The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-06-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what additional burdens the impact assessment identified for childcare providers operating tax-free childcare scheme.
Nicky Morgan
Information on burdens for childcare providers associated with the introduction of Tax-Free Childcare can be found in the Impact Assessment: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/318698/document2014-06-10-104244-1.pdf
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Turner on 2014-04-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many asylum seekers, by country of origin, have been waiting for a decision on their application for asylum for (a) one and (b) more than five years.
James Brokenshire
Figures for asylum applications for main applicants, by nationality, from 2009 to 2013 are published in Table as_01 (Asylum data tables Volume 1) in the release Immigration Statistics.
The number of asylum applications from main applicants pending an initial decision, by nationality, for (a) more than one year and (b) more than five years, as at the end of 2013, can be found in the table," Asylum application from main applicants pending an initial decision as at 31/12/2013" which i will place in the House library.
These figures are a subset of those also published in Table as_01 (Asylum data tables Volume 1) of the release Immigration Statistics.
Figures for asylum applications from main applicants refused a grant of asylum, Humanitarian Protection, Discretionary Leave or other grants of leave, at initial decision, by nationality, from 2009 to 2013 are published in Table as_01 (Asylum data tables Volume 1) of the release Immigration Statistics.
The latest release Immigration Statistics October to December 2013 is available from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2013 and from the Library of the House.
Asylum data tables volume 1 is available from https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/283693
/asylum1-q4-2013-tabs.ods
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl McCartney on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will make representation to Lincolnshire County Council on its decision to invite volunteers to run some local libraries in Lincolnshire.
Mr Edward Vaizey
The Secretary of State for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has a statutory duty under the Public Libraries and Museums Act 1964 to superintend and promote the improvement of the public library service provided by local authorities in England. The Department is aware of the proposed changes to library service provision in Lincolnshire having received a number of representations from local residents. A legal challenge to the decision taken by Lincolnshire County Council to reconfigure its library services is to be considered by the High Court on 8/9 July and this Department will consider matters further in light of the outcome of the Judicial Review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2014-04-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been convicted of an offence contrary to section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 in each of the last four years.
Jeremy Wright
The number of offenders found guilty at all courts of the offences specified in the Sexual Offences Act 2003, the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000, the Indecency with Children Act 1960, the Sexual Offences Act 1967 and the Criminal Law Act 1977, in England and Wales, from 2008 to 2012 is provided in the attached tables.
Please note that offences under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 sections 9 to 12, 14 to 19, 25 to 26, 47 to 50 provide data where the victim can be specifically identified as a child, whereas offences under sections 3, 4, 52 to 53, 57 to 59, 61 and 66 to 67, are not specific to the age of the victim.
The tables do not include data for offences under section 5 of the Sexual Offences Act 1967, or under section 3 of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000. These offences, along with section 54 of the Criminal Law Act 1977, were repealed by the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and there have been no convictions in the last four years.
The number of offenders found guilty of offences under section 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 was provided in answer to PQ 193582 and can be found at Official Report c638W, 1 April 2014. It is not possible to separate out the age of the victims of offences under section 2.
Similarly, it is not possible to separate out the age of the victim of offences committed under sections 30 – 41 Sexual Offences Act 2003 from centrally held data. For data on offences under this legislation as a whole, I refer the honourable lady to the answer provided to PQ 193810, which can be found at Official Report column 136W, 7 April 2014.
Section 20 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 deals with offences in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Statistics for these offences in Scotland are a matter for the Scottish Government, with those in Northern Ireland being a matter for the Department of Justice Northern Ireland
Court proceedings data for England and Wales for 2013 are planned for publication in May 2014.
The Government takes very seriously all matters relating to the sexual abuse of children and adults. Our laws in these areas are rightly robust and clear. The 2003 Act, which came into effect in May 2004, significantly modernised and strengthened the laws on sexual offences in England and Wales.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many members of the armed forces have been recruited into teacher roles under the Troops to Teachers initiative to date.
Mr David Laws
The Troops to Teachers undergraduate programme is a new programme, which started in January 2014. 41 service leavers joined the Troops to Teachers programme in January 2014. Recruitment is almost complete for the second cohort of the programme and more service leavers will start their training in September 2014. The first successful graduates of the programme will be employed as teachers, subject to achieving Qualified Teacher Status and a degree, in 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sir Peter Bottomley on 2014-04-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what timescale Benjamin Mire would have been removed from his appointment to the property tribunal following the conclusion of the report on the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office had he not resigned from that post.
Mr Shailesh Vara
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Mr Mire’s conduct was investigated in accordance with The Judicial Discipline (Prescribed Procedures) Regulations 2006 (as amended). These regulations provide opportunities for the subject of the disciplinary process to make further representations and for the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Chief Justice to consider these and take such action as they think fit. It is therefore not possible to specify a time frame for concluding the disciplinary process. Mr Mire resigned before the disciplinary process was concluded. |
Since 1st October 2013, judicial conduct has been considered under the Judicial Discipline (Prescribed Procedures) Regulations 2013. These now provide for the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice to continue to make a finding of misconduct in certain circumstances where a judicial office holder has ceased to hold office during the course of a conduct investigation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Annette Brooke on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will take steps to make consumer policies for energy more accessible to park home residents.
Gregory Barker
Energy Performance Certificates can now be generated for park homes and the Energy Company Obligation is leading to improvements. For example, 200 park homes have had solid wall insulation under this scheme..
We will be consulting later this year on ways in which we could help park home rersidents access the Warm Home Discount.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lucas on 2014-04-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions (a) HM Courts Service and (b) his Department has had with North Wales Police about future cell provision at Wrexham Magistrates’ Court.
Mr Shailesh Vara
No detailed discussions have taken place between HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) or the Department with North Wales Police with regards to future cell provision at Wrexham Magistrates’ Court. HMCTS is considering its options. Further discussions will take place once preferred options have been identified.
Any decision for new arrangements for dealing with custody cases at Wrexham Magistrates’ Court will be guided by the principles of access to justice and best value for the taxpayer.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Johnson on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Bahrain.
Hugh Robertson
We believe that the only way to promote peace and stability in Bahrain and address the legitimate aspirations of all Bahrainis is through dialogue leading to an inclusive political settlement. With elections in October, we hope that this is an opportunity to reach a deal. We encourage all sides to engage constructively in this process.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Swales on 2014-04-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will include small and medium-sized enterprises in the procurement process for its contract to manage direct debit payments for vehicle tax discs.
Stephen Hammond
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will deliver direct debits for vehicle excise duty in two phases. Initially, the DVLA will partly use its existing contract for IT service provision with elements being subcontracted via an open competition which will include small/medium enterprise interest.
The full strategic solution will be pursued in an open competition which will start in 2015. This open competition will also invite interest from Government frameworks which support small/medium enterprise involvement.