The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what funding her Department has allocated to the Troubled Families Programme for (a) 2016-17, (b) 2017-18 and (c) 2018-19.
Nick Gibb
The Department for Education has not allocated any funding to the Troubled Families programme for 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2015-11-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2015 to Question 13612, what the total monetary value is of the debts written off since 2010.
Justin Tomlinson
In 2014-15 overpayments in the benefit system have fallen to a record low. In the same period the Department has recovered over £1.3bn of debt and has written off less than 0.3% (£0.4bn) of the value of all benefit payments.
Overpayments are written off for a variety of reasons including cases where the debtor is deceased with no estate. The total value of debts written off from 2010 to 2015 is less than 0.3% (£1.8bn) of the value of all benefit payments during that period.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2015-12-07.
To ask the Attorney General, what discussions he has had with the Secretaries of State for Defence and International Development on ensuring that full and proper account is taken of the importance of international humanitarian law in areas of potential conflict and war.
Jeremy Wright
I meet regularlywith Ministerial colleagues to discuss important issues of common interest, including on international humanitarian law. I am not able to talk about any legal content of those discussions because, by convention, whether the Law Officers have given advice or not is not disclosed outside Government. All legal advice provided by the Law Officers is confidential and subject to legal professional privilege.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-01-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy of 3 December 2015, Official Report, column 512, how business parks can be part of the superfast broadband rollout.
Mr Edward Vaizey
Through the broadband connection voucher scheme, we have connected around 55,000 additional businesses countrywide with superfast broadband, that we know boosts productivity, jobs and security. Analysis from our the scheme rollout alone reported increased profits by £1,300 on average; a new job created for every four new connections; as well as improved security and customer services. Local authorities responsible for the delivery of broadband projects in their area are able to prioritise business parks in their roll-out plans.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-02-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent progress has been made on access to Translarna in discussions between NICE, NHS England and the relevant pharmaceutical company.
George Freeman
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently evaluating Translarna (ataluren) for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy through its highly specialised technology programme. The publication date for NICE’s final guidance is to be confirmed.
NHS England has advised that it is in constructive discussions with the pharmaceutical company about the development of a managed access agreement for Translarna and a progress update will be given at the next NICE Evaluation Committee meeting on 17 February 2016.
In the absence of guidance from NICE, it is for commissioners to make decisions on whether to fund medicines based on an assessment of the available evidence.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Cooper on 2016-03-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make an assessment of the potential effect on disadvantaged students of the Education Funding Agency discontinuing funding for summer school programmes.
Mr Sam Gyimah
The recent Spending Review confirmed that we will protect the pupil premium at its current rates for the duration of this Parliament, so that schools will continue to attract additional funding for their disadvantaged pupils. To achieve this settlement for schools, we have had to make difficult decisions about a number of smaller grants. The grant for the summer schools programme will therefore not continue next financial year. Secondary schools can continue to run a summer school if they wish to, and will be able to use their pupil premium allocation to fund places for their disadvantaged pupils.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Gardiner on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to publish the greening government commitments for the current Parliament.
John Penrose
A framework of Greening Government Commitments targets for the current Parliament is being considered by Ministers across Government, and an announcement will be made once arrangements are finalised.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anne Main on 2016-05-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much her Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies have spent on infraction proceedings in each of the last 10 years.
Amber Rudd
I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to her by my rt. hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General today to Question 36288:
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Joan Ryan on 2016-06-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Turkish counterpart on the treatment of minority religious groups in Turkey.
Mr David Lidington
We have noted the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling and regularly discuss issues concerning freedom of religion and belief, including those of the Alevi community, with our Turkish interlocutors. We will continue to do so. The Turkish government continues to improve protections for all religious minorities in Turkey. We welcome the continuing implementation of the Law on Foundations which has seen a number of properties returned to minority community foundations or the payment of compensation. As we highlighted to Turkey through the 2015 UN Universal Periodic Review of human rights, we would like to see Turkey implement legislation that increases protection of the rights of persons belonging to all minority religious groups, including the status of their places of worship.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-09-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to promote private sector investment in Kurdistan.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
In recognition of the potential investment opportunities in Iraq as a whole, the Department for International Trade has recently finalised an ambitious five-year Business Plan. That plan seeks to underpin the promotion of British trade across Iraq, including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), to deliver maximum export opportunities for UK companies and ensure that we take advantage of the opportunities that the KRI market offers.