Tag: Parliamentary Question

Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-04-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the staff sickness rate has been in (a) the prison estate and (b) HM Prison High Down in each month since September 2013.

Jeremy Wright

Sickness absence is measured as the average working days lost (AWDL) per staff year, which is the measure used across all Government Departments.

Sickness rates in adult prisons have fallen over the last ten years and remain below the rate of 14.8 days lost, across public sector adult prisons, in 2002/03.

Information on staff sickness rates for High Down and for all prisons in England and Wales are published in Management Information Addendum to the NOMS Annual Report. The latest figures, which relate to 2012/13, can be found at the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/225231/prs-data-12-13.xls‘

Figures for 2013/14 will be published on 31^st July 2014.

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November 1, 2022
James Duddridge – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by James Duddridge on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent discussions his Department has had with the insurance industry on the behaviour and attitudes of novice drivers.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The number of young people being killed on our roads is far too high and we are determined to tackle this issue. It is an issue which, understandably, features prominently in the range of representations which we receive about road safety generally.

As part of our consideration of the way forward, we met the insurance industry on 27 January 2014 to discuss novice drivers and, in particular, our proposed research into the role which telematics can play in changing the behaviours and attitudes of new drivers. My officials regularly talk to the insurance industry and current discussions are aimed at encouraging participation in the research project before we can get it underway. We will publish the results of the research when they are available.

We will also publish the findings of the focus groups comprising parents, young people and employers which we undertook in order to get a better understanding of the issues from their perspective.

November 1, 2022
Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-04-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to require employers to undertake a systematic assessment of psychological risks in the workplace.

Mike Penning

The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 already require employers to undertake an assessment of risks to the health and safety of their employees. The Health and Safety Executive’s Management Standards for work related stress provide further practical guidance to support this legislation, and help employers to assess the risk of work-related stress. The Government believes that this represents a proportionate and sensible approach to the assessment of work-related stress and psychological risks.

November 1, 2022

Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which jobcentres (a) do and (b) do not have wifi access for jobseekers to use.

Esther McVey

The Digital Jobcentres project will modernise the Jobcentre digital infrastructure by delivering WiFi and Web Access Devices (WADs) across the Jobcentre network. From now until the end of October, we will be installing WiFi and new Web Access Devices (WADs) across the Jobcentre network.

The following 39 Jobcentres already have WiFi available for jobseekers to use:

London Bridge	Caerphilly
Ashton under Lyme	Sutton
Newport	Ebbw Vale
Hammersmith	Altrincham
Rusholme	Merthyr Tydfil
Rugby	Hyde
Poole	Tredegar
Inverness	Stalybridge
Newton Abbott	Wolverhampton
Wigan	Stretford
Chester	Scarborough
Warrington	Airdrie
Swansea	Coventry
Oldham	Erdington
Motherwell	Rotherham
Harrogate	Sheffield, Cavendish Court
Abertillery	Wakefield
Bath	Shotton
Bargoed	Blackwood
	Derby

By the end of October 2014, the remaining offices in the Jobcentre network will have WiFi installed and available for jobseekers to use.

November 1, 2022

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

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Flint on 2014-04-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to his oral contribution of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 908, on energy price freeze, if he will place in the Library a copy of Bloomberg’s analysis of investment in renewables.

Michael Fallon

This shows that average annual investment in renewables has more than doubled in the current Parliament, compared with the previous one.

New Investment in UK Renewable Electricity

$m

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Total

3,292

2,974

4,454

4,511

11,337

9,651

10,996

10,339

11,981

Source: Bloomberg Energy Finance

There are a number of sources analysing and interpreting new investment in UK renewable electricity, including DECC’s own analysis. However, data are not always readily comparable owing to differences in methodology, data collection points, timings and market coverage.

November 1, 2022
Biography information for Ben Bradshaw – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Ben Bradshaw on Justice.

