Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Lord Avebury – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Avebury – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Avebury on 2015-11-30.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have investigated claims by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International that weapons supplied by the UK, such as Paveway IV missiles, have been used by Saudi Arabia to attack civilian targets in Yemen; and whether they have taken legal advice about the UK’s responsibility for such attacks under international humanitarian law.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The Ministry Of Defence monitors incidents of alleged international humanitarian law (IHL) violations using available information which in turn informs our overall assessment of IHL compliance in Yemen. We consider a range of evidence from government sources, foreign governments, the media and international non-governmental organisations. We are aware of reports, including from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, of alleged violations of IHL by the Saudi Arabian-led Coalition. We have received repeated assurances from the coalition that they are complying with IHL and we continue to engage with them on those assurances. The Saudi Arabian authorities have their own internal procedures for investigations and we encourage them to be open and transparent in this. The UK operates one of the most rigorous and transparent export control regimes in the world. All exports of arms and controlled military goods are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing, taking account of all relevant factors at the time of the application which include consideration of the risk of the goods being used to commit violations of human rights or international humanitarian law.

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 January 2016 to Question 21012, what repairs there have been to Tadcaster Bridge to date; and whether finance for any repairs will be found from (a) the Road Investment Strategy and (b) a contingency fund.

    Andrew Jones

    North Yorkshire County Council are continuing their assessment of the damage to Tadcaster Bridge as the water levels reduce, and they are also removing debris. We have not asked the Council for an estimate of repairs to date at Tadcaster Bridge as they work on a County wide assessment of damage to road and bridge infrastructure.

    The Government recently announced funding of £3.3m to repair Tadcaster Bridge and for a temporary footbridge to reconnect the community, none of which has come from the Road Investment Strategy as that is funding for the Strategic Road Network managed by Highways England.

  • Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-02-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many calls were made to (a) the Pay and Work Rights Helpline and (b) ACAS reporting non-payment of the National Minimum Wage by sector in each of the last five years.

    Nick Boles

    Final approved answer for 2016/02785

    No assessment has been made on the impact of confidentiality agreements on the identification of National Minimum Wage (NMW) non-compliance.

    Confidentiality is an important protection for workers who wish to make a NMW complaint. If any worker is concerned they have not received what they are entitled to they should contact the ACAS helpline on 0300 123 1100 for free and confidential advice. HMRC follow up every complaint referred to them by Acas and compliance officers can investigate without knowledge of the complainant’s identity. In addition to complaint-led work HMRC investigate employers using third-party intelligence and risk-based targeted enforcement in sectors and areas where there is a higher risk of workers being paid below the NMW.

    The Government is committed to cracking down on employers who break NMW law. Between April 2015 and November 2015 HMRC took action against over 500 businesses, identifying over £8 million for 46,000 workers. This is already the largest amount of arrears identified in any single year since the introduction of the NMW.

    Building on existing reforms, the Prime Minister announced on 1 September 2015 further measures to strengthen the enforcement of the NMW including higher penalties, a dedicated HMRC team to tackle the most serious cases of wilful non-compliance and additional funding for HMRC from April 2016. We have also increased communications so that working people can access support to make complaints in confidence if needed

    Table 1: NMW enquiries to the Pay and Work Rights Helpline by trade sector, 2009/10 to 2014/15.

