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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Barry Sheerman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Barry Sheerman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with the (a) Home Secretary and (b) Secretary of State for Justice on domestic abuse and its effect on children.

    Mr Edward Timpson

    Issues relating to domestic abuse are discussed in meetings of the Inter-Ministerial Group on Violence Against Women and Girls, chaired by the Home Secretary. I represent the Department for Education at these meetings, and Ministry of Justice Ministers also attend.

  • Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, he will take steps to ensure that for future generations the Cumbrian coast is not contaminated by radioactive waste; what plans he has to ensure the resilience of nuclear waste sites to rising sea levels and flood risk; what steps he plans to take in response to the Environment Agency document of 9 January on the site of the Drigg Low-Level Waste Repository; and if he will place a copy of the document in the Library.

    Michael Fallon

    Radioactive waste management activities are subject to permitting by the Environment Agency under legislation introduced by the Department.

    The Agency requires radioactive waste management sites to prepare and maintain an Environmental Safety Case (ESC). Its purpose is to demonstrate that any impacts now and into the far future resulting from disposals of radioactive waste at the site are acceptable in accordance with relevant UK legislation, standards and guidance. This assessment must consider all reasonable futures for the site, including coastal erosion and flooding scenarios. The Environment Agency will only permit further disposals at the site if it is satisfied that the operator has demonstrated that the short and long term impacts of disposals are in accordance with this legislation, standards and guidance.

    The January document referred to is “Advice to Environment Agency Assessors on the Disposal of Discrete Items, Specific to the Low Level Waste Repository, Near Drigg, Cumbria” was prepared to support the Environment Agency in assessing the ESC for the LLWR, submitted by LLW Repository Ltd in May 2011. The agency conducts such assessments independently and therefore I do not plan to respond to this document.

  • Tom Blenkinsop – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Tom Blenkinsop – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will provide funding as part of the National Pollinator Strategy to create a national insect monitoring scheme.

    George Eustice

    Defra is currently commissioning a two year research project that will develop and test a new national pollinator monitoring scheme. The project will develop the methods, sampling framework and delivery mechanisms for a cost-effective national monitoring scheme, which will assess changes in pollinator populations and their pollination services. Commissioning of this research is at an advanced stage and the project could start as early as this month. Once contracts are in place we will provide details on our science webpages (http://randd.defra.gov.uk/ ).

    “

  • Nia Griffith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Nia Griffith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nia Griffith on 2014-05-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many companies are registered to provide Green Deal assessments in Wales.

    Gregory Barker

    TheGreen Deal Oversight and Regulation Body (ORB) produces publically available information on the supply chain. The latest information is available by using the search tool at http://gdorb.decc.gov.uk/.

    These organisations operate in different geographical locations and provide a wide variety of offers to consumers. Table 1.16 of the Department’s quarterly Official Statistics release shows the self-reported operational coverage of assessor organisations by Local Authority that they are expecting to operate within:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/green-deal-energy-company-obligation-eco-and-insulation-levels-in-great-britain-quarterly-report-to-december-2013

    “

  • Julie Elliott – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Julie Elliott – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Elliott on 2014-05-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when he expects the solar PV permitted development rights consultation referred to in his Department’s solar strategy to be published; and if he will make a statement.

    Nick Boles

    I have been asked to reply.

    The Department for Communities and Local Government is working with the Department for Energy and Climate Change on the introduction of a permitted development right in England for the installation of rooftop solar panels up to 1MWp on commercial buildings. This builds on the existing permitted development right for non-domestic properties which allows the installation of solar panels up to 50kWp. We expect to consult on this proposal over the summer.

  • 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 2014-05-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of sanction referrals made by Work Programme providers to a decision maker in his Department have led to (a) a sanction being applied and (b) no sanction being applied.

    Esther McVey

    Information on the outcomes of decisions resulting from referrals for a sanction for failure to participate in the Work Programme is published and can be found at:

    https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

    Guidance for users is available at:

    https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

    Note that the published data is based on decisions and therefore does not show referrals where no decision has been made.

