Tag: Parliamentary Question

Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-04-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to reduce the number of black-backed gulls.

George Eustice

Defra is not taking action to reduce the number of lesser or great black-backed gulls. Like all wild birds, gulls are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Under this Act it is an offence to kill or injure any wild bird; to take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while that nest is in use or being built; and take or destroy an egg of any wild bird.

However, Natural England has issued general licences for gulls which allow users to kill or take lesser black-backed gulls, to take, damage or destroy their nests or take or destroy their eggs, for a range of purposes. These include protection against damage to livestock or crops, or where the gulls are posing a risk to public health and safety. General licences need not be applied for by users, as long as they meet the conditions of the licence.

November 1, 2022
Maria Eagle – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2014-04-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what arrangements he plans to put in place to ensure that monitoring data collected on the second year of the pilot badger culls in Gloucestershire and Somerset is made available for independent scientific evaluation and analysis; and if he will make it his policy to receive and consider the conclusions of that analysis prior to deciding whether the culls should be extended to other areas subsequently.

George Eustice

The outcome of the monitoring of the second year of culling will be made publically available when the culls have concluded and the analyses completed. This information will be taken into account in making decisions on rolling out culling in further areas.

November 1, 2022
Gloria De Piero – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gloria De Piero on 2014-04-30.

To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2014, Official Report, columns 578-9W, on equality, how many companies responded to the recent survey of companies participating in the Think Act, Report initiative; and what information her Department holds on which companies participating in that initiative (a) have conducted a gender pay audit in the last two years and (b) publish detailed gender pay gap information for each grade.

Jenny Willott

The survey of Think, Act, Report participating companies was conducted in October 2013. There were 39 responses, roughly a third of the companies then supporting the initiative.

The survey was anonymous, so the Department does not hold information on which of the companies have conducted gender pay audits. However, we are aware there are at least 16 such companies.

At least two companies, Friends Life and Genesis Housing, publish detailed gender pay gap information broken down by every grade. The Government is using the initiative to encourage companies to publish pay information, and for many of them signing-up to Think, Act, Report is their first step on that journey.

November 1, 2022
Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2014-04-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much he has allocated to each local authority with responsibility for education to expand kitchens in order to provide free school meals for children under seven.

Mr David Laws

Capital allocations to local authorities to support the introduction of universal infant free school meals were announced on 18 December 2013. A table showing the allocation to each local authority is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-allocations-for-basic-need-and-infant-free-school-meals

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November 1, 2022
Steve Baker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Baker on 2014-04-30.

To ask the Attorney General, what discussions he has had with the Crown Prosecution Service about the pre-signing of abortion forms.

Mr Dominic Grieve

I have had no recent specific discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) about the pre-signing of abortion forms. I am aware, though, that the CPS has had discussions with the Department of Health on this and I await the outcome of these.

November 1, 2022
Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-04-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the case for abolishing prescription charges in England.

Norman Lamb

The Department does not intend to abolish prescription charges in England, which raise in the region of £450 million each year. This is valuable income, which helps the National Health Service to maintain services for patients.

An extensive system of exemption arrangements are in place which mean that around 90% of all prescription items are already dispensed free of charge.

Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPCs) are also available for those who have to pay NHS prescription charges and need multiple prescriptions. The cost of the annual and three-month certificates have been frozen for the fifth and third years running, at £104 and £29.10 respectively, and will also remain frozen next year. There is no limit to the number of items that can be obtained through a PPC. The annual certificate benefits anyone needing more than 12 items a year, and the three month certificate anyone needing more than three items in that three month period.

November 1, 2022

Nic Dakin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nic Dakin on 2014-05-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of the cohort achieved an A* to C grade in (a) GCSE mathematics, (b) GCSE English and (c) GCSE English literature at the end of (i) Year 11, (ii) Year 12 and (iii) Year 13 in each of the last 10 years.

Mr David Laws

The following tables show the proportion of 15, 16 and 17 year-olds (based on academic age) who had achieved A*-C grade in GCSE English and GCSE mathematics for the last 10 years. The figures cover young people who were in the state sector at academic age 15. Academic age refers to the age at the start of the academic year, so the majority of young people of academic age 15 will be in year 11. The data source used for this analysis does not differentiate between English Literature and English Language so may include those that have A*-C in either subject.

Tables that show key stage 4 results for English and English Literature are available here: http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2012-to-2013-revised

Proportion achieving A*-C grade in GCSE English by academic age and cohort

	Academic age
Cohort academic age 15 in	15	16	17
2001/02	53%	55%	56%
2002/03	54%	56%	56%
2003/04	54%	56%	57%
2004/05	56%	58%	59%
2005/06	57%	59%	60%
2006/07	58%	60%	61%
2007/08	59%	62%	63%
2008/09	61%	64%	65%
2009/10	66%	68%	69%
2010/11	69%	70%	71%

Source: DfE Young Person’s Matched Administrative Dataset.

Proportion achieving A*-C grade in GCSE mathematics by academic age and cohort

	Academic age
Cohort academic age 15 in	15	16	17
2001/02	47%	48%	49%
2002/03	46%	48%	48%
2003/04	47%	49%	50%
2004/05	50%	52%	52%
2005/06	51%	54%	54%
2006/07	53%	56%	56%
2007/08	56%	58%	59%
2008/09	58%	61%	62%
2009/10	62%	64%	65%
2010/11	65%	67%	67%

Source: DfE Young Person’s Matched Administrative Dataset.

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November 1, 2022

Paul Blomfield – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2014-05-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what visits he has made to Australia in the last year; what the primary purpose was of any such visits; and who accompanied him on such visits.

Jenny Willott

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has not visited Australia in the last 12 months.

November 1, 2022
Dan Byles – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Byles on 2014-05-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of the impact on independent generators of introduction of Contract for Difference auctioning before the Offtaker of Last Resort is in place.

Michael Fallon

The OLR will support independent renewable generators by providing them with a guaranteed route to market and improving their ability to raise project finance.

My officials have worked closely with developers and other stakeholders in working up the Offtaker of Last Resort proposals. The policy design is already at an advanced stage, and the detail of the proposals has been recently consulted on. We are on track to deliver the final policy and introduce enabling regulations ahead of the first allocation of CfDs. CfD applicants will, therefore, have a high degree of clarity about the arrangements for OLR, well in advance of the first auctions.

November 1, 2022
Lord Colwyn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Colwyn on 2014-05-08.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to introducing a tax on sugary drinks, in the light of research published in the British Medical Journal in October 2013 that such a measure could reduce obesity in the United Kingdom by 1.3 per cent.

Lord Deighton

There are difficulties of principle and practice with using tax instruments to promote public health. Unlike smoking, where any level of consumption can have damaging effects, the consumption of most drinks in moderation can be to the benefit rather than the detriment of an individual’s health. Government is instead working with industry to reduce the nation’s calorie intake.

November 1, 2022