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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Roger Godsiff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Roger Godsiff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the findings in the Chief Schools Adjudicator for England’s 2015 Annual Report, published in December 2015, what assessment she has made of the effect of the level of the religious oversubscription criteria used by some schools on parents applying to such schools.

    Nick Gibb

    The Government will shortly consult on a package of changes to the School Admissions Code. These changes will respond to concerns from parents and to the findings within the Chief Adjudicator’s Annual Reports. These changes will include measures to improve fairness and transparency.

    Admission authorities for all state-funded schools, including schools with a religious character, are required to comply with the Code. This includes a requirement that ‘the practices and the criteria used to decide the allocation of school places are fair, clear and objective’.

    The Code is clear that parents have a right to object to a school’s admission policy. Where an objection is made and the adjudicator finds that the admission arrangements are unclear, or unfair, or that they otherwise fail to comply with the Code, the admission authority is required by law to change them. The deadline for objections is set many months in advance of the closing date for school applications. This ensures that any admission arrangements which breach the Code can be amended to comply before parents apply for a place.

  • Jess Phillips – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jess Phillips – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-03-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made on implementation of the recommendations of the report by Charlie Taylor, Improving Alternative Provision, published in March 2012.

    Nick Gibb

    The Department accepted the recommendations made by Charlie Taylor in ‘Improving Alternative Provision (AP)’, and has made a number of changes in response.

    We have put in place the framework for Pupil Referral Units (PRUs) to convert to AP academies and for high quality independent providers to become AP free schools. PRUs now have greater autonomy over their staffing and budgets as a result. We have revised the funding system for AP to support more informed decisions on the best AP for individual pupils.

    We have ensured that Initial Teacher Training placements can now be delivered by PRUs, AP academies and AP free schools. Schools’ use of AP is now a greater focus of school inspection. We have also removed restrictions over the use of maintained schools’ power to direct pupils to be educated offsite for the purposes of improving their behaviour. We have published stronger statutory guidance on the use of AP and the education of pupils unable to attend school because of health needs.

    Since the review, the Department has undertaken further research into the AP system, working with local authorities, head teachers of AP or special schools, and reviewing international evidence.

    The Department announced in the White Paper published on 17 March 2016, ‘Education Excellence Everywhere’, that we will be taking further steps to build on the recommendations made in Charlie Taylor’s review in order to meet our vision for a world class system of AP. This paper is available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/educational-excellence-everywhere.

    “

  • Jonathan Ashworth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Jonathan Ashworth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2016-04-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2016 to Question 28625, how many employment tribunals the legal fees for employment tribunals in that Answer relate to.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The answer of 25 February 2016 given to Parliamentary Question 28625 relates to legal fees for 14 employment tribunal claims against the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

  • Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, by when he plans to open the next triennial review of gaming machine stakes and prizes.

    David Evennett

    In April 2015 the previous Government introduced regulations which require authorisation of stakes over £50 on Fixed Odds Betting Terminals through a “verified account” or staff interaction. The Government published its evaluation of the £50 regulations on 21 January. The evaluation paper can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-gaming-machine-circumstances-of-useamendment-regulations-2015.

    We will now consider the findings of the evaluation before deciding if there is a need for further action.

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 2.31 of his Department’s Road Safety Statement, published in December 2015, what progress he has made on ensuring that the Government promotes the uptake of vehicles with high safety ratings through its own buying and procurement.

    Andrew Jones

    The Government Buying Standards (GBS) are mandatory for central government procurement and recommended for the wider public sector.

    The current GBS has been in place since 2012. Departments for Transport and Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are working together to revise the standards for cars and revisions will encourage safer and cleaner vehicles where appropriate, new standards are expected by 2017.

  • Eric Pickles – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Eric Pickles – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Eric Pickles on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will assess the additional costs to the NHS if Israeli-owned or Israeli-based companies were banned from supplying generic medicines to the NHS.

    David Mowat

    We do not routinely collect information on where pharmaceutical manufacturers are based, or whether they have connections with particular countries. Any company with the necessary regulatory authorisations can supply medicines to the National Health Service. However, some 100 million prescription items for medicines used in the community in England are estimated to come from companies based in Israel. This includes some medicines where one of these companies will be the main supplier. Banning these supplies would most likely cause significant shortages of some medicines important for patient health and have a significant impact on competition and in all likelihood increase prices paid by the NHS.

  • Gavin Newlands – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Gavin Newlands – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Newlands on 2015-11-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what information the Government holds on UK-linked companies committing human rights abuses abroad.

    Mr David Lidington

    The Government does not maintain a central log of UK-linked companies who allegedly fail to respect human rights abroad. However, the Government’s expectation is that British companies will build respect for human rights into all aspects of their operations, in the UK and overseas. Responsible action by the private sector is good for business and communities – it helps create jobs, customers and a sense of fairness, and contributes towards to a market’s sustainability.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-01-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times the Prison Service Gold Command opened in each month since May 2010; and what the nature was of each incident that caused it to be opened.

