Tag: Lord Jopling

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jopling on 2016-09-13.

To ask the Leader of the House what explanation she has received from the Department for Education concerning its failure to answer by 9 September two Questions for Written Answer that were asked on 19 July (HL1338) and 21 July (HL1440).

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park

The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Evans of Bowes Park):

I regularly stress to departments the importance of giving timely answers to Questions for Written Answer. My office immediately approach departments who have not responded to questions after 10 working days, and remain in contact with them until the questions are answered. This process has been followed in both of the cases to which the noble Lord refers.

In the case of the Ministry of Justice question, I am informed that the delay related the process of transferring it to the right department for response. After discussion it was transferred to the Cabinet Office, who will provide a substantive answer by close of play this week. As regards the Department for Education questions, I am informed that the delay related to gathering complex data spanning a long period and the need to obtain clearance from across government. Both of the questions concerned have now been answered.

Regarding timely replies more generally, I have recently written to the three departments with the greatest proportion of late responses in the last session and I regularly set out the House’s expectations as they apply to QWAs to my frontbench team. Notwithstanding the cases referenced above, I am pleased to say that the proportion of on-time responses from the Ministry of Justice rose from 74% of questions in 2014-15 to 87% in 2015-16; while the Department for Education answered well over 90% of questions on time in both sessions.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jopling on 2016-10-20.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 19 September (HL1574), whether they have completed their review of the Lessons Learned workshop; and if so, whether they intend to publish the results of the review of the 83 per cent escalation of costs for the recent improvements to the A1 highway near Gamston Airport.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The Lessons Learned review was completed on 8 June 2016 and there are some outstanding issues regarding the possible requirement for permanent speed cameras. The agreement of alterations to a private access and the road safety audit works recommended must be completed before the full review can be published. Highways England intends to publish the findings on its website in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jopling on 2016-10-20.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 19 September (HL1574), and in the light of the significant investment in improvements to the A1 highway near Gamston Airport, whether they plan to raise the speed limit on that stretch of the highway above 50 mph.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Highways England have plans to increase the speed limit on the A1 between Elkesley and Twyford Bridge to 70mph on the southbound carriageway through the new improvements. However, this cannot be implemented until works from the road safety audit have been addressed and new signs have been installed, which will be completed by March 2017.

There are also plans to increase the speed limit to 70mph on the northbound carriageway. However, the current speed limit will remain in place until an acceptable solution is found for the full closure of a direct access off the A1 to a private property and when the improvements have been made for a new alternative access

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jopling on 2016-10-20.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 13 October (HLWS187), what was the average price paid by Government Hospitality per bottle of (1) white, and (2) red, wines produced in (a) France, (b) Germany, (c) Italy, (d) Spain, (e) South Africa, (f) Australia, (g) New Zealand, (h) the United States, and (i) the UK.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

As highlighted in the Annual Statement of 13 October (HLWS187), the average cost per bottle of wine bought by Government Hospitality in 2015-16 was £11.00. Government Hospitality does not calculate the average cost of bottles purchased by type or country of origin, as to do so would incur disproportionate costs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jopling on 2016-01-27.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 22 July 2015 (HL1470), whether the review of the failures that caused the cost of the recent A1 roadworks near Gamston Airport to escalate has been completed, and what conclusion and lessons have emerged from that review.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The close out of the scheme and associated financial reconciliation is pending and therefore it would be premature to draw conclusions at this time.

Landscaping for the scheme and remedial works are nearing their final stages and completion of the contract is expected at the end of March. A “lessons learned” review will be held as soon as possible in April.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jopling on 2016-10-20.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 27 September (HL1845), on a convenient date in the last month, what percentage of the M1 Motorway was subject to a speed limit under 70 mph as consequence of roadworks causing unexpected restrictions of more than one week.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

From 00:01 on 03/10/2016 to 23:59 on 09/10/2016, the percentage of the M1 subject to speed restrictions was 16.7 per cent northbound and 17.2 per cent southbound.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jopling on 2016-01-27.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 8 June 2015 (HL105), what trunk road improvement schemes there have been in the last five years, and for each of those, what was (1) the original target cost, and (2) the estimated completed cost.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The table below provides details of the major scheme on trunk roads opened in the last five financial years (from April 2011 to the present), together with the original target cost and latest outturn forecast (to the end of December 2015, and subject to closure of final accounts):

Scheme Name	Date Opened	Original Target Cost (£m)	Outturn Forecast* (£m)
A3 Hindhead	Jul-11	362.5m	371.9m
A1 Dishforth to Leeming	Mar-12	327.5m	312.0m
A46 Newark to Widmerpool	Mar-12	382.9m	379.3m
A23 Handcross to Warninglid	Oct-14	76.9m	77.9m
A11 Fiveways to Thetford	Dec-14	104.7m	99.6m
A14 Kettering Bypass	Apr-15	41.9m	37.5m
A453 Widening	Jul-15	149.7m	164.5m
	Totals	1,446.1m	1,442.7m

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jopling on 2016-04-18.

To ask the Leader of the House what discussions she has had with Ministers in the Cabinet Office with regard to the number of Questions for Written Answer not answered within 10 working days.

Baroness Stowell of Beeston

My responsibility as Leader of the House, to encourage Ministers to be punctual in answering written questions, is one I take seriously. My office immediately approach departments who have not responded to questions after 10 working days, and remain in contact with them until the questions are answered. This process was followed with the Cabinet Office for the seven questions that remained unanswered after 10 working days on 18 March. All of those questions have now been answered. At the end of this Session I will publish data on each department’s promptness in dealing with Questions for Written Answer to allow for proper scrutiny of their performance.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jopling on 2016-04-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 21 April (HL7637), whether they will now state what contingency plans they have drawn up, if any, to repatriate the British Art Collection from the European Parliament in the event that the UK votes to leave the EU.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jopling on 2016-04-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why people leaving the UK have their passports examined and recorded at some airports, whilst at others no examination takes place.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

Border Force does not operate a uniform passport control regime against passengers departing the UK in the same way that it does for passengers who arrive in the UK. However, it does undertake targeted passport checks against selected cohorts of passengers leaving the UK for a range of law enforcement purposes.

We check the passports of all those passing through passport control on entry to the UK and we also conduct exit checks.