UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Craig Whittaker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Craig Whittaker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2014-04-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the ability of non-registered medical professionals to gauge mental or physical health risks posed by a pregnancy for the purpose of judging whether or not the criteria of the Abortion Act 1967 are met.

    Jane Ellison

    The Abortion Act 1967 sets out that two doctors must certify that in their opinion, which must be formed in good faith, a request for an abortion meets at least one (and the same) of the grounds set out in the Act.

    The Department’s view that registered medical practitioners should be able to show how they have considered the particular facts of a case when forming their opinion, for example by making notes in the patient record. They should be able to defend how their decision was reached if asked to justify it at a later date.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Emily Thornberry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-04-30.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many (a) inspections, (b) findings of non-compliance, (c) prosecutions and (d) convictions have been handled by HM Revenue and Customs to non-payment of the minimum wage in each region in each year since 2008.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government take the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously and HMRC reviews every complaint that is referred to it, investigating the complaint and, in addition, carrying out targeted enforcement where we identify a high risk of non-payment of NMW.

    The information for the time period requested is detailed in the table below. HMRC does not keep statistics at regional level for the purposes of completed inspections and non-compliance. However, the location of the employers prosecuted is included.

    Financial

    Year

    Completed

    Inspections

    Non-

    Compliance

    Prosecutions

    Employer

    Location

    2009-10

    3643

    1256

    0

    2010-11

    2904

    1140

    1

    Liverpool

    2011-12

    2534

    968

    0

    2012-13

    1693

    736

    1

    London

    2013-14

    1455

    680

    0

    The majority of employers identified as paying below the NMW will pay arrears on receipt of a formal Notice of Underpayment. Where they don’t, HMRC will pursue recovery through the civil courts. For deliberate non-compliance or obstructive behaviour, HMRC operates a policy of selective and exemplary criminal investigation action to bolster our overall enforcement strategy. Criminal investigations rarely result in arrears being paid to workers and are reserved only for the most serious cases. All of the prosecutions noted in the table above were successful.

  • Karen Lumley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Karen Lumley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karen Lumley on 2014-04-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information later than 2003 his Department has on the relative emissions from motor vehicles powered by road fuel gases.

    Stephen Hammond

    The Department commissioned testing of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in 2006 which concluded that the air pollutant emissions performance of LPG vehicles is similar to that of petrol vehicles. The Department is also aware of other studies which showed similar results that engines running on road fuel gases broadly emit less oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) than a comparable diesel engine, whilst producing CO2 emissions between those of equivalent diesel and petrol engines.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-04-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the use of CCTV in care homes.

    Norman Lamb

    The Department currently has no plans to require the installation of CCTV in care homes. However, we do have to recognise that recent cases of abuse and neglect have been exposed as the result of hidden cameras. We acknowledge that there are occasions when it may be appropriate for their use to be considered.

    The Care Quality Commission is exploring whether hidden cameras might be used as part of its investigations. It is consulting widely on the use of covert surveillance and will take account of a wide range of views before making its decision.

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many nursing staff were in post in each year since 1999.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    The annual National Health Service workforce census, published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, shows the numbers of qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff in the NHS in England as at 30 September each year. The Department does not hold information on the number of nursing staff in post in other settings.

    The number of qualified nursing staff in each year from 1999 to 2013 is shown in the attached table. The latest data in the table relates to September 2013 and is taken from the annual census. The monthly workforce statistics provides more recent data but does not include primary care staff.

  • Nic Dakin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Nic Dakin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nic Dakin on 2014-05-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to apply in all circumstances the Defence Infrastructure Organisation’s principles that local councils should have first refusal when assets are being disposed of.

    Mr Mark Francois

    There is no such principle. In accordance with Treasury guidelines the Department is required to achieve best value for money in the sale of each site.

    In the case of Kirton in Lindsey, following the aborted sale to the Homes and Communities Agency, the MOD decided to proceed straight to the open market. The department will be happy to receive a tender from North Lincolnshire District Council to be considered along with all other bids in fair and open competition.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-05-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects the Pension Regulator to conclude its investigation into the Carrington Wire pension scheme.

    Steve Webb

    This is a matter for the Pensions Regulator which has operational independence.

    Inevitably in complex cases involving foreign companies where it appears that scheme abandonment may have taken place, it can take some time for the Regulator to complete the thorough investigations needed to establish whether the legal tests in relation to its ‘anti-avoidance’ powers, including the power to issue contribution notices, are met.

  • Gordon Henderson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Gordon Henderson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gordon Henderson on 2014-05-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to criminalise psychological abuse and coercive control in domestic violence situations.

    Norman Baker

    I will write to the Hon. Member.

  • Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe on 2014-05-08.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will define the challenges referred to in the Department of Health’s April 2014 publication Living Well for Longer that they have laid before the drinks industry to reduce alcohol harm to health that is linked to premature avoidable deaths.

    Earl Howe

    In July 2013, the Government set a challenge to the alcohol industry to ask them to do more to reduce alcohol harm through the Public Health Responsibility Deal alcohol network. The challenge was formally set out in the 17 July 2013 Government’s response document Next steps following the consultation on delivering the Government’s alcohol strategy. It says:

    “The Government believes that the alcohol industry can go further to show that voluntary action can deliver the significant changes needed. It is now challenging industry to take action in other areas, increasing their level of ambition and ownership of the issues, to reduce alcohol-related crime and disorder and health harms, tackle the harmful effects of binge drinking and to support growth in local economies. This includes seeking rapid action in the following areas: supporting targeted local action; tackling the high strength or high volume products that can cause the most harm; promoting and displaying alcohol responsibly in shops; and improving education around drinking.”

  • Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies on voluntary restrictions by network providers of adult content of recent proposals from the European Parliament on a European single market for electronic communications.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    We are aware that there some concerns that the European Parliament’s amendments to the draft Connected Continent regulation may restrict ISPs ability to block illegal content or to filter adult content at the request of customers. The UK Government supports the aims of the Connect Continent package, but let me clear that we will not agree to any proposals that restrict the ability of parents to protect their children from inappropriate content on line. We are confident that this was not the intention of the European Parliament and we are working with EU Member States, the European Commission and the European Parliament to deliver a final package that promotes an open, safe and secure internet.