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 applications from academy trusts to use land for purposes other than education have been (a) approved and (b) refused in each year since 2011.
Edward Timpson
The data is not held in the format requested. Any academy wishing to dispose or permanently change the use of its land must obtain the Secretary of State’s consent. However, whilst continuing to hold their land for educational purposes in accordance with their charitable status, academies may allow others to make occasional or limited use of their land, for example, by using this flexibility to play an important role in supporting their local communities.
Only a minority of academies hold the freehold to their sites; the majority lease the land from local authorities and only the freeholder authority would have the power to request the Secretary of State’s consent to either dispose of or permanently change the use of land. The local authority, as the land owner, would also need to seek consent from the Secretary of State should the land be appropriated for other non-educational purposes.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-09-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, when her Department last made a formal assessment of the Palestinian National Authority’s adherence to its commitment to ensure that the human rights of all citizens are respected without exception as set out in the Memorandum of Understanding between her Department and that authority; and if she will make a statement.
James Wharton
The last formal assessment of the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) commitment to the Partnership Principles, including the PA’s commitment to respecting human rights, was carried out in May 2016. Our assessment is that the PA continues to deliver on the Partnership Principles, even under increasingly fragile and volatile conditions.
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 human rights was discussed at the annual partnership talks between her Department and that Authority.
Rory Stewart
The UK raised the issue of human rights as part of the FCO-led UK-Palestinian strategic talks and in the DFID- Palestinian Authority (PA) annual talks that review the broader DFID-PA Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with a clear message that we take very seriously any allegations of human rights abuses. The UK assesses that the PA is not in breach of its commitment to respecting human rights.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-10-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with care providers on funding the additional costs of introducing the 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.