The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Argar on 2016-03-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the timetable is for the publication of the findings of the Accelerated Access Review.
George Freeman
Sir Hugh Taylor published his interim report to the review on 27 October 2015. The review will conclude with Sir Hugh’s final recommendations to Government which are expected in spring 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Argar on 2016-03-07.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the Financial Conduct Authority plans to report the findings of its consultation on the Financial Advice Market Review.
Harriett Baldwin
The Financial Advice Market Review, a joint review undertaken by HM Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority, will report around Budget 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Argar on 2016-04-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on economic development in Northern Ireland.
Mrs Theresa Villiers
The Government’s long-term economic plan is delivering for Northern Ireland. The economy there is growing.
There are 51,000 more people in work today than there were in 2010. The claimant count is down by 40% since its peak in February 2013.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Argar on 2016-05-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what criteria her Department uses to determine the award of contracts for projects overseas.
Mr Desmond Swayne
To determine the award of contracts, tenders are assessed against pre-defined and published evaluation criteria by an evaluation panel with relevant expertise. This assessment follows the EU Public Procurement principle of selecting the ‘most economically advantageous tender’. The evaluation has two main sections – technical evaluation and commercial evaluation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Argar on 2016-05-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what weighting is given to bids made by British companies tendering for contracts from her Department for projects overseas.
Mr Desmond Swayne
No additional weighting is given to bids made by British companies tendering for contracts for projects overseas.
100% of DFID aid assistance is untied. British companies have proven to be very successful, winning over 85% of contracts awarded by DFID and also competing successfully for contracts from other international development agencies.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Argar on 2016-05-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of her Department’s contracts for projects overseas were competitively tendered in each of the last three years.
Mr Desmond Swayne
90% of contracts awarded during 2013-14, 86% of contracts awarded during 2014-15 and 94% of contracts awarded during 2015-16 were competitively tendered. During this time-frame there were a number of contracts which are not deemed as competitively tendered.
Any programmes not competitively tendered are subject to Procurement management review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Argar on 2016-05-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to increase the effectiveness of the UK Border Force as a law enforcement organisation since it was established as an independent operational command within her Department in 2012.
James Brokenshire
Since it was established as an operational command of the Home Office in 2012, a number of positive changes have been made to Border Force’s working practices in order to make it a more effective law enforcement organisation. In 2012, Border Force was, for the first time, provided with an operating mandate which set out parameters for operational decision-making, including the need to maintain 100% checks on all passengers arriving at passport control at all times. Border Force has also become more intelligence-led – adept at utilising increasing volumes of advance data to make targeted interventions against potentially dangerous passengers and consignments of goods upon arrival in the UK.
Other important changes include: an improvement in command and control arrangements so that Border Force can rapidly respond and adjust to evolving security threats across different locations; employing new leadership in headquarters and ports across the country to install a more security-focussed culture in the organisation and plan effective operations with partner organisations at both a national and international level. Border Force has also increased the capability of its officers to respond to security threats, by equipping all permanently employed staff working at passport control with powers and training to detain individuals that pose a threat to the public who are subject to an arrest warrant or otherwise liable to arrest.
These reforms have had a transformative effect on Border Force. As well as undertaking its traditional immigration and customs roles more effectively and efficiently, it has also proved capable of meeting a range of new strategic priorities, including rapidly implementing a screening regime in response to the global ebola outbreak and being a international leader in its work to identify victims of trafficking and slavery. Furthermore, in the past year Border Force has seized nearly 8 tonnes of Class A Drugs, more than two and half times as much as in 2009/10.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Argar on 2016-07-13.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to support people with personal savings.
Simon Kirby
This Government has taken radical steps to support savers. From April 2017 the Lifetime ISA will mean People under 40 can use it to save for their first home and retirement and receive a 25% bonus from the Government. From the same date, all savers will also be able to benefit from the largest ever increase in the annual ISA allowance from £15,240 to £20,000 per year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Argar on 2016-09-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans the Government has to replicate the system of Historic Environment Records used in Wales in England.
Tracey Crouch
In England local planning authorities are required to have regard to the terms of the National Planning Policy Framework, which indicates that they should either maintain or have access to an Historical Environment Records (HER).
The Heritage Information Access Strategy (HIAS) programme intends to secure an improved and more cost effective approach to handling digital historic environment data, especially that held by local authority Historic Environment Records. It is intended to improve the accessibility of that information and work with HERs to become more user focused. As part of HIAS Historic England will continue to champion the development, maintenance and implementation of standards for the creation, management and storage of digital historic environment data.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Argar on 2016-09-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation on the ground in Yemen.
Rory Stewart
Yemen is one of the most serious and complex humanitarian crises in the world. The United Nations (UN) estimates that 21.2 million people in Yemen require humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs for food, water, sanitation, and healthcare, or protect their fundamental rights. Yemen is also experiencing an economic crisis, which has driven up food and other prices, and reduced people’s purchasing power.
Ultimately, only an end to the conflict will address the humanitarian crisis. The UK is working closely with other countries to de-escalate the conflict and is providing significant support to UN-led peace talks. The UK is also working with the UN and other countries to improve commercial and humanitarian access to and within Yemen.
The Secretary of State recently co-hosted an international event on Yemen to shine a spotlight on the humanitarian crisis. At the event, the UK announced a further £37 million, bringing our total humanitarian support for Yemen to £100 million for 2016/2017.