The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-10-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of full-time equivalent officials based in her Department who are working on selective education policies; and if she will make a statement.
Nick Gibb
There are a total of 16 full-time equivalent staff working on the Schools that work for everyone consultation, including policy proposals on selective education.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2015-11-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider North Korean citizens and refugees as South Korean citizens.
Lord Bates
The Constitution of Republic of Korea (South Korea) stipulates that all North Koreans are citizens of the Republic of Korea.
As citizens of South Korea, North Korean asylum seekers are able to seek the protection of the South Korean authorities. A person who simply expresses an unwillingness to avail themselves of such protection would not bring them within the scope of the UN Refugee Convention.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2015-12-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the consultation on payment of compensation out of the his Department’s contingency fund for those who have suffered from the contaminated bloods issue will report.
Jane Ellison
Liability has not been established in the majority of cases of individuals infected with hepatitis C and/or HIV through NHS-supplied blood or blood products, so it would not be appropriate to talk about support payments in terms of compensation.
I announced in the House of Commons on 16 December 2015, in response to an Urgent Question, Official Report, columns 1555-1565, that the consultation on reforming the current payment schemes for those infected with hepatitis C and/or HIV through NHS-supplied blood or blood products will be announced later this month.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made of the rate of compliance on routes from (a) Hull and (b) in the North Sea with lower sulphur dioxide emission limit for merchant vessels which came into force on 1 January 2015.
Mr Robert Goodwill
There are no figures for 2015.
However, since 1 January 2016 the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has inspected 34 ships within the North Sea Sulphur Emission Control for compliance with the lower 0.1 per cent sulphur limit. Eleven of these ships had fuel samples taken and analysed, and one ship was found to be marginally non-compliant.
The one ship that was inspected and had its fuel sampled at the port of Hull was found to be within the limit.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what powers she intends to extend to farmers in relation to the dredging of watercourses on their land.
Rory Stewart
The Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 were laid before Parliament on 2 February. Subject to parliamentary approval, from April the Regulations will remove a number of low risk activities from the need for a flood defence consent permit from the Environment Agency, enabling it to focus on the highest risk activities. This includes allowing farmers to maintain ditches up to 1.5km long subject to a number of conditions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2016-03-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many and what proportion of officials of his Department took sick leave for reasons relating to stress in each of the last five years; and what proportion of total sick leave that leave was in each such year.
Mr Edward Vaizey
The average days’ sickness absence per full time equivalent employed by DCMS during the last financial year was 2.0 days.
The Civil Service takes a holistic approach to managing sick absence and improving wellbeing and we have focussed on specific actions to reduce the incidence of mental disorders, including stress related absence. This includes
early referral to occupational health experts, particularly for mental health, stress or musculoskeletal conditions,
early referral to Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) for CBT based counselling support for mental health issues,
workplace adjustments that help to prevent conditions from developing or worsening, whilst reducing the barriers to work for those affected by mental or physical impairments,
extensive training for managers and employees including on disability and mental health awareness, well-being, resilience and stress.
|
Financial Year |
Number of officials who took sick leave for reasons relating to stress |
Proportion of officials who took sick leave for reasons relating to stress |
Proportion of total sick such sick leave was in the department |
|
Apr 14 – Mar 15 |
1 |
0.2% |
0.5% |
|
Apr 13 – Mar 14 |
2 |
0.5% |
0.9% |
|
Apr 12 – Mar 13 |
3 |
0.8% |
1.2% |
|
Apr 11 – Mar 12 |
5 |
1.1% |
2.1% |
|
Apr 10 – Mar 11 |
6 |
1.4% |
2.5% |
Background
We have reported on the average sickness absence in the annual report (link) and do not specifically report on sickness absence due to stress.
The DCMS sick absence data is low in comparison with the Civil Service average of 7.4 Average Working Days Lost. We do not have any evidence to know why this is. HR continues to remind all staff and managers of the importance of accurate and prompt recording on the HR system.
|
Financial Year |
Number of officials who took sick leave for reasons relating to stress |
Proportion of officials who took sick leave for reasons relating to stress |
Department FTE |
Total sickness in department |
Percentage of staff who took Stress Related Absence against total staff who recorded a sick absence |
|
Apr 14 – Mar 15 |
1 |
0.2% |
461 |
203 |
0.5% |
|
Apr 13 – Mar 14 |
2 |
0.5% |
381 |
234 |
0.9% |
|
Apr 12 – Mar 13 |
3 |
0.8% |
376 |
259 |
1.2% |
|
Apr 11 – Mar 12 |
5 |
1.1% |
457 |
243 |
2.1% |
|
Apr 10 – Mar 11 |
6 |
1.4% |
443 |
242 |
2.5% |
¹Department FTE from DCMS Annual Report & Accounts 2010-11 and 2014-15
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by MiDavies on 2016-04-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what measures his Department has in place for helping to ensure that areas without parish or town councils are (a) serving demand for allotments and (b) ensuring adequate protection for currently designated allotment land.
Brandon Lewis
Responsibility for the provision and management of allotments rests with local authorities. Section 23 of the Allotments and Smallholdings Act 1908 places a duty on councils (excluding London Boroughs) to provide allotments where they perceive there is a demand for them. This is a matter for each council bound by the duty to determine.
Local authorities are required under Section 8 of the Allotments Act 1925 to obtain consent from the Secretary of State to dispose of statutory allotments. Section 8 applications are considered against criteria set out by the Secretary of State. The department published guidance in January 2014 – Allotment Disposal Guidance: Safeguards and alternatives – which clarifies the legal and policy safeguards in place to ensure that disposal is properly and thoroughly handled. The guidance is available at www.gov.uk/government/publications/allotment-disposal-guidance-safeguards-and-alternatives.
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anna Turley on 2016-05-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what support her Department is providing to recipients of Green Deal funding whose vouchers expired before their home improvements were completed.
Andrea Leadsom
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 26 May 2016, Question number 37787.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2016-07-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions he has had with Ministers from the devolved administrations since he took office.
Mr David Davis
The Government will fully involve the devolved administrations, including Scotland, as we prepare for negotiations on the UK’s exit from the EU. We are working towards securing the best possible deal for the whole UK, and we will work closely with colleagues in the devolved administrations. Details of Ministerial meetings will be published in the Department’s Quarterly Transparency Returns, which will be made publicly available on GOV.UK.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sammy Wilson on 2016-10-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the threat from the Asian hornet to the honeybee population in the UK.
Dr Thérèse Coffey
A contingency plan outlining the Government’s response against the Asian hornet is in place. The emergency measures it sets out are tested twice a year by the National Bee Unit ensuring that all field inspectors and support staff are trained in how to respond should an outbreak occur.
Following a confirmed sighting of the Asian hornet in Gloucestershire, the National Bee Unit (NBU) enacted our established biosecurity protocols to confirm the scale of the outbreak and eradicate the pest. A single nest was located and destroyed. To date, no more live hornets have been seen in this area.
The outbreak follows on from a policy review in 2013 whereby the National Bee Unit (NBU) increased the number of risk-based exotic pest inspections it carries out each year. These are targeted at early interception of non-native invasive species such as the Asian hornet. NBU Bee Inspectors also routinely provide advice and training to beekeepers to raise awareness of the threat and the need for vigilance.
The Non-Native Species Secretariat has carried out a risk assessment looking at the risks and impacts of an Asian hornet outbreak. The key threat is believed to be against honey bee species, rather than other bee species. Asian hornets will impact on native species through predation, competition and impact on natural pollination.