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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Lord Taylor of Warwick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Lord Taylor of Warwick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick on 2016-04-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the 0.4 per cent fall in February in the volume of goods sold in UK shops.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    Individual month on month changes can be volatile. Although the latest ONS Retail Sales Index reports a fall of 0.4 per cent in the volume of goods sold on a seasonally adjusted basis in February, it follows on from a strong monthly rise in January (2.3 per cent). It is also a 3.8 per cent increase on February of last year.

    This monthly decline in sales volumes was seen across all the headline categories of retail (with the exception of household goods stores). However, for almost all categories the decline was substantially smaller than the growth seen in the previous month.

    The latest Retail Sales Index publication and supplementary data is attached and can be found here:-

    https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/retailindustry/bulletins/retailsales/february2016

    “

  • Gavin Shuker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Gavin Shuker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Shuker on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department takes to ensure that its policies do not encourage discrimination of religion or belief.

    Mr David Lidington

    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office carefully assesses the probable impact of all policy decisions and actions, and avoids taking any decision or action likely to encourage discrimination of any kind, including on grounds of religion or belief.

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-07-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations he has received from the heritage and archaeological communities on the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on those communities; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Prime Minister has been clear that the negotiation for Britain’s future relationship with Europe will need to begin under a new Prime Minister, and we have now got to look at all the detailed arrangements. In the meantime, Departments continue working to deliver the Government agenda.

  • Baroness Altmann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Baroness Altmann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-09-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their most recent estimate of the number of individual employers at risk of personal bankruptcy as a result of the increased costs of supporting defined benefit pension liabilities in non-associated multi-employer pension schemes.

    Lord Freud

    The information requested is not held by Government or the Pensions Regulator.

  • Sharon Hodgson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Sharon Hodgson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2015-11-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what plans his Department has to develop a UK games archive to preserve computer and online games and the creative process which is part of their development as part of the UK’s cultural identity.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    This Government recognises the cultural value of video games and the importance of the industry to the UK economy. The games sector is particularly well placed to deliverfurther prosperity in the regions and help increase UK exports. The creation of a video games archive and additional support for video games from public agencies were proposed in the recent industry report, A Blueprint for Growth.It also highlighted the contribution video games make to British culture and our economy, as well as the potential for further growth. We are currently reviewing the evidence in the report, its various recommendations and any implications for our future policies.

  • Ian Lavery – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Ian Lavery – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lavery on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received on introducing a statutory duty on the fire and rescue service to respond to major flooding; and if he will make a statement.

    Mike Penning

    I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Home Office.

    Both the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 detail the roles and powers of fire and rescue authorities, in respect of both emergency response and rescue in a wide range of situations, including from flooding. Fire and rescue authorities are expected to undertake integrated risk management planning, dovetailed with the community risk register overseen by the Local Resilience Forum (a multi-agency grouping of which fire and rescue authorities are key members). Integrated Risk Management Plans identify the full range of risks that an authority’s service is expected to respond to and are subject to consultation. The National Fire Framework published in July 2012 and given statutory effect in August 2012 makes this clear and I believe that fire and rescue authorities are fully competent to deliver on this.

    The Government has had no recent representations on this arrangement and in light of how well fire services have responded to recent flooding suggests there is no need for review.

  • Tom Blenkinsop – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Tom Blenkinsop – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2016-01-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to tackle the increase in sexual offences on Teesside.

    Karen Bradley

    Rape and sexual violence are devastating crimes and the Government has made protecting women and girls from violence and supporting victims and survivors of sexual violence a key priority. We want victims to have the confidence to report these crimes, knowing they will get the support they need and that everything will be done to bring offenders to justice.

    These are under-reported crimes, and the Office for National Statistics report that recent increases in police recorded crime are likely due to improved recording by the police and an increase in the willingness of victims to come forward and report to the police. The number of prosecutions and convictions for sexual offences are at their highest ever levels.

