The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Weir on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will publish the findings of all market research on attitudes in Scotland towards Scottish independence and related matters commissioned by his Department since May 2011.
David Mundell
The Scotland Office has not commissioned any market research on attitudes in Scotland toward Scottish independence and related matters.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance he has issued to local authorities on the abolition of the Independent Living Fund; what discussions he has held with his ministerial colleagues on this issue; and what steps he is taking to monitor the effect of this decision on disabled people at a national and local level.
Mike Penning
My Department is committed to working closely with the ILF and other Government Departments to support the work required to enable an effective transfer for ILF users by 30 June 2015.
The ILF also has undertaken a dedicated programme of engagement with local authorities and is also engaging directly with all of those authorities who will be involved in the transfer of user care and support in 2015.
This includes a local authority commitment to the Code of Practice between the ILF and local authorities in England, backed by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) and the Local Government Association (LGA).
DWP is currently developing plans for monitoring the impact of ILF closure on those groups who share protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, both on former users of the ILF and on disabled people more generally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Evans on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of victims of human trafficking through the UK; and if she will make a statement.
Karen Bradley
In 2013 the UK National Referral Mechanism (NRM) received 1,746 referrals of
potential victims of trafficking. However, trafficking is a covert crime and
victims are often hidden, making it difficult to establish the true scale of
the issue.
The National Crime Agency’s UK Human Trafficking Centre publishes an annual
assessment of the number of victims of human trafficking. The most recent
assessment was published in August 2013 and can be found on the NCA website
(www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk).
The Government is determined to lead the global fight against human trafficking
(including modern slavery), and has introduced the Modern Slavery Bill. The
Bill will give law enforcement the tools to stamp out modern slavery, and
enhance protection for victims. To complement the Bill, the Government is also
ramping up non-legislative action to tackle this abhorrent crime.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Rotheram on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, on how many occasions coroners have attributed motor accidents involving fatalities to the age and deterioration of tyres on coaches since 1994.
Simon Hughes
The Ministry of Justice collects data from coroners on the deaths reported to them for the annual Coroners Statistics bulletin.
The bulletin is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coroners-statistics-2013
The statistical information is collected in summary form and does not include data at the level of detail requested.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Stanley on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of export licence appeals were finalised within (a) 20 and (b) 60 working days in 2013.
Michael Fallon
In 2013 4 out of 56 (7%) appeals cases were finalised within 20 working days and 22 out of 56 (39%) were finalised within 60 working days.
Officials continue to review procedures to streamline the handling of appeals, including additional resources and revised arrangements for consulting Ministers and advisers in other Government Departments. We expect an improvement in performance during 2014.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2014-06-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support his Department provides to small rural hospitals in England to ensure that health services are available as close to the public as possible.
Norman Lamb
Responsibility for the commissioning of local NHS services lies with clinical commissioning groups. Small rural and community hospitals have a key role in contributing to more integrated care through better out-of-hospital care at local level for frail older people and people with long-term conditions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-05-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether his Department has invited representatives of the devolved administrations to join the ad hoc ministerial-led steering group set up to report on the implementation of his Department’s National Space Security Policy.
Mr David Willetts
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-12.
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2014, Official Report, columns 509-10W, on electoral registration, whether his Department provides funding to Bite the Ballot to increase voter registration.
Greg Clark
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many houses built in each of the last five years are (a) wheelchair accessible and (b) built to lifetime homes standards.
Stephen Williams
DCLG does not collect information on the number of wheelchair-accessible or lifetime homes standard properties built each year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bill Esterson on 2014-06-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what evidence his Department holds or has assessed on the effects of conversion to academy status on the test results of children in primary schools.
Michael Gove
In 2013, the percentage of pupils in converter academies that achieved level 4 or above in reading, writing (teacher assessment) and mathematics was 81%.[1] This was an improvement of one percentage point from 2012, and compares with 76% of pupils that achieved the same threshold in local authority maintained mainstream schools. Furthermore, the percentage of pupils in converter academies that exceeded this threshold was 25%, compared with 21% in local authority maintained mainstream schools.
[1] Table 5, National Tables, SFR51/2013: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-assessments-at-key-stage-2-2012-to-2013
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