Tag: John Mann

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2015-12-15.

To ask the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, how many members of (a) the House of Commons and (b) the House of Lords have offices within the historic core of the Palace of Westminster.

Tom Brake

193 Members of the House of Commons have their offices located in the Palace of Westminster. Provision of offices for Peers is not a matter for the Commission but is the responsibility of the House of Lords.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2016-02-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unaccompanied children arriving at UK airports from which countries were not eligible for entry clearance in 2015.

James Brokenshire

This information is not held centrally.

The UK Government takes child safeguarding extremely seriously. All Border Force officers have received training in keeping children safe and all operational processes involving children comply with requirements as set out in the Children and Young Persons Act.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2016-07-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has any plans to move away from a tax-funded NHS towards one funded by insurance and co-payments.

Mr Philip Dunne

There is no plan to change the way that the National Health Service is funded nor any consideration of changes. The Government remains committed to the principles of the NHS, enshrined in the NHS Constitution, that access to NHS services is based on clinical need, not the ability to pay.

The Government is also committed to working with the NHS in implementing its own plan for the future of the NHS – the Five Year Forward View – backed up by the commitment made in the Spending Review to provide an additional £10 billion in real terms by 2020-21 compared to 2014-15. This fully funds the plan.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2016-10-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether, when setting up the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the Government stipulated how many members of the counsel team supporting that inquiry were to practise family law.

Sarah Newton

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse was established under the Inquiries Act 2005. The appointment of counsel to the inquiry is a matter for the inquiry chair. The only requirement under the Inquiry Rules 2006 is that counsel appointed by the chair should be ‘qualified lawyers,’ which means they must be a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, who is responsible for paying defendant costs orders; and which organisation receives payment if costs are awarded for a successful prosecution of a breach.

Mr Shailesh Vara

Defendant Costs Orders are awarded to a defendant when a prosecution is unsuccessful and the defendant is acquitted. The expenditure is called ‘Central Funds’ and are payable at legal aid rates. Central Funds fall under the financial responsibility of the Legal Aid Agency but are operationally administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service.

If costs are awarded in a successful prosecution of a breach of a Defendant Costs Order, then whoever the prosecutor is will be entitled to receive the costs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what representation he has received from magistrates and the judiciary since 1 June 2014 on service delivery; and if he will seek feedback as part of Test Gate 4 on whether the sale of Community Rehabilitation Companies contracts is having a detrimental impact on sentencing and court processes.

Jeremy Wright

On 1 June, as part of our ongoing Transforming Rehabilitation Programme of reform, the new National Probation Service (NPS) and Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) formally commenced operation. My officials have been in regular contact with the judiciary and magistracy throughout the transition process, but we have had no specific representations from them concerning service delivery.

We have made it clear throughout this process that we will manage the reforms in a controlled way and we will not proceed to share sale until thorough testing is complete and we are satisfied that it is safe to do so.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many passport renewals have been completed within the advertised three week turnaround time from receipt in the last period for which figures are available.

James Brokenshire

Straightforward passport applications from applicants in the UK have a published expected turnaround of three weeks. For the financial year 2013-14,
99.58 percent of customers received their passports within that period.

Achievement of turnaround times is a national objective and specific targets are not focused on individual offices. This approach allows HM Passport Office
to channel resources and distribute applications to meet capacity.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many private and third sector bidders for privatised probation work employ ex-offenders; and of these how many employ ex-prisoners.

Jeremy Wright

In mid December, the bidders who passed the first stage of the competition to win the regional rehabilitation contracts were announced. The list includes a diverse mix of private and voluntary sector partnerships with more than 50 organisations represented – from charities experienced in tackling a range of issues affecting offenders, to small and large British businesses and experienced multinationals. All of these Tier One bidders have experience in working with offenders or across the wider Criminal Justice System.

The successful delivery of this competition does not depend on or require the Programme to hold information on how many private and third sector organisations bidding for Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRC) contracts employ ex-offenders or ex-prisoners. Such information would be included in bidder’s submissions if it was deemed relevant by that bidder. We have a strong and diverse market and anticipate that the bids we receive to run CRCs will be of a high standard. Providers will need to demonstrate in their bids how they would deliver high quality rehabilitative support to offenders, and they will be held to account to deliver these services in their contracts.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what criteria his Department uses to assess the saleability of new houses when determining the potential for five-year housing supply.

Nick Boles

The National Planning Policy Framework requires local authorities to identify and update annually a supply of specific, deliverable sites sufficient to provide five years worth of housing against their housing requirements with an additional buffer of 5% (moved forward from later in the plan period) to ensure choice and competition in the market for land.

Footnote 11 of the Framework sets out that, to be considered deliverable, sites should be available now, offer a suitable location for development now, and be achievable with a realistic prospect that housing will be delivered on the site within five years and in particular that development of the site is viable. Further guidance on viability is available at: http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/blog/guidance/viability-guidance/

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what account he takes of local referendums on the desirability of specific sites being allocated to new housing.

Nick Boles

This Coalition Government have given communities radical new rights to plan for their areas, deliver the development they want and control their future. Over 1,000 communities have applied for a neighbourhood planning area to be designated, and neighbourhood plans are receiving overwhelming support through local referendums. So far we have had 17 successful referendums on neighbourhood plans.

A neighbourhood plan (including any specific sites within it) which has been supported by the majority of those voting in a referendum can form the basis for decisions on development in the local area.

A neighbourhood development order, if endorsed by a local referendum, can also grant permission for specified developments in a neighbourhood area.