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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Lord Moonie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord Moonie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moonie on 2015-01-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the cause of the accident involving a British Royal Air Force Airbus A330-200 (RRR2740) from Royal Air Force Brize Norton at St John’s, Newfoundland; what was the cost of repairing the damage; and what additional costs were incurred while it was out of service.

    Lord Astor of Hever

    The RAF is undertaking an Occurrence Safety Investigation (OSI) into the incident involving Voyager ZZ331 at St John’s International Airport on 19 December 2014. Whilst taxiing to its parking bay under the guidance of ground handling staff, the aircraft’s wing struck a hangar. It would be inappropriate to comment further on the cause until the OSI is completed.

    The costs incurred as a result of the incident are still to be finalised, but the damage caused was relatively minor.

  • Lord West of Spithead – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord West of Spithead – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-01-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the decision has been made as to the location of the Operational Conversion Unit for the F35B aircraft.

    Lord Astor of Hever

    The Lightning II (F-35B) Operational Conversion Unit will be located at RAF Marham.

  • Paul Burstow – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Paul Burstow – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Burstow on 2015-01-14.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the contribution of 13 January 2015 by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Official Report, columns 218-22WH, on care sector, when the last round of proactive investigation work by HM Revenue and Customs (a) began and (b) finished; when the current proactive work began; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously and has increased the financial penalty percentage from 50% to 100% of the unpaid wages owed to workers, and the maximum penalty from £5,000 to £20,000. These new limits are now in force where arrears are identified in pay reference periods on or after 7 March 2014. The Government is in the process of introducing primary legislation so that the maximum £20,000 penalty will apply to each underpaid worker.

    In response to the questions arising from the contribution of 13 January 2015 by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Official Report, columns 218- 222WH, on the care sector:

    Investigations into the 94 cases have been underway since 29 December 2011 – largely stemming from the particular period of enforcement referred to by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business.

    HMRC already accept third party complaints and review all information received. All information received from third parties is handled sensitively. HMRC are unable to give feedback to third parties on any action taken or progress made, as all worker information is strictly confidential.

    HMRC’s proactive work informing the ‘National Minimum Wage: Compliance in the social care sector’ report, commenced in April 2011 and evaluated enforcement in the social care sector over the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2013. We are continuing to evaluate this work, and HMRC are undertaking new targeted enforcement work in the care sector as set out by the BIS Minister on 15 January 2015.

  • Roger Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Roger Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Williams on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the potential contribution to the economy of the investment in science announced in the Autumn Statement 2014; and what steps he plans to take to maximise that contribution.

    Greg Clark

    The Department published a summary of the evidence around the potential contribution to the economy of its investment in science alongside the Science and Innovation Strategy that was published in December. In addition we announced new funding for specific projects which will boost the contribution of our science investments to the wider economy.

  • Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Government’s response to the Independent review of the operation of jobseeker’s allowance sanctions, published in July 2014, when he plans to publish the communications review referred to in that document.

    Esther McVey

    We have accepted all recommendations made by the Oakley Report and we have already implemented a number of improvements. Our response sets out a number of target completion dates for recommendations made by the Oakley Report.

    In the Government Response to the Oakley Review we committed to report on the progress of the Communications Review by the end of 2014. The Department published an update on improvements to communications following the review, on 18 December 2014. This can be found here:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/387727/jsa-sanctions-independent-review-government-response-update.pdf

    “

  • Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his strategy for testing approaches to universal credit in work conditionality includes testing of a requirement to leave one job and start another in order to increase pay; and if he will make a statement.

    Esther McVey

    Each claimant will discuss their personal circumstances with a Work Coach and requirements will be personalised to take account of a claimant’s individual capability and circumstances. In some circumstances it may be reasonable to expect a claimant to apply for and take up new employment which will enable them to increase their earnings.

  • David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on preventing unhealthy eating among children of primary school age.

    Jane Ellison

    No recent formal discussions with Department for Education (DfE) Ministers have taken place on preventing unhealthy eating among children of primary school age.

    Department of Health and DfE Ministers have discussed the issue informally and officials meet regularly to discuss progress on delivering of the School Food Plan.

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which posts have held responsibility and for how long for the risk of mid-air collisions on each fast jet type in each of the last five years; and what the reason was for the change of ownership in each case.

    Mr Mark Francois

    The Operating Duty Holder, Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group has and continues to own all frontline fast jet mid-air collision risk except in the following two circumstances:

    The mid-air collision risk for Tornado GR4 was held by the RAF’s Senior Duty Holder, Chief of the Air Staff in 2011, and then further elevated to the Secretary of State in June 2011. On commencement of the current Tornado Collision Warning System programme later that same month the risk was transferred back to Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group due to the programme mitigating the risk.

    The Typhoon mid-air collision risk with commercial air transport was elevated to the Chief of the Air Staff in June 2014 following the conclusion of further risk analysis work conducted by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL). This analysis concluded that the risk level was unchanged but highlighted the potential for societal concern in the event of a collision.

  • George Hollingbery – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    George Hollingbery – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Hollingbery on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has received the report Bass Discards published by the Irish Bass Group; and if she will make a statement.

    George Eustice

    I met the Irish Minister in the margins of the European Union Agriculture and Fisheries Council of 15-16 December to discuss key fisheries items on the Council agenda including management of sea bass stocks.

    Under longstanding Irish national measures to protect bass stocks their commercial fishing vessels are not permitted to land bass for sale, which means a degree of discarding of bass by-catch from mixed fishing activity will occur. I have not, however, seen the Bass Discards report published by the Irish Bass Group.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andy Slaughter – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2015 to Question 217822, what the total value was of outstanding financial impositions in each local criminal justice board area at the end of (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13.

    Mike Penning

    This Government takes recovery and enforcement of financial impositions very seriously and remains committed to finding new ways to ensure impositions are paid and to trace those who do not pay. This is why there has been a year on year increase in the total amount of financial penalties collected over the last three years. The amount of money collected reached an all time high of £290 million at the end of 2013/14 and collections continue to rise. In 2013/14 the total outstanding balance of financial impositions reduced by £26.7m (5%) in the year.

    The table below shows the value of financial impositions outstanding as at the end of the financial years (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12 and (d) 2012-13.

    For the financial years 2011-12 and 2012-13, the first column of figures represents the outstanding balance of the impositions made during the 2013-14 financial year and the second shows the total value outstanding regardless of imposition date. The ‘in year outstanding value’ is included within the total outstanding value figure. The figures cannot be presented in this manner prior to 2011-12.

    The ‘value outstanding’ figures includes accounts that were not due to be paid by the end of the period specified (either because they were imposed close to the end of the year or because they had payment timescales set by the courts for beyond the end of the financial year) and those that were being paid by instalments on agreed payment plans. These figures include fines, compensation orders, victim surcharge orders and prosecution costs orders.