Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • David Anderson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    David Anderson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many staff in her Department hold qualifications at A-level or above in statistics.

    Nick Gibb

    The Department does not hold information requested.

    For staff joining the Department specifically as statisticians there are minimum requirements.

    For those joining at Fast Stream level, the requirements are:

    • a minimum of a 2:1 degree in a numerate discipline such as mathematics, economics, psychology or geography; the degree should contain some formal statistical training;

    • a graduate diploma of the Royal Statistical Society or an equivalent qualification.

    For those joining at EO grade, the requirements are:

    • a minimum of a 2:2 degree in a numerate discipline such as mathematics, economics, psychology or geography; the degree should contain some formal statistical training;

    • a graduate diploma of the Royal Statistical Society or equivalent qualification;

    We also welcome applications from candidates who do not have a degree but can demonstrate significant experience in a statistics related field, plus continuing professional development in a relevant area that leads to qualifications (for example the RSS Higher Certificate).

  • Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2016-05-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the NHS logo is a registered trademark; and if he will make a statement.

    George Freeman

    The National Health Service logo is a registered trademark.

  • Zac Goldsmith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Zac Goldsmith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Zac Goldsmith on 2016-07-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of whether there will be an increase in airport-related traffic at Heathrow Airport in the event of that airport being awarded a third runway.

    Mr John Hayes

    The Airports Commission undertook a range of detailed assessments to support its Final Report published in July 2015. The analysis included a detailed assessment of transport network impacts for each of the Commission’s three short-listed options.

    Copies of the Commission’s Surface Access: Dynamic Modelling Reports, and, Strategic and Local Roads Study for both the Heathrow Northwest Runway and the Heathrow Extended Northern Runway schemes and Gatwick Second Runway; along with a Freight Impacts Study, Resilience Study and a Demand Management Study were published alongside its Final Report, and are available from the Commission website at the following link:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/airports-commission-final-report-surface-access

    The Government will carefully consider all the evidence set out when making a decision on the location of additional runway capacity.

    “

  • Andrew Murrison – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Andrew Murrison – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Murrison on 2016-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent meetings he has had with Ministers of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on rural superfast broadband.

    Jesse Norman

    High quality broadband connectivity across the country is vital for maintaining the UK’s place at the forefront of the digital revolution and connecting people to opportunity and prosperity; in light of this, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on the important issue of broadband for everybody in an economy that works for all, and particularly those in rural locations.

    In addition, the joint BEIS/DCMS Review of Business Broadband will continue to consider how consumers and businesses in rural locations can benefit from future private and public digital infrastructure initiatives.

  • Conor McGinn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Conor McGinn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Conor McGinn on 2015-11-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2015 to Question 428, what progress has been made in ensuring funding from the Armed Forces Covenant (Libor) Fund is distributed across the UK; and which organisations in each region of the UK have benefited from that fund to date.

    Mark Lancaster

    Further to my answer of 2 June 2015 to Question 428 which detailed the information held centrally by the Ministry of Defence. The final project under the Veterans Accommodation Fund (VAF) was announced on 20 July 2015 and that was for £50,000 to the RAF Benevolent Fund, for replacement windows at Forge House in England. The £40 million VAF and the £35 million LIBOR Fund have now closed.

    This year saw the implementation of a permanent commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant through a £10 million per annum Covenant Fund, and will be ring-fenced from the UK Defence Budget. Assessments of the first-round of small grants (up to £20,000) are currently taking place and those selected will be announced around the New Year. The deadline for the second round of applications is 17 December 2015.

    The deadline for expressions of interest for the large grant scheme (£20,000 to £500,000) has now closed. Those projects accepted for round two will also be informed by 26 November 2015, the deadline for stage two applications is 13 January 2016 with stage two decisions communicated by 10 March 2016.

    Although we welcome applications from across the whole of the UK, these will be selected on the basis of defined criteria. The selection panel is made up of MOD officials, sector experts and representatives from each of the Devolved Administrations.

