The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether his Department expects to consult on the future of the Warm Home Discount.
Gregory Barker
Last year, we announced a new £320m spending commitment for the Warm Home Discount in 2014/15. We intend to consult on the future operation of the scheme in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Smith on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much of Area C of the Occupied Palestinian Territory is covered by approved masterplans.
Mr Alan Duncan
Palestinian masterplans developed by the International Peace and Cooperation Centre (IPCC) cover approximately 0.4% of Area C. To date, only two of these have been approved.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emma Lewell-Buck on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of (a) disabled and (b) all other staff employed by his Department received each level of performance rating in their end of year performance assessment for 2013-14.
Jo Swinson
In common with most other Government Departments, BIS currently has three performance categories; category 1 (top), category 2 and category 3. The following table sets out the percentage of employees who have declared a disability within each performance category, and the percentage of all other staff in each performance category for the 2013-14 reporting year. The percentage of all other staff includes those who have either declared that they do not have a disability, have chosen the option of ‘prefer not to say’ or have not made a declaration. 6.5% of staff BIS have currently declared that they have a disability.
|
Percentage |
Category 1 |
Category 2 |
Category 3 |
|
Those who have declared a disability |
16% |
54% |
30% |
|
All other staff |
23% |
59% |
18% |
BIS undertakes a number of activities to mitigate against the risk of discriminatory performance markings including training for managers and staff on unconscious bias and specific guidance on making reasonable adjustments for disabled employees.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-06-24.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2014, Official Report, column 36W, on minimum wage: Northern Ireland, how many people are employed (a) full-time and (b) part-time in the HM Revenue and Customs national minimum wage enforcement team based in Belfast.
Mr David Gauke
The Government takes the enforcement of national minimum wage (NMW) very seriously and HMRC enforce the NMW legislation on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). It does that by investigating all complaints made about employers suspected of not paying the minimum wage, in addition, carrying out targeted enforcement where it identifies a high risk of non-payment of NMW across the whole of the UK.
The National Minimum Wage team in Northern Ireland contains six full-time and two-part-time staff with all using Belfast as a base location.
However, as I explained in my previous response, HMRC deploys resources to risk, so work relating to a specific geographical area may not always be undertaken by the NMW team based in that area. In addition, the NMW Dynamic Response Team (DRT) provides a multi-agency response to emerging risks, high profile casework and compliance initiatives across the UK.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to apply a motif on all his Department’s commemorative items and events associated with the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War; and if he will make a statement.
Anna Soubry
Following the very successful commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day we will now be focusing in more detail across Government on how the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 2015 might be marked in an appropriate manner. I expect an announcement to be made later in the year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which cemeteries are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, by country; and if he will make a statement.
Anna Soubry
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission ensures that the 1.7 million people who died in the two world wars will never be forgotten. The Commission cares for cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 locations, in 153 countries. It is therefore not possible to list every cemetery in this answer. Detailed and searchable information on the numbers of graves at each location in every relevant country is available on the Commission’s website: http://www.cwgc.org/
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of specialist support within maintained schools to help students with mental health problems.
Mr Edward Timpson
The way in which specialist support is provided will vary according to local arrangements.
When specialist provision is required, schools and teachers should have support from appropriately trained and qualified local health partners and other organisations. Both education and health providers should be clear when referrals to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) are the most appropriate form of specialist support.
To support schools with doing this, on 16 June 2014 the Department for Education issued new non-statutory guidance for schools and teachers on pupils’ mental health and behaviour. This guidance helps school staff identify those pupils who may have emerging problems and provides guidance on appropriate routes of ensuring appropriate specialist support where necessary.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Huw Irranca-Davies on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the causes and effects of falls in beef farm gate prices; and if he will make a statement.
George Eustice
With supplies of cattle outstripping demand both at home and abroad, domestic prime cattle prices have been under pressure and have fallen throughout 2014. In May, prices were at their lowest level since mid-2012 and 15-20% lower than the peak reached in 2013. The European Commission (EC) Short Term Outlook expects beef prices to remain firm although below the 2013 record highs.
On 1 July, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Farming, Food and the Marine Environment will be hosting a senior-level beef industry summit with retailers, meat processors and farmers to discuss falling farm gate beef prices and develop strategies for a sustainable British beef sector.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the commitment made by the UK Government in its economic pact with the Northern Ireland Executive in June 2013, what specific actions he has taken to encourage British embassies in emerging markets to promote jobs and growth in Northern Ireland.
Mr Hugo Swire
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) works to support business from across the United Kingdom. Over the last few years we have expanded our diplomatic presence in key high growth markets, which has allowed us to increase engagement and reach, including in the fastest growing cities outside major capitals. This network works for open Markets and free trade conditions, promotes the UK through the GREAT campaign, and supports individual companies in pursuit of specific business opportunities.
United Kingdom Trade and Investment works closely with Invest Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland’s trade and investment organisation, to ensure that all our businesses have access to the full range of UKTI services, as well as the additional support provided by each of the devolved administrations. In June 2013, the FCO organised a very successful G8 summit at Lough Erne, Northern Ireland. The G8 Summit demonstrated to the global community that Northern Ireland is a first class destination for business and tourism. In October 2013 Invest Northern Ireland, working with UKTI, organised an investment conference which attracted 121 international companies. Inward investment visits for the period from October to December 2013, following both the G8 Summit and the investment conference increased by 162% year-on-year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-06-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the effect of universal credit on the self-employed.
Esther McVey
There have been no recent meetings with Ministers but there have been extensive discussions between DWP officials and officials at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills whilst designing the approach to supporting those who are self-employed in Universal Credit.