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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Baroness Tonge – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Baroness Tonge – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2014-06-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government with whom they have had discussions about including Millennium Development Goal 5b in the World Health Organisation’s draft health goal for the post-2015 framework.

    Baroness Northover

    The UK Government has had discussions with a broad range of interested parties about the importance of including universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights in the post-2015 framework, recognising the unfinished business of MDG5b on universal access to reproductive health. These parties include other national governments, international organisations and NGOs.

  • Fiona Bruce – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Fiona Bruce – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2014-06-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made on improving the employment and support allowance appeals process.

    Mike Penning

    Appeals against Employment and Support Allowance decisions decreased by just under 90% in the first quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2013.

    Our reforms to the appeals process mean claimants are now contacted much earlier, with the decision explained to them, and – through Mandatory Reconsideration – they are given the opportunity to provide further evidence. This is helping to resolve disputes as early as possible, and avoids the need for costly and protracted appeals.

    We are using feedback from the First tier Tribunal to improve our approach to decision-making as part of the Department’s continuous improvement work, and where we identify improvements, we will make them.

  • Lord Turnberg – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Turnberg – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Turnberg on 2014-06-16.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Palestinian Authority about the alleged kidnapping of Israeli teenagers on 12 June.

    Baroness Warsi

    The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Faversham and Mid Kent (Mr Robertson), discussed this with Palestinian Prime Minister Hamdallah and other government officials on 18 June, during his visit to the region. Mr Robertson expressed his concerns over the kidnapping, welcomed President Abbas’s condemnation of it and was briefed on Palestinian security co-operation with the Israelis.

  • Iain Wright – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Iain Wright – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when the Offshore Wind Industry Council last met; and what meetings of the Council have taken place since 16 May 2013.

    Michael Fallon

    The Offshore Wind Industry Council last met on 16 June 2014. This was the Council’s 4th meeting. The three previous meetings took place on 16 May 2013, 21 October 2013 and 24 February 2014.

  • Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-06-16.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people are employed in the HM Revenue and Customs national minimum wage enforcement team based in Belfast; and how many complaints have been reeived by the Pay and Work Rights helpline relating to Northern Ireland-based employers in each year since 2010.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously. HMRC review every complaint that is referred to them by the Pay and Work Rights Helpline. In addition, by collating and analysing data received from various sources, HMRC ensure targeted enforcement through robust risk assessment processes to identify employers across the United Kingdom who are more likely to be not paying NMW.

    HMRC deploys resources to risk, so work relating to a specific geographical area may not always be undertaken by the NMW team based in that area. In addition, the NMW Dynamic Response Team (DRT) provides a multi-agency response to emerging risks, high profile casework and compliance initiatives across the UK.

    Responsibility for the administration of the Pay and Work Rights Helpline (PWRH) sits with the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS). At present, the PWRH is not able to provide aggregated information on calls relating to specific locations.

  • Gareth Thomas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Gareth Thomas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2014-06-16.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the next dataset of bank lending by postcode from the major UK banks will be released; and if he will make a statement.

    Andrea Leadsom

    In July 2013 the Government announced that it had reached an agreement with the major UK banks to publish lending data across 10,000 individual postcodes.

    The first dataset was published in December 2013 and shows the outstanding stock of lending that has been committed to customers across three categories; loans and overdrafts to SMEs, mortgages and unsecured personal loans (excluding credit cards).

    The data is published quarterly, and the next publication is expected in July 2014.

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what event or risk of event led to the approval of the Collision Warning Technology Demonstrator Programme for fast jet aircraft; when that event was identified; and where that event is recorded.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 23 June 2014, (Official Report, column 98W).

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) precision-guided munitions and (b) gravity bombs of each type have been dropped in Afghanistan by British (i) fixed-wing aircraft and (ii) unmanned aerial vehicles since 23 March 2011.

    Mr Mark Francois

    The number of precision-guided munitions dropped in Afghanistan in the period requested are shown in the table. No free fall bombs have been dropped in this time.

    Aircraft Type

    24 March 2011 to 16 June 2014[1]

    Fixed Wing

    71

    Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS)

    317

    Use of force remains closely controlled and the avoidance of civilian casualties has been paramount. Professional crews carefully select the smallest warhead appropriate to the target being attacked to ensure they deliver the required effect, while minimising the risk to civilians.

    All UK forces operate in accordance with International Humanitarian Law, following the principles of distinction, humanity, proportionality and military necessity. The UK’s clearly defined Rules of Engagement are formulated on this basis. The same strict Rules of Engagement that govern the use of conventional military aircraft also apply to RPAS and targets are always positively identified as legitimate military objectives. Reaper is the UK’s only RPAS with the ability to deploy precision-guided weapons.

    [1] Inclusive

  • Emma Lewell-Buck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Emma Lewell-Buck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emma Lewell-Buck on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what research has been undertaken by or on behalf of his Department into the potential (a) benefits and (b) disbenefits to children of further delegation of children’s social care functions.

    Mr Edward Timpson

    The proposals for the further delegation of children’s social care functions build up on the evaluation of the Social Work Practices pilot set in train by the Children and Young Persons Act 2008. This identified evidence of positive change through the delegated arrangements for looked after children and care leavers in the pilot authorities. As a result, the original freedoms in Part 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 2008 were extended to all local authorities.

    Discussions with the pilot local authorities and some other councils, supported the argument that wider delegation would, in some circumstances, benefit children.

    The proposals in the consultation document, is published online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/304660/Powers_to_Delegate_Con_Doc.pdf

    “

  • Dame Joan Ruddock – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Dame Joan Ruddock – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dame Joan Ruddock on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients who were referred by GPs for tests for suspected cancers at (a) Lewisham Hospital, (b) Queen Elizabeth Hospital Woolwich, (c) Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital and (d) Kings College Hospital were not seen within six weeks of referral in the last six months.

    Jane Ellison

    The information is not available centrally. Whilst information is collected and published every month on waiting times and activity for 15 key diagnostic tests, the data does not identify whether the tests were for suspected cancers or other conditions.