    “

  • Barry Sheerman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Barry Sheerman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2014-05-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost is of redundancies made by NHS England since January 2013; and what proportion of total expenditure that figure represents.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    The Secretary of State meets regularly with NHS England to discuss a wide variety of issues. The Department is clear on the need to ensure that redundancy payments are made only in circumstances where it is appropriate to do so and has been working with NHS England to ensure that payments are tightly controlled, whilst meeting contractual obligations.

    Redundancies are subject to rigorous scrutiny and challenge before being approved. Additionally, any individual redundancy compensation payment in excess of £100,000 also requires Departmental approval. Where redundancies do occur, NHS England ensures that these are formally subject to national NHS provisions to claw back any redundancy payment received where an individual then goes on to be re-employed within the National Health Service, further ensuring better value for the tax payer.

    NHS England takes seriously its responsibilities to ensure that redundancy is a last resort and has implemented a system to seek to re-deploy any staff affected by such change to retain knowledge, skills and capability within the organisation, where at all possible.

    NHS England has a responsibility for ensuring that maximum value for money for taxpayers is delivered, whilst seeking to improve health outcomes for patients through effective commissioning arrangements. As a direct employer of 6,000 people, NHS England has a responsibility to continually improve the way it delivers both commissioning and the provision of the services for which it is directly accountable, which includes the regular review of its workforce arrangements.

    NHS England has advised that its redundancy costs for 2012-13 were £54,000, which represented 0.1% of total expenditure. For 2013-14 the costs were £1,017,000, which represented 0.003% of total expenditure.

  • 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 2014-05-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has further plans to expand the Public Defender Service beyond the first phase of recruits.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    We are still concluding the recruitment campaign from 20 January 2014 and expect some further appointments to the PDS to be confirmed as a result of that.

    In the current circumstances the Government will take the necessary steps to ensure availability of representation in Very High Cost Cases in which legally aided defendants are currently unrepresented. This could include increasing the capacity of the Public Defender Service. It remains open to the self-employed Bar to accept instructions on these cases, and we would welcome the maximum possible participation of the self-employed Bar in this regard.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-05-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many strategic clinical networks currently have a breast network site-specific group; and how many times each such group met in 2013-14.

    Jane Ellison

    The requirement for the provision of site-specific groups (SSGs), such as those for breast cancer, is written into national cancer peer review requirements. In consultation with strategic clinical networks (SCNs), NHS England has developed an SCN framework. The framework reiterates the role and importance of clinical networking groups as support for the commissioning process, but allows for local agreement to how those groups are supported.

    There are 12 SCNs and we would expect all to have a breast network SSG. This will be evidenced by the annual report published for the SCN and relevant area team. The National Peer Review Programme “Manual for Cancer Services; Breast Cancer Measures” states that network groups should meet regularly.

    The Review Programme further states that the network group should produce an annual work programme in discussion with the SCN and agreed with the director of the relevant Area Team. It should include details of any planned service developments and should specify the personnel responsible and the timescales for implantation. The SSGs also develop protocols for the treatment of patients within the SCN and agree audits and research projects that will be supported.

    The Review Programme also states that network groups should meet regularly. It gives guidance on the roles that should be represented on the group but not numbers.

    We do not hold information on how many breast network SSGs existed and how many times each group met prior to April 2013.

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the number and proportion of visually impaired voters who receive election communication in a format they can understand.

    Mr Gary Streeter

    The Electoral Commission informs me that Returning Officers (ROs) are responsible for issuing election-related communications such as poll cards and postal voting statements which must, by law, contain information telling the recipient what to do if they need the information provided in a different format. It is for ROs, in discharging their duties, to identify how best to meet the needs of individuals in their area who are visually impaired. The Commission has made no assessment of the numbers of voters who receive information from ROs in their preferred format.

    The Commission also informs me that it ensures that its public information campaigns are accessible to those with visual impairments, and that the voter registration and information materials it produces are available in a variety of formats including Braille and Easy Read. The Commission has written to the RNIB, following the evidence they gave to the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee on 1 May, to offer to meet to discuss what else could be done to help ensure that those with visual impairments can register and vote.