The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-06-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department and its executive agencies spent on the publications (a) Who’s Who, (b) Burke’s Peerage and (c) Debrett’s in each year since 2010.
Mr David Lidington
This information is not recorded centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what research his Department has conducted on the potential effect of cashless payments and smart ticketing on buses on (a) bus journey times, (b) bus patronage and (c) congestion.
Andrew Jones
Through Transport Focus, the Department has conducted three pieces of bus related research on contactless payments and smart ticketing:
a) Oxford SmartZone smart card evaluation – published in September 2013
b) Norfolk’s smart card evaluation – published in March 2015
c) Non-London bus passenger attitudes towards contactless payments – not yet published.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-10-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what analysis they have conducted into changes in the aggregate funding levels of UK defined benefit pension schemes over the past two years for (1) FTSE 100 companies, (2) FTSE 350 companies, and (3) small firms and charities, on (a) a technical provisions basis, and (b) a section 179 basis.
Lord Freud
The Pensions Regulator (TPR) and the Pensions Protection Fund (PPF) regularly publish information on Defined Benefit (DB) pension schemes’ funding levels. In addition, a number of other organisations also produce analysis of the impacts of DB pensions using a variety of measures. Over the past two years we have been using this information to closely monitor changes in the aggregate funding levels of UK DB pension schemes.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2015-11-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with EU member states and other European countries about the implementation of targeted human rights sanctions against named North Korean officials who are suspected of committing crimes against humanity.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We remain in close contact with other EU member states regarding our concerns over the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). These include discussion on how we can address concerns over the DPRK’s nuclear programme and how we can improve the DPRK’s appalling human rights record. During our meetings we have discussed the full range of measures at our disposal including the option of targeted human rights sanctions against DPRK officials. We will always carefully consider the impact and benefits of sanctions measures before they are imposed. These considerations include our ability to defend the legality of the sanctions should they be challenged under EU law and the likelihood of achieving our objective of improved human rights for North Koreans.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Tania Mathias on 2015-12-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential benefits of putting health warnings on cigarette packaging in different languages as well as English.
Jane Ellison
No assessment has been made of the putting health warnings on cigarette packaging in different languages as well as English. The labelling of tobacco products is harmonised at European Union level and mandates that the official language of the Member State is used on health warnings for tobacco. In the United Kingdom the official language is English.
Local Stop Smoking Services may choose to publish smoking cessation materials in a range of languages if they consider it beneficial to the local population.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Shuker on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to improve the frequency of services to Luton Airport Parkway in the 2018 East Midlands franchise specification.
Claire Perry
Detailed work on the 2018 East Midlands franchise specification will begin in the Spring, and as with all franchise competitions, a public consultation exercise will take place later this year to help inform the specification for the next long-term franchise.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to her comments at the Oxford Farming conference on 6 January 2016 on decentralising decision-making, what steps she plans to take to ensure funding to tackle flooding and the maintenance of flood defences is allocated fairly and transparently to local groups.
Rory Stewart
The Environment Agency allocates funding according to where it will have the most benefit to people and property using System Asset Management Plans for each of its flood defence asset systems. The Environment Agency discusses local maintenance programmes with local communities and groups like internal drainage boards. The Environment Agency publishes its maintenance programme online: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/river-and-coastal-maintenance-programme.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-03-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential of the arts to contribute to mental well-being for people with mental illness; and what programmes his Department has in place to help deliver that contribution.
Mr Edward Vaizey
Research commissioned by DCMS has found positive associations between participation in arts and health, including mental health. The research can be found here: (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/416279/A_review_of_the_Social_Impacts_of_Culture_and_Sport.pdf
Arts Council England funds a number of organisations on behalf of the Government that support people with mental health issues.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2016-04-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many public consultations his Department has conducted on the subject of mayors in Cheshire and Warrington since 2010.
James Wharton
Devolution deals, including commitments for mayoral governance, are negotiated and agreed with those democratically elected to represent their area, and who are accountable to their local electorate.
This Department has not undertaken direct public consultations on this matter in Cheshire and Warrington.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by William Wragg on 2016-06-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many pilot areas his Department plans for the HPV vaccination for men who have sex with men; where his Department plans for those pilots to take place; and if he will make a statement.
Jane Ellison
It is estimated that up to 40,000 men who have sex with men (MSM) who attend genitourinary medicine (GUM) and HIV clinics will be offered the human papillomavirus vaccination.
There has been a positive response from those invited to participate, and confidence that the pilot will include a good geographical spread of providers, including those with the highest populations of MSM, as well as in rural areas with smaller MSM populations. Public Health England is currently completing the selection of the GUM and HIV clinics that will take part in the pilot.