The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Pugh on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Attorney General, approximately how many (a) British and (b) non-British nationals are employed cleaning the Westminster estate of the Law Officers’ Departments.
Robert Buckland
The Law Officer’s Departments do not directly employ any staff to clean its estate. All cleaning services are provided via a national facilities management contract or via managed service agreements.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-10-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Russian authorities about an international tribunal to investigate the destruction of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.
Mr David Lidington
I wrote to the Russian Ambassador to the UK in July, prior to the vote in the UN Security Council on a Resolution to establish an international tribunal which would prosecute those found responsible from the criminal investigation into the downing of MH17. I made it clear that there must be accountability for this crime and we expected all UN Security Council Members to cooperate. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials also raised this issue with their Russian counterparts both in London and in Moscow and will continue to do so.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Robertson of Port Ellen on 2015-11-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why no Minister or senior British representative attended the second global High-Level Conference on Road Safety in Brasilia, Brazil on 18–19 November.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The second global High-Level Conference on Road Safety in Brasilia, Brazil was attended by Deputy Head of Mission, Mr Wasim Mir.
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 representations his Department has made to the government of Turkey about (a) statements equating the PKK with ISIS and (b) negotiations between the government of Turkey and the PKK.
Mr David Lidington
The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) is a proscribed terrorist organisation in Turkey, the UK and the EU. It has killed over 150 members of Turkey’s security forces since July 2015. We have been clear in our public and private communications with the Government of Turkey that PKK violence must end and the peace process should resume. We stand ready to help in any way we can.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adam Afriyie on 2016-01-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of the triple lock pension policy of the number of pensioners living in poverty in (a) Windsor, (b) the South East and (c) the UK.
Justin Tomlinson
While we can’t draw a direct link between the triple lock and pensioner poverty, pensioner poverty is at one of the lowest rates since records began. Pensioners are less likely to be in relative and absolute low income after housing costs than the population as a whole. The Government continues to support the poorest pensioners and from April 2016, Pension Credit will top up income to a guaranteed minimum level of £155.60 for a single person and £237.55 for couples.
The Government wants all pensioners to have a decent and secure income in retirement. We are committed to the triple lock, the guarantee that the basic State Pension will increase by the highest of the growth in average earnings, price increase or 2.5%. From April 2016, the basic State Pension will be over £1,100 a year higher than at the start of the last Parliament. This will benefit many of the 18,000 recipients of State Pension in Windsor, the 1.7 million recipients in the South East and the 13 million recipients in the UK.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2016-02-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will publish his Department’s impact assessment of the apprenticeship levy.
Nick Boles
HM Treasury published a Tax Information and Impact Note on 4 February 2016 at
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apprenticeship-levy/apprenticeship-levy.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Donelan on 2016-03-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessments his Department has made of the potential economic benefit of (a) opening new stations on the Great Western Main line, (b) running later services on the Great Western Main line and (c) reducing rail fares on the Great Western Main line.
Claire Perry
Any specific project that may bring such benefits to passengers is assessed during the planning stage of that project.
I completely understand your concern about the cost of some rail fares and the impact that this can have on people’s budgets. That is why we have capped the rail fares we regulate at inflation (RPI) for three years running, and will continue to do so for the life of this parliament. We have also stopped operators increasing individual fares by up to 2% more. This means those fares we regulate will only rise by 1% in 2016 making it the lowest fare increase since 2010.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Elliott on 2016-04-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with teachers on her proposal that all schools be required to convert to academies.
Edward Timpson
The Secretary of State regularly meets teachers at a range of events while visiting schools and in meetings at the Department as well as headteacher reference groups and expert panels. In these meetings, the Secretary of State discusses the Government’s commitment to achieving educational excellence everywhere.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy McDonald on 2016-05-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the most recent Public Performance Measure figures are which have been reported by Govia Thameslink Railway.
Claire Perry
The latest figures are published by the operator at:
http://www.southernrailway.com/your-journey/performance-results/
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Burrowes on 2016-07-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Written Statement of 14 January 2016, HCWS470, when she plans to publish the Immigration Enforcement’s Business Plan for 2016-17.
Mr Robert Goodwill
Immigration Enforcement planning for 2016-17 and beyond will be reviewed by the new Secretary of State and published in due course.