The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-06-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what topics were discussed at her meeting with the Northern Ireland Minister for Social Development on 8 May 2014.
Mrs Theresa Villiers
I discussed a range of topics with Nelson McCausland MLA at our meeting on 8 May 2014.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy McDonald on 2014-06-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of changes in the number of interpreters available at Middlesbrough Jobcentre in the last 12 months.
Esther McVey
There have been no changes in the number of interpreters available at Middlesbrough Jobcentre (James Cook House, 79 Corporation Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 2BA) in the last 12 months.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2014-06-13.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the decision was taken that National Savings and Investments would be responsible for the delivery of tax-free childcare; and if he will make a statement.
Nicky Morgan
On the 23 May the Government published a further consultation on the delivery of childcare accounts within Tax-Free Childcare. The consultation will be open until 27 June and the Government will consider the responses alongside those to the first consultation before it makes its decision on the provision of childcare accounts.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tessa Munt on 2014-06-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2014, Official Report, column 61W, on radiotherapy, what reports he has received of the reasons NHS England has paid for gamma knife treatment at University College Hospital London for a patient referred there from Plymouth Derriford Hospital by James Palmer, NHS England’s Clinical Director of Specialised Commissioning.
Jane Ellison
For reasons of patient confidentiality, it is not possible to comment explicitly on either case referred to. However, any primary care trust authorisations made for the gamma knife prior to 1 April 2013 were honoured by NHS England and the invoice associated with the agreed work was paid. University College London Hospitals (UCLH) were required to forward any referrals made after 1 April 2013 to NHS England, along the prescribed pathway, in accordance with the contract between the two. No invoices for work carried out by Queen’s Square Radiotherapy Centre at its own risk on behalf of UCLH have been paid by NHS England for referrals after 1 April 2013.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the prevalence of female genital mutilation in Northern Ireland.
Mrs Theresa Villiers
I am not aware of any recent cases of female genital mutilation being reported in Northern Ireland.
Female genital mutilation is a horrific form of child abuse and violence against women and girls, and the Northern Ireland Executive has put in place a number of safeguarding structures, policies and procedures designed to protect females.
The Civil Law Reform division of the Northern Ireland Executive Department of Finance & Personnel consulted on draft multi-agency practice guidelines on female genital mutilation earlier this year which were based on the Home Office’s Guidelines.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cathy Jamieson on 2014-06-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what target she has set for the time in which applicants should receive a call back from the Passport Office when making enquiries about applications.
James Brokenshire
Her Majesty’s Passport Office’s current guideline for returning calls is to do so within 48 hours. Her Majesty’s Passport Office gives priority to those with the most immediate travel plans.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen O’Brien on 2014-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in which circumstances he uses a calculation of the (a) value of preventing a fatality, (b) willingness to pay and (c) cost-per-quality adjusted life year approach to quantify the value of a policy intervention; what other tools he uses to quantify the benefit of a policy intervention; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Green Book and associated supplementary guidance is publicly available on the Treasury web site. It sets out a range of approaches and methods that may be appropriate in a number of different appraisal circumstances.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-06-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many 16 year olds claimed employment and support allowance in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013.
Esther McVey
The information as requested is shown in the table below:
Number of Employment and Support Allowance claimants aged 16 Great Britain, 2010 – 2013
Total
Nov-10 1,220
Nov-11 1,210
Nov-12 1,120
Nov-13 1,030
Source: DWP Information Governance and Security Directorate 100% WPLS.
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to ten.
2. Incapacity Benefit was replaced by Employment Support Allowance (ESA) from October 2008.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2014-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance he has issued to jobcentres on how claimant commitments should take into account the caring responsibilities of single parents.
Esther McVey
All Advisers have access to comprehensive and clear procedures, guidance and extensive learning which equips them to agree a Claimant Commitment, taking account of each claimant’s individual circumstances, including the caring responsibilities of single parents.
As with other claimants, lone parents are still expected to be Available and Actively Seeking Employment. However, there are restrictions that can be applied to the requirements of this group, in order to take into account their caring responsibilities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough on 2014-06-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many 18–21 year olds and 22–24 year olds in England are (1) employed, (2) employed and claiming housing benefit, and (3) employed and claiming housing benefit and on an apprenticeship.
Lord Freud
Since May 2010, the number of out-of-work Housing Benefit claimants has fallen. Action this Government has taken is bringing the ballooning housing benefit bill under control – saving the taxpayer around £6bn by the end of this Parliament
Housing benefit has always helped those in and out of work. The average rate of increase of housing benefit claimants in work has slowed under this Government, having increased by more than 50% in just 18 months under the last Government. And we have seen a fall in the number of housing benefit claimants in the last year.
(1) Analysis of the Labour Force Survey for the most recent period Jan-Mar 2014 shows that:
Of those aged 18-21 in England, around 1,567,000 are employed.
Of those aged 22-24 in England, around 1,242,000 are employed.
(2) (3)The information for those in work or undertaking apprenticeships, is only available for HB recipients whose claim is not passported: that is for those who do not receive the following benefits: Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (Income-Based), Employment and Support Allowance (Income-Based), or Pension Credit (Guaranteed Credit).
The information that shows those in work for HB recipients whose claim is not passported can be found at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk
Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:
https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm
Those in apprenticeships are recorded as being in work and cannot be separately identified.
The economic status of all Housing Benefit (HB) recipients is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
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