    Trade Sector

    2009/103

    2010/11

    2011/12

    2012/13

    2013/14

    2014/15

    Activities of households as employers

    20

    20

    40

    20

    20

    10

    Admin/Office work

    2,530

    4,410

    3,910

    2,950

    3,310

    2,390

    Agriculture and related activities

    140

    100

    120

    100

    110

    100

    Cleaning services

    440

    400

    350

    320

    420

    320

    Construction and related trades

    1,350

    1,290

    1,050

    760

    1,010

    810

    Education and teaching

    270

    370

    350

    300

    540

    450

    Food processing and packaging

    90

    40

    50

    20

    30

    30

    Hairdressing

    1,670

    1,520

    1,360

    930

    1,040

    730

    Health, social work and child care

    1,590

    1,750

    1,590

    1,430

    2,090

    1,930

    Hospitality

    1,880

    1,580

    1,560

    1,400

    1,780

    1,340

    Information technology and communication

    150

    170

    180

    120

    240

    150

    Modelling, entertainment, recreation

    90

    90

    110

    80

    160

    50

    Other manufacturing

    240

    200

    150

    140

    140

    120

    Security services

    240

    170

    140

    120

    150

    110

    Shellfish gathering

    –

    –

    –

    –

    –

    –

    Taxi/minicab services

    60

    40

    30

    30

    30

    20

    Textiles

    30

    10

    20

    20

    80

    30

    Training Provider

    –

    –

    –

    –

    70

    70

    Transport (other than Taxi/mini-cab)

    350

    380

    280

    270

    440

    260

    Warehousing, storage and distribution

    490

    440

    420

    340

    360

    310

    Wholesale and retail trade

    1,580

    1,560

    1,550

    1,150

    1,470

    930

    Other

    4,980

    3,880

    2,590

    1,980

    2,780

    2,210

    Not Known

    3,580

    2,190

    5,020

    5,350

    5,210

    7,180

    Total

    21,700

    20,600

    20,900

    17,800

    21,500

    19,500

    Source: Pay and Workers Rights Helpline and the Acas Helpline

    Notes:

    1. Calls to the helpline are in part driven by NMW policy announcements and communications activity.
    2. Sector level figures are rounded to the nearest 10, totals are rounded to the nearest 100.
    3. Reporting years are based on April to March, with the exception of 2009/10 as the Helpline opened in May 2009.

    Since the 1st April 2015, the Acas Helpline has, in addition to its usual services, been answering queries previously handled by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline.

    Provisional in-year data for 2015/16 show there have been 9,800 queries relating to NMW legislation to the Acas Helpline and 3,700 queries relating to non-payment/deductions from NMW. Information on the number of NMW enquiries by trade sector is not collected on a comparable basis as Acas do not ask callers to disclose information about the sector worked in. Therefore, Acas only record this information when a caller chooses to provide it.

    Table 1: The number of NMW related calls received by Acas, 2011/12 to 2015/16.

    Query topic

    2011/12

    2012/13

    2013/14

    2014/15

    2015/164

    NMW

    4,400

    3,800

    3,800

    4,400

    9,800

    Non-Payment/Deductions from NMW

    2,000

    2,500

    2,900

    3,100

    3,700

    Source: Acas

    Notes

    1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
    2. One call may be counted as both a ‘NMW’ and ‘Non-payment/Deductions from NMW’ issue. A caller may enquire about the NMW rates and then raise a NMW underpayment issue therefore these categories should not be added together as it will involve double counting.
    3. For years earlier than 2015/16, a proportion of calls would have been referred to the Pay and Work Rights Helpline.
    4. Reporting years are based on April to March, with the exception of 2015/16 which covers April 2015 to January 2016, the latest period for which information is available.
  • Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-02-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the rate of pay is for cleaners in his Department.

    Mike Penning

    Cleaning services within the Ministry of Justice are typically undertaken by outsourced providers. Cleaners working within Ministry of Justice sites are therefore employed directly by these outsourced providers or their subcontractors and/or agencies.

    Rates of pay for cleaners are determined by their respective employers and not held by the Ministry of Justice. All employers are obligated to pay at least the National Minimum Wage and the new National Living Wage from April 2016.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many vehicles were acquired under the 2009-10 vehicle scrappage scheme; and how many of those vehicles had not been disposed of on the latest date for which figures are available.

    Anna Soubry

    Under the 2009 Vehicle Scrappage Scheme (VSS) claims were made for 392227 vehicles. A breakdown of that figure by make and model is available on our website, gov.uk. In order for a claim to be made under the VSS, a Certificate of Destruction (CoD), issued by an Authorised Treatment Facility (ATF) for the old vehicle had to be provided by the car dealer to the manufacturer. Beyond the CoD, the arrangements covering disposal of the old vehicle, and any associated costs, sat outside the scheme. The physical treatment chain was not a condition of the Scheme and therefore the Department does not hold any information relating to this. The Environment Agency is the responsible authority for compliance with the permit requirements for Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATF).

  • Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-06-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answers of 7 April 2014 to Questions 194734 to 194737, who the named official was who was responsible for the sale of Brompton Road underground station.

    Mark Lancaster

    The official responsible for the sale of Brompton Road has now retired, the senior official responsible for the disposals programme has left the Department.

  • Roger Mullin – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Roger Mullin – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Mullin on 2016-09-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of people in the workfare programme in (i) Fife and (ii) Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency moved into full-time employment in each of the last five years.

    Damian Hinds

    The Department does not operate a “workfare programme” therefore does not hold the information requested.

    The Department does publish some information on the Work Programme, however the information requested for those who moved into full-time employment whilst on the Work Programme is not available.

    Information is available for the number of Work Programme Referrals, Attachments and Job Outcomes (achieved when an individual has been in employment for 3 or 6 months, depending on their payment group), by various geographies and this can be found at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

    Guidance for users can be found at: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started—SuperWEB2.html

    “

  • Alex Chalk – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Alex Chalk – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Chalk on 2016-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to limit the use of accessible toilets solely for disabled people.

    Gavin Barwell

    The Department for Communities and Local Government has commissioned research into existing guidance in Approved Document M (Access to and use of buildings) of the Building Regulations, including on the use of accessible toilets, and that research will help to guide the way forward where any change to existing legislation is needed. Legislating to restrict use of accessible toilets raises many complex issues including in defining who would, and who would not, be entitled to use such facilities and whether this would be enforceable. Government takes the view that current arrangements are practicable without the need for further legislation and, as a result, does not intend to pursue this further at this time.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andy Slaughter – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2015-11-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to take steps in response to recent allegations made by a former employee of the Legal Aid Agency about irregularities regarding the staffing and process in assessing duty tender bids.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    The individual making these allegations was a member of temporary staff employed in a junior role. Tenders were awarded following a rigorous and fair process

    Assessors received comprehensive training, which included a face-to-face instructor-led interactive workshop, undertaken by a permanent member of staff with specific experience of the tender process. This also included undertaking practical exercises in tender evaluation and bid-comparison processes, such as consideration of model answers to assure consistency in assessment. Furthermore, the entire process was subject to careful moderation and management.

  • Lord Freyberg – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Freyberg – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Freyberg on 2015-11-30.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many business cases were created in NHS England trusts in 2014 that related to the business justification for introducing new tumour genetic tests; when reviewing those business cases, what percentage of trusts allowed drugs budget savings to be included, given that such savings occur outside the underlying NHS tariff; and what is their estimate of the staff hours and costs associated with creating and reviewing such business cases every year in England.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    NHS England has not, to date, undertaken a direct comparison of the English and French health systems in respect of genetic testing practice for cancer.

    NHS England does not hold data on the percentage of stage 2b, or higher, cancer patients in secondary and tertiary centres who were genetically tested. Detailed information on the clinical circumstances, or reasons, for referral for genetic testing for individual patients is not currently collated on a national basis.

    NHS England does not consider business cases from individual National Health Service trusts in relation to the adoption of new genetic tests. Instead, NHS England considers national clinical commissioning policy proposals on the eligibility of a particular test, or treatments to be made available in the presence of particular genetic markers. These are considered and where agreed, funded consistently across England for services falling within NHS England’s direct commissioning responsibilities.

    Examples include the separate policies (published in July 2015) confirming eligibility for Ivacaftor for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in the presence of certain gene mutations, and confirming eligibility for testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations, respectively. Copies of the policies are attached.

    In addition, the UK Genetic Testing Network currently presents new genetic testing proposals to NHS England for funding consideration based on the conclusions of their assurance programme. These are considered, alongside other new policy proposals, as part of the annual funding prioritisation process, where there is a net annual investment to be made to support their adoption.

    Information on the average turnaround time for cancer genetic tests is not currently collated, or analysed, nationally. However, NHS England will be undertaking a procurement exercise in the coming months to support the strengthened provision of genetic testing across England. This includes more consistent reporting of activity and other performance indicators, including the timeliness of reporting on receipt on referrals. The supporting national service specification, setting out the standards required of commissioned providers, has been the subject of a recent public consultation.