Tag: John Spellar

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Spellar on 2016-01-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent representations his Department has received about exit fees from retirement homes and villages; and if he will bring forward legislative proposals to regulate such fees.

Brandon Lewis

Following representations on this issue and an investigation by The Office of Fair Trading (now the Competition and Markets Authority) in 2013, my Department passed this issue to the Law Commission to investigate in 2014. Their remit was to consider the problems caused by exit fees, consider whether greater protections were needed, and to make recommendations to Government. The Law Commissioners issued a consultation, which is due to close on 29 January; I would urge all interested parties to respond to this.

Once the Law Commission has completed its work the Government will consider any recommendations and respond as appropriate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Spellar on 2016-06-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to ensure that his Department’s purchasing policies support British (a) industry and (b) agriculture.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Department’s purchasing policies support the Government’s commitment to do all it can to ensure UK suppliers can compete effectively for public sector contracts, in line with our current international obligations and guidance issued by the Crown Commercial Service.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will take steps to ensure that his Department’s purchasing policies support British (a) industry and (b) agriculture.

Mr David Jones

Consistent with Managing Public Money principles, the Department for Exiting the European Union will ensure its purchasing policies represent value for money, are compliant with legal and international obligations, and follow Government policies and standards on public procurement.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Spellar on 2016-01-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his policy is on the future of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Penny Mordaunt

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary will continue to provide front line logistical support that is scaled to meet our current and projected commitments. In addition, a shipbuilding programme is under way to deliver four TIDE Class tankers as well three new Future Solid Support Ships announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Spellar on 2016-06-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure that her Department’s purchasing policies support British (a) industry and (b) agriculture.

Nick Gibb

The Department’s purchasing policies support the Government’s commitment to do all it can to ensure UK suppliers can compete effectively for public sector contracts, in line with our current international obligations and guidance issued by the Crown Commercial Service.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Spellar on 2016-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support his Department is giving to the Royal British Legion Industries Lifeworks programme.

Mark Lancaster

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognises that the mobile nature of Service life can create a particular difficulty for working partners who often give up their own jobs to accompany Service personnel. The MOD’s Partner Employment Programme (PEP) is therefore focused on addressing the barriers that hinder spousal employment, both in the UK and on overseas postings.

As part of our drive to support partners of Service personnel, the MOD’s Armed Forces Covenant Team secured LIBOR funding for a two year period (2013-2015) to support The Royal British Legion Industries’ (RBLI) Lifeworks for Families in the successful delivery of vocational assessment and employability courses to Service spouses and dependants.

Lifeworks for Families has now secured private funding for continuation until 2019 and the MOD continues to support the successful delivery of this work through continued engagement and publicity with our policy staff and the single Services. I am pleased that nearly 800 individuals have already benefited from this programme. Demand continues to be high and MOD officials are working with RBLI to deliver an additional bespoke workshop in spring 2017, which will support the families of serving personnel in Cyprus as they return to the UK.

In addition, RBLI Lifeworks for Veterans received £958,000 of LIBOR funds in March 2016 to deliver intensive employment support to long term unemployed veterans across the UK. This funding supports the continuation of the current five year programme until 2018. To date, over 600 Armed Forces veterans have benefited from the course, resulting in 83% of participants achieving paid employment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Spellar on 2016-01-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many HGV drivers were trained at the Defence School of Transport, Leconfield, in the last 12 months; and what the maximum student capacity of that school was in the last year.

Penny Mordaunt

The term ‘HGV’ (Heavy Goods Vehicle) is no longer used and has been replaced by ‘LGV’ (Large Goods Vehicle).

The training year runs from 31 March until 1 April.

As at 31 December 2015, a total of 1,057 military personnel had been trained as LGV drivers at the Defence School of Transport, Leconfield during this training year. The annual capacity for these courses is 1,303 personnel.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Spellar on 2016-06-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will take steps to ensure that her Department’s purchasing policies support British (a) industry and (b) agriculture.

Amber Rudd

The Department’s purchasing policies support the Government’s commitment to do all it can to ensure UK suppliers can compete effectively for public sector contracts, in line with our current international obligations and guidance issued by the Crown Commercial Service.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Spellar on 2016-01-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether training in celestial navigation is provided for new recruits to the Royal Navy.

Penny Mordaunt

For new recruits, celestial navigational training is only undertaken by Royal Marine recruits in weeks eight and 10 of their training as part of the Royal School of Military Survey lessons. However, celestial navigational training (referred to as Astro(navigational) training within the Service) is taught to Naval Officers as part of targeted career training courses at the Maritime Warfare School at HMS Collingwood. These include: Initial Warfare Officers, the Fleet Navigation Officers Course and in a Specialist Navigation Course (for those officers undertaking specialist training in navigation at Lieutenant/Lieutenant Commander rank with a view to navigating larger vessels such as carriers and amphibious assault ships).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Spellar on 2016-06-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to ensure that her Department’s purchasing policies support British (a) industry and (b) agriculture.

George Eustice

The Department’s purchasing policies support the Government’s commitment to do all it can to ensure UK suppliers can compete effectively for public sector contracts, in line with our current international obligations and guidance issued by the Crown Commercial Service. In addition, in 2014 the government introduced the plan for public procurement of food and catering services and Defra has adopted the use of the ‘Balanced Scorecard’ approach to sourcing food which recognises factors like celebration of provenance, local food traditions and consumers’ connection to producers.