The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-01-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he last held discussions with the National Trading Standards Board on plans to reduce funding for Illegal Money Lending Units.
Nick Boles
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has not held discussions with National Trading Standards Board on plans to reduce funding for illegal money lending units.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-01-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will meet representatives of High Arcal Academy in Dudley to discuss its Condition Improvement Fund bid for a new sports hall.
Edward Timpson
Applications to the Condition Improvement Fund closed on 16 December 2015 and we can confirm that The High Arcal School’s application for a new sports hall has been received. Applications are now being assessed against our published criteria to ensure that those with the greatest need receive funding. In the interests of fairness to all applicants in what is a competitive process, my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools will be unable to meet school representatives during assessment.
We expect to notify all schools of their bid outcomes by the end of March and my noble Friend will ensure that The High Arcal School is contacted.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-02-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what she expects the pass mark to be for each one to nine grade in the new GCSE grading system in (a) English, (b) science, (c) mathematics and (d) a modern foreign language in 2017.
Nick Gibb
This is a matter for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have therefore asked its Chief Regulator, Glenys Stacey, to write directly to the Honourable Member. A copy of her reply will be placed in the House of Commons Library.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-03-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he has taken to ensure that the minutes and details of any actions resulting from a Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference are shared with National Probation Service staff.
Andrew Selous
The Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) chair or coordinator for each local authority area is responsible for scheduling meetings and notifying partners (including the National Probation Service (NPS)) of cases that are to be discussed. A representative of the NPS attends any meetings where offenders subject to NPS supervision are to be discussed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-04-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many academy alternative provision sponsor-led schools have been graded (a) outstanding, (b) good, (c) requires improvement and (d) inadequate in each year since 2010.
Nick Gibb
These are matters 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.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-05-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many funding agreements have been terminated by each regional schools commissioner.
Mr Sam Gyimah
A funding agreement is contract between the Secretary of State and an academy trust. The model funding agreement states that the agreement can be terminated under the following grounds: termination by either party; by warning notice; by the Secretary of State after inspection; by the Secretary of State; and a change of control.
The Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs) are civil servants, and as such, carry out their duties in the name of the Secretary of State. The RSCs have powers to make a decision, on behalf of the Secretary of State, to replace a sponsor or trust, where they have not been able to secure necessary improvements. In some circumstances, the funding agreement may be terminated as part of the process.
As with other areas of their responsibility, RSCs escalate decisions to the National Schools Commissioner or the relevant minister where they are sensitive, raise issues of interpretation of government policy, or relate to urgent safeguarding or extremism concerns.
The decision to terminate a funding agreement that results in the closure of an academy is made by the Secretary of State.
Listed below are the numbers of academy closures and re-brokerages by region since the RSCs’ appointment in September 2014:
|
RSC |
Re-brokered |
Closed |
Total |
|
East Midlands & Humber |
28 |
7 |
35 |
|
Lancashire & West Yorkshire |
15 |
3 |
18 |
|
North |
6 |
3 |
9 |
|
North East London & East |
15 |
2 |
17 |
|
North West London & South Central |
10 |
2 |
12 |
|
South London & South East |
9 |
4 |
13 |
|
South West |
28 |
1 |
29 |
|
West Midlands |
11 |
3 |
14 |
|
Total |
122 |
25 |
147 |
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-09-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the role of Gaelic language broadcasting in delivering the BBC’s commitment to public service broadcasting.
Matt Hancock
During the BBC Charter Review public consultation we have listened to views across a range of issues in relation to the BBC, including Gaelic language broadcasting.
There is a successful partnership between the BBC and MG Alba for the delivery of Gaelic language broadcasting. The White Paper, published in May 2016, sets out the Government’s intention to require maintain a commitment to minority language broadcasting through the new Charter.
The level of funding dedicated to BBC ALBA and the number of hours of in-house Gaelic language programming broadcast are matters for the BBC Board to consider when fulfilling this requirement under the new Charter.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to section 6.5 of the Memorandum of Understanding between her Department and the Palestinian National Authority, whether the implications of any breach of the commitment on the principle of non-violence was discussed at the annual partnership talks between her Department and that Authority.
Rory Stewart
The UK raised the issue of incitement as part of the FCO-led UK-Palestinian strategic talks and in the DFID-Palestinian Authority (PA) annual talks that review the DFID-PA Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), sending a clear message of discouraging incitement to violence. The UK’s assessment is that the PA is not in breach of the MoU and the track record of President Abbas and Prime Minister Hamdallah demonstrates their overall commitment to non-violence and a negotiated two-state solution.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-10-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that workers in the care sector are paid the full national living wage.
David Mowat
Social care continues to be a key priority for the Government. This is why, against the context of tough public sector finances; the Government has taken steps to protect social care services. The Government is giving local authorities access to up to £3.5 billion of new support for social care by 2019/20. This should mean local government has access to the funding to increase social care spending in real terms by the end of the Parliament. This will support councils to continue to focus on core services and to pay fees which reflect provider costs including the National Living Wage.
The Spending Review took into account a range of financial and economic factors, including projections and data on the National Living Wage from the Office of Budget Responsibility and Skills for Care.
Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities must have regard to fostering an effective workforce with the appropriate capabilities when shaping their local markets. The Act and its statutory guidance make clear that prices and fee rates agreed with providers must reflect these new duties, including the National Living Wage.
Social care workers play a vital role in our society and it is unacceptable that there are some circumstances where they are not being paid properly. Non-compliance with the National Living Wage is illegal and the Department is working with HM Revenue and Customs to help eliminate it from the home care sector.
The Department has regular meetings with the trade bodies that represent the care sector and is grateful for the information provided that adds to our understanding of financial challenges including the National Living Wage. In addition major providers and associations in the care industry have formed their own taskforce to discuss key issues for the sector. The Department attends as an observer.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-11-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the efficiency of West Midlands Police.
Mike Penning
It is the responsibility of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) which is charged in statute with inspecting the efficiency and effectiveness of all police forces in England and Wales. In October 2015 HMIC, rated West Midlands Police as ‘outstanding’ as part of their PEEL Efficiency Inspections.