  • Richard Burden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-12-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies (a) in general and (b) on road safety of each region’s road users’ satisfaction survey published by Highways England on 11 December 2015.

    Andrew Jones

    The recently published National Road Survey Satisfaction Survey is based on responses from interviews of approximately 2,000 road users per annum. The results are analysed on an ongoing basis and provide insight to inform the development of Highways England‘s work.

    We aim to reduce the number of cyclists and other road users killed or injured on our roads every year. We have been working closely with road safety groups to consider what more can be done and expect to publish our Road Safety Statement shortly. The Road Safety Statement will set out the high level plan and overarching approach to road safety that we expect to take over the rest of the Parliament, and will be followed by a series of more detailed proposals and consultations.

    Highways England has recently announced their new road safety ambition that no one shall be harmed while working or travelling on the network. In support of this, they have launched their 5 year Health and Safety Plan which contains specific actions relating to road safety.

  • David Burrowes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    David Burrowes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Burrowes on 2016-01-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress is being made on conducting antenatal mental health assessments.

    Alistair Burt

    Our commitment to improving perinatal mental health was demonstrated by the Prime Minister’s recent announcement of a £290 million investment over the next five years to 2020/21 in perinatal mental health services. This builds on the initial investment of £75 million announced in the March 2015 Budget, making a total investment from 2015/16 to 2020/21 of £365million.

    The National Institute for Health Care and Excellence guidelines recommend that during a pregnant women’s first contact with primary care or when booking her first appointment she should be asked how she is feeling. This will enable a sensitive conversation and, if appropriate, for a referral to her general practitioner for further assessment or, if a severe mental health problem is suspected, to a mental health professional.

    It has been recognised that more information is needed about perinatal mental health. The Health and Social Care Information Centre is working on the implementation of a new Mental Health Services Dataset which will seek to increase the amount of data available about antenatal mental health assessments. We expect that some initial data on perinatal mental health will be available later this year. We will use this initial information to refine how data on perinatal mental health is collected going forward.

  • Julie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Julie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Cooper on 2016-02-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many maintained nurseries there are in (a) Burnley, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    According to data from EduBase[1], there are eight local authority maintained nurseries in the Burnley constituency, 24 in Lancashire local authority, and 70 in the North West.

    Local authority maintained nurseries are nurseries run by local authorities which are stand-alone and not attached to a primary school. There is therefore more nursery provision in these areas than these figures show; for example, nursery classes in schools and private nurseries.

    [1] EduBase as at 9th February 2016. Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-in-england

    “

  • Nicholas Brown – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Nicholas Brown – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2016-03-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations he has made to the negotiating bodies on ensuring the Government retains its ability to make public policy decisions in the public interest under investor state dispute settlement mechanisms.

    Anna Soubry

    The Government believes that investment protection treaties should not undermine the ability of states to make public policy decisions in the public interest. The European Union (EU) has competence to negotiate investment treaties on behalf of the EU and its Member States. The European Commission’s policy is that investment protection provisions should ensure a high level of protection for investors while fully preserving the right of governments to regulate and pursue legitimate public policy objectives, such as the protection of health, safety, or the environment, and has sought negotiating mandates from the Council of Ministers on this basis. The UK fully supports this approach, which has been adopted in recently negotiated Free Trade Agreements, such as the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement.

  • Kirsten Oswald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Kirsten Oswald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2016-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the cost is of closing the Green Deal Finance Company in (a) payments to consultants and (b) other costs.

    Andrea Leadsom

    DECC has made no payments to consultants in establishing the Green Deal Finance Company, but in other costs payments of £10,294.26 in legal support were made in 2014/15.

    The Green Deal Finance Company has not been closed. It is not currently issuing new loans, but continues to collect repayments from its existing loan book. In July 2015, DECC took the decision that the case for further investment was not strong enough in terms of value for money. This decision has no impact on existing Green Deal Finance Plans or existing Green Deal Home Improvement Fund applications and vouchers.

    The Green Deal Finance Company is a private company and has its own internal costs which are not included in this estimate.