Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Jeremy Corbyn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Jeremy Corbyn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Corbyn on 2014-06-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote peace and reconciliation in the African Great Lakes region.

    Mark Simmonds

    Last week, I met with Ministers from the DRC and Rwanda, and with representatives of the UN, and urged all to seize the current opportunity to stabilise eastern DRC.

    When I met President Kabila in February in Kinshasa, I discussed the importance of his government taking clear steps on stability and governance.

  • Sharon Hodgson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Sharon Hodgson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to publish a new diversity strategy for the Civil Service.

    Mr Francis Maude

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to her on Monday 16 June 2014 (Official Report) Column Ref: 434W.

  • Sharon Hodgson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Sharon Hodgson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of staff within his Department who have been dismissed following formal disciplinary proceedings in each of the last five financial years classed themselves as white British.

    Anna Soubry

    The information requested is shown in the tables below.

    Proportion of Ministry of Defence Civil Servant disciplinary cases in which subject was White British

    2009/10 84.7%
    2010/11 83.7%
    2011/12 82.3%
    2012/13 76.8%
    2013/14 78.1%

    Proportion of Ministry of Defence Civil Servant conduct dismissal cases in which subject was White British.

    2009/10 77.2%
    2010/11 86.5%
    2011/12 68.9%
    2012/13 81.1%
    2013/14 72.6%

  • Sharon Hodgson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Sharon Hodgson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what consideration his Department gives to the diversity policies and records of businesses or other organisations when considering their bid for commercial contracts or grants.

    Gregory Barker

    The Department of Energy and Climate Change considers diversity during the procurement or grant allocation process by including diversity within evaluation criteria when appropriate. Diversity is included when it is particularly relevant to the business requirements and circumstances of an individual procurement or grant. In addition the Department’s standard terms and conditions of contract include specific clauses that cover equality and non-discrimination. The Department also promotes non-discrimination through open procurement procedures and we have removed barriers to supplier entry as part of our efforts to improve engagement with small and medium-sized enterprises. Our Contractors are required to abide by the DECC Equality Scheme, details of which can be found through the link below.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/47894/359-decc-equality-diversity-strategy-condoc.pdf

  • Sharon Hodgson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Sharon Hodgson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what consideration her Department gives to the diversity policies and records of businesses or other organisations when considering their bid for commercial contracts or grants.

    Karen Bradley

    As part of procurement tender exercises for commercial contracts, the Home Department asks for evidence of bidders Equality and/or Equality and Diversity Statement or Policy. Statements or policies are evaluated to ensure that organisations have satisfactory procedures in place that comply and provide evidence of their commitment.

    When considering a bid for a Grant, it is not currently part of the Home Department’s process to consider the diversity policies and records of businesses.

  • Sharon Hodgson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Sharon Hodgson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what consideration No. 10 Downing Street gives to the diversity policies and records of businesses or other organisations when considering their bid for commercial contracts or grants.

    Mr Francis Maude

    The Prime Minister’s Office and the Deputy Prime Ministers Office are an integral part of the Cabinet Office.

    This Government procures on the basis of value for money. Departments and the Crown Commercial Service will ensure that social, economic and sustainability issues are considered in procurement projects and that specifications, terms and conditions and evaluation criteria are developed to ensure that the relevant issues are addressed as appropriate for the subject matter of the requirements.

  • Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno on 2014-06-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to encourage (1) attainers, and (2) all eligible voters, to apply to register to vote online; and, whether they have plans to combine (1) electoral registration, and (2) voting, with incentives such as discounted council tax or local prize-draws.

    Lord Wallace of Saltaire

    UK Youth and Scottish Youth Parliament, who both received a share of the £4.2 million funding for maximising registration, are developing and testing approaches to promote engagement of young people with the democratic process. The Government has made available for free the Rock Enrol! learning resource, and is working with the Higher Education sector to promote on-line registration during course enrolment for students. Over the summer the Electoral Commission will be running a nationwide media campaign which will make prominent reference to the new online registration page.

    The Government has no plans to legislate to require Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers to incentivise electoral registration and voting, such as with discounted council tax or prize draws.

  • 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.