The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-12-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) boys and (b) girls aged (i) 11, (ii) 12, (iii) 13, (iv) 14, (v) 15, (vi) 16 and (vii) 17 were held overnight in police cells in each police station in Lancashire in each month between 1 January 2014 and 30 November 2015.
Mike Penning
The Home Office does not hold this information centrally. It may be held by the individual police force.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Efford on 2016-01-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Southeastern trains and Network Rail have contingency plans in the event of a rail line being closed due to unforeseen circumstances in order to (a) minimise disruption to other rail lines, (b) provide extra capacity on adjacent lines to get passengers as close as possible to their usual destinations and (c) ensure that up-to-the-minute information is provided to passengers regarding alternative routes and replacement services; and if he will make a statement.
Claire Perry
Southeastern have Key Route Strategies in place in case of a line closure. These include options such as replacement buses, ticket acceptance on other routes and if possible on other forms of transport.
Where events are likely to disrupt the service longer term, Southeastern consider re-working the timetable to minimise disruption as much as possible.
Southeastern work closely with Network Rail in managing such events. Network Rail and Southeastern have confirmed that whilst rail lines in the South East are extremely busy and tend to already run at capacity at peak times, it may sometimes be possible to provide extra capacity by strengthening the service on adjacent lines, depending on both rolling stock availability and operating capacity in the peak.
Network Rail support train operators in providing timely information to passengers. Arrangements for putting contingency timetables in place have been improved significantly in recent years, which enables National Rail Enquiry Service to be amended earlier and more timely information to be communicated to passengers. This helps particularly with communicating timetable changes and rail replacement services.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Warner on 2016-02-02.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to the finding of the report by the Fair Admissions Campaign and the British Humanist Association last year An Unholy Mess that a significant number of religiously selective schools are not making clear in their admission arrangements the process by which children with statements of special educational needs are admitted; and what steps they are taking to ensure that all schools have clear guidance regarding that.
Lord Nash
Admission authorities for all state-funded schools, including schools with a religious designation, are required to comply with the mandatory provisions of the School Admissions Code and other admissions law.
Where an objection is made to the Schools Adjudicator, if the arrangements are found to be unfair or fail to comply with the Code, the admission authority must make changes to ensure their arrangements are compliant without undue delay. Where an admission authority fails to implement decisions of the adjudicator, the Secretary of State may direct the admission authority to do so.
We continue to keep the Code under review, and, where we consider any changes are necessary to make the admissions system work more effectively for parents, these will be subject to a full public consultation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-02-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2016 to Question 22740, what steps his Department is taking to encourage and facilitate the supply of steel from UK sources for the (a) Type 26 and (b) Type 31 frigate programmes.
Mr Philip Dunne
In the main, Ministry of Defence (MOD) requirements for steel are sourced by our prime contractors taking into account cost, time and quality. The MOD has issued new policy guidance to ensure, as far as we are able to within EU procurement legislation and the Government’s overarching priority of value for money, that we are addressing the barriers that prevent UK steel suppliers from competing on a level playing field with international suppliers. This emphasises the importance of increased pre-market engagement, including industry days and the signalling of future requirements for steel, bringing prime contractors and steel producers together to facilitate supply chain opportunities. I have also written to our main defence contractors to highlight the new policy guidelines and seek their assistance and support in implementing them.
No steel suppliers have yet been selected or orders placed for the Type 26 Global Combat Ships or Light General Purpose Frigates. The sourcing of steel for these programmes will take account of the new policy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Chalk on 2016-04-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on preparation for the expected start of construction works to the A417 Missing Link in Gloucestershire in 2020.
Andrew Jones
Highways England will start full scale options work on the scheme in financial year 2016/17, with the intention that the scheme will be ready to start construction as early as possible in the next Road Period.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2016-05-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the Government’s policy is on (a) European Commission and Parliament proposals to reduce the routine overuse of antibiotics in farming and (b) proposals for (i) an EU-wide ban on the routine use of antibiotics in groups of food-producing animals where no disease has been diagnosed in any of the animals and (ii) restrictions on metaphylactic use.
George Eustice
The objective of the review of EU legislation on veterinary medicines and medicated feeds includes tackling the threat of antibiotic resistance. The government supports measures that will provide a framework for reducing the use of antibiotics in livestock, including restrictions on preventative use.
When one or more animals have been exposed to a bacterial disease threat and could be sub-clinically infected, the metaphylactic use of antibiotics may be essential to maintain health and welfare.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Glindon on 2016-07-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when his Department plans for local authorities to have the power to issue banning orders against landlords as provided for in the Housing and Planning Act 2016.
Gavin Barwell
The Housing & Planning Act 2016 introduced a power enabling local authorities to apply to the First tier tribunal for a banning order against a person or organisation who has been convicted of a banning order offence. Banning order offences will be specified in regulations following a public consultation and will be subject to the affirmative procedure. We are planning to introduce this power on 1 October 2017.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-10-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many meetings he has had with officials from the World Trade Organisation since the creation of his Department; and if he will make a statement.
Greg Hands
In addition to speaking on the phone and an exchange of letters, my Rt. Hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and my noble Friend the Minister of State for Trade Policy have each had one face-to-face meeting with the Director General of the WTO since the creation of the Department.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-11-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many Traffic Regulation Orders have been introduced by local authorities to tackle pavement parking since 2011.
Andrew Jones
This information is not held. Local authorities have powers under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to make Traffic Regulation Orders and the Department for Transport is not involved in this process.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2015-12-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the introduction of the Work and Health Programme in Scotland.
David Mundell
I and my officials have regular engagement with colleagues in the Department for Work and Pensions on a range of important matters, including the rollout of universal credit and fulfilling our commitment to devolve employment support currently delivered by the Work Programme and Work Choice. In addition, I also discuss Welfare related issues in my regular meetings with Local Authorities across Scotland.