Tag: Jim Cunningham

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-12-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the security risk posed by areas of the Mediterranean shoreline which are under the control of Islamic State; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We are extremely concerned about the growing threat from extremist groups present along the Mediterranean shoreline, including Daesh and groups affiliated with it. These groups pose potential threats to the UK and our interests and citizens overseas, as well as a threat to stability in the region. Where Daesh has a foothold on the Mediterranean shoreline in Libya, we are working closely with international partners to develop our understanding of its presence, and how to tackle it there. We are supporting UN-led efforts to establish a Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libya, which will be crucial in the long term to tackling the Daesh threat present in that county and across the region.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-12-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2015 to Question 18323, what assessment his Department has made of progress on establishing a government of national accord in Libya; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We urgently need to see a conclusion to the UN-led political process and the formation of a Government of National Accord in Libya. The Libyan Political Agreement announced at Skhirat in October is the only basis for peace and security in Libya, and only a Government of National Accord can begin the difficult work of establishing effective, legitimate governance, restoring stability and tackling the threat posed by Daesh. The Rome Conference co-chaired by Italy, the US, and the UN on 13 December will be an opportunity to demonstrate the determination of the international community on the way forward. The UK has been at the forefront of efforts to coordinate international support for a unity Government.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-12-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations he has received from the Automotive Council on the long-term sustainability of automotive manufacturing in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry

The Government has regular and constructive dialogue with the automotive industry – including through the Automotive Council, which is taking a leadership position in ensuring the sustainable growth of the sector in the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-01-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the pupil-teacher ratio in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools has been in each of the last 10 years; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb

The information requested is published in table 17a in the statistical first release ‘School Workforce in England, November 2014’ and is available from the following web link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-workforce-in-england-november-2014

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-01-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will commission a review into the working hours of junior doctors; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Gummer

The Working Time Regulations provide the same protection to junior doctors as to other workers, limiting working hours to an average of 48 per week. Junior doctors, as is the case for all workers, may choose to opt-out of the Working Time Regulations and work beyond the limits; however, where they do so, their contract imposes a limit of 56 hours per week.

The vast majority – 99% – of junior doctors are working within these current limits. Under the proposed new contract the limits on average weekly hours will continue to apply and there will also be limits that go further than the legislation including a cap on the maximum number of hours that junior doctors can work in any one week – the legislation permits 91 hours but the contract will limit this to 72. Under the new contract junior doctors will have work schedules setting out their duties, expected training opportunities and contracted hours. These will be regularly reviewed and junior doctors will be able to request a review at any time. There will be a system of exception reporting where work varies regularly and/or significantly from the work schedule. Junior doctors will also be able to report exceptions and concerns to a guardian of safe working for each organisation – whose appointment will be agreed with the British Medical Association – and request a review if they are not treated as promised.

1% (around 500) of junior doctors has working patterns that are in breach of the current contractual limits on hours or rest. The new contract will bring an end to that.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-01-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the level of maintenance support for undergraduate students; and if he will make a statement.

Joseph Johnson

The support available under the student finance system is reviewed annually.

An Equality Analysis of changes to the support package for full-time students in 2016/17 was published on the GOV.UK website on 3 December 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-01-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce delays in payment of tax credits and other benefits as a result of administrative errors; and if he will make a statement.

Priti Patel

Tax Credits are the responsibility of HMRC.

The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to ensuring payments are made in a timely manner and benefit payment times are improving year on year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-01-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many trauma cases were recorded across all NHS hospitals in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison

Information on the number of trauma cases treated at National Health Service hospitals is not collected centrally. Trauma is not a formal term by which activity is recorded.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-02-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his German counterpart on compensation for thalidomide survivors in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Lidington

At a meeting with representatives of the Thalidomide Trust on 11 January, I agreed to raise with the German Ambassador the Trust’s request for a further meeting with the German authorities. I wrote in these terms to the Ambassador on 4 February.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-02-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to categorise houses which are overcrowded and have fewer than three storeys as houses in multiple occupation; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis

The Department has recently consulted on options for extending the scope of mandatory licensing to include those Houses in Multiple Occcupation in England with fewer than three storeys. We plan to announce our proposals and next steps in the spring.