The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-12.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the electoral registration rates were in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) the rest of the UK in each of the three years after the introduction of individual electoral registration in Northern Ireland.
Mr Nick Hurd
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a jobcentre is permitted to require a jobseeker to attend a voluntary employment support project in receipt of no statutory funding without the consent of that project.
Esther McVey
The role of the Jobcentre Plus Work Coach is to provide support and advise claimants of the best opportunities available to help them secure employment.
Jobcentre Plus can issue a Jobseeker’s Direction to require JSA claimants to undertake activity they judge will help them back to work. However, before doing so, the Jobcentre Plus Work Coach will take into account the claimant’s individual circumstances, as well as determining that the activity being required will help improve their employment prospects and they can reasonably be expected to undertake it.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the UK Government voted against the establishment of a Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived.
Esther McVey
The UK did not refuse any money, it simply voted against adopting the regulation establishing the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived on the basis that we think MemberStates, and not the European Union, should decide how the money is spent. This was in line with the reasoned opinions adopted by both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that costs of public transport do not increase.
Stephen Hammond
I recognise concerns passengers have about impacts of fares on household budgets, which is why for the first time in a decade average regulated rail fares have been capped at inflation for 2014.
Outside London, bus services are deregulated and fares are mainly a matter for the commercial judgement of bus operators. However, the Government has made a commitment to retain the current Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) rate for the remainder of this parliament and has frozen the fuel duty rate until May 2015.
Public transport costs in Northern Ireland are a matter for the NI Assembly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Fitzpatrick on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the Electoral Commission’s efforts to improve the conduct of elections in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
Greg Clark
The integrity of our elections is central to our democracy.
I am aware that the Electoral Commission is investigating allegations of electoral misconduct in Tower Hamlets at the recent local elections and the Metropolitan Police are conducting a number of criminal investigations. I have written to the chair of the Electoral Commission, stressing the importance of ensuring public confidence in the electoral process.
Given the gravity of the allegations it is important that the Electoral Commission provides a robust assessment of what went on in Tower Hamlets and includes firm recommendations of how to ensure the integrity of future elections.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Crausby on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential need for a separate national policy on the collection, use and retention of data gathered by unmanned or other surveillance aircraft operating in the UK.
Damian Green
None. Existing regulation and guidance, which includes the surveillance camera
code of practice issued under the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, applies to
the use of aircraft including remotely piloted aerial vehicles. The code
provides a framework of good practice for surveillance camera operators in
England and Wales and sets out obligations arising from other legislation,
including those for the processing of personal data under the Data Protection
Act 1998. Any covert surveillance undertaken by a public authority which is
likely to obtain private information would be subject to authorisation under
the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Prime Minister, if he will discuss with the administrators of the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war a final date for publication; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Cameron
The Iraq Inquiry is independent of government, and should be allowed to complete its work without interference.
Neither I nor Ministers have had any discussions with or made any representations to the Inquiry. Nor have I discussed the Inquiry with President Obama.
The Inquiry has sought the declassification of material for inclusion in its report from many thousands of documents, some of which have been or will be published. Government does not, as a rule, comment on any discussions between officials and the Inquiry.
The Maxwellisation process is a matter for the Inquiry.
The Government remains committed to ensuring that the Inquiry’s final report will be able to disclose all but the most sensitive information which will be determined in accordance with the protocol governing the disclosure of documentary evidence which is available through the Inquiry website.
Timing of the delivery of the report to me is a matter for the Inquiry, but it is my hope that the Inquiry can complete its work before the end of the year. Upon publication, copies of the report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Marcus Jones on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much was spent on improvements to the railways in England and Wales in Control Period 4; and what estimate he has made of how much will be spent in Control Period 5.
Mr Robert Goodwill
Over Control Period 4, the total amount spent on enhancements on the railways in England and Wales, as set out in Network Rail’s delivery plan update, was £7.557 billion (2012/13 prices).
Over Control Period 5, it is estimated that £11.446 billion.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 4 February 2014, Official Report, column 169W, on Djibouti, from which squadron armed forces have been deployed at Camp Lemonnier; and what role is undertaken by each UK officer embedded with US forces at that location.
Mr Mark Francois
The three UK Armed Forces personnel embedded in Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJFT-HOA) at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti are currently from the Royal Regiment of Artillery, the Corps of Royal Engineers, and the Intelligence Corps. Their roles involve planning and supporting US military operations in East Africa.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the review of personal independence payment operational systems and problems recommended by the National Audit Office in February 2014 was undertaken; what the outcome of the review was; and when it will be published.
Mike Penning
We are committed to driving up PIP performance and we are taking action to improve this by working with providers and reviewing DWP internal processes.
We continuously review the initiatives that link to the NAO actions.