The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy McDonald on 2014-06-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that asylum seekers are able to receive a National Insurance number without unnecessary delay.
Esther McVey
For those granted leave to remain as a result of a successful asylum claim, a joint fast track National Insurance number application process operates between DWP and the Home Office.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2014-06-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he had on human rights during his recent visit to China.
Michael Fallon
My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills met civil society organisations during his visit and discussed a range of human rights issues, including the rule of law, labour and trade union rights.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-06-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of prevalence of sexual violence in conflict in Sri Lanka.
Mr Hugo Swire
We remain concerned at reports of a culture of impunity for rape and sexual violence and a lack of support for victims in Sri Lanka, as well as reports of the use of sexual violence as a means of torture in custody. We are clear that rape and sexual violence whether during conflict or afterwards is unacceptable and must stop and we are committed to tackling sexual violence in conflict wherever it happens.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) and I have urged Sri Lanka to sign up to the UN Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, and we are supporting projects to ensure a zero tolerance approach to rape and sexual violence in Sri Lanka. On 27 March, the UN Human Rights Council agreed a resolution on Sri Lanka that establishes an international investigation into allegations of violations of international law of both sides of the military conflict, and calls upon the Sri Lankan government to make progress on reconciliation and human rights. The resolution also expresses serious concern at continuing reports of sexual and gender based violence.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Khalid Mahmood on 2014-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will publish witness statements given to the Downey trial.
Mrs Theresa Villiers
This is a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cathy Jamieson on 2014-06-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of applicants who have upgraded to a premium service following contact with the Passport Office in each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.
James Brokenshire
The table below shows the number of people who have upgraded from a standard to
a premium service.
|
Month |
Number of upgrades |
|
January 2014 |
6 |
|
February 2014 |
17 |
|
Mar 2014 |
117 |
|
Apr 2014 |
996 |
|
May 2014 |
1024 |
The specific information required is held in application ‘case notes’ on
Her Majesty’s Passport Office systems which cannot be mined through database
queries. Data presented here is an estimate for 2014.
Information on the number of upgrades prior to January 2014 has not been
collated centrally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2014-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions he has had on the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street station.
Stephen Hammond
The Secretary of State visited the Birmingham Gateway project on 22 April 2014 to view progress. In addition, regular meetings take place between officials, Birmingham City Council, Network Rail and other stakeholders on the project.
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 jobseeker’s allowance in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013.
Esther McVey
The information as requested is published and can be found at:
https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/Default.asp
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachel Reeves on 2014-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the effect on the number of people subject to improved incentives to work of the introduction of universal credit.
Esther McVey
Universal Credit will encourage claimants to move into employment by allowing individuals to keep more of their income as they move into work and by introducing a smoother and more transparent reduction of benefits.
Once Universal Credit is fully rolled out, the number of households losing more than 70% of their earnings when starting work of ten hours per week will fall by 800,000.
Overall it is estimated that up to 300,000 individuals will move into work as a result of Universal Credit, through improved financial incentives, increased simplicity of the system and increased conditionality.
These estimates are consistent with the policy assumptions underpinning the Universal Credit costings published by the Office for Budget Responsibility.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Taylor of Bolton on 2014-06-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to recognise women who worked in munitions factories during the Second World War as part of the 70th anniversary commemorations marking the end of conflict.
Viscount Younger of Leckie
The Government fully appreciates the efforts and the often very dangerous conditions experienced by those who worked in factories producing vital equipment for the armed forces that helped contribute to winning the Second World War. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has been working with the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Recognition for Munitions Workers, which was set up in 2011 to explore ways to ensure that the valiant collective efforts of all those who worked in munitions factories are not forgotten.
Following the very successful commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day we will now be focussing in more detail across government on how the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 2015 might be marked in an appropriate manner. No decisions have yet been made on how the anniversary will be marked, but we expect an announcement on the commemorations to be made by the Government later in the year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Katy Clark on 2014-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2014, Official Report, columns 218-9W, on social security benefits, when he expects to make available the requested data.
Mike Penning
In the production of new statistics the Department works to guidelines set by the UK Statistics Authority to ensure we are able to publish statistics that meet high quality standards at the earliest opportunity.
All releases will be preannounced via the UK National Statistics publication hub at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/hub/index.html
“