The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-03-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people have registered as deaf in 2015.
Alistair Burt
The data requested is no longer collected centrally. On 31 March 2010, 56,360 people were recorded on the deaf register.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2016-03-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will announce the membership of the Steering Group referred to on page eight of the Government’s Response to the Independent Recall Review by Lynn Faulds Wood, published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 18 February.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
On 11 March, The Minister of State for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise wrote to potential candidates who have until 6 April to respond. We will issue a statement shortly after.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2016-05-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to change fire safety regulations governing staffing levels and other procedures on London Underground.
Mr Robert Goodwill
Fire safety regulations on London Underground are a matter for Transport for London (TfL), who have no plans to change them. TfL will continue to ensure that there are sufficient staff in place to maintain each London Underground station’s security, congestion, control and emergency plans, including adhering to minimum staffing levels where they exist.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Crawley on 2016-06-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many pregnant women are in detention at Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre.
James Brokenshire
The Home Office will not necessarily be aware that a woman is pregnant unless she chooses to make this known to us and a woman may not know herself that she is pregnant when she is detained. It may not always be appropriate for healthcare professionals to disclose information that the patient has asked not to be disclosed.
Subject to these limitations, management information for 21 June 2016 shows that there were no pregnant women detained under Immigration Act powers at Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre.
Information on the number of pregnant women deported from the UK in each of the last five years is not held centrally and providing it would incur disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-09-05.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan HMS Ambush to be fully operational.
Earl Howe
HMS AMBUSH is undergoing repairs at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde.
It is UK policy that we do not comment on matters relating to submarine activity or operations as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on (a) opportunity for students and (b) universities in general of not having access to the (i) Erasmus and (ii) Interreg programmes after the UK leaves the EU.
Mr Robin Walker
We have been clear that we want to create an environment in which the UK as a whole can continue to be a world leader in research, science and the tertiary education sector more broadly. The government has already announced that UK researchers can still apply for Horizon 2020 funding projects while the UK is a member of the EU and the Treasury will underwrite the payment of such awards, even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU. The Treasury will also guarantee funding for European Territorial Cooperation projects signed before we leave the EU and which continue after we have left, where they provide strong value for money and are in line with domestic strategic priorities. Horizon 2020 funding supports collaboration between EU Member States or Associated countries.
Leaving the EU means we will want to take our own decisions about how to deliver the policy objectives previously targeted by EU funding. We will consult with stakeholders to review all EU funding schemes in the round, to ensure that any ongoing funding commitments best serve the UK‘s national interest, while ensuring appropriate investor certainty.
The UK remains a member of the EU until our withdrawal is completed. There is no change to those currently participating in, or about to start, programmes such as Erasmus+ exchanges. Erasmus+ is open to a number of countries across Europe and beyond. We are not going to provide a running commentary on every twist and turn of the negotiations, but we will work hard to get the best deal for Britain, its universities, and the wider research sector.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mrs Anne-Marie Trevelyan on 2015-11-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent representations she has received from local authorities on the time taken to implement Education Health Care Plans.
Edward Timpson
Special Educational Needs (SEN) advisers within the Department are in regular contact with local authorities, to provide them with support as they implement our reforms to the system for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
These reforms were introduced in September 2014. Since October 2013, local authorities and parents have taken part in termly surveys, to provide their views on the preparation and implementation of these reforms. These surveys asked for feedback on various issues, such as the transition of children and young people with SEN statements; learning difficulty assessments (LDAs); Education, Health, and Care Plans; and the introduction of EHC Plans more generally.
In response to this feedback, the Department announced a change to the transition arrangements on 10 July 2015. From 1 September 2015, a local authority has 18 weeks, following a notice period of two weeks, to conclude a transfer review, when considering whether to replace an SEN statement with an EHC Plan. This maximum time limit has been extended from 14 weeks. The Department has also provided support for local areas in managing this transition process: this support includes a series of regional workshops in September and October 2015, led by DfE SEN advisers.
Local authorities have until 1 April 2018 to conclude transitions from SEN statements to EHC plans for all children in their area. Young people in further education and training who receive support as a result of an LDA can choose to request an EHC needs assessment. All young people who receive support as a result of an LDA, who will continue in further education or training beyond 1 September 2016, must have an EHC plan by that date, where one is needed.
We continue to monitor progress with implementation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-12-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the cost of regional school commissioners in each of the next three years; and if she will make a statement.
Edward Timpson
At present, I am unable to provide detailed information on the budget for the Regional Schools Commissioners for each of the next three years.
The Department’s spending review settlement was agreed in November. The Department has now begun a business planning process to devolve this budget internally to specific activities and functions. This work is intended to finish in early 2016, when the future budgets for all the Regional School Commissioners’ offices, including the South-Central and North-West London office, will be agreed for the next financial year (2016-17) and beyond.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Osamor on 2016-01-13.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the Financial Conduct Authority’s decision to end its review into HSBC.
Harriett Baldwin
The FCA are operationally independent of Government. They are responsible for deciding how to carry out their functions, and for assessing the implication of their actions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Krebs on 2016-02-04.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recommendations they have made about what is a safe level of consumption of lead-shot game for children.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has identified the particular risk to children who frequently consume lead shot game. The FSA has advised since 2012 that those consuming high levels of such game should reduce their intake, and that this is especially important for vulnerable consumers such as children and pregnant women.
This advice was widely reported in the media and on special interest group websites when it was published. The FSA reissued this advice last year. This advice is part of wider food safety advice on NHS Choices. The FSA is considering what further action is required to raise awareness of their advice, particularly with vulnerable groups such as parents and carers of young children.