1

Simon Hughes

There has been a significant decrease in referrals to publicly funded family mediation since April 2013 when the legal aid reforms were implemented. This is in part due to fewer people visiting solicitors who previously would have directed clients to mediation.

Before April 2013, attendance at a Mediation Information Assessment Meeting (MIAM) was a pre-requisite for legal representation for people eligible to obtain public funding. We introduced a statutory MIAM in April 2014 as part of the Children and Families Act. This placed a legal obligation on an applicant to attend a MIAM for the purpose of considering mediation, before being permitted to issue court proceedings in certain private family law matters (children and financial disputes).

Legal aid remains available for mediation (and for legal help with mediation) for those who meet the eligibility criteria. We are keen to encourage mediation as an alternative to court both for those eligible for public funding and for privately funded cases.

We are aware that a small number of mediation services have closed or are in difficulty. The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is constantly monitoring the situation to make sure there is sufficient provision for client access to mediation services. While a decline in demand is a contributory factor in mediation service closures, another significant factor is poor and unsustainable business models. There is some evidence that a number of the mediation services which have closed following legal aid reforms were vulnerable to closure before the reforms took effect.

I have convened a Family Mediation Task Force, chaired by David Norgrove, which has considered many of the issues raised by the Member of Parliament for Exeter, including how to reverse the fall in referrals and engage the second party in the mediation process, and incentivising mediators and lawyers to work in partnership to support clients through the resolution of their dispute in compliance with the new legislation. A number of short-term financial options have been considered as well as the long term view for the future of dispute resolution services.

The Taskforce report will be published imminently. The Government will respond to the report in due course.

November 1, 2022
Andy Sawford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Sawford on 2014-04-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations he has received on the relationship between the availability of podiatry services and the rate of lower limb amputations.

Dr Daniel Poulter

The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has not personally received representations on the relationship between the availability of podiatry services and rate of lower limb amputations.

I regularly meet with the Allied Health Professions Federation. At the last meeting held in February 2014, representatives from the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists attended and a wide range of issues were discussed, including prevention of lower limb amputations.

We are not currently able to correlate the relationship between the availability of podiatry services and rate of lower limb amputation in those with diabetes. However, on 14 July 2014, NHS England will be launching the National Diabetes Footcare Audit (a new module to be incorporated into the National Diabetes Audit) which will allow this relationship to be explored.

November 1, 2022
Biography information for Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Helen Jones on Treasury.

1

Mr David Gauke

The latest information on the number of families receiving Child Benefit, by each parliamentary constituency, local authority and region is available in the HMRC snapshot publication “Child Benefit Statistics Geographical Analysis. August 2013”. This can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/286668/Child_Benefit_statistics_geographical_analysis_August_2013.pdf

Table 6 has this information by Parliamentary Constituency.

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November 1, 2022
Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-04-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what criteria were used for targeting the Skills Funding Agency’s reduction in funding for adult qualifications; and what account the decisions to reduce that funding took of each such course’s effect on (a) skills development and (b) employability of participants.

Matthew Hancock

The Skills Funding Agency’s review of vocational qualifications is not about a reduction in funding. Within agreed budgets, the review has sought to ensure funding is redirected in support of qualifications which are high quality, demanded by learners and valued by employers. The Agency has removed these low quality qualifications from the scope of public funding to ensure we only fund those vocational qualifications which are recognised by employers and enable someone to be employable in a particular occupation or sector. The goal is to promote both the skills development and employability of participants.

November 1, 2022
Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-04-28.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to require companies running public services to become more transparent about their performance and financial data and be subject to Freedom of Information legislation; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Francis Maude

The Public Accounts Committee report “Contracting out public services to the private sector”, published on 14 March 2014, covered both of these issues.

The Government is currently preparing its response, which will be published in due course.

The report can be found at:

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmpubacc/777/77702.htm

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November 1, 2022

$m	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
Total	3,292	2,974	4,454	4,511	11,337	9,651	10,996	10,339	11,981