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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Jo Cox – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Jo Cox – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jo Cox on 2016-01-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how her Department integrates atrocity prevention into its work (a) in at risk countries and (b) with at risk communities.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    In the UK Aid Strategy published in the autumn the Government committed to spending at least 50% of the Department for International Development’s budget in fragile states and regions in each year of this parliament, as well as to increasing the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund to over £1.3 billion a year by 2019/20. We are investing in fragile states and regions to build stability and tackle the underlying drivers and enablers of all types of violent conflict – including identity-based mass violence and atrocities – rather than simply responding after violence breaks out.

    Conflict and large-scale violence are best prevented by enabling societies to develop the strong and legitimate institutions needed to manage tensions peacefully. This requires a long-term, patient approach through increased support to tackle corruption, promote good governance, develop security and justice, and create jobs and economic opportunity. These are essential elements of the golden thread of democracy and development, supporting peaceful and inclusive societies at national and community levels.

  • 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 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2015 to Question 19556, on mental illness: discrimination, if he will provide (a) an update on the discussions with Time to Change, and its other funding partners, about the next phase of the programme and (b) the dates these discussions took place.

    Alistair Burt

    Departmental officials have regular discussions with colleagues at the Time to Change programme and its funders to monitor progress with the programme and to manage the grant funding that is provided to Time to Change from the Department and other funders. We are currently discussing the next phase of the programme.

  • Melanie Onn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Melanie Onn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Melanie Onn on 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to encourage young people to take up a career in the fishing industry.

    George Eustice

    Such matters fall primarily to the Non-Departmental Public Body Seafish, which is funded by an industry levy. Seafish launched a three-week ‘Introduction to Commercial Fishing’ course in September 2011 to help recruit and train new entrants to the fishing industry. Drawing on funding from the European Fisheries Fund (EFF), Seafish has delivered 84 courses throughout the UK and trained 741 new entrants.

    Seafish has also developed a one-year (minimum) ‘Apprenticeship in Sea Fishing’ programme to attract new entrants looking for a career in commercial fishing. It has been delivered in England by the Whitby & District Fishing Industry School, and is now being offered as a Modern Apprenticeship in Scotland by the NAFC Marine Centre in Shetland and the North East Scotland College in Peterhead. Between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2015 51 apprentices registered for, and 44 completed, the programme. Moreover, Seafish has developed ‘Fish and Shellfish Apprenticeships’ to help the onshore sectors of the seafood industry recruit new high-calibre entrants.

    In addition, Seafish created ‘The World is Your Oyster’, a recruitment campaign designed to showcase the diverse employment opportunities and career prospects in the seafood and fishing industries. The campaign launched in November last year, and is targeted at school leavers, youngsters and those considering a career change. Further information can be found on the Seafish website.

    The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has provided financial support via the EFF to Fisheries Local Action Groups for schemes which include apprenticeships and training for the fishing industry. Funds paid for such schemes under EFF with MMO matched funding are in the region of £208,829. Support for training programmes and apprenticeships will continue to be available under the European Maritime Fisheries Fund, replacing the EFF, which opened on 18 January.

  • Roger Godsiff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Roger Godsiff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2016-03-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2016 to Question 27469, what representations she has received on whether the admissions criteria employed by religiously selective schools are sufficiently clear for parents to be able to understand them; and if she will make a statement.

    Nick Gibb

    As part of our current review of the School Admissions Code, we are considering whether changes need to be made to address some of the issues highlighted by the Schools Adjudicator. The School Admissions Code requires that the oversubscription criteria of all state-funded schools, including schools with a religious character, are reasonable, clear, objective, and procedurally fair. Schools operating faith-admission arrangements must ensure that parents can easily understand how any faith-based criteria will be reasonably satisfied. Parents should be able to look at a set of arrangements and understand easily how places for that school will be allocated.

    If parents consider arrangements are unclear or unfair they can object to the Schools Adjudicator.

    Officials regularly meet with a range of stakeholders to discuss admissions policy.

  • Lord Scriven – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Lord Scriven – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Scriven on 2016-04-26.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what criteria they used in making the decision to move the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills office from Sheffield to London, and how those criteria were decided.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    The Department has not yet made final decisions on its future estate or on the proposals for a combined BIS headquarters and policy centre in London. Our consultation on the proposals is still underway.

  • Norman Lamb – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Norman Lamb – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Norman Lamb on 2016-06-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve awareness and education of cytomegalovirus among parents and children.

    Jane Ellison

    Public Health England’s Start4Life Information Service for Parents includes content on hygiene behaviours designed to help prevent the transmission of cytomegalovirus and links to further information on the condition. Advice includes how parents can keep their babies safe by following basic hygiene rules, with particular emphasis on handling nappies, and provides guidance on instilling hygiene behaviours in young children, for example by making hand washing part of their everyday routine.

    General information about the signs and symptoms of cytomegalovirus is also available on the NHS Choices website at:

    http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Cytomegalovirus/Pages/Causes.aspx

    “

  • Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2016-09-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the minutes of all the meetings his Department has held related to each of the 44 sustainability and transformation plans.

    David Mowat

    Every health and care system in England is producing a multi-year Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP), showing how local services will evolve and become sustainable over the next five years – ultimately delivering the Five Year Forward View vision of better health, better patient care and improved National Health Service efficiency. The Department has held two meetings relating to STPs with the national bodies responsible for the development of the STP programme. As is usual practice, the minutes of such policy development meetings are not normally published. The Department has not been involved in meetings with the 44 local STP areas directly.

  • Grant Shapps – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Grant Shapps – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grant Shapps on 2016-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to impose fines on Volkswagen as a result of its manipulation of emissions tests in 2015.

    Mr John Hayes

    The Government continues to take the unacceptable actions of the Volkswagen Group extremely seriously.

    We want to ensure that the Volkswagen Group faces appropriate legal consequences for its manipulation of emissions tests and are continuing to consider how best to do this. We continue to consider opening our own investigation and it would therefore be inappropriate and potentially damaging to any prosecution to discuss our plans publicly at this stage.

    Prosecuting authorities from across Europe have met to discuss and coordinate their investigations. Department for Transport officials have been part of those coordinating efforts and continue to monitor the progress of those investigations.

  • Ian Austin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Ian Austin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-11-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what organisations her Department is working with to deliver humanitarian aid in Nepal.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    DFID is working with a range of partners to deliver humanitarian aid in Nepal. These include: a set of Prequalified NGO partners working with local partners that helped facilitate a rapid response in the aftermath of Earthquake; International Organizations such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC); and the multilateral system which includes the United Nations.

  • Seema Kennedy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Seema Kennedy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Kennedy on 2016-01-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will support the increase of infrastructure for onboard wifi along the West Coast rail line.

    Claire Perry

    We recognise intermittent internet access is a frustration felt by many rail passengers. I have met with Virgin Trains to discuss their ambitions to improve internet connectivity on both West Coast and East Coast main lines. I recognise that this is an important issue for West Coast passengers and that we need to find a solution where all passengers can benefit.

    Free Wi-Fi is being introduced on all Department for Transport-controlled rail franchises in England and Wales. All train operators bidding for new franchises and direct award agreements will have to present a phased implementation plan for free Wi-Fi. The West Coast franchise is being tendered this year with the new contract commencing in 2018, which will include this obligation.

    On-train Wi-Fi addresses some of the issues, however we recognise that there is more to do that will require enhancements to trackside infrastructure. That’s why we are working with the rail and telecommunications industries to reach a shared understanding of the technical and commercial challenges, and seek out potential solutions.