Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Andrew Gwynne – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much was paid in (a) year end and (b) in-year bonuses to officials of her Department in each of the last three years.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Department uses performance related pay to help drive high performance and to recognise exceptional contributions and achievements over and above what is expected of people in fulfilling their employment contracts.

    These payments, which are in-line with HMT Pay Guidance, are cost effective as they are not consolidated into basic pay and have to be re-earned every year.

    Since 2010-11 the Government has restricted awards for senior civil servants to the top 25% of performers.

    In-year performance related awards are used to recognise and incentivise corporate behaviours and values which might not be fully reflected in annual performance appraisal reports. These are also used to reward staff for exceptional pieces of work or for taking on additional responsibilities.

    End-year non-consolidated performance awards are used to reward the department’s highest performers as assessed in their end of year appraisal reports.

    A breakdown of the In-Year and the End-Year awards is given in the table below:

    Table 1

    Financial Year

    In-Year Performance Awards

    End-Year Performance Awards

    2014-2015

    £247,606

    £996,901

    2013-2014

    £377,617

    £882,521

    2012-2013

    £372,315

    £869,665

  • Luciana Berger – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Luciana Berger – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in receipt of the independent living fund in each of the last five years had a diagnosed mental health condition.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The Independent Living Fund closed on 30 June 2015. The information requested is not held by the Department for Work and Pensions and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Such information as is available can be found on page 10 of the equality impact assessment published on 6 March 2014: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/287236/closure-of-ilf-equality-analysis.pdf.

    “

  • Philip Davies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Philip Davies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library a copy of the delivery agreement and agreed deliverables between his Department and the Chartered Institute for Trading Standards.

    Jane Ellison

    The Department has a contract with itsa Ltd, the business arm of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, for the enforcement of tobacco legislation and support for local authorities. The award letter and supporting documents for this contract are available online at:

    https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive/contract/1072169/

    “

  • Louise Haigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the House of Commons Commission

    Louise Haigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the House of Commons Commission

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will review the right of access for the City of London Remembrancer to the Chamber of the House.

    Tom Brake

    I understand that the Remembrancer is one of some 17 Roll A Parliamentary Agents who work with the promoters of private Bills. Parliamentary Agents are permitted to observe proceedings from the Under Gallery in the Chamber, that is, the visitors’ seats “under the gallery” facing the Speaker, for the purposes of their work. Other visitors may also sometimes sit in the Under Gallery.

    Access to the Chamber and its surroundings is not a matter for the Commission.

  • Justin Madders – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Justin Madders – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of the delays in state pension payments to British citizens living abroad.

    Justin Tomlinson

    Over 90% of International State Pension customer claims or change of circumstances are cleared within target. Those that are not cleared within these timescales reflect unavoidable delays that are a consequence of international postal services, additional work to ensure that evidence submitted is appropriate and robust and requirements to liaise with international authorities.

  • Lord Browne of Belmont – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Lord Browne of Belmont – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Browne of Belmont on 2015-10-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidance is provided to magistrates and judges about when it is appropriate to apply the maximum tariff available in cases of animal cruelty.

    Lord Faulks

    Animal cruelty is a summary offence with a maximum penalty of a level 5 (unlimited) fine and/or 6 months’ imprisonment. The maximum penalty for any offence is set by Parliament to deal with the most serious possible cases. Guidance on sentencing for this offence is contained in the Magistrates’ Courts Sentencing Guidelines, which are published by the independent Sentencing Council.

    These are the sentencing starting points from the guidelines for animal cruelty, based on a first time offender pleading not guilty:

    Examples of nature of activity

    Starting point Range

    Range

    One impulsive act causing little or no injury;

    short term neglect

    Band C fine Band B fine to medium level community

    Several incidents of deliberate ill-treatment/frightening

    High level community order

    Medium level community order to 12 weeks custody

    Attempt to kill/torture; animal baiting/conducting or permitting cock-fighting etc.; prolonged neglect

    18 weeks custody

    12 to 26 weeks custody

  • Lord Jones of Cheltenham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Jones of Cheltenham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham on 2015-10-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the United Kingdom life sciences industry of their planned changes to the Cancer Drugs Fund.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    Neither the Department nor NHS England has made any such assessment.

    The Government regularly holds discussions with life sciences companies about the United Kingdom business environment and these routinely include discussion about the impact of policies such as the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF).

    The independent Accelerated Access Review is considering the long term landscape for innovation adoption and how schemes like the CDF best fit within this.

  • Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno on 2015-10-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the electoral register is as complete as possible by the end of March 2016.

    Lord Bridges of Headley

    We are working with Local Authorities, the Electoral Commission and Civil Society groups to find better ways of reaching and encouraging under registered groups to register, as the Minister for Constitutional Reform set out in his recent speech on voter engagement. This can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/vision-for-electoral-registration-speech-by-john-penrose.

    Online registration is making the process notably quicker, easier and more convenient for everybody, but particularly for under-registered groups like young people; 2.9 million 16-24 year olds have applied since June 2014. Completing the implementation of Individual Electoral Registration will also help, by giving an accurate picture of registration levels that isn’t artificially inflated or flattered by people who have either died or moved away.

  • Lord Adebowale – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Lord Adebowale – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Adebowale on 2015-10-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the statement by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 12 October (HL Deb, cols 36–40) on the right to buy, whether (1) there will be a timeframe within which housing associations are expected to build extra homes, and (2) there will be a minimum guarantee of rented accommodation built to support individuals suffering from ongoing health issues.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    The National Housing Federation voluntary agreement states that housing associations and the Government share a mutual objective to ensure that replacement homes are delivered as quickly as possible.

    Whilst aiming for replacement within two years, the default position is that housing associations will have flexibility to replace homes within a three year period. The Housing and Planning Bill will also seek to introduce clauses that will speed up the planning system so that new homes can be delivered quicker.

    Under the agreement, housing associations may exercise discretion not to sell properties provided through supported housing as defined by Part V of the Housing Act 1985.

  • Gordon Marsden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Gordon Marsden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gordon Marsden on 2015-10-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether an (a) free school, (b) academy, (c) school sixth form and (d) university technical college will be allowed to open while a post-16 area-based review is still taking place.

    Nick Boles

    Yes. The Joint Area Review Delivery Unit supporting the area reviews will advise Hon. Membersas a matter of course when reviews are due to be undertaken in any part of their constituency.

    Area reviews should take place as quickly as possible, the typical timescale being 3-4 months but this could vary depending on the number of colleges and complexity of the local issues involved.

    The reviews are aimed at delivering a skills system that meets the economic and educational needs of areas whilst also ensuring the long term sustainability of colleges to support productivity. Their purpose is not to secure savings to Government. However, early evidence from the pilot reviews indicates that there is potential for the reviews to secure efficiency savings.

    All applications to open a free school, academy, school sixth form or university technical college will be assessed on a case by case basis against the published criteria and taking account of local needs and circumstances.