Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-06-20.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has made an assessment of the additional staffing and resources required to deal with the backlog of employment histories for occupational disease compensation claims requested from HM Revenue and Customs.

    Mr David Gauke

    In response to the significant increase in demand for employment histories in recent years, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has looked at a range of options for improving the Record Retrieval Service; this has included introducing measures such as prioritising requests relating to serious and life-threatening conditions (when specifically identified).

    However, the key constraint to reducing turnaround times is the existing machinery used to manually access the microfilm records – as these machines are no longer manufactured. Therefore, the deployment of additional staff would have negligible impact on service levels. It is not possible to provide a figure for the number of HMRC staff currently allocated to the production of employment histories for occupational disease compensation claims, as requesters of this information are not required to specify the reason for their employment history request. However, around 200 full time equivalent staff are allocated to the department’s Record Retrieval Service.

  • Kevin Foster – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Kevin Foster – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Foster on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make plans to introduce number plates for all mobility scooters to ensure that such scooters could be traced in the event of a collision with a pedestrian.

    Andrew Jones

    Mobility scooters have to comply with the prescribed conditions and requirements set out in the ‘Use of Invalid Carriages on Highways Regulations 1988’ which divides them into two main categories.

    The Class 2 type can travel at 4mph and is primarily intended for use on the footway or footpath. 4 mph is considered appropriate for pavement use as it is akin to a brisk walking pace.

    The Class 3 type can travel on the road at up to 8 mph, but must have the facility via a limiter to be driven at no more than 4 mph when used on the footpath.

    Users of new or second hand Class 3 vehicles are required to register their vehicles with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) for use on public roads. However, there is currently no requirement to display the vehicle registration number on the scooter and I have no plans to change this.

  • Catherine McKinnell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Catherine McKinnell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2015-11-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will encourage the International Organisation of Securities Commissions to bring global listing rules in line with those set out in the European Non-Financial Reporting Directive.

    Anna Soubry

    The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is due to implement the requirements in the EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive into UK law by 6 December 2016. BIS has no plans to extend these requirements beyond those contained in the EU Directive.

    Representation to the International Organisation of Securities Commissions and policy responsibility for UK listing rules falls within the remit of the Financial Conduct Authority and any further enquiries on these matters should be directed to them.

  • Neil Coyle – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Neil Coyle – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many psychiatric assessments have been requested by judges in each of the last 10 years.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-01-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to prevent extortion cases.

    Mr John Hayes

    We are clear that the police and other law enforcement agencies where appropriate, should take reports of extortion seriously and investigate them appropriately. Those who commit offences involving extortion should be taken through the courts and met with tough sentences.

    The Anti-Kidnap and Extortion Unit in the National Crime Agency undertakes awareness raising to assist law enforcement agencies’ understanding of the threat.

  • Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment her Department has made of the number of jobs that will be created by the running and maintaining of (a) new nuclear build at Moorside and (b) Solway Firth Tidal Lagoon project in West Cumbria.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Nugen is proposing to build three AP1000 reactors at Moorside in Cumbria. Nugen have indicated that Moorside would bring at least £10 billion of investment into the UK with estimated peak on-site employment of up to 6,000 during construction.

    Regarding the Solway Firth Tidal Lagoon, the proposed project is in the early stages of development. It is too early to say how many jobs could be created.

  • Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-03-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effects of changes to training funding on the numbers of child psychotherapists training and qualifying as part of the NHS workforce.

    Ben Gummer

    In the November 2015 Spending Review, the Government announced changes to how healthcare student places will be funded. The policy intention of the reforms is to change the funding system for pre-registration undergraduate and postgraduate courses in nursing, midwifery and allied health subjects. From 1 August 2017, these courses will be funded through the standard student loans system; and will not receive Health Education England funding for tuition and students or an National Heaslth Service bursary. The changes will apply to new students only.

    Child Psychotherapists courses are not included in the policy intention for these reforms as they do not attract funding through the NHS Bursary Scheme.

  • Nusrat Ghani – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Nusrat Ghani – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nusrat Ghani on 2016-04-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what operational mitigation measures have been proposed by (a) Heathrow Airport Limited and (b) Gatwick Airport Limited to reduce the effect of aviation noise in the event of expansion of those airports.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Heathrow Airport Ltd. and Gatwick Airport Ltd. have published proposals on their respective websites to mitigate the impacts of aviation noise. The Government is continuing to engage with promoters for all three schemes shortlisted by the Airports Commission to develop the best possible packages of mitigation measures, including on noise.

  • Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which bodies are responsible for maintaining food hygiene standards in state funded primary and secondary schools; and what steps he is taking to support those schools which are found to be in need of improvement in that area.

    Jane Ellison

    Local authorities are responsible for food hygiene inspections of schools. Food hygiene legislation requires these premises to be registered as food businesses. The Food Standards Agency, which sets policy for and monitors enforcement of food safety legislation by local authorities, has advised that approximately 99% of educational establishments have satisfactory or better food hygiene standards.

    Local authorities work with food businesses to make improvements in any premises that fail to meet satisfactory standards during inspections and may take a range of enforcement actions as considered appropriate in the circumstances of each case. The hon. Member or members of his constituency may contact the relevant local authority or the Food Standards Agency for detailed information about specific premises that may be of concern to him.

  • Rachel Reeves – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Rachel Reeves – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachel Reeves on 2016-07-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what provision schools make for Muslim children who want to take time off school for Eid.

    Nick Gibb

    A school should treat a pupil’s absence as authorised if a pupil is unable to attend on a day exclusively set apart for religious observance by the religious body to which their parent belongs.

    This is set out in Regulation 6(2)(b)(ii) of the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006, available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/1751/regulation/6/made

    “