Tag: Lord Storey

  • Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Storey on 2014-04-02.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Stowell of Beeston on 13 March (WA 404), what stipulations, if any, they have placed upon (1) Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, (2) the North East Leadership Board, (3) Sheffield City Region Combined Authority, and (4) West Yorkshire Combined Authority in terms of (a) the membership of those bodies, (b) remuneration for their members, and (c) how meetings will be (i) chaired, and (ii) recorded.

    Baroness Stowell of Beeston

    The Orders establishing each Combined Authority specify the membership of the body; and require the election of a chairman and vice-chairman at the first meeting of the Combined Authority and thereafter at its annual meeting. Each member has one vote and there is no casting vote. The Orders also make provision that no remuneration is to be payable to members except for allowances for travel and subsistence in accordance with a scheme drawn up by the Combined Authority. All of the councils concerned consented to these provisions, which were based on proposals originally made by the councils.

    The statutory provisions for the conduct of council meetings apply equally to the conduct of meetings of a Combined Authority, including provisions about the taking and publication of inutes. The Code of Recommended Practice for Local Authorities on Data Transparency applies to combined authorities and the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014, if approved by Parliament, will also apply.

  • Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Storey on 2014-04-02.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the recent comments by the Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, regarding who should lead the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, what consideration they have given to the consequences should the leader of one constituent authority decide to withdraw from the combined authority.

    Baroness Stowell of Beeston

    This Government has helped these councils set up a combined authority, something that all the local leaders asked for. I understand that they are now working together to make it work.

    As I explained during the recent debates in Grand Committee on the draft Orders providing for the establishment of the combined authorities, if in the future councils decide that changes to a combined authority are in the area’s best interest – perhaps another council joining, or one leaving – and the statutory conditions have been met, the Government would seek Parliamentary approval to a new draft Order providing for the changes to take place.

    The Order allows for any local authority to change their representative member on the Combined Authority.

  • Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Storey on 2014-04-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of Action for Children’s proposed Cinderella neglect law.

    Lord Faulks

    The Government believes protecting children from harm is fundamental and that child cruelty is an abhorrent crime which should be punished. All children should be able to grow up in a safe, happy environment.

    Officials at the Ministry of Justice have been exploring the views of relevant experts in England and Wales to ascertain whether there are any gaps in the criminal law on child cruelty.

    We are currently considering the outcome of this work with a view to determining next steps.

  • Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Storey on 2014-04-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to ensure that (1) social workers are prepared to identify and intervene in cases of mental or emotional abuse towards children, and (2) social services are adequately funded to carry out such investigations to the highest standards.

    Lord Nash

    Working Together to Safeguard Children, 2013, defines abuse and neglect including emotional abuse. Social workers will use this definition when deciding what action to take to protect a child. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.

    To be registered as a social worker, students will have undertaken an approved course providing an understanding of forms of harm, relevant legislation and policy, and the ability to assess risks and intervene appropriately.

    Following the Narey review of social work education, the Chief Social Worker is leading work on a definitive document that will define more clearly the knowledge and skills required by children’s social workers. The ability to identify and intervene in cases of mental or emotional abuse will be a key part of the document.

    Local authority funding for safeguarding children and young people is included within core funding for children’s social care which comes from the Department for Community and Local Government’s Formula Grant and local taxation. Funding is not ringfenced and it is for local authorities to decide how to apply their funding across the services they deliver. A report from the Audit Commission[1] published in November 2013 found that children’s social care has been largely protected from spending reductions from 2010/11 to 2013/14.

    [1] http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Tough-Times-2013-Councils-Responses-to-Financial-Challenges-w1.pdf

  • Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Storey on 2014-04-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 20 March (WA 52), how much each former Prime Minister received by way of public duty cost allowances in the financial year 2013–14.

    Lord Wallace of Saltaire

    This information will be published in the Cabinet Office annual report.

  • Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Storey on 2014-06-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 14 May (WA512), where all past public duty cost allowance audit reports compiled by the National Audit Office, including all (1) submitted receipts, and (2) supporting documentation provided in support of former Prime Ministers’ claims, may be accessed; and whether they will place copies of all such audit reports, regarding each former Prime Minister’s spending in the last 20 years, in the Library of the House.

    Lord Wallace of Saltaire

    The Public Duty Cost Allowance (PDCA) is subject to audit, both by Internal Audit and the National Audit Office. Relevant supporting documentation is provided in support of claims. The Certificate and Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General to the House of Commons is published as part of the Cabinet Office Annual Report. Copies of the Annual Report can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cabinet-office-annual-reports-and-accounts.

    “

  • Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Storey on 2014-06-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any cost-benefit analysis of the reduction of carbon monoxide emissions as a result of the planned HS2 high-speed rail link.

    Baroness Kramer

    The Government has not made any cost-benefit analysis of the impact of HS2 on carbon monoxide emissions.

    The HS2 Economic Case quantifies the impact of HS2 on non-traded direct Greenhouse Gas emissions (which include carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) resulting from changes in petrol/diesel use from road and rail passenger transport as a result of HS2. This analysis estimates that the full HS2 Y-Network generates benefits of £101 million (2011 prices, NPV) from reduced non-traded Greenhouse Gas emissions.

  • Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Storey on 2014-06-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to extend summer school initiatives to help disadvantaged children improve their levels of attainment after the summer of 2014.

    Lord Nash

    A decision on whether to extend the Department for Education’s summer schools programme in 2015 will be made towards the end of 2014, in light of information gathered on this year’s summer school programme.