The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2016-04-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people his Department has written to regarding changes to the work allowance element of universal credit.
Priti Patel
We have contacted around 59,000 people, purposefully casting the net wide to ensure that no one is missed. The actual number of claimants affected is expected to be significantly lower.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2016-05-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make it her policy to require supermarkets to donate food to food banks and other charities.
Rory Stewart
I am replying as the Minister with responsibility for food waste.
The Government welcomes the redistribution of good quality surplus food to charities that can make sure it goes to people rather than going to waste.
Based on our experience, a simple law or requirement obliging supermarkets to donate food would not fix the barriers to redistribution. We need to look at the bigger picture. Less than 10% of food wasted in the supply chain is from supermarkets, so we need the whole chain to work together.
Facilitated and supported by government, all major retailers now have arrangements in place to redistribute surplus food. Action taken by retailers to redistribute surplus food includes:
Signatories to the voluntary Courtauld Commitment with industry have reported a 74% increase between 2012 and end 2014, and we expect it to increase further.
We want to achieve more. Last year, the Secretary of State held a meeting with industry and redistribution organisations to take stock of progress on food redistribution. Outcomes from this include the recent publication of a Redistribution Framework to help facilitate closer working between potential donors and recipients of food surpluses. Research has been commissioned by WRAP to identify where and why waste and surpluses occur in the supply chain to inform further action to increase waste prevention and redistribution.
Following the success of earlier agreements, WRAP launched The Courtauld Commitment 2025 in March. This is an ambitious new agreement that takes a whole food supply chain approach, and will build on the progress we have already made to prevent waste, including through the redistribution of surplus food.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2016-06-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with trade union officials on the job security of UK citizens employed by EU institutions.
Mr David Lidington
We are still a member of the European Union and there will be no immediate changes in the circumstances of British citizens elsewhere in the EU. EU institutions have communicated directly to British staff that they continue to have the same rights as other officials of the European Union.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2016-09-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made to bring together the work of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman with that of the Local Government Ombudsman.
Baroness Mobarik
In December 2015 the Government confirmed its intention to bring forward draft legislation to create a Public Service Ombudsman, encompassing the existing jurisdictions of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and the Local Government Ombudsman. The intention remains to publish a draft Bill in this parliamentary session.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 2015-11-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider introducing stronger sentencing powers against those involved in illegal dog fighting.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government recognises the seriousness of offences involving illegal animal fights. We will look to increase the maximum sentence when a legislative opportunity arises.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2015-12-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nurses trained abroad were recruited by the NHS in each year since 2010.
Ben Gummer
The Department does not hold information on the numbers of National Health Service nurses that have received training outside of the United Kingdom.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-01-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the consistency of sentencing for people convicted of online fraud.
Andrew Selous
Guidelines on sentencing are produced by the independent Sentencing Council, which was established to promote greater transparency and consistency in sentencing while maintaining the independence of the judiciary. The Council published a definitive guideline on fraud, bribery and money laundering offences in May 2014. The Council has a statutory duty to monitor the operation and effect of its guidelines.
The most recent statistics on sentencing for fraud offences is available through the attached link. The courts database does not separate online and offline fraud offences.
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2014
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2016-02-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will issue guidance to rail companies to ensure they publicise passenger rights for compensation for disruption caused by the recent floods in Northern England.
Claire Perry
We are committed to improving compensation arrangements for delayed rail passengers. That is why we are introducing requirements in all new franchise agreements to both require that train operators make reasonable endeavours to make passengers aware of their rights to claim compensation and also to implement Delay/Repay. It is noteworthy that under Delay/Repay, which will apply to the new Northern and TPE franchises to start in April this year, there are no exclusions for delays outside the control of the rail industry, such as exceptionally severe weather conditions.
This winter’s unprecedented weather conditions have caused disruption to services. Network Rail have been working hard to repair tracks in these atrocious conditions. We remain absolutely committed to getting all lines able to run full services as soon as possible and thank passengers for their patience whilst emergency repairs are made.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2016-03-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, in which months since March 2012 his Department has withheld performance payments from Capita as a result of it not meeting the recruitment targets required by the Recruitment Partnership Programme contract.
Mr Julian Brazier
I am witholding the information as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Barker on 2016-04-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what meetings or other communications took place between Cabinet Office officials and Mr Chris Snowdon of the Institute of Economic Affairs relating to government funding of voluntary organisations in the twelve months prior to the announcement on 6 February of the new clause in grant agreements restricting the use of government grants for lobbying purposes.
Lord Bridges of Headley
The Institute of Economic Affairs’ written research into the misuse of government grants was acknowledged at the time that the clause was first introduced by the Department of Communities and Local Government before the last general election, and also by the Cabinet Office when it published its guidance on the new clause.
Details of Cabinet Office Ministers’ meetings, and those of the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretaries, are centrally collated and routinely published in transparency returns available on the Gov.uk website.
Information relating to the meetings and communications of Cabinet Office civil servants, including special advisers, is not routinely collated and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.