    Andrew Selous

    The safety of staff and prisoners is a priority. Gold Command is opened in order to deal with incidents as quickly and safely as possible. Not all incidents turn out to be serious, but all incidents are regarded as potentially serious at the point of Gold being opened up.

    Prisons are dealing with an increasingly violent population, and the effects of novel psychoactive substances. We take a zero tolerance approach to drugs in prisons, and have recently introduced tough new laws which will see those who smuggle packages over prison walls, including drugs, face up to two years in prison. There are already a range of robust measures in place to detect drugs, including the use of sniffer dogs, searches of cells, and mandatory drugs tests.

    Table 1: Gold Command Openings by Month and Incident Type May 2010 – December 2015

    Month

    Total

    Hostage

    Concerted Indiscipline

    Incident at Height

    Industrial Action

    Escape

    Barricade

    Fire

    Civil Unrest

    May-10

    2

    2

    Jun-10

    1

    1

    Jul-10

    3

    1

    2

    Aug-10

    1

    1

    Sep-10

    2

    2

    Oct-10

    4

    2

    1

    1

    Nov-10

    8

    2

    5

    1

    Dec-10

    3

    1

    2

    Jan-11

    4

    4

    Feb-11

    4

    2

    1

    1

    Mar-11

    1

    1

    Apr-11

    4

    2

    1

    1

    May-11

    2

    2

    Jun-11

    0

    Jul-11

    0

    Aug-11

    3

    1

    1

    1

    Month

    Total

    Hostage

    Concerted Indiscipline

    Incident at Height

    Industrial Action

    Escape

    Barricade

    Fire

    Civil Unrest

    Sep-11

    1

    1

    Oct-11

    2

    1

    1

    Nov-11

    7

    4

    1

    1

    1

    Dec-11

    2

    2

    Jan-12

    5

    5

    Feb-12

    3

    2

    1

    Mar-12

    5

    2

    1

    1

    1

    Apr-12

    2

    2

    May-12

    6

    5

    1

    Jun-12

    3

    1

    1

    1

    Jul-12

    6

    4

    2

    Aug-12

    3

    2

    1

    Sep-12

    3

    1

    2

    Oct-12

    2

    2

    Nov-12

    6

    4

    2

    Dec-12

    2

    2

    Jan-13

    2

    1

    1

    Feb-13

    1

    1

    Mar-13

    7

    4

    1

    1

    1

    Apr-13

    6

    4

    1

    1

    May-13

    6

    3

    1

    1

    1

    Jun-13

    13

    9

    3

    1

    Jul-13

    4

    4

    Aug-13

    4

    3

    1

    Sep-13

    12

    7

    1

    4

    Oct-13

    4

    2

    1

    1

    Nov-13

    6

    3

    2

    1

    Dec-13

    6

    5

    1

    Jan-14

    10

    8

    2

    Feb-14

    4

    3

    1

    Mar-14

    5

    3

    2

    Apr-14

    6

    5

    1

    May-14

    0

    Jun-14

    8

    7

    1

    Jul-14

    12

    7

    1

    1

    1

    1

    1

    Aug-14

    5

    3

    2

    Sep-14

    5

    3

    1

    1

    Oct-14

    5

    4

    1

    Nov-14

    10

    6

    4

    Dec-14

    8

    4

    3

    1

    Jan-15

    5

    4

    1

    Feb-15

    2

    2

    Month

    Total

    Hostage

    Concerted Indiscipline

    Incident at Height

    Industrial Action

    Escape

    Barricade

    Fire

    Civil Unrest

    Mar-15

    13

    9

    2

    2

    Apr-15

    5

    3

    1

    1

    May-15

    6

    4

    2

    Jun-15

    9

    5

    2

    1

    1

    Jul-15

    14

    7

    2

    5

    Aug-15

    3

    1

    2

    Sep-15

    9

    6

    2

    1

    Oct-15

    6

    3

    2

    1

    Nov-15

    5

    2

    3

    Dec-15

    5

    2

    1

    2

  • Gregory Campbell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Gregory Campbell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps are being taken to ensure (a) pregnant women and (b) other people intending to visit South America and the Caribbean are aware of the risks posed by Zika virus.

    Jane Ellison

    Public Health England (PHE) and the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) have been carefully monitoring the Zika virus outbreak in the Americas since it was first reported in Brazil during May 2015. When the Brazilian Ministry of Health announced a potential link between maternal Zika virus infection and microcephaly in December 2015, PHE and NaTHNaC published updated advice for travellers to South and Central America and the Caribbean, including specific advice for pregnant women. This advice continues to be updated regularly as more information becomes available.

    PHE has been and continues to liaise with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Association of British Neurologists and the Association of British Travel Agents who have published updates on their respective websites. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has also updated its country travel advice pages with information about Zika virus.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much (a) the Government and (b) each government department spent on (i) arrangements and (ii) hospitality for the Chinese state visit in October 2015.

    James Duddridge

    The full cost of inward State Visits is borne by a number of different Government Departments. We do not yet have the costs borne by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the 2015 State Visit by the President of China. These will be published on the gov.uk website once available.