The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2015-12-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2015 to Question 7426, how many events have been hosted by non-government bodies at Dover House since 21 July 2015.
David Mundell
There have been seven events hosted at Dover House by non-government bodies at Dover House since 21 July 2015
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Eagle on 2016-01-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of Jobcentre Plus operating a smaller client facing office within Liscard Town Centre.
Priti Patel
The Department for Work and Pensions explored the option of a smaller client facing office as part of the business case.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Watson of Invergowrie on 2016-02-02.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of those who started with Teach First in August 2013 were still teaching in state-funded schools in England in September 2015.
Lord Nash
The Teach First programme aims to raise levels of pupil attainment in challenging schools. Since it was founded, Teach First has trained over 5,000 teachers in England, with a further 1,622 starting training in 2015, covering every region of the country.
Figures supplied to the Department by Teach First show that 1,206 trainees started the two-year leadership development programme in schools in September 2013. Of those, 544[1] are known to be still teaching in state-funded schools in England in September 2015.
Additionally, the Teach First programme has acted as a positive springboard for participants to continue their commitment to the education sector; a number of trainees from this cohort have remained in the education industry in wider roles including outside the classroom, in charities and overseas. Data provided by Teach First in December 2015 shows that 69%[1] of the participants who had completed the two-year programme are known to be in teaching or in these wider educational roles.
[1] Only participants that choose to become Ambassadors for Teach First are tracked in relation to future employment. A total of 1,041 participants completed the two year programme; of these 981 chose to become Ambassadors for Teach First, and by doing so, were tracked in relation to future employment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-02-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the average cost to the public of each Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree.
Ben Gummer
The Department does not hold information on the average cost to the taxpayer of training someone to become a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery in the United Kingdom.
The Personal Social Services Research Unit at the University of Kent estimates within their report ‘Unit Costs of Health and Social Care 2015’, training a doctor for their undergraduate degree (years one-five) to be £240,870 in total. This figure reflects the pre-registration costs of tuition, living expenses and clinical placements.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burgon on 2016-03-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what statutory duty there is on individual general practitioners to provide notice of closure of a GP practice to NHS England or clinical commissioning group.
Alistair Burt
GP Contract regulations require a practice to give NHS England written notice of their intention to terminate their contract. Where the contract is with a partnership, the contract terminates six months from the date of the notice. In the case of a single handed practice, the contract terminates three months from the date of the notice.
There is no specific statutory duty on NHS England to notify patients of the closure of a practice however the National Health Service Act 2006 requires NHS England to ensure the provision of primary medical services throughout England.
However, NHS England take the closure of a practice very seriously and will look to engage with patients at the earliest opportunity.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-04-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many referrals the Insolvency Service received from (a) each of the sectoral regulators and (b) any other third party for alleged malpractice by directors of companies in each year since 2009.
Anna Soubry
The number of complaints received about live companies, and the number of reports received about insolvent companies from insolvency practitioners (IPs), is summarised in the table below. No records are kept of the total number of complaints received about insolvent companies and separate figures are not available for complaints received from regulators.
|
Reporting year |
No complaints received about live companies |
No of reports received from IPs |
|
09/10 |
5,989 |
7,030 |
|
10/11 |
4,852 |
5,373 |
|
11/12 |
3,523 |
5,401 |
|
12/13 |
3,014 |
5,335 |
|
13/14 |
3,603 |
4,671 |
|
14/15 |
3,791 |
4,620 |
|
15/16 |
3,904 |
4,277 |
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Debbie Abrahams on 2016-06-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discretion is available to local authorities to grant blue badges to disabled people who are in receipt of the enhanced mobility rate of personal independence payment other than through the moving around criteria; and what steps he has taken to monitor local authorities in their exercise of that discretion.
Andrew Jones
It is set out in the Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) Regulations 2000 (as amended), that to qualify for a badge via a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award the applicant must score at least 8 points in the “moving around” activity of the mobility component. There is no discretion for local authorities to issue badges for other PIP awards.
However, where a person fails to qualify for a badge through PIP, they may still apply to their local authority for a badge under the other eligibility criteria; these include any permanent and substantial disabilities (including non-physical disabilities) which cause very considerable difficulty in walking.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Fitzpatrick on 2016-09-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the effect on safety of buildings on pupils of removing the expectation from guidance that most new schools should have automatic fire sprinkler systems fitted.
Edward Timpson
The Department has recently consulted stakeholders on proposed revisions to fire safety guidance, which seek to clarify when sprinklers will be fitted in schools. We are not changing the rules on fire safety. It has never been compulsory for sprinklers to be fitted in schools. All new schools must comply with building and fire safety regulations. Where it is concluded that sprinklers must be fitted to protect property or keep children safe, they will be. We are actively considering responses to the consultation and will respond in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2016-10-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of whether the conditions have been met for the Pensions Regulator to issue a contribution notice to Tata Steel in relation to the British Steel Pension Scheme.
Richard Harrington
The assessment of whether it is appropriate to issue contribution notices is the responsibility of the Independent Pensions Regulator.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keir Starmer on 2015-11-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans his Department has to fund additional support for disabled people who might require assistance to fill in job applications and to attend job interviews.
Justin Tomlinson
DWP already provides a range of support for people who require assistance to fill in job applications and to attend job interviews.
Programmes such as Work Choice, Work Programme and the new Specialist Employability Support offer tailored support for any participants who need help with their jobseeking. This may include help with activities such as filling in job applications and attending job interviews. Access to Work can provide practical support for people who need help with attending interviews due to a health condition or disability.
Jobcentre Plus continues to offer a range of support, including a free helpline for claimants who have difficulty making their claims for benefit online because of dyslexia or a similar conditions, and Claimant Computer Suites manned by Jobcentre Plus Customer Service staff. In addition, a Jobcentre Plus Work Coach, or where appropriate, a Disability Employment Adviser (DEA), can signpost claimants to local sources of support such as Work Clubs, third sector organisations or the National Careers Service.
The Department is constantly seeking ways to improve these services, but at present there are no plans to fund additional support nationally. However, the support we provide nationally both complements, and is complemented by, our engagement with support provided locally by stakeholders such as third sector organisations, local councils, Work Clubs and other partners.
We are also exploring innovative new ways to deliver support. For example, the Personalisation Pathfinders project running in three Jobcentre Plus Districts, which will test a new localised approach to helping people with Disabilities and long term health conditions.