The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of developments in the human rights situation in the Tibet Autonomous Region and ethnic Tibetan prefectures in China since March 2013.
Mr Hugo Swire
I most recently set out the Government’s position on the human rights situation in Tibet during a Westminster Hall Debate on Tibet on 18 June.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2015 to Question 12217, on judicial co-operation with Saudi Arabia, what the possible areas for co-operation are.
Dominic Raab
No work has yet been undertaken by the Ministry of Justice as a result of the Memorandum of Understanding.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Green on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what support his Department provides to local authorities seeking a devolution deal.
James Wharton
Officials in my Department as well as the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Her Majesty’s Treasury are in regular dialogue with local authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships about devolution deals. In addition, a large number of Government departments and agencies are providing more specialist policy expertise both in negotiating and implementing devolution deals.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christina Rees on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much of the proposed apprenticeships levy employers will be able to claim back through the e-voucher.
Nick Boles
My Rt hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce further details of the apprenticeship levy at the Spending Review, including the scope and rate of the levy and how it will operate with respect to the Devolved Administrations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent assessment her Department has made of the ability of the UK solar industry to meet service demand; and if she will make a statement.
Andrea Leadsom
As set out in the November 2013 Renewable Energy Roadmap Update, analysis indicated a potential deployment range of 7-20 GW (equivalent to 6-18 TWh) of solar PV at all scales, with 20GW being our estimate of the technical maximum level of solar PV deployment by 2020 on the basis of grid and other constraints. Solar PV in the UK was 8.007GW as of August 20151.
In the absence of cost effective storage, solar PV can make a contribution to meeting electricity demand but this will be limited by the nature of its diurnal cycle.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the opinion of the Farm Animal Welfare Committee on CCTV in slaughterhouses, published in February 2015.
George Eustice
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the Rt. Hon. Member for Knowsley, George Howarth on 24 June 2015, PQs UIN 2944 and 2945.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Browne of Belmont on 2015-10-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the level of paramilitary-linked organised crime in Northern Ireland.
Lord Dunlop
The assessment of the structure, roles and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland, published on 20 October stated that individual members of paramilitary groups are involved in ‘serious criminal activity’. Examples cited in the assessment include: ‘large scale smuggling operations, fuel laundering, drug dealing and extortion of local businesses’.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-10-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what (a) funding his Department is undertaking and (b) projects his Department has planned as part of the Government’s Digital Inclusion Strategy.
Nick Boles
a) The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) currently funds a programme through the Tinder Foundation with the aim of equipping up to 1m adults with the basic digital skills, motivation and confidence to go online, be digitally capable and to be safe online. The contract was awarded by open competitive tender in October 2014 and has a maximum value of £15m. This addresses Action 2 of the Digital Inclusion Strategy 2014 (to establish a quality cross-government digital capability programme).
In addition the adult skills budget managed by the Skills Funding Agency continues to support learners to increase skills, competence and knowledge including basic digital skills and capabilities as called for under Action 1 of the Strategy.
b) There are no other projects currently planned.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Charles Walker on 2014-02-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police forces in England have signed local protocols for those detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.
Damian Green
I understand that, as of 13 May 2014, 36 of the 39 territorial police forces in
England – plus British Transport Police – are currently signed up to local
protocols for those detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. The other 3
forces report that they are in the process of agreeing such protocols with
local partner agencies.
The agreement of mental health protocols by local agencies is promoted at
national level, including through the Mental Health Act 1983 Codes of Practice
and the new national Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat, which states that:
‘Every area should have a local protocol in place, agreed by NHS commissioners,
the police force, the ambulance service, and social services. This should
describe the approach to be taken when a police officer uses powers under the
Mental Health Act’.
The Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/281242
/36353_Mental_Health_Crisis_accessible.pdf
The Department of Health, supported by the Home Office and Mind, is encouraging
local areas to sign-up to the principles of the Concordat, with the expectation
that all areas in England will have signed local declarations by December
2014. The Department of Health will publish details of the areas that have
signed such declarations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Williamson on 2014-02-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to protect library services.
Mr Edward Vaizey
I have been asked to reply.
Together with other public services, local authorities are rising to the challenge of delivering and developing the library service, with many reviewing and re-shaping their library offer. Some changes have been made in response to the on-going funding environment to which all public services are making their contribution to savings. But many changes have also been made because individual authorities are looking at better ways of delivering a range of services so that they are fit for the present and the future. Details of the various developments in library services in England, including a range of innovative approaches to the task of delivering a comprehensive and efficient service are set out in the annual report to Parliament during 2012/13 and can be accessed at:
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