schools to academies; how she expects the changes announced in the Budget 2016 to affect nursery schools; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Sam Gyimah

The expectation that all schools should become academies by 2020, set out in the 2016 Budget, did not include the early years. The government has already announced an ambitious plan to transform early years provision so that working families can receive 30 hours free childcare.

The consultation on the National Funding Formula for schools sets out the government’s plans for replacing the arbitrary and unfair system for allocating primary and secondary school funding with a fairer system. Later this year, we will consult on proposals for a fairer funding system for all of the early years.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-05-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of (a) trafficking in human beings and (b) forced labour were recorded by Humberside Police in each year from 2010 to 2015; in how many such cases prosecutions were brought; and what the outcomes were of those prosecutions.

Karen Bradley

Recorded crime figures for the period 2010 to 2014 do not directly correlate to the two categories in the question. Data on human trafficking for sexual exploitation shows that one case of this type was recorded by Humberside in 2012/13. Crime recording rules stipulate that only the most serious offence in a sequence of crimes is recorded, so it is possible that other cases of trafficking for sexual exploitation offences have been recorded under other offences that could result in a more severe sentence. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 increased the maximum sentence available for modern slavery offences to life imprisonment. Modern Slavery was introduced as a separate crime classification in April 2015. This classification includes trafficking for all forms of exploitation and slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour. Between April and December 2015, eight modern slavery crimes were recorded by Humberside.

The number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts and found guilty at all courts for offences related to human trafficking and forced labour in the Humberside Police Force Area, from 2010 to 2015 was four. This is recorded on the basis the location of the magistrates’ court where proceedings started, and hence it may be that an offence recorded in Humberside was then proceeded against in another police force area.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his policy is on future collaboration with the EU on consumer protections in relation to e-commerce; and if he will make it his policy to ensure British consumers who access e-commerce firms located in the EU single market continue to be offered the protections currently provided by Directive on Consumer Rights (2011/83/EC).

Margot James

We are about to begin our negotiations to withdraw from the European Union and it would be wrong to set out further unilateral positions in advance. At every step of these negotiations we will work to ensure the best possible outcome for the British people.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-07-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what his policy is on future UK involvement in the Innovative Medicines Initiative.

Mr David Davis

The Innovative Medicines Initiative is a joint undertaking between the European Union and the pharmaceutical industry association EFPIA to boost biomedical innovation. The UK remains a member of the EU until our withdrawal is completed. UK researchers can still apply for Horizon 2020 projects. Future involvement will need to be agreed in forthcoming negotiations.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the European Commission on the status of British academics wishing to be included in cross-European research project applications funded by the EU.

Joseph Johnson

I have been in close contact with Commissioner Moedas on the topic of cross Europe research funding. The Commission have been very supportive of the UK perspective that while the UK remains a member of the EU, current EU funding and collaboration arrangements continue unchanged. And as we announced on the 13^th August, the Treasury will underwrite funding for approved Horizon 2020 projects applied for before the UK leaves the European Union.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 28 June 2016 to Question 40553, whether (a) local Health and Wellbeing Boards, (b) Clinical Commissioning Groups, (c) NHS Trusts, (d) hon. Members and (e) members of the public will be consulted ahead of the implementation of Sustainability and Transformation Plans.

David Mowat

Clinical commissioning groups and National Health Service trusts have come together with local authorities to decide how to improve health and care services in their local area. This is a unique exercise in collaboration, with local doctors, hospitals and councils working together to decide the way forward in consultation with local communities.

We expect all local leaders to be regularly talking to members of the public and stakeholders, including hon. Members. It is vital that people are able to shape the future of their local services. No changes to the services people currently receive will be made without local engagement and, where required, consultation. There are longstanding assurance processes in place to make sure this happens. The national health and care bodies are about to publish engagement guidance for local areas developing Sustainability and Transformation Plans.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2016 to Question 42107, on Islamic State, what factors would need to change for a referral to the International Criminal Court to be considered practical; what discussions the Government has had with (a) Russia, (b) China and (c) other permanent members of the UN Security Council on securing their vote for a referral; and what the Government’s latest assessment is of (i) Russia’s and (ii) China’s policy on that issue.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We expect that any Security Council resolution at this time seeking to refer the situations in Iraq or Syria to the International Criminal Court (ICC) would be blocked, as it was when efforts were made to refer the situation in Syria to the ICC in 2014. We continue to work with our international partners, including other permanent members of the UN Security Council, to look at every available option to assist the victims of Daesh and bring those responsible for crimes to justice.