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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-05-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how he will ensure the Government’s £80 million five-year Access Fund will be spent on sustainable transport projects.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Department for Transport allocated £20 million of the £80 million Access Fund to a transition year between 2016 and 2017.

    The primary objectives of the Sustainable Travel Transition Year remain as per the Local Sustainable Transport Fund to support the local economy; reduce carbon emissions; improve access to jobs, training and education; and increase levels of people cycling and walking. The competition for this was held on 15th February and closed on the 29th March 2016. The competition has now been assessed and the winning bids will be announced shortly.

    This transition year has been set up to support local councils in the switch from the Local Sustainable Transport Fund to the Access Fund.

    The launch of the £60 million Access Fund will take place later this summer 2016, to provide further support for sustainable and accessible travel projects. Improving access to employment, education and services and improving walking and cycling uptake will be the core objectives.

  • David Mackintosh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    David Mackintosh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Mackintosh on 2016-06-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assistance her Department has provided to Palestine in the last two years; and what assessment she has made of the results of such assistance.

    Sir Desmond Swayne

    DFID provided almost £157 million to the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs) between 2014/15 and 2015/16 to help build Palestinian institutions, deliver basic services and promote economic development. DFID has either met or exceeded the majority of its targets for programmes in the OPTs.

    DFID supported over 390 companies to improve their operations and increase competitiveness. In each of the two years, through UNRWA support, over 26,000 families received social transfers (either food or cash) and almost 45,000 children were provided basic education. Furthermore, over 1.6 million medical consultations were provided over the two years.

    In addition to this support, the UK provided more than £17m in immediate humanitarian assistance for those affected by the Gaza conflict in the summer of 2014. Non-food Item (NFI) packages were provided for 23,400 families covering their needs for three months.

  • Jon Trickett – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jon Trickett – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jon Trickett on 2016-09-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps are being taken to improve cleanliness in hospital wards within the NHS Mid-Yorkshire Trust; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    These are matters for Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

  • Keith Vaz – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Keith Vaz – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2015-11-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve children’s oral health in England through (a) diet and (b) other methods.

    Jane Ellison

    Our comprehensive childhood obesity strategy, due to be published in the new year, will be looking at areas for potential action including diet and sugar consumption which are risk factors in poor oral health and tooth decay.

    The Department is working with NHS England to test a possible new dental contract which will increase access and improve oral health. Building on earlier pilots we are about to move to a new stage of testing by establishing prototypes. The new dental prototypes will continue to test a clinical care pathway focussed on preventing future dental disease. This approach includes offering patients personalised care plans and advice to both patients and parents on diet and good oral hygiene.

    In 2014 Public Health England (PHE) published an evidence informed toolkit for local authorities to support their work on oral health improvement among children and young people. PHE also published an evidence based toolkit for dental teams to support preventive advice and treatment for their patients. These toolkits include oral health improvement programmes and advice focussing on a healthier diet and reducing the consumption of free sugars.

    In addition these toolkits include other methods to improve oral health, for example tooth brushing programmes and fluoride varnish application.

    The PHE report Local authorities improving oral health: commissioning better oral health for children and young people: An evidence-informed toolkit for local authorities is attached and can be found at:

    www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/321503/CBOHMaindocumentJUNE2014.pdf

    The PHE report Delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention is attached and can be found at:

    www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/367563/DBOHv32014OCTMainDocument_3.pdf

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  • Lord Campbell-Savours – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Lord Campbell-Savours – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell-Savours on 2015-12-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, before 13 November, the B1 planning class remained a requirement for offices that also qualified for a residential planning designation.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    We announced on 12 October that the permitted development right for the change of use from office to residential will be made permanent. We further announced that the rights will in future provide for an office to be demolished and replaced on a like-for-like basis as residential. The details of the rights including any requirements about the use, eligibility criteria and any matters for prior approval, including in relation to demolition and replacement, will be provided in due course.

  • MiDavies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    MiDavies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by MiDavies on 2016-01-20.

    To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what progress she is making on raising the profile of International Women’s Day.

    Caroline Dinenage

    International Women’s Day has been marked for many years, and is an opportunity to celebrate the progress and achievements of women around the world.

    I, and many other ministers, will be attending a series of events, workshops and meetings to celebrate the day. We will also be supporting some of the many events that will be held around the country in schools, workplaces and communities. We are all working together to promote International Women’s Day and each year I am amazed by the creativity and energy that is on display.

    I hope that honourable members will also be supporting events to mark International Women’s Day.

  • Chris Stephens – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Chris Stephens – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2016-02-08.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assurances the Government Digital Service seeks from its contractors and suppliers that they are fully compliant with their UK tax obligations.

    Matthew Hancock

    All contractors and suppliers are required to confirm that they are compliant with UK tax obligations in order to compete for contracts with the Cabinet Office.

  • Rebecca Long Bailey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Rebecca Long Bailey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2016-03-03.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress his Department has made on its communications programme for the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme.

    Damian Hinds

    The application window for the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme (AWRS) closes on 31 March. HMRC is using appropriate channels to ensure customers who need to apply are aware of their obligations in good time to enable them to meet that deadline.

    Once the application window has closed, HMRC will assess the applications it has received. Appropriate action will then be taken to enforce the requirements of the new scheme.

    HMRC has been ramping up communications for AWRS over the last 12 months. It has issued several press notices and articles including regional and national media as well as specialist press and social media. HMRC is also working through key stakeholders and representative bodies associated with the alcohol business sectors to issue partnership marketing, giving a reach of 55,000 businesses. In February I wrote to individual businesses that may need to apply for AWRS to remind them of the deadline.

    The HMRC communications approach to this scheme is designed to ensure messages reach everyone who needs to receive them. If, however, analysis of applications after the deadline reveals a particular category of customers ‘missing’ to a significant degree from the applications received, and there is evidence that the programme of extensive communications failed to reach them, HMRC will explore whether there are any implications for the way in which follow up action is taken for that particular group.

  • Gavin Newlands – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Gavin Newlands – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Newlands on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on the prison service of prison officers working longer before retirement.

    Andrew Selous

    The Alpha pension, which introduced a higher Normal Pension Age, was brought in under legislation. All consultation/negotiations with the Civil Service trade unions including the Prison Officers Association (POA) who are the trade union responsible for prison officers in the National Offender Management Service were carried out by the Pension Scheme Executive in Civil Service Pensions – Cabinet Office. The Pension Scheme Executive in 2012, held separate additional talks with the POA regarding the increase in pension age and offered a package under the Enhanced Effective Pension Age (EEPA). This provided an opportunity for staff to purchase a lower pension age, which would be subsidised by the employer. The POA membership through postal vote, rejected this offer.

  • Mark Menzies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Mark Menzies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Menzies on 2016-05-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans his Department has to close or relocate Jobcentre Plus at Westmorland House, Lytham St. Annes.

    Priti Patel

    The Department is in the process of reviewing all of its estates requirements as the current contract for most of the estate comes to an end in March 2018.

    Commercial negotiations are underway at this time and consequently it is not appropriate to comment on any sites.