Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Lord Hoyle – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Hoyle – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hoyle on 2014-06-04.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many experiments were carried out on animals in the United Kingdom each year from 1997 to 2014.

    Lord Taylor of Holbeach

    The following table contains information on the number of procedures undertaken for the years 1997 to 2012.

    The Home Office expects to publish, for Great Britain, 2013 statistics on 10 July 2014 and 2014 statistics in summer/autumn 2015.

    The publication of 2013 and 2014 statistics for Northern Ireland is a matter for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland (DHSSPSNI), which separately publishes Northern Irish statistics.

  • (4) in local authority schools – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    (4) in local authority schools – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by (4) in local authority schools on 2014-06-04.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Nash on 14 May (WA 532) stating that the Ofsted Report for 2013 found there were 700,000 pupils in schools where behaviour is just not good enough”

    Lord Nash

    Ofsted’s annual report (2012/13) indicates that around 700,000 pupils are in schools where behaviour needs to improve.

    This figure is based on Ofsted’s behaviour inspection judgement for 2013, which shows that nationally 8 per cent of schools in England are rated less than ‘good’, and the number of pupils on roll in schools taken from the rounded January 2013 School Census Data. Information in the form requested is not held by the Department.

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Andrew Gwynne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps are taken to verify the competence of (a) doctors and nurses and (b) staff of pharmaceutical companies involved in the conduct of clinical trials.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) expect everyone involved in a clinical trial to be qualified and trained to perform their tasks (as per Schedule 1, part 2 (2) of the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations(SI 2004/1031).

    Staff of pharmaceutical companies are not “conducting” a trial as defined in the clinical trial regulation (SI 2004/1031 Reg 2 “interpretation”). However, the same Good Clinical Practice principles apply to those involved in clinical trial activities; i.e. they should be qualified and trained to perform their tasks. At sponsor site inspection, inspectors will verify the training records, CV, and job description of selected employees to confirm adequate training has been given.

    Sponsors are expected to carry out checks in audits or monitoring to ensure that on completion of training, staff are indeed carrying out their duties according to requirements and/or procedures (these checks should be documented in monitoring/audit reports). Inspectors check the monitoring visit reports to determine non-compliances are adequately followed up and re-training is given to site personnel when necessary.

    The voluntary MHRA Phase 1 Accreditation Scheme requires that a Principal Investigator (PI) for a First in Human study has relevant experience and a post graduate qualification in pharmaceutical medicine (such as a Diploma in Pharmaceutical medicine, Diploma in Human Pharmacology, MSc in Clinical Pharmacology or equivalent). An exemption to this requirement has been issued for PI’s that do not have a post graduate qualification but are able to demonstrate that they have a significant amount of experience in this field (and are often involved in teaching the post-graduate courses). An application for an exemption is assessed independently by the Faculty of Medicine.

  • Steve McCabe – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Steve McCabe – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Answer of 6 May 2014, Official Report, column 66W, on asylum: children, which local authorities have been granted extra funding because of their special circumstances.

    James Brokenshire

    The following local authorities receive additional funding due to special
    circumstances:

    Croydon, Kent, and Hillingdon local authorities have been granted additional
    funding which in the past was part of the "Gateway" arrangements, that has been
    superseded by enhanced rates. This is due to the larger than normal volumes of
    care leavers received in those local authorities, in comparison to other local
    authorities.

    Solihull local authority were not part of the "Gateway" arrangements but have
    since been granted additional enhanced payments for the same reasons.

  • Henry Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Henry Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many animals have experienced severe suffering in scientific research funded by the Government since 2010; and if he will provide funding aimed at developing scientific advances allowing the reduction or avoidance of severe suffering of animals used in procedures.

    Mr David Willetts

    The Government does not hold the information you have requested. The Home Office has published advisory notes on recording and reporting actual severity. From data collected, the Home Office will provide clarity on the burden of harm and, over time, should give an indication of the effectiveness of refinement methods, particularly for the most severe procedures.

    It is important to note that procedures classified as severe represent only a small percentage of the total.

    The National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) was established by the Government in May 2004 to advance and promote the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of animals used in research and testing (the 3Rs). The NC3Rs primarily receives Government funding through BIS from the science and research ring-fenced budget via the Medical Research Council (MRC) and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The projected budget for the NC3Rs is £7.88m in 2014/15 and £7.84m in 2015/16.

