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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether the UK will support the request from the Palestinian Authority for an emergency session of the UN Security Council on the treatment of Palestinian detainees.

    Hugh Robertson

    The UK is concerned about the situation of Palestinians in Israeli detention, and we raise this issue regularly with the Israeli authorities. However, the Palestinian Authority has not made a formal request for an emergency session of the UN Security Council to address this issue.

  • Gerald Kaufman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Gerald Kaufman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gerald Kaufman on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will confirm the legal protections for existing collective bargaining agreements between recognised trade unions and West Coast Trains Ltd for the period of the rail passenger franchise directly awarded to the employer on 19 June and coming into effect on 22 June 2014.

    Stephen Hammond

    As there has been no change of employer under this direct award, our expectation is that the status of contracts, collective bargaining agreements and legal protections are unchanged. However, staffing matters remain an issue between the employer, West Coast Trains Limited, and its staff.

  • Charlie Elphicke – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Charlie Elphicke – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlie Elphicke on 2014-06-24.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when assessments have been made of the value for money of the private finance initiative contract between HM Revenue and Customs and Mapeley Steps Contractor Limited; and when the first such assessment was made.

    Mr David Gauke

    The National Audit Office (NAO) have conducted two value for money assessments on the private finance initiative contract between HM Revenue and Customs and Mapeley STEPS Contractor Limited. The first of these, PFI: The STEPS Deal, was published by the NAO on 7 May 2004. The second NAO value for money assessment, HM Revenue & Customs’ Estate Private Finance Deal Eight Years On, was published on 3 December 2009.

  • Emma Lewell-Buck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Emma Lewell-Buck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emma Lewell-Buck on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, 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.

    Kris Hopkins

    The table below provides a summary of the performance results for non-Senior Civil Service staff for whom the DCLG process applied, where disability has been declared, and whose performance markings have been entered into the HR database:

    Number of staff

    Exceptional

    Good

    Development

    Needed

    Not Disabled

    217

    824

    94

    Disabled

    7

    45

    15

    Due to changes in methodology in the manner in which such assessments are undertaken, these figures are not comparative with those given to the hon. Member in the answer to her of 4 November 2013, Official Report, Column 22W.

    The small sample sizes may mean the results are not statistically significant. We will be undertaking further analysis of the wider performance outcomes across both performance years and all protected characteristics. We will consider whether action is required to address any clear findings.

    The Department provides a reasonable adjustments service, which has recently been subject to a review, to allow staff to ensure that a person with a disability is not put at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled persons generally, who work under the same conditions. The Department’s Disability Champion also continues to work closely with the Disability Staff Network in raising awareness of disability issues to the wider Department.

  • David Amess – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    David Amess – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent representations he has received on the establishment of a national cemetery; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    None. DCMS has no responsibility for cemeteries.

  • Emma Lewell-Buck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Emma Lewell-Buck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emma Lewell-Buck on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, 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.

    Elizabeth Truss

    The information requested is set out in the table below.

    Table 1: 2013-14 Performance Management Outturn Figures for the Department for Education

    Performance Rating

    Declared Disability

    No declared disability

    Not declared

    Top/Exceeded

    14%

    26%

    22%

    Achieving/Achieved

    69%

    66%

    68%

    Low/Must Improve

    17%

    8%

    10%

    The Department continues to take steps to ensure that its performance ratings are a fair reflection of individual performance. Over the last year, this has included independent members being present at end of year meetings where performance assessments are moderated and training for staff on how to avoid unconscious bias.

  • Paul Flynn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Paul Flynn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2013-14, published on 23 June 2014, what estimate he has made of the additional cost to the public purse arising from the increased cost on an undiscounted basis of legacy radioactive waste and nuclear plant commissioning announced in that report.

    Michael Fallon

    As reported in the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2013/14, the Nuclear Provision (the estimated cost to complete the decommissioning of all 17 sites in the authority’s estate) is now calculated as £65bn on a discounted basis (£110bn undiscounted). These costs will be borne in their entirety by the public purse.

  • Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has had discussions with the Iranian government about the imprisonment of Pastor Behnam Irani.

    Hugh Robertson

    We are aware of the arrest and imprisonment of Pastor Behnam Irani. We remain deeply concerned about the detention and treatment of all prisoners of conscience in Iran and the ongoing discrimination against Christians and other minority religious groups. We have called for the Iranian government to protect the rights of all minority groups in Iran and end the persecution of individuals on the basis of their faith. The UK’s non-resident Chargé d’Affaires raised the issue of freedom of religion with the Iranian authorities during his visit to Iran on 12 March.

  • Robert Flello – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Robert Flello – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Colombian counterpart supporting the requests for an investigation into the death of Thomas Rodriguez Cantillo, a SINTRAINAGRO trades union member killed on 9 May 2014.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    I met representatives from six human rights organisations, including Oxfam and Christian Aid as well as Colombian non-governmental organisations (NGOs) during my visit to Bogotá last week. I also met two Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs, heads of the Colombian Government’s major human rights agencies and representatives of the Attorney-General’s office. I set out HM Government concern about the reported rise in attacks against human rights defenders and a lack of sentences for those responsible.

  • Pamela Nash – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Pamela Nash – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Pamela Nash on 2014-06-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what average time was taken between an application being made and benefit paid for (a) attendance allowance, (b) bereavement benefits, (c) carer’s allowance, (d) disability living allowance, (e) employment and support allowance, (f) jobseeker’s allowance, (g) maternity benefits, (h) housing benefit, (i) council tax benefit and (j) pension credit in (i) Airdrie and Shotts constituency, (ii) England, (iii) Scotland, (iv) Wales and (v) Northern Ireland in each of the last four years including the most recent period for which figures are available.

    Mike Penning

    The information regarding when a benefit is paid is not available as this can vary from each claim depending on circumstances, payment type and frequency of payment.