The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2014-04-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the total (a) number and (b) value was of financial penalties imposed on bus operators by each of the eight regional traffic commissioners from 2010-11 to date.
Stephen Hammond
The information requested is in the table below:
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on passenger survivability in the North Sea of side-floating helicopter schemes that (a) comply and (b) do not comply with the relevant Civil Aviation Authority statutory specifications.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as part of its Offshore Helicopter Review, looked at improvements that could be made to helicopters to increase the survivability of passengers in the event of a ditching in the sea. The CAA has made recommendations to industry concerning the use of flotation devices. However, the CAA does not have statutory specifications for side-floating helicopter schemes.
The requirements for such equipment are being developed by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which commissioned a study that was conducted by Eurocopter and Aerazur. Previous research by both the CAA and the US Federal Aviation Administration has shown that the majority of fatalities following a ditching or water impact event were due to drowning following the capsize of the helicopter. Future requirements for such equipment, which are intended to mitigate the risk of capsize, will be determined by EASA.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of the helicopter fleet operating in the offshore oil and gas industry is fitted with a side-floating helicopter scheme that is compliant with the Civil Aviation Authority’s relevant statutory specifications.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as part of its Offshore Helicopter Review, looked at improvements that could be made to helicopters to increase the survivability of passengers in the event of a ditching in the sea. The CAA has made recommendations to industry concerning the use of flotation devices. However, the CAA does not have statutory specifications for side-floating helicopter schemes.
The requirements for such equipment are being developed by the European Aviation Safety Agency.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2014-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of changes to the number of fast delivery reports to magistrates’ courts in England and Wales after the introduction of the Transforming Rehabilitation Agenda.
Jeremy Wright
Pre-Sentence Reports currently fall into three categories; Standard Delivery (SDR), Fast Delivery (FDR), and Same Day (or Oral) reports. This process allows Courts the flexibility to deliver sentencing decisions in the appropriate timeframe, depending on each individual case, reducing the number of adjournments and expediting the criminal justice process.
The Transforming Rehabilitation reforms will introduce a new Risk of Serious Recidivism (RSR) tool which will be used to inform the allocation of cases to new Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) or the National Probation Service (NPS) and complements the pre-sentence report process. Our testing with operational staff in Trusts of the RSR tool indicates that it is straightforward to use, in line with our commitment to minimising bureaucracy for frontline staff.
The new National Probation Service (NPS) will be responsible for advice to courts and, prior to sentence, the NPS will advise courts on sentencing options for cases as part of a pre-sentence report (in accordance with the reserved function of advice to court under section 4 of the Offender Management Act 2007).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2014-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what resources he will make available for interviews between a prisoner and a probation officer to allocate the case to the National Probation Service or a Community Rehabilitation Company after a sentence of imprisonment after the introduction of the Transforming Rehabilitation Agenda in England and Wales.
Jeremy Wright
The Transforming Rehabilitation transitional process taking place during April and May 2014 will allow us to refine all new procedures before the creation of CRCs and the NPS on 1 June 2014, and help to ensure the right resources are in place to carry out all associated tasks.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2014-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the National Probation Service will be responsible for the provision of court reports after the introduction of the Transforming Rehabilitation Agenda in England and Wales.
Jeremy Wright
Pre-Sentence Reports currently fall into three categories; Standard Delivery (SDR), Fast Delivery (FDR), and Same Day (or Oral) reports. This process allows Courts the flexibility to deliver sentencing decisions in the appropriate timeframe, depending on each individual case, reducing the number of adjournments and expediting the criminal justice process.
The Transforming Rehabilitation reforms will introduce a new Risk of Serious Recidivism (RSR) tool which will be used to inform the allocation of cases to new Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) or the National Probation Service (NPS) and complements the pre-sentence report process. Our testing with operational staff in Trusts of the RSR tool indicates that it is straightforward to use, in line with our commitment to minimising bureaucracy for frontline staff.
The new National Probation Service (NPS) will be responsible for advice to courts and, prior to sentence, the NPS will advise courts on sentencing options for cases as part of a pre-sentence report (in accordance with the reserved function of advice to court under section 4 of the Offender Management Act 2007).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answers given to the Rt hon. Member for Chelmsford of 4 March 2014, Official Report, columns 768-9W, on cancer: drugs, and to the hon. Member for Wells of 19 March 2014, Official Report, column 614W, on National Institute for Health Research, if he will place in the Library the data used to calculate those Answers.
Norman Lamb
Prior to April 2013, the Cancer Drugs Fund was administered through clinical panels based in each strategic health authority and the Department collected information on spend and number of patients treated by drug.
NHS England has had oversight of the Cancer Drugs Fund since April 2013 and publishes information on spend and patient numbers routinely on its website at:
www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/pe/cdf/
National Institute for Health Research expenditure is reported in the Department’s annual report and accounts.
Copies of the information used to provide answers to the Rt hon. Member for Chelmsford on 4 March 2014, Official Report, columns 768-9W and to the hon. Member for Wells on 19 March 2014, Official Report, column 614W have been placed in the Library.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 11 November 2013, Official Report, columns 419-20W, on animals: experiments, when the Animals in Science Committee will publish its review of the Home Office inspectorate’s report and Imperial College’s independent report on the investigation into animal experiments at Imperial College, London; and when this report will be placed in the Library.
Norman Baker
A draft of the report will be presented to the Animals in Science Committee for discussion and agreement on 23 June 2014. Subject to any amendments that the Committee may require, it is expected that the report will be published shortly thereafter.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions his Department has had with B&K Universal Ltd, Yorkshire Evergreen or their associates about their planning application for a facility at Grimston, Yorkshire for the breeding of dogs and other animals for laboratory use in the last 12 months.
Nick Boles
There have been no discussions between my Department and this company or their associates in the last 12 months. However, I can confirm that a planning appeal of an application to develop their facilities has recently been received, necessitating standard procedural communications with the Planning Inspectorate.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame M. Morris on 2014-06-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions his Department has had with B&K Universal Ltd, Yorkshire Evergreen or their associates relating to their planning application for a facility at Grimston, Yorkshire for the breeding of dogs and other animals for laboratory use in the last 12 months.
Mr David Willetts
UK Trade and Investment and BIS officials provided general planning advice to B&K Universal in the last year at the company’s request. BIS officials met with B&K’s parent company Marshall and signposted other sources of advice and information. Officials were also asked to provide advice on EU Directive 2010/63 and referred this query to the Home Office as the Department with responsibility for implementing the Directive in the UK.
The use of animals in scientific research remains a vital tool in improving our understanding of how biological systems work both in health and disease and in the development of new medicines and treatments vital for human health and for that of animals. It also underpins the success of the UK’s life science sector which has one of the strongest and most productive industries in the world.
The UK has a rigorous regulatory system which ensures that animal research and testing is carried out only where no practicable alternative exists, and under controls which keep suffering to the minimum.
The Government is committed to working to further reduce the use of animals in scientific research and in February 2013 published its delivery plan. This demonstrates our commitment to the “3Rs”: where possible to replace animal use, reduce the number of animals used and to refine the procedures involved so as to find additional ways to minimise suffering. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-to-reduce-the-use-of-animals-in-research-delivery-plan
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