    BBSRC also provides further funding for the 3Rs under its responsive mode schemes, and the MRC and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council support research projects which contribute to the development of new knowledge and new methods that help replace or refine animal use. However, figures on future spend are not available.

    For a detailed breakdown of past funding I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Brighton, Pavilion on 11 March 2014, Official Report, column reference 167W.

  • Hugh Bayley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Hugh Bayley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hugh Bayley on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate the UK Statistics Authority has made of average net weekly household income in the City of York Council area in each year since 2004-05 in (i) cash terms and (ii) at current prices.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Flint on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to the Answer of 10 April 2013, Official Report, column 1119W, on energy prices, what estimate his Department has made of the (a) wholesale and (b) retail cost of (i) electricity and (ii) gas in 2013.

    Gregory Barker

    The average GB wholesale electricity price in 2013 was 4.98 pence/kWh.[1] For gas, it was 2.32 pence/kWh.[2]

    These prices do not necessarily reflect the costs faced by energy suppliers, who typically buy their energy over a period of time using forward contracts – a practice known as hedging. The particular hedging strategies employed by different suppliers are commercially confidential and not known to Government.

    [1] Source: data received by DECC from commercial price reporting companies

    [2] Ibid

  • Ian Austin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Ian Austin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans he has to improve job security for people employed indefinitely on temporary or fixed-term contracts.

    Jenny Willott

    The Government is committed to achieving a labour market that is both fair and flexible, which gives employers the confidence to create jobs, and individuals the choice to find work that suits them and their circumstances.

    Temporary, agency and fixed term contracts are an important, but relatively small part of our labour market, as they give companies flexibility in how staff are hired and workers flexibility in how they work. In February to April 2014 there were 1.673 million temporary employees – 6.5% of all employees. Of these, ONS estimate that 35.9% were working temporarily because they could not find a permanent job – down from 39.7% a year ago.

    Under this Government employment growth continues to be exceptionally strong, with levels up by 345,000 in the past quarter, and 780,000 in the past year – a record. Overall, in the 12 months to April 2014:

    · Employment increased by 780,000.

    · The number of employees working full time increased by 441,000 and the number of people working part time increased by 17,000.

    · The amount of people in self-employment rose by 337,000

    · The amount of temporary employees was 1.67 million in the three months to April 2014, up 79,000 on the same period last year. The amount of employees working temporary jobs because they could not find permanent jobs fell by 33,000 over the past year.

  • David Ruffley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    David Ruffley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Ruffley on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much funding his Department has allocated to each local authority in the East of England for road improvement in each of the last five years.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Department for Transport provides funding to local highway authorities through a number of funding programmes. This funding includes grant through both the Highways Maintenance and Integrated Transport Block grants. This funding can be used to improve local roads that the authorities are responsible for if they so wish.

    The following tables provide the funding we have allocated to those authorities that fall within the East of England since 2010/11:


    Local Highways Maintenance Capital Block Grant

    Local Transport Plan Name

    2010/11

    £m

    Bedfordshire (Plan)

    7.031

    Cambridgeshire

    12.809

    Essex

    23.075

    Hertfordshire

    17.456

    Luton and Dunstable (Joint Plan)

    1.284

    Norfolk

    23.948

    Peterborough

    8.663

    Southend-on-Sea

    2.019

    Suffolk

    18.094

    Thurrock

    1.484

    Local Highway Authority

    2011-12

    2012-13

    2013-14

    2014-15

    £m

    £m

    £m

    £m

    Bedford

    3.198

    2.800

    3.288

    3.264

    Cambridgeshire

    13.394

    10.695

    12.750

    11.662

    Central Bedfordshire

    4.645

    3.920

    4.728

    5.469

    Essex

    26.029

    19.838

    22.482

    22.573

    Hertfordshire

    23.611

    18.585

    20.962

    22.019

    Luton

    1.404

    1.070

    1.193

    1.255

    Norfolk

    29.354

    21.403

    24.230

    24.963

    Peterborough

    3.899

    3.029

    3.472

    3.578

    Southend-on-Sea

    2.219

    1.720

    1.795

    1.948

    Suffolk

    22.683

    17.668

    20.145

    20.666

    Thurrock

    2.194

    2.132

    2.023

    1.990

    Integrated Transport Capital Block Grant

    Local Transport Plan Name

    2010/11

    £m

    Bedfordshire (Plan)

