The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-01-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans his Department has to lease US Air Force Poseidon P-8 aircraft prior to the entry into service of the UK P-8 aircraft in 2019-20.
Mr Philip Dunne
There are currently no plans to lease P-8 aircraft.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Crisp on 2016-02-01.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Department for International Development will value mental health equally with physical health in its funding decisions.
Baroness Verma
The UK has lobbied hard to make sure the Global Goals cover the areas not covered by the Millennium Development Goals, to make sure nobody is left behind, including in health, which is a significant step forward. DFID’s principal approach to supporting the Global Goal for health is to strengthen health services, improving coverage, access and quality so that services better address all major causes of ill health including mental health. The UK has played a key role in creating a set of goals that are universal and inclusive and focused on ending chronic poverty forever, for everyone, everywhere. The UK has been a strong and consistent supporter of the need to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
We also support research, together with specific work on mental health. For example, in Ghana, addressing mental health is a specific focus within DFID’s health sector support programme as well as under the Health Partnership Scheme, DFID is helping to establish a community-based programme of mental health care in Malawi to improve care of people with common and severe mental health illnesses. DFID is also providing support for mental health services for Syrian refugees, including those traumatised by the conflict.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2016-02-25.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any of his Department’s advisors received a pay rise of more than one per cent in the last two financial years.
Harriett Baldwin
I refer the Honourable member to the answer given my Rt Hon. friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (26025)
Like any employer, HM Treasury does not discuss individual personnel matters, however details on the remuneration of Special Advisers appointed in the current Government and information on the remuneration of Special Advisers during the Coalition Government are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/special-adviser-data-releases-numbers-and-costs
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ruth Cadbury on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish the proposed new flightpaths before a decision is taken on a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
Mr Robert Goodwill
On 14 December 2015, the Government formally announced that it accepted the Airports Commission’s case for new runway capacity in the South East, as well as the Commission’s three shortlisted schemes. We continue to consider all three schemes, including a third runway at Heathrow.
The Government continues to consider the large amount of very detailed analysis contained in the Airports Commission’s final report, including on flight paths, before taking any decisions on next steps. Ultimately, any proposals to alter the airport’s flightpaths would be subject to the Civil Aviation Authority’s Airspace Change Process.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2016-04-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to protect the UK’s rivers, lakes and wetlands from agricultural pollution, and what assessment they have made of whether the water protection zones are being used effectively in this regard.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Given that environmental protection is a devolved matter, I am replying in regard to the position in England.
This Government is committed to protecting and improving our water environment and supporting competitive agriculture. The recently published river basin management plans set out the actions that we will take over the next six years to improve water quality. The plans promote integrated catchment management and local decision making.
We have a wide range of actions to tackle water pollution from agriculture ranging from advice, voluntary and incentivised rules to regulation. For example, there are regulations to reduce the risk of nitrate pollution in Nitrate Vulnerable Zones.
Building on these regulations, Countryside Stewardship supports farmers who want to do more than the legal requirements and good practice by providing £400 million in funding to helping improve water quality and to manage flood risk.
We are also working towards better targeting of farm inspections with risk based enforcement that recognises good performance.
In addition to Government action, the agricultural industry is playing its part by developing an offer, explaining how it will help farmers to better protect the water environment.
All of this is underpinned by advice to farmers which is delivered through the Farming Advice Service and Catchment Sensitive Farming, £106 million has been invested through Catchment Sensitive Farming over the past 8 years to mitigate the impact of agricultural activities on the water environment
Further actions at national and local level are planned. Defra recently consulted on new rules to address sediment and phosphate pollution from agriculture. The consultation proposed some clear, simple and basic rules for all farmers, which would make a contribution to further protecting the water environment. Ministers are considering how to proceed in light of this consultation.
We are using a wide variety of measures to protect and improve our water environment. Water Protection Zones (WPZs) are a further tool. The Government is currently considering what further action will be required to meet the conservation objectives for our most precious protected sites. This will consider the full range of mechanisms, including WPZs.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2016-05-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average length is of nursing, midwifery and allied healthcare students’ clinical placements taken in each year of their degree.
Ben Gummer
The information about the average length of clinical placements for nursing, midwifery and allied healthcare students taken in each year of their degree is not collected by the Department.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-07-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to bring forward proposals to change any aspect of current legislation on food, animal feed safety and food hygiene formerly dealt with by the EU after the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
Nicola Blackwood
Until we leave, the United Kingdom will remain a full member of the European Union, with all of the rights and obligations. The content of future food and feed legislation will be dependent on the outcome of negotiations on the UK’s exit from the European Union. The Food Standard Agency’s priority will remain the same: to protect the interests of consumers in relation to food.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Desmond Swayne on 2016-10-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when the new high commissioner for St Lucia will be accredited to the Court of St James.
Sir Alan Duncan
The request is proceeding in line with normal procedures. We will respond to the St Lucia High Commission when the process is completed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2015-11-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what average time her Department took to respond to freedom of information requests in each year since 2005.
Andrea Leadsom
The Government publishes statistics on the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 within central government, including on timeliness. These can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-12-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance his Department gives to betting companies on the nature of their messages about responsible gambling required in their shop window advertising.
Tracey Crouch
Dedicating 20% of shop window advertising to responsible gambling messages is an industry-led initiative, introduced by the Senet Group last year.
All gambling advertising must comply with the UK Advertising Codes. These Codes include a number of requirements, such as ensuring that advertising is not aimed at children or young people and that it does not leave vulnerable people open to exploitation or harm.
More generally, the Gambling Commission’s Licence conditions and codes of practice (LCCP) require that all gambling advertising should be undertaken in a socially responsible manner.