    The Government continues to support improvements to the criminal justice system’s response to victims of sexual violence. We have supported the publication of data on rape for every police force in the country as a basis for improving recording and investigations of rape and ensure that guidance on investigating and prosecuting rape is implemented in every police force area. The Rape Action Plan, led by the Crown Prosecution Service and the police, is helping to ensure that every report of rape is treated seriously and every victim is given the help they deserve.

  • Jim Fitzpatrick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jim Fitzpatrick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Fitzpatrick on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average wait for driving tests is in each English region.

    Andrew Jones

    The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency records its data in four regions, which are; Scotland and North England, Central England and North Wales, South Wales and South West England and London and the South East. The average waiting times in January 2016 for these areas are listed below.

    Scotland & North England

    Waiting time in weeks

    Jan-16

    Average Car Waiting time

    8.4

    Average M/C Mod 1 Waiting time

    1.3

    Average M/C Mod 2 Waiting time

    2.1

    Average Voc Waiting time

    7.9

    Average ADI 2 Waiting time

    7.2

    Average ADI 3 Waiting time

    7.1

    Average Taxi Waiting time

    8.0

    Central England & North Wales

    Waiting time in weeks

    Jan-16

    Average Car Waiting time

    8.4

    Average M/C Mod 1 Waiting time

    1.3

    Average M/C Mod 2 Waiting time

    2.1

    Average Voc Waiting time

    7.9

    Average ADI 2 Waiting time

    7.2

    Average ADI 3 Waiting time

    7.1

    Average Taxi Waiting time

    8.0

    South Wales & South West England

    Waiting time in weeks

    Jan-16

    Average Car Waiting time

    8.7

    Average M/C Mod 1 Waiting time

    3.6

    Average M/C Mod 2 Waiting time

    2.1

    Average Voc Waiting time

    5.7

    Average ADI 2 Waiting time

    5.7

    Average ADI 3 Waiting time

    7.8

    Average Taxi Waiting time

    7.6

    London & South East

    Waiting time in weeks

    Jan-16

    Average Car Waiting time

    7.5

    Average M/C Mod 1 Waiting time

    1.5

    Average M/C Mod 2 Waiting time

    1.5

    Average Voc Waiting time

    3.3

    Average ADI 2 Waiting time

    3.8

    Average ADI 3 Waiting time

    3.3

    Average Taxi Waiting time

    3.4

    National

    Waiting time in weeks

    Jan-16

    Average Car Waiting time

    8.4

    Average M/C Mod 1 Waiting time

    2.7

    Average M/C Mod 2 Waiting time

    2.4

    Average Voc Waiting time

    5.3

    Average ADI 2 Waiting time

    5.5

    Average ADI 3 Waiting time

    5.9

    Average Taxi Waiting time

    6.7

  • Baroness Gould of Potternewton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Baroness Gould of Potternewton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Gould of Potternewton on 2016-03-08.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what data will be included in the local authority contraception tool being developed by Public Health England; when and how that tool will be used; how often the results will be published; and which organisations Public Health England has met with to discuss that tool.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    In spring 2016 Public Health England (PHE) will be adding 10 new indicators to its sexual health and reproductive health profiles relating to long acting reversible contraception and abortion. It is anticipated that these additional indicators will be used by commissioners and providers of reproductive health services to understand and inform local action for reproductive health. The new indicators will be updated annually, in line with the update calendar. The PHE data and intelligence subgroup for Sexual Health, Reproductive Health and Human Immunodeficiency Virus constantly reviews the use of the profiles and works closely with centre teams to ensure the data published meets the needs of local authorities.

  • Baroness Wilcox – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Baroness Wilcox – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Wilcox on 2016-04-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the change in real earnings, calculated as nominal earnings growth minus inflation, over the last two years; and what was the change in 2008–10.

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    In the two years to Q4 2010, real total pay fell by 2.8%. In the last two years, real wages have now grown by 3.6%. Wage growth has outstripped inflation for 16 consecutive months, the longest period of real wage growth since 2008. The OBR forecast real wage growth to continue over the entire forecast period.