The below Parliamentary question was asked by Valerie Vaz on 2016-02-22.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with epilepsy have been assessed as being fit to work by their work capability assessments in each year since 2010.
Priti Patel
The information requested is shown in the table below.
|
Assessment type |
10/11 |
11/12 |
12/13 |
13/14 |
14/15 |
|
FFW outcomes |
2,200 |
4,000 |
3,300 |
1,500 |
900 |
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Greaves on 2016-03-16.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications of the discovery in the UK of the tick-borne canine parasite Babesia canis and the associated disease babesiosis in dogs; what action they are taking to provide information to dog owners, breeders, vets and others who come into contact with dogs, including those who deal with stray dogs; and what assessment they have made of the possible introduction into the UK of species of Babesia that may also infect humans, and of the possible presence of, and risks presented by, ticks that can host and spread both Babesia and Borrelia pathogens.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Experts at the Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) and Public Health England (PHE) are working together to investigate the locally acquired cases in Essex and this will include providing advice to the local authority, vets, pet owners and the public on what to do in the event of finding ticks on animals or observe clinical signs in pet dogs, through specialist press and public messages from the Defra, APHA and PHE communications teams.
On the risks of introduction of pathogens such as Babesia and Borrelia to humans and potential spread by ticks, PHE is responsible for the monitoring of Lyme disease through surveillance of reference laboratory diagnosed cases and provides guidance on avoiding tick bites. PHE runs a “Tick Surveillance Scheme” for ticks found by members of the public, general practitioners, vets and those working with wildlife, so PHE can map tick species across the UK and monitor changes in distribution.
Humans can be infected by Babesia microti, a rodent pathogen, and by Babesia bovis and Babesia divergens. Very few human cases have been reported in Europe or the UK, but virtually all have been related to B. divergens. In the US, human cases are caused by B. microti linked to white footed mice, a common rodent host of Borrelia burgdorferi in N. America. There are no reports of human infection with B. canis.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-04-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many and which (a) ministers and (b) officials he plans will represent the UK at the International Maritime Organisation conference on controlling shipping emissions.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The 69th Session of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee will be held from 18 to 22 April 2016 at the IMO, at which a number of environmental matters will be discussed, including air pollution and reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping.
No Ministers are attending. 14 Government officials plan to attend the committee; one from the Department of Energy and Climate Change; one from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and 12 from the Department for Transport including seven from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Royston Smith on 2016-05-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding her Department has provided to The Future Leaders Trust in each of the last three years.
Nick Gibb
The total funding provided by the Department to The Future Leaders Trust in each of the last three years is available via the links below. The accounts for 2015-16 will be published in July 2016.
For 2014-15 published accounts (page 235):
For 2013-14 published accounts (page 157):
For 2012-13 published accounts (page 153):
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Lammy on 2016-07-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the number of trade negotiators required to negotiate the UK’s trade deals when the UK leaves the EU.
Greg Hands
The Rt hon Member will be aware that my Rt hon Friend the Prime Minister has created a new Department for International Trade, which is responsible for promoting British trade across the world and ensuring the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us. We are building up our trade policy capability. The new Department has begun a process to recruit and train staff to work on the UK’s trade policy. We will adapt the resource devoted to trade policy in line with future demands.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2016-10-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make it his policy to make available research funding at the same level as currently received after the UK leaves the EU.
Joseph Johnson
The Government is committed to maintain and enhance the strength of our research base. This is why we have protected the science resource budget in real terms from its 2015/16 level of £4.7 billion for the rest of the parliament, as well as committing to invest in new scientific infrastructure on a record scale – £6.9 billion over the period 2015-2021.
The Treasury decision to underwrite the grants of competitively bid for EU research funding will give British participants and their EU partners the assurance and certainty needed to plan ahead for projects that can run over many years. We will ensure that the UK continues to be a world leader in international research and innovation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2015-11-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assurances he has received from Govia Thameslink Railway on the recruitment, training and in-service dates of train drivers.
Claire Perry
The Department is in regular dialogue with Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) and each railway period they provide a report relating to drivers which details headcount, new driver recruitment and number of drivers expected to complete their training in the future. Since the start of the year over 120 drivers have completed their training across the GTR franchise and there are currently over 200 drivers in training.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-12-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2015 to Question 15125, when she plans to publish draft proposals on eligibility requirements for free school meals within universal credit; when the consultation on those proposals will be launched; and when she plans to make a final decision on eligibility.
Mr Sam Gyimah
We plan to launch a public consultation on eligibility for free school meals under Universal Credit later in 2016, with a view to having the necessary regulations in place for the end of the year, when the roll out of the full Universal Credit Service to a broader claimant base will be well under way.
While this work is on-going, any child whose parent or guardian is receiving Universal Credit will continue to be entitled to free school meals.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adam Afriyie on 2016-01-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he plans to take to widen access to sources of alternative finance.
Anna Soubry
Alternative finance is a rapidly growing sector. Latest figures from the Peer-to-Peer Finance Association (P2PFA) show that new SME loans originated by their members increased by 89% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2015. Equity crowdfunded deal numbers and investment totals have also been steadily rising. The British Business Bank is an active participant in the sector and during the last 12 months has supported 3,301 businesses through the peer-to-peer platforms Funding Circle, RateSetter and Zopa.
A key element in the growth of the UK alternative finance sector has been a regulatory environment that supports innovation while protecting both investors and businesses. In addition, government is bringing into effect provisions in the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 which will require the largest banks – where they decline lending requests from small business customers – to offer those customers the opportunity for their details to be referred to a government-designated funding platform. These platforms will help match SMEs with alternative finance providers and will be brought into operation later this year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ms Angela Eagle on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the number of apprentices at each of the apprenticeship educational levels 2 to 6 whom the Government plans to be part of its target of three million apprentices by 2020.
Nick Boles
Apprenticeships are paid jobs and so their availability and level are dependent upon employers offering opportunities and recruiting apprentices. We will continue to support the growth in apprenticeships at all levels to meet our commitment to 3 million new starts in England by 2020.
We are committed to expanding Degree Apprenticeships, which combine a high quality degree with an apprenticeship. Higher and Degree Apprenticeships are widening access to the professions, providing the higher level technical skills employers need to improve productivity and giving young people an equally valid career route to purely university-based courses.
All Apprenticeship Starts by Level (2014/15 and 2015/16 – Reported to Date)
|
Level |
2014/15 |
2015/16 |
|
|
Full Year |
August to October |
|
Level 2 |
298,280 |
86,620 |
|
Level 3 |
181,760 |
60,140 |
|
Level 4 |
7,090 |
2,880 |
|
Level 5 |
12,590 |
3,200 |
|
Level 6 |
100 |
240 |
|
Total Higher Apprenticeships |
19,770 |
6,320 |
|
Total Apprenticeships |
499,900 |
153,100 |