The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Glindon on 2016-07-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to monitor the use of procedures to recover abandoned premises introduced by the Housing and Planning Act 2016.
Gavin Barwell
These provisions are not yet in force. The first step is for the Department to issue guidance on how the procedures may be effectively and lawfully applied.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Glindon on 2015-12-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the level of Government spending will be on the Disabled Facilities Grant for each year until 2020.
Brandon Lewis
In the 2015 Spending Round, my rt. hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer (George Osborne), announced £500 million for the Disabled Facilities Grant by 2020. Since April 2015, the Grant has been part of the Government’s £5.3 billion Better Care Fund, promoting integration with health and social care.
Annual allocations for the Disabled Facilities Grant for each year until 2020 will be announced in due course, when they are finalised.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Glindon on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what safeguards are in place for HM Passport Offices which use local government buildings to conduct remote first time passport interviews to ensure the continuity of that service if those buildings are vacated by that local government.
James Brokenshire
The relationship of Her Majesty’s Passport Office with the local provider of the accommodation for remote interviews is managed through a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) which sets out the rights and responsibilities of both parties. Any changes to this MOU are discussed and agreed by both parties. Her Majesty’s Passport Office is not limited to working with Local Authorities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Glindon on 2016-07-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to announce the award date for the Defence Business Services corporate services integration and innovation provider contract; and if he will make a statement.
Mark Lancaster
The Ministry of Defence is currently examining options for the future of Defence Business Services (DBS) as part of the Future DBS Programme. No final decisions have been taken on whether any elements of DBS’ current operations will be outsourced. Timescales will be confirmed in the event of a decision to outsource. If deemed necessary a statement will be made at the appropriate time.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Glindon on 2015-12-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the accessibility requirements will be for the 8,000 new accessible homes announced in the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015; and where those homes will be located.
Brandon Lewis
We will be publishing the prospectus for the 2016-21 Affordable Homes Programme in the New Year, which will set out the assessment requirements that bids contributing towards the 8,000 vulnerable, older and disabled peoples housing will be assessed against.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Glindon on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) received from the Government in the last three years; for what reasons that funding is provided; against what criteria the decision to fund that organisation was made; and what obligations the ETI places on its member companies with respect to freedom of association and collective bargaining.
Mr Desmond Swayne
In the last three years the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) has received £1.2m in funding from DFID, through a Programme Partnership Arrangement (PPA). PPA funding supports ETI to improve working conditions for poor and vulnerable people, this includes workers in top tier farms and factories, as well as those in the lower tiers of supply chains (such as women homeworkers, smallholders and migrant workers) who are harder to reach and more vulnerable to exploitation. PPA funding is not tied to specific initiatives or interventions but ETI are expected to meet objectives set out in a robust performance framework, agreed between DFID and ETI.
PPA funding was based on competitive selection and open to organisations who were regarded as leaders in their field and who could deliver on DFID’s objectives. Organisations were selected following a rigorous assessment and quality assurance process.
Freedom of Association and collective bargaining is a component of the ETI Base Code and therefore every ETI member commits to taking action to support this right.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Glindon on 2016-07-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to postpone issuing a formal contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union for the outsourcing of Defence Business Services as a result of the potential implications of the outcome of the EU referendum on the tendering process for that contract.
Mark Lancaster
The Ministry of Defence is currently examining options for the future of Defence Business Services (DBS) as part of the Future DBS Programme (FDBS). No final decisions have been taken on whether any elements of DBS’ current operations will be outsourced. In the event of a decision to outsource, the competition will be advertised in accordance with regulations prevailing at the time.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Glindon on 2015-12-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many NOMS staff have been dismissed for corruption in each of the last five years.
Andrew Selous
The vast majority of NOMS staff undertake their duties with honesty and integrity. However, like all large organisations a minority of staff engage in corrupt activity. This is particularly challenging for NOMS given its role. We are committed to ensure that corruption will be investigated and eliminated to ensure prisons remain a safe and secure environment for staff, prisoners and visitors. Allegations against staff that are potentially criminal in nature are referred to the police for investigation.
A Corruption Prevention Unit delivers the key elements of the Agency’s corruption prevention strategy, including: detection, enforcement, training and support for staff. As part of this work NOMS collates records centrally of staff dismissed for offences which meet its definition of corruption.
The number of dismissals over the last five years of NOMS staff for corruption related offences has been provided in the table below.
|
Year |
Dismissals |
|
2010 |
16 |
|
2011 |
17 |
|
2012 |
14 |
|
2013 |
16 |
|
2014 |
16 |
|
Total |
79 |
Notes:
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Glindon on 2016-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects her Department’s updated drugs strategy to be published.
Karen Bradley
We are currently developing a new Drug Strategy, working across Government and with key partners. We will continue to build on the 2010 Drug Strategy to take a balanced approach to drugs (reducing demand, restricting supply and building recovery) and tackle drugs as a key driver of crime.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Glindon on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what functions undertaken by Defence Business Services are being considered for inclusion in the Corporate Services Integration and Innovation Provider contract.
Mark Lancaster
The Ministry of Defence is currently examining options for the future of Defence Business Services (DBS) as part of the Future DBS Programme. No final decisions have been taken on whether any elements of DBS current operations will be outsourced. The scope of any potential Corporate Services Integration and Innovation Provider (CSIIP) contract will be confirmed in the event that a decision to outsource is taken.