    2.539

    Cambridgeshire

    6.104

    Essex

    10.455

    Hertfordshire

    8.755

    Luton and Dunstable (Joint Plan)

    2.014

    Norfolk

    8.224

    Peterborough

    1.818

    Southend-on-Sea

    1.660

    Suffolk

    5.061

    Thurrock

    1.366

    Local Authority

    2011-12

    2012-13

    2013-14

    2014-15

    £m

    £m

    £m

    £m

    Bedford

    1.101

    1.006

    1.006

    1.415

    Cambridgeshire

    4.439

    4.059

    4.059

    5.707

    Central Bedfordshire

    1.464

    1.338

    1.338

    1.882

    Essex

    9.150

    8.366

    8.366

    11.764

    Hertfordshire

    6.804

    6.221

    6.221

    8.748

    Luton

    1.470

    1.344

    1.344

    1.890

    Norfolk

    5.824

    5.324

    5.324

    7.487

    Peterborough

    1.640

    1.500

    1.500

    2.109

    Southend-on-Sea

    1.245

    1.138

    1.138

    1.600

    Suffolk

    4.508

    4.122

    4.122

    5.796

    Thurrock

    0.960

    0.878

    0.878

    1.235

    Local authorities are also able to use revenue funding, allocated by the Department for Communities and Local Government through the Revenue Support Grant, for maintaining their local highways.

    The Department has also provided funding to highway authorities for local major road schemes as set out below:

    Local Highway Authority

    2010/11

    2011/12

    2012/13

    2013/14

    2014/15

    £m

    £m

    £m

    £m

    £m

    Essex

    26.4

    26.0

    6.2

    0.0

    0.2

    Herts

    0.3

    0.2

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    Luton

    0.0

    0.0

    2.5

    11.3

    2.0

    Norfolk

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    0.0

    19.0

    Note – Figures for 10/11 to 13/14 are actual spend figures. 14/15 figures are allocations.

    The Department has also agreed to provide funding to authorities through the Local Pinch Point Fund. The Fund is aimed at removing bottlenecks on the local highway network and supporting growth-enhancing development. The Fund has been allocated to the following authorities in the last five years:

    Local Authority

    Scheme

    2013/14

    £m

    2014/15

    £m

    Bedford Borough Council

    Bedford Western Bypass Northern Section

    4.500

    0

    Central Bedfordshire Council

    Woodside Link Houghton Regis (A5-M1)

    2.350

    2.650

    Essex County Council

    A176 Nether Mayne, Basildon

    0.763

    1.583

    Essex County Council

    A414/A1025 (Clock Tower) Junction, Harlow

    0.809

    2.104

    Essex County Council

    Army and Navy Improvements: A1060 Parkway Widening

    0.441

    0.675

    Essex County Council

    Army and Navy slip road

    0.260

    1.191

    Norfolk County Council

    Great Yarmouth A12-A143 Link Road

    0.835

    3.910

    Peterborough City Council

    Junction 17 A1(M) – Junction 2 Fletton Parkway Widening Scheme

    3.385

    1.115

    Southend on Sea Council

    A127 B1013 Tesco Junction

    0.320

    2.943

    Suffolk County Council

    Completion of Lowestoft Northern Spine Road (phase 5)

    0

    4.635

    Note: Pinch Point Funding is available in Financial Years 2013-14 and 2014-15 only.

  • Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, with reference to the advice provided by Jemima Stratford QC to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Drones, if her Department will take steps to prevent any unlawful practice by GCHQ.

    Hugh Robertson

    The UK intelligence agencies work in accordance with UK law, as described by the Foreign Secretary in his statement to the House on 10 June 2013 (Official Report of 10 June 2013, column 31). In addition, Section 6 of the recently published Annual Report for 2013 by the Interception of Communications Commissioner, Sir Anthony May, addresses the legal basis for intelligence sharing between the UK and its partners.

    The UK Intelligence Agencies adhere to the law at all times. We have one of the world’s strongest legal and regulatory frameworks governing the use of secret intelligence. All of GCHQ’s activities are legal, necessary and proportionate. GCHQ does not disclose or share information other than is appropriate under the Intelligence Services Act 1994 and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.