The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-02-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the (a) policy and (b) other responsibilities are of each special adviser in his Department.
Joseph Johnson
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office on 29 February 2016 to Question UIN 27946.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2016-03-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress her Department has made on plans for the future of the Cedars pre-departure accommodation site.
James Brokenshire
The cost of pre-departure accommodation is kept under review. The Home Office is currently considering the most cost-effective way of providing pre-departure accommodation within an enforced family returns service.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-04-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Russian language (a) speakers, (b) interpreters and (c) translators are employed in the intelligence department of his Department; and what steps he is taking to increase the number of such experts in that Department.
Mark Lancaster
The Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Russian language needs for intelligence, or for any other purposes, are met from the Departmental pool of approximately 180 Armed Forces and civilian personnel with Russian language skills (and from contractors when needed). The Department reviews its future operational and other requirements for linguists regularly and trains its personnel accordingly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-05-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department has made an assessment of (a) the adequacy of its expenditure on and (b) the value for money of its work on violence against women and girls.
Mr Nick Hurd
As part of the recent ICAI report on DFID’S efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls (VAWG), and building on a DFID mapping exercise from 2014, ICAI identified 127 VAWG programmes – up from 64 in 2012. The value of these programmes came to £184 million in 2015. The value for money question is specifically addressed in our pioneering violence against women and girls research and innovation programme called ‘What Works to Prevent Violence’, and we will be incorporating findings into programme development as they emerge.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-07-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many women in each of the last five years had a miscarriage.
Mr Philip Dunne
Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) provide information on the number of miscarriages. The table shows the number of miscarriages from 2010/11 to 2014/15 where there was a hospital admission.
|
Year |
Number of miscarriages |
|
2010-11 |
43,005 |
|
2011-12 |
42,538 |
|
2012-13 |
39,800 |
|
2013-14 |
38,869 |
|
2014-15 |
38,377 |
Activity in English National Health Service hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector
Source: HES, Health and Social Care Information Centre
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stewart Malcolm McDonald on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Attorney General, what recent discussions he has had with the CPS on potential prosecution of Volkswagen in connection with diesel emissions data; and if he will make a statement.
Robert Buckland
The Attorney General has regular discussions with the Director of Public Prosecutions about a variety of issues. As was the case with previous Attorneys General, it is not our policy to provide details of all such discussions.
I can however confirm that the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is working with UK and European bodies to assess whether there is any potential criminal offence, involving serious or complex fraud, which falls within its remit.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2015-10-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many diplomatic staff whose work includes tackling the illegal wildlife trade are based in (a) China, (b) Vietnam, (c) Laos, (d) Malaysia, (e) Botswana, (f) Mozambique, (g) Gabon, (h) South Africa, (i) Thailand and (j) India.
James Duddridge
The numbers requested of diplomatic staff whose work includes illegal wildlife trade are as follows:
China – 5
Vietnam- 3
Laos- 2
Malaysia – 1
Botswana -2
Mozambique- 2
Gabon -2
South Africa -2
Thailand- 2
India -1
In most cases our diplomatic staff in these Posts spend a proportion of their overall time on this issue and are supported by locally engaged staff who also work on tackling illegal wildlife trade.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Crathorne on 2015-11-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to build bicycle tracks when new roads are constructed in the UK.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Management of roads is a devolved issue so I can only respond in respect of roads in England.
Highways England have committed to provide a safer, integrated and more accessible strategic road network for cyclists and other vulnerable road users, and will play a key role in ensuring that the ambition set for growth in cycling is fully supported by a dedicated programme of work to improve cycle facilities on or near our strategic road network.To support this, The Government has outlined a commitment to invest £100m between 2015/16 and 2020/21 to improve provision for cyclists on the strategic road network.
On a local level, provision of cycling infrastructure is for local traffic authorities as they are responsible for managing their road networks. The Department encourages them to ensure cycling is considered as part of the process of planning new development.The Department for Transport’s Cycle Infrastructure Design guidance supports local authorities on providing cycle-safe infrastructure for cyclists. The Government will continue to support sustainable transport with a new £580 million ‘Access’ fund, with £80 million revenue and £500 million capital. This will build on the legacy of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund and support growth in both cycling and walking.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2015-12-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the government of Kyrgyzstan about the role and future of international non-governmental organisations working on human rights; and whether he has raised with that government the ban on the head of the Human Rights Watch office in Bishkek.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
During his visit to Kyrgyzstan in October 2014, Minister of State for Justice Lord Faulks discussed with Kyrgyz interlocutors a number of human rights issues, including the Foreign Agents Bill and other legislation that might restrict freedoms of expression and association. Our Embassy in Bishkek has also raised our concerns on a number of occasions with the Government of Kyrgyzstan and with Kyrgyz parliamentarians. We were concerned to hear of the refusal to grant entry to the Kyrgyz Republic to a representative from Human Rights Watch on 2 December. We are seeking further clarification from the Kyrgyz authorities. We will continue to raise our concerns about human rights directly with the government of Kyrgyzstan, and in suitable international fora, at every appropriate opportunity.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Howarth on 2016-01-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people the Work and Health Innovation Fund will assist; and whether that fund will include initiatives to help people with (a) rheumatoid arthritis and (b) other long-term conditions stay in work.
Priti Patel
This government committed in the Autumn Statement 2015 to spend ‘at least £40 million’ on the. Work and Health Innovation Fund. The fund will support a range of trials to generate evidence of ‘what works’ in supporting disabled people and people with health conditions to get into and stay in work.
The type and size of trials are currently being developed.
The government committed to publishing a work and health white paper this year, which will share the initial Work and Health Innovation Fund proposals.