The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2014-04-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many new businesses have been registered in Swindon since 2010.
Michael Fallon
Companies House confirms that since 2010, 5,308 companies have been registered in Swindon. This figure is based on company registration data from postcode areas, which can cross town boundaries, and should be considered an approximation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2014-06-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department is taking to help end domestic abuse and violence against women.
Norman Baker
Domestic violence is a dreadful form of abuse and is not acceptable within our
society. The Coalition Government’s approach to tackling domestic violence and
abuse is set out in its Violence against Women and Girls Action Plan, updated in March
2014.
In 2013, the Home Secretary commissioned Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of
Constabulary to undertake a comprehensive review on how the police deal with
domestic violence and abuse. HMIC’s report exposed significant failings. In response
to the Review, the Home Secretary has established a National Oversight Group, which
she is chairing, and on which I sit, to ensure HMIC’s recommendations are acted upon.
The Group met for the first time on 10 June. The Home Secretary has also written to chief constables making it clear that every police force must have an action plan in place by September 2014, to improve their response to domestic violence and abuse.
The Government is committed to ensuring that the police and other agencies have
the tools necessary to tackle domestic violence, to bring offenders to justice
and to ensure victims have the support they need to rebuild their lives. On 8
March 2014, the Government announced the national roll-out of Domestic Violence
Protection Orders following the successful conclusion of a one-year
pilot in three police force areas including Wiltshire, as well as the Domestic
Violence Disclosure Scheme following the successful conclusion in
September 2013 of a one-year pilot in four police force areas – once again
including Wiltshire.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2014-04-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to encourage more women to franchise their businesses.
Matthew Hancock
The Government offers a wide range of support to all types of businesses to start up and grow, including franchises, for example through the Growth Accelerator, the New Enterprise Allowance, mentoring and the Start Up Loan scheme.
Women-led small and medium-sized businesses contribute around £82 billion to the economy. 42% of the 15,000 mentors trained through the Get Mentoring initiative are women and have contributed to the 27,000 strong mentoring network at www.mentorsme.co.uk. The latest figures show that over 37% of Start Up Loans have gone to female entrepreneurs.
We will continue to work closely with the Women’s Business Council and others to help ensure that more women see starting and growing their own business as a real option.
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2014-04-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to extend Pulse Oximetry screening for children.
Dr Daniel Poulter
The UK National Screening Committee has recommended that a pilot for pulse oximetry screening for children should be set up to explore the practicalities of implementation. Ministers have accepted this advice and a pilot will commence shortly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2014-04-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps her Department has taken to tackle domestic abuse.
Norman Baker
The Coalition Government’s approach to tackling domestic violence and abuse is
set out in its Violence against Women and Girls Action Plan, updated in March
2014. It is a subject we take very seriously.
In 2013, the Home Secretary commissioned Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of
Constabulary (HMIC) to undertake a comprehensive review on how the police deal with domestic
violence and abuse. HMIC’s report exposed significant failings. The Home
Secretary is establishing a new national oversight group, which she will chair, and on which I will sit, to ensure HMIC’s recommendations are acted upon.
The Home Secretary has also written to chief constables making it
clear that every police force must have an action plan in place by September
2014, to improve their response to domestic violence and abuse.
The Government is committed to ensuring that the police and other agencies have
the tools necessary to tackle domestic violence, to bring offenders to justice
and to ensure victims have the support they need to rebuild their lives. The
Government accordingly announced the national roll-out of Domestic Violence
Protection Orders and the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme
from 8 March 2014.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many workplaces employ apprentices in each (a) region and (b) parliamentary constituency.
Matthew Hancock
I am placing the information sought by my hon Friend in the libraries of the House. Table 1 shows the number of workplaces that employ Apprentices by Region and Table 2 shows the number of workplaces that employ Apprentices by Parliamentary Constituency.
The tables will also be published online through the FE Data Library:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/fe-data-library-other-statistics-and-research
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2014-05-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to recognise the work undertaken by the Coleshill Auxiliaries during the Second World War.
Anna Soubry
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 October 2013 (Official Report, column 414-415W).
There are no plans to institute a specific award for those who were members of the Coleshill Auxilliers. The auxiliary units were listed as Home Guard units, and, as such, members who completed three years service in the United Kingdom qualify for the Defence Medal. In addition surviving members may apply for the Armed Forces Veterans Badge.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2014-05-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the foreword to the Draft Modern Slavery Bill, when she plans to start the review of the operation and effectiveness of the National Referral Mechanism; how long that review will take; who will undertake it; and when it will be published.
Karen Bradley
The review into the operation and effectiveness of the National Referral
Mechanism was announced on 9 April 2014. I have placed a copy of the Terms of
Reference in the Libraries of both Houses.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2014-05-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent progress he has made on plans to extend the funding of Victim Support beyond 2015.
Damian Green
The Ministry of Justice is extending grant funding arrangements to March 2015, for the provision of its core victims’ support service. These extended arrangements will cover all areas until October 2014, when a small number of Police and Crime Commissioners will move out of MoJ grant arrangements with Victim Support. The remaining majority of areas will continue to be covered by the grant funding arrangements until end March 2015.
From April 2015, the MoJ grant arrangement with Victim Support for its core service will end as all Police and Crime Commissioners replace the MoJ grant arrangement with Victim Support with locally commissioned arrangements for support to victims. These arrangements may include Police and Crime Commissioner commissioning services from Victim Support, but are not restricted to this.
Some national services, including the national homicide service, the court-based witness service, the rape support fund, and some telephone helplines will remain nationally commissioned by the Ministry of Justice. Victim Support is the current provider of some of these services and is able to compete for future provision of these services.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, what recent discussions the Government Equalities Office has had with the Home Office about ending domestic abuse and violence against women.
Nicky Morgan
I have regular meetings and discussions with my colleagues on this and other matters affecting women and equality including attending the Violence Against Women and Girls Inter-Ministerial Group, working with ministerial colleagues to coordinate policy on tackling this abhorrent crime. Also, officials from the Government Equalities Office work closely with Home Office colleagues on this policy area and recently co-hosted an event working with employers to recognise and support employees who are victims of domestic violence