Tag: Margaret Ferrier

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-01-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice of 26 January 2016, Official Report, column 129, how many staff in his Department were given an end-of-year appraisal rating of outstanding in each year since 2010.

Dominic Raab

The new Ministry of Justice (MoJ) appraisal system incorporates a guided distribution which sets the parameters for the number of Outstanding, performance markings. MoJ adopted a staggered approach to implementing the new cross government performance management system. Launch dates were as follows:

• MoJ HQ, agencies Arms Length Bodies (excluding National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and National Probation Service (NPS)) – April 2013
• NOMS – April 2014
• NPS – June 2014

Please note that the term Outstanding was not used across all MoJ business groups prior to the introduction of the new system.

	2010-2011	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
Top Performance Management Review Markings Total	11587	10892	9100	9252	7580

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Prime Minister, what recent representations he has made to officials working on the Chilcot Inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Cameron

I refer the hon. Member to Sir John Chilcot’s letter to me of 28 October 2015, and my reply of 29 October, copies of which can be found on the Iraq Inquiry website.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Europe of 8 June 2016, Official Report, column 136WH, when his Department last made representations to Saudi Arabia expressing concern about the extent of the application of the death penalty in that country.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country. We regularly raise human rights issues, including in relation to the death penalty with the Saudi Arabian authorities. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) visited Saudi Arabia on 29 May as part of a regional tour of Gulf Cooperation Council countries and raised our human rights concerns, including the death penalty.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many instant rewards of what value were given to officials of his Department in 2015-16.

David Mundell

The Scotland Office paid no instant rewards to officials in 2015-16.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the security of convoys transporting nuclear warheads by road.

Harriett Baldwin

All vehicles involved in the transportation of nuclear warheads are subject to a rigorous maintenance and inspection regime, carried out by highly skilled and experienced technicians. Inspections are made prior to each use, as well as six monthly safety and annual mandatory inspections.

The costs of the transportation of nuclear warheads between RNAD Coulport and AWE Burghfield are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The security of the nuclear warhead convoy was assessed by Ministry of Defence Security Advisors in September 2016 as overall ‘satisfactory’, demonstrating that ‘performance meets the required policy standard’.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2015-11-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2015 to Question 17136, what the cost to the public purse will be of each Watchkeeper ordered by his Department by the time it reaches full operating capacity.

Mr Philip Dunne

Watchkeeper is expected to achieve full operating capability in the second quarter of 2017.

The original cost estimate for the development and delivery of Watchkeeper to full operating capability, at the time of Main Gate approval in 2005, was £847 million.

With regards to the cost of each Watchkeeper, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 October 2014 to question 211342 to the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2015-12-03.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment she has made of the implications for equal rights of the legal recognition in Northern Ireland of same-sex marriages registered in England, Wales or Scotland.

Caroline Dinenage

The UK government has demonstrated its commitment to marriage for same sex couples by introducing it for England and Wales, and has welcomed its introduction in other jurisdictions, including Scotland.

We recognise and respect the devolution settlement in Northern Ireland. The constitutional arrangements in place mean that any decision to extend marriage to same-sex couples in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Northern Ireland Assembly. Officials from the Government Equalities Office speak regularly with colleagues in the Northern Ireland Office regarding these and other equality related matters.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-01-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs which will be created at Barrow shipyards by the Successor submarine project; and what estimate it has made of the anticipated duration of employment of those jobs.

Mr Philip Dunne

We expect the Successor submarine programme will sustain thousands of jobs at Barrow into the 2030s. These jobs will ensure that the UK retains and develops its world leading skills at Barrow and a wide range of companies across the nation, making a significant contribution to the UK economy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-01-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice of 26 January 2016, Official Report, column 129, what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on lifting the one per cent public sector pay cap.

Dominic Raab

The Treasury sets public sector pay policy, which includes the 1% cap, in line with wider government priorities. This policy has been subject to agreement with the Prime Minister and consultation within the government at Ministerial level.

In line with the pay freeze announced by the Government in the June Budget 2010, the pay of staff employed by the Ministry of Justice in 2011-12 and 2012-13 earning a full time equivalent of £21,000 or less received pay increases of up to £250. MoJ exited the pay freeze on 1 August 2013. Since then MOJ staff received pay awards averaging at 1% each year, in line with the Government policy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-03-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Schools of 22 October 2015, Official Report, column 457WH, what plans her Department has to consult on a revised Building Bulletin 100.

Edward Timpson

It has not yet been decided what further review or consultation is necessary on the revised Building Bulletin 100 (Fire Safety in Schools) before publication.