Tag: Imran Hussain

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-05-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the outcomes of the World Humanitarian Summit on gender equality; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Desmond Swayne

The World Humanitarian Summit made real gains for gender equality in humanitarian responses. This was a priority of the UK at the Summit and our call to put gender equality at the heart of 21st century humanitarian action was loudly echoed by many. There was strong agreement on the need to go beyond protection and make sure girls and women have a voice, choice, and control, even when crises hit. New Member States joined the Call to Action on Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (launched by UK in 2013) and commitments were made to ensure the right to sexual and reproductive health care is fulfilled for all women and adolescent girls in crisis settings.

My colleague, the Secretary of State for International Development, has already given her impressions of the Summit in a Written Ministerial Statement to the House.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-06-20.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the effect of the use of telematic black box electronic recording devices by insurance companies on the cost of car insurance.

Harriett Baldwin

In general, an insurer will make a decision about the terms on which they will offer cover following an assessment of the risks posed by an individual. Some insurers offer discounts to drivers who choose to use telematics in their cars. This is usually informed by the insurer’s claims experience and other industry-wide statistics. The Government does not intend to intervene in these commercial decisions by insurers as this could damage competition in the market. The respective capabilities of insurers to assess risk is a key element on which they compete. This competition is important and should lead to better products and lower prices for consumers.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department plans to conduct a review of dentistry provision contracts.

David Mowat

The Government is committed to replacing the current National Health Service dental contract with one that better rewards dentists for improving the oral health of their patients in addition to providing treatment where needed.

The dental pilots which ran from 2011-16 tested a new way of delivering care focussed on prevention. Based on the learning from that scheme, 79 high street practices are continuing to test the prevention based clinical pathway with the addition of testing a possible new remuneration system.

The prototype scheme evaluation is expected during 2017-18. The evaluation will be overseen by an evidence and learning group, which includes clinical and stakeholder representation. If successful the new system could start to be rolled out nationally from 2018-19.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2015-11-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of (a) disqualifications of parliamentary candidates, (b) disenfranchisement of ethnic groups and (c) inaccuracy and omissions from the voter lists in elections in Burma in November 2015.

Mr Hugo Swire

The British Govenment was concerned by the disqualification of parliamentary candidates, which disproportionately affected Muslim nominees. Of the 6,074 candidates who registered, 99 nominations were rejected, of which 22 were Muslim. Of these, 67 appealed, and 24 decisions were overturned of which 11 were Muslim. The EU Election Observation Mission’s (EOM) preliminary statement of 10 November stated that since the rejections predominantly focused on the strict application of the citizenship requirement, this impacted particularly heavily on Muslim candidates. The EU EOM estimated that only 28 Muslim candidates stood in total. The UK has regularly expressed its deep disappointment with the decision to revoke Temporary Residence Cards (‘White Cards’) which effectively disenfranchised the Rohingya community from the vote, as well as some other minorities. The EU EOM noted that, as a result, universal suffrage was not properly provided for, and the elections were not fully inclusive. Improving the conditions for the Rohingya remains a top priority for the UK. As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymead and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) said in his statement of 10 November: ‘The UK stands ready to support the people of Burma as they continue to work towards a more democratic and accountable government, including those unable to vote in this election.’ Ahead of polling day there were widespread concerns about the accuracy of the voter lists. However, on the day, the EU EOM noted that: ‘Most voters, in polling stations visited, found their names on the voter list, but in 7% of polling stations visited some absences on the list were observed.’

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2015-11-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that claimants with limited English are referred to a structured programme to improve their English skills.

Priti Patel

All Jobseekers are screened for their ability in English Language skills and referred to appropriate English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) training to improve their skills to help support them into employment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-03-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which (a) fixed and (b) mobile structures funded by her Department in Area C of the Occupied Palestinian Territory have been (i) demolished and (ii) confiscated by the Israeli authorities in (A) 2015 and (B) 2016.

Mr Desmond Swayne

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided on 17 March to Question number 30955

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-04-12.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to allow the exchange of tax information of UK-listed companies with developing countries.

Mr David Gauke

The UK supports efforts to improve tax transparency. We initiated international work on country-by-country (CbC) reporting during our G8 Presidency in 2013, calling on the OECD to develop a framework for CbC reporting to tax authorities as part of the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project. This important initiative will enhance transparency between business and tax authorities, including those of developing countries.

The UK has published regulations on 26 February 2016 implementing the OECD CbC reporting framework.

We have also signed the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement which allows from the automatic exchange of the OECD CbC reports between relevant tax authorities. All countries are free to enter into international agreements so that they can exchange reports under the Multilateral Convention, bilateral double tax conventions or tax information exchange agreements.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-05-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department plans to increase the number of interventions to tackle violence against women and girls through programmes funded by her Department at (a) donor and (b) country level.

Mr Nick Hurd

As set out in our UK Strategy to end violence against women and girls: 2016 to 2020 we are pursuing an ambitious programme of work at the international level. Scaling up efforts to eliminate VAWG requires global action and leadership. DFID is continuing to demonstrate leadership internationally, for example, at the World Humanitarian Summit the UK announced an expansion of the VAWG programme in Syria with UNFPA. DFID will continue to support VAWG interventions at country and central level where it is appropriate and where there is a comparative advantage for DFID to do so .

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with her foreign counterparts on the use of pellet guns and other non-lethal weapons for crowd control purposes.

Brandon Lewis

The Home Office has not had any discussions with foreign counterparts on the use of pellet guns and other non-lethal weapons for crowd control purposes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much overtime was paid to NHS staff in (a) 2015-16, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2013-14.

Mr Philip Dunne

The total overtime payments to National Health Service staff are estimated to have been:

– £380 million in 2015-16;

– £362 million in 2014-15; and

– £330 million in 2013-14

These estimates are based on pay information from the NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR), which is the Human Resources and Payroll system for almost all trusts in England. These estimates do not include overtime payments to general practitioners or their staff.

ESR includes hundreds of payment type codes and payment figures are aggregated to high-level groupings using a mapping system. One of the high-level groupings is Overtime/Additional Duty Hours. The estimates provided in the answer above are based on this.

Overtime/Additional Duty Hours is just one way of buying extra staffing resource in the NHS. Shifts, absence and vacancies are also filled using additional activity payments (e.g. additional programmed activities and additional hours at plain time rates for part-time staff), bank contracts, and agency staffing.