The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish copies of the correspondence sent by his Department to other government departments requesting that they review the check-off system for union subscriptions.
Mr Francis Maude
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland on 3 March 2014 (Official Report) Column Ref: 663W.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Grahame Morris on Home Office.
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Norman Baker
Under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, any procedures
applied to animals for a scientific purpose which may cause pain, suffering,
distress or lasting harm require licence authorities. For a project to be
authorised, it must be assessed by a Home Office inspector and a harm-benefit
analysis performed.
The harm-benefit analysis considers the likely harms which may be experienced
by the animals as a consequence of the project, and compares these with the
benefits which may result and the likelihood of their delivery. A judgement is
made as to whether the likely harms are justified by the likely benefits.
The normally recommended age for separating puppies from their mothers is about
eight weeks. Therefore, a requirement for puppies to be separated from their
mothers at four weeks of age for a scientific purpose would be deemed to
require project licence authority. In such cases, Home Office Inspectors take
into account the distress caused to young puppies by such early separation as
part of the harm-benefit analysis.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Browne on 2014-04-28.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many houses the Crown Estate is proposing to sell in Taunton Deane.
Nicky Morgan
The Crown Estate operates commercially at arm’s length from the Treasury. The Crown Estate makes commercial decisions in line with the Crown Estate Act 1961 and does not normally discuss them in detail with the Treasury.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown on Communities and Local Government.
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Brandon Lewis
I have regular meetings with the Fire Brigades Union. The most recent request for a meeting has come from Matt Wrack, the General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, and is dated 20 June. I am content to agree to this request as long as the Union is not in a period of strike action.
Earlier this year I agreed that the Government Actuary’s Department could cost alternative pension scheme designs that the Union had proposed. After constructive discussions, I wrote to the General Secretary on 23 April 2014 stating that their proposals were under consideration. The following day, the Union prematurely called a halt to those discussions by announcing strike action. I have since published draft regulations for consultation to implement the Proposed Final Agreement which was published in May 2012. I would encourage the Union to engage in that formal statutory consultation process which can be found at
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Katy Clark on 2014-04-28.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many 19 year olds have been refused child tax credits because of a break in their education in each year since 2009-10.
Nicky Morgan
The information is not available.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Nic Dakin on Energy and Climate Change.
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Michael Fallon
My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not received any recent direct representations from industry regarding the effect of load management on performance and industry.
National Grid recently announced two new balancing services to balance supply and demand in the coming winters. One of these, Demand Side Balancing Reserve (DSBR), will extend existing arrangements for companies to receive payment to reduce their electricity use or switch to on-site generators for short periods when instructed by National Grid.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to extend the Duty Holder Concept Regulations to apply to (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department.
Anna Soubry
Under the policy introduced across Defence, a Duty Holder is an official (military or civilian) who owns, manages and is accountable for risks to life of people in his or her area of responsibility. Senior Duty Holders, who head the Department’s Top Level Budget areas and Trading Fund Agencies, are required by the Secretary of State’s Policy Statement on Health, Safety & Environmental Protection to refer to him any risks that they consider cannot be reduced as low as reasonably practicable.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Peter Aldous on Cabinet Office.
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Mr Nick Hurd
This Government is doing a great deal to support the growth of social enterprises. We are improving their access to finance through social investment. We are making it easier for them to deliver public services through the Social Value Act and a wide range of capacity building support.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has held with education ministers in the devolved legislatures on proposals for English baccalaureate certificates and reforms of A-levels.
Elizabeth Truss
The Secretary of State met the Minister for Education for Northern Ireland and the Minister of Education and Skills for Wales on May 13 2013, along with Ofqual’s Chief Regulator Glenys Stacey, to discuss proposed reforms of GCSEs and A levels.
In line with the concordats between the Department for Education and the Northern Ireland Government, we give the Ministers of the devolved Governments advance notice of our intentions wherever possible. Department for Education and Ofqual officials meet regularly with their counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland to discuss matters of common interest and share information. This includes GCSE and A level reforms in their respective administrations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Stanley on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward proposals to make borough councils for areas where there is no unitary authority eligible to apply for flood and coastal erosion risk management grant-in-aid.
Dan Rogerson
Borough Councils are already able to bring forward proposals working with the Environment Agency and/or the Lead Local Flood Authorities, should they wish to seek flood and coastal erosion risk management grant-in-aid.