Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-04-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations she has received from schools in Coventry on the Government’s policy that all schools should become academies; and if she will make a statement.

    Edward Timpson

    We have not received any representations from schools in Coventry regarding the Government’s policy that all schools will become academies.

    We want every school to be an academy because it leads to a more dynamic, responsive and higher-performing education system. It allows successful schools to consolidate success and spread that excellence across the country. As part of our plans, we are giving schools six years’ notice to work with their local authority and diocese to plan and make the right decisions for their pupils and communities. We are clear that no school has to rush into an arrangement that is not right for them.

  • Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Lewis on 2016-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the date and title is of all reports and assessments produced by her Department relating to the Civil Nuclear Constabulary in each of the last three years; and if she will place those reports in the Library.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The CNC produces its own Annual Reports and periodic Business Strategies, along with other publications, which can be found at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/civil-nuclear-police-authority.

    “

  • Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Will Quince on 2016-09-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the merits of offering unused returned drugs to developing countries.

    David Mowat

    In general, where a hospital pharmacy issues medicines to an individual patient and they remain within the hospital, either because they are not used or only partly used, the medicines would be returned to the pharmacy to check that they are suitable for re-use and returned to the pharmacy stock.

    The Government does not promote the re-use of medicines that have left the pharmacy and been returned to either hospital or community pharmacies by patients, as it is not possible to guarantee the quality of a returned medicine by physical inspection alone.

    The Government also does not recommend the donation of patient-returned medicines. This is in line with clear World Health Organization guidelines, which have been developed‎ in cooperation with major international agencies involved in humanitarian and developmental aid. The guidelines are available at:

    www.who.int/medicines/publications/med_donationsguide2011/en/

    “

  • Lord Laird – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Lord Laird – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-10-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the concept of parity of esteem, as outlined in the Belfast Agreement 1998, applies to (1) members of the armed forces who served in Northern Ireland but reside in another part of the UK, (2) members of terrorist organisations who were active in Northern Ireland and reside there, and (3) members of terrorist organisations who were active in Northern Ireland but reside in the Republic of Ireland.

    Lord Dunlop

    This Government understands the concept of parity of esteem, as set out in the 1998 Belfast Agreement, as placing a general obligation on the UK Government to govern in the interests of the whole community and to treat people of different traditions fairly and with equal respect. In the Agreement it is clearly expressed and defined in relation to people living in Northern Ireland. As a general obligation there is no definition of particular circumstances in which it does or does not apply.

    The concept of parity of esteem does not absolve people from upholding the law: terrorism was wholly wrong. This Government will never accept any form of equivalence between members of the armed forces who upheld democracy and the rule of law and those who engage in terrorism or other forms of paramilitary activity.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Greg Mulholland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2015-11-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many replies to constituent correspondence from hon. Members his Department sent by (a) email and (b) letter in each of the last three years; and what the cost breakdown of each method was in each such year.

    Justin Tomlinson

    We have received representations from a small number of hon. Members and where appropriate the Department obliges with email replies. Where there is sensitive personal information in a reply, it will be posted for security reasons.

    The cost differential between sending postal replies and email replies is minimal.

    The exact information requested on the method of dispatch is not available other than at a disproportionate cost.

  • Baroness Royall of Blaisdon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Baroness Royall of Blaisdon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 2015-12-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the reduction in the Cabinet Office budget on the budget for the Office of Civil Society.

    Lord Bridges of Headley

    The Office for Civil Society will make general efficiency savings in its core budget, but it will also receive an additional £80million to grow social investment and the funding to offer up to 300,000 National Citizen Service places in 2019/20.

  • Tom Elliott – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Tom Elliott – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Elliott on 2016-01-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the amount of private sector investment in research and development in each of the last three years; and what assessment he has made of trends in the level of such investment.

    Joseph Johnson

    The amount of UK R&D expenditure performed by the business sector is set out in the table below1. Expenditure in this sector increased by £1.1 billion in cash terms, to £19.9 billion in 2014 compared with 2013.

    Support for business through the R&D Tax Credit scheme has continued to grow, from 9,250 companies claiming £1.0 billion on £10 billion of expenditure in 2009/10 compared with nearly 18,200 companies claiming £1.75 billion on £14.3 billion of expenditure in 2013/14.

    £ million

    2012

    2013

    2014

    UK Expenditure for R&D performed by Business Enterprise sector – current prices

    17,409

    18,799

    19,935

    1 Figures are taken from the ONS publication on Business Enterprise Research and Development, 2014.The business sector figures exclude the private non-profit sector.

  • Christopher Chope – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Christopher Chope – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2016-02-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department’s financial contribution was to the Christchurch beach recycling scheme; and what assessment has been made of the cost-effectiveness of the works carried out under that scheme.

    Rory Stewart

    The Christchurch Beach Recycling Scheme took place in 2015 and cost a total of £640,000. The EA contributed £585,000 under the repair and recovery programme allocation of funding as urgent works. The remainder of costs was met by Christchurch Borough Council. The project was assessed by the Environment Agency’s Large Project Review Group, which considered the Scheme’s viability, including cost benefit analysis.

  • Tulip Siddiq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Tulip Siddiq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-02-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which local authorities do not require Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for taxis and private hire vehicles; and what representations his Department has made to those local authorities to encourage the use of DBS checks for taxis and private hire vehicles.

    Andrew Jones

    The Department for Transport does not hold details of the checks that individual local licensing authorities undertake on taxi and private hire vehicle drivers.

    All taxi and private hire vehicle drivers can be subject to an enhanced criminal record check, which includes a check of the children’s and adults barred lists, through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). In the Department’s Best Practice Guidance for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing and through engagement with licensing authorities, we strongly encourage licensing authorities to carry out an enhanced DBS check on all applicants.

  • Ian Murray – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Ian Murray – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many outstanding (a) employment and support allowance and (b) personal independence payment assessments for Scottish claimants there were in each of the last four quarters for which information is available.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The number of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) initial work capability assessments still in progress in Scotland as at the dates below were:

    Quarter

    Total

    31 December 2014

    30,700

    31 March 2015

    28,800

    30 June 2015

    28,200

    30 September 2015

    27,500

    Source: Data is derived from administrative data held by the DWP and assessment data provided by the healthcare provider.

    Personal Independence Payment (PIP) clearance levels are within expectations. The number of cases in progress in Scotland as at the dates below were:

    30 April 2015 6,100

    31 July 2015 6,800

    31 October 2015 8,900

    31 January 2016 13,000

    Source: Data taken from the PIP computer system management information