The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-11-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether burbots are extinct within the UK.
George Eustice
Burbot were last reported in the UK in the early 1970s and the species has not been recorded since in the British Isles.
Various factors are likely to have contributed to the demise of the species, including the impacts of climate and environmental change. However, a precise cause remains unclear.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2015-11-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many magistrates have been recruited in each month since May 2015.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The requested information is provided in the table below. The greater number of appointments towards the latter part of the year reflects the timing of the annual forecasting process through which the need for new magistrates is determined. Becoming a magistrate remains highly sought after and competition for vacancies tends to be strong.
|
Month |
Appointments |
|
May |
0 |
|
June |
15 |
|
July |
73 |
|
August |
52 |
|
September |
50 |
|
October |
106 |
|
November |
104 |
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2016-01-04.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who in the Government takes decisions on what information is shared with which members of the Royal Family.
John Penrose
The decision to share Government information lies with individual Ministers and their departments as stated in Chapter 11 of the Cabinet Manual. Government information is managed in accordance with the Lord Chancellor’s Code of Practice on the Management of Records issued under section 46 of the Freedom of information Act 2000.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-01-28.
To ask the Attorney General, if he will estimate the costs attributed to the Department for Education in cases relating to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by the Government Legal Department since 2010.
Robert Buckland
The Treasury Solicitor’s Department was renamed the Government Legal Department (GLD) on 1 April 2015. It is primarily funded through the fees it charges for its legal services. It provides Litigation, Employment, Commercial and Advisory legal services to the Department for Education (DfE). The fees charged to DfE for this work, including the cost of disbursements, are as follows:
|
Financial year |
Fees (excluding VAT) £ |
|
2010-11 |
4,208,845 |
|
2011-12 |
4,499,546 |
|
2012-13 |
4,805,840 |
|
2013-14 |
4,409,976 |
|
2014-15 |
4,098,629 |
Providing information on the costs attributed to cases relating to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 would incur disproportionate cost as it would involve a manual exercise to identify those historical cases that relate to FOI.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Burrowes on 2016-02-24.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the uptake of the marriage tax allowance is; what steps he is taking to increase uptake of that allowance; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Gauke
400,000 couples have successfully claimed Marriage Allowance. HM Revenue and Customers is continuing to extensively market Marriage Allowance, including through print, radio and billboard advertising. Eligible couples who haven’t already claimed for the tax year 2015/16 will not lose out as they have until 5 April 2020 to do so.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 2016-03-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of the National Food Crime Unit’s annual budget is allocated to investigating serious crimes.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) is initially focusing on establishing the scale and nature of food crime in the United Kingdom at a strategic level through developing intelligence sharing relationships across the law enforcement community and with the food industry. This will also enable the Unit to instigate investigative interventions by law enforcement partners and local authorities to identify and disrupt specific instances of food crime. The NFCU’s budget is directed towards fulfilling this primary intelligence function.
Intelligence analysts within the Unit have just completed the first ever Food Crime Annual Strategic Assessment (FCASA), which will be published soon. The FCASA sets out the Unit’s developing understanding of food crime in the UK and will drive its work to ensure resources are focused where the threat to consumers and other interests is the greatest.
At the end of this year, the Food Standards Agency will review progress on food crime, in line with Professor Elliott’s recommendations following the horsemeat incident. This review will inform decision-making about the Unit’s future form and function.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-04-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to counter Russian disinformation against western countries and NATO.
Mr David Lidington
The UK is working with allies to support initiatives that promote a plural and balanced Russian-language media environment; enhance the strategic communications capabilities of NATO and the EU; and build resilience in the region to the impact of information warfare, including in Ukraine and Georgia.
We are also investing in soft power by supporting the work of the British Council and the BBC. The BBC’s global reputation and editorial independence is crucial. In keeping with its long-standing aim to “provide independent, impartial and accurate news across the world”, it is developing plans to enhance its BBC Russian digital service, for example by providing extended news bulletins to partner stations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-05-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations he has (a) received and (b) made to his French counterpart on the effect on road freight of recent strike action in France.
Andrew Jones
Transport Ministers and the Department for Transport had received no written representations on this subject, as of 31st May 2016. The effect on road freight of the recent strike action has not been specifically raised by UK Transport Ministers with French counterparts.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-07-21.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2016 to Question 41528, what meetings his Department has had with external organisations on meeting temporary or permanent skills and staff needs across all government departments; and what formal contracts have been agreed for which job roles to bring in external staff since the EU referendum result.
Ben Gummer
The Civil Service constantly reviews its capabilities in order to deliver the Government’s agenda. Civil Servants regularly meet with external organisations and stakeholders to discuss how best to deliver that agenda, including seeking advice and assistance where appropriate. Following the decision to exit the European Union, Rupert McNeil, the Chief People Officer, is working closely with departments and functions across government to understand the capabilities required, including considering what new skills the Civil Service may require. To do that, he is in the process of meeting all Departmental Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Function.
Work is on-going to establish the new Department for Exiting the European Union and the new Department for International Trade and all departments are currently reviewing their own structures and resources to ensure we get the best deal for the whole of Britain.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Kinnock on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Financial Reporting Council on ensuring that companies follow the law when reporting on climate risk.
Margot James
The law requires company directors to consider, amongst other matters, the impact of their business on the environment. The Annual report is where the directors must demonstrate their consideration of this in the disclosures they make, both on environmental matters and risks. The Financial Reporting Council, operating under delegated powers from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, ensures legislation on the content of the annual report is adhered to by companies required to produce one.