The below Parliamentary question was asked by Holly Lynch on 2015-09-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Prime Minister’s comments on the PFI scheme at Calderdale Royal Hospital, reported in the Halifax Courier on 21 April 2015, what steps he is taking to restructure that PFI scheme.
Alistair Burt
This is a matter for Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, which operates Calderdale Royal Hospital.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sue Hayman on 2015-09-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether refugees offered a home in Britain will be vetted before entry.
Richard Harrington
The operation of the UK’s resettlement schemes, including the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Scheme, involves the UNHCR submitting potential cases for our consideration. The cases are then screened and considered by the Home Office for suitability for entry to the UK: we retain the right to reject individuals on security, war crimes or other grounds.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-09-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the reasons were for which each care order was granted to a local authority in England and Wales in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014 and (f) January to March 2015.
Caroline Dinenage
This information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department has (a) taken in each of the last three years and (b) plans to take in the next two years to ensure that war memorials are properly maintained and kept in a good state of repair; and if he will make a statement.
Mrs Helen Grant
DCMS has spent the following amounts maintaining national memorials in each of the last three years. The Memorials Grant Scheme is available to charities and faith groups, and can be used for works involving war memorials. The scheme will be available until 31 March 2015.
|
Year |
Spend (£) |
|
2013/14 |
529,000 |
|
2012/13 |
269,000 |
|
2011/12 |
334,000 |
The Government has announced this week that it will give the War Memorials Trust up to £3 million over the First World War centenary period to boost the funds available to local communities for the repair and conservation of war memorials. English Heritage, Imperial War Museums and Civic Voice will together be given £1.5 million over the same period to deliver better protection through Listing, a greater pool of specialist skills, a national register of war memorials, and a network of trained volunteers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Menzies on 2014-06-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he is taking to ensure that the distribution of shale gas community benefit funds go to those households closest to potential drilling sites.
Michael Fallon
We have welcomed a package of community benefits that was put forward by industry. It is encouraging that industry will offer £100,000 per fractured well site during exploration, so communities can benefit early, as well as 1% of revenues at production.
The UK Onshore Operators Group has provided more information about the community benefits scheme and will be partnering with the UK Communities Foundation for two pilot schemes during the exploration stage. The UK Communities Foundation will work with local residents to use the funding according to their needs and priorities. UKOOG also announced further consultation on payments at production stage.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2014-06-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of potential links between alcohol and obesity.
Jane Ellison
The Government’s “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A call to action on obesity in England”, October 2011, states that alcoholic drinks can be high in calories and contribute to the energy imbalance that can lead to being overweight and obesity. A copy of the document has already been placed in the Library.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen O’Brien on 2014-06-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what monetary thresholds were applied to the cost-per-quality adjusted life year quoted in the evidence submitted as part of the Food Standards Agency’s work with the Inter-departmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health review in 2008.
Dr Daniel Poulter
I refer my Rt. hon. Friend to the answer given on 26 June 2014, Official Report, column 283W.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Dowd on 2014-06-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what progress has been made towards ending the testing of household products and ingredients on animals; and if she will make a statement.
Norman Baker
We have made a commitment to ban the testing of household products on animals.
Although superficially straightforward, the details have not been easy to
resolve. Any solution has to be legally viable since we cannot ban testing
which may be required under UK or EU law.
The key issue is around ingredients. I am looking to develop a solution that
is workable and sensible, but does not have a chain of unforeseen circumstances.
We are looking to publish progress on the commitment later in the year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2014-06-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions on potential job losses in Newport took place between his Department, the Home Office and Steria prior to the decision to privatise the Ministry of Justice Shared Services.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The Ministry of Justice are entering into detailed discussions with Shared Services Connected Limited (SSCL) regarding the future delivery of their back office services, with the intention of awarding a contract in August 2014. We expect this to bring increased savings and efficiency in back-office functions, provide further benefits across wider Government and offer better value for money to the tax payer.
SSCL have stated their intention of providing 12 months job protection for all transferring staff from the point of transfer in October 2014. This means that there will be no compulsory redundancies during this period. No decisions have been made to close buildings and we expect all sites to remain open during this period.
Following the transfer of staff, services and IT, there will be a stabilisation stage during which SSCL will look at how the service is currently delivered. No decisions will be made until SSCL has had the opportunity to fully understand the operation.
We will continue to work with staff, trade unions and other stakeholders to assess any impacts on staff.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gordon Marsden on 2014-06-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people are employed at the Maritime and Coastguard Agency Maritime Operations Centre in Fareham; and how many people will be employed at that centre when it is fully operational.
Stephen Hammond
The transition to the new HM Coastguard structure is progressive over 15 months, from September 2014 until December 2015, and is structured to incrementally deliver the right number of staff at the right point of the transition timetable.
There are currently 27 Coastguards employed at the National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC). In preparation for the start of operational duties in September 2014 this will increase further as successful internal candidates are released from their current operational duties elsewhere around the UK.
Once the transition is complete, and the NMOC fully operational, this figure will rise to 96 Coastguard Officers.