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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Baroness Harris of Richmond – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Baroness Harris of Richmond – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Harris of Richmond on 2015-11-02.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the extent of cross-border smuggling between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and how many prosecutions for such smuggling have been recorded in the past five years.

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    The government is committed to tackling the fraudulent evasion of duty. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) records statistics for excise offences in Northern Ireland by regime; hydrocarbon oil, tobacco and alcohol. It does not separate out those involving smuggling between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.

    By their very nature these offences can include cross border aspects and HMRC works closely with the Revenue Commissioners in the Republic of Ireland to disrupt criminal activity connected with these goods. This includes regular exchange of intelligence, joint operational activity and the gathering of evidence for use in criminal prosecutions.

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-11-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department issues on teaching of transgender issues to (a) four year olds and (b) other school children.

    Edward Timpson

    Whilst schools have the autonomy to teach about gender at KS1-4 as part of their personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education, transgender is not prescribed in lessons for pupils age 4 (KS0).

    Gender is an important aspect of identity and developing a positive sense of one’s identity is a significant part of growing up. Schools can help to develop pupils’ understanding and respect, through the age-appropriate teaching of transgender issues. Schools can also provide any pupils who are questioning their gender with a nurturing and supportive environment.

    Schools in England can teach about transgender issues in their PSHE lessons, drawing on the guidance and resources available. The PSHE Association has produced a suggested programme of study as guidance for teachers, which includes teaching about gender and gender identity at key stages 2, 3 and 4. The programme of study is available on-line at: https://www.pshe-association.org.uk/content.aspx?CategoryID=1004

    The education of four year olds in England is covered by the Early Years FoundationStage (EYFS) Statutory Framework which sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop and are kept healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for future progress.

    “

  • Baroness Tonge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Baroness Tonge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-01-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what core and non-core contributions were made by the Department for International Development to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Marie Stopes International, and Women and Children First (UK) in (1) 2013–14, and (2) 2014–15.

    Earl of Courtown

    The UK provides support to a range of Civil Society Organisations to help deliver our commitments across a range of priority areas. This includes policy around universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, working to save lives from Malaria and ending preventable child and maternal deaths. This supports the UK national interest by leading to a healthier, more prosperous world.

    DFID made core contributions of £543 million in 2013/14 and £285 million in 2014/15 to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

    The International Planned Parenthood Federation directly received core funding of £8.6 million per year during 2013/14 and 2014/15 through a Programme Partnership Arrangement (PPA) but were not in receipt of any other funding during the same period. During financial year 2013/14 and 2014/15, Marie Stopes International (MSI) directly received core funding through a PPA of £4.35 million per year, In addition, MSI directly received other non-core funding of approximately £12.5 million in 2013/14 and £13.4 million in 2014/15.

    DFID works with MSI and IPPF to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights, including access to modern family planning methods, to give women in developing countries the reproductive health choices they want and need.

    Women and Children First UK received funding of £177,638 in 2014/15 through the Global Poverty Action Fund (GPAF) which was a demand-led fund to support small and medium sized Civil Society Organisations (CSOs to reduce poverty through service delivery, livelihoods, empowerment, accountability and peace, security and justice.

  • Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-02-03.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish equality impact assessments and cost benefit analysis produced as part of the programme of rationalisation of HM Revenue and Customs offices.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) Location Programme is the result of an extended period of consultation and deliberation. The Department has taken account of a number of criteria in reaching its decisions, including the quality of local transport links, the local labour market and future workforce supply, the cost of buildings and asset value, and the need to retain the staff and skills it needs to continue its transformation. These changes will reduce HMRC’s estates costs by around £100 million a year by 2025.

    HMRC conducted high level People Impact and Equality Assessments to inform its planning. The Department plans to update these once discussions have been held with its staff.

    HMRC’s modelling estimates that the majority of staff live within Reasonable Daily Travel of a regional centre. Reasonable Daily Travel is calculated in line with established HR policies and procedures. Every worker at HMRC will have a one-to-one meeting with their manager to discuss their individual circumstances.

  • Owen Thompson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Owen Thompson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Thompson on 2016-02-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government has issued iodine tablets to households in the last five years.

    Penny Mordaunt

    Plans developed under the Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations 2001 (REPPIR) to protect the public in the unlikely event of a radiation emergency involving an operational nuclear reactor, include arrangements for the issue of stable iodine tablets. The arrangements for issuing the iodine tablets are determined at the local level and include, in some cases, the pre-distribution to households in the detailed planning area.

  • Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 18 January 2016 to Question 22159, on mental illness and A&E departments, if he will publish that data for each month of 2015 and 2016.

    Alistair Burt

    There are no plans to routinely publish the number of accident and emergency attendances with a duration to departure of more than four hours, for patients with a primary diagnosis of psychosis, by age group.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2016-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what financial contributions his Department has made to the activities of (a) the International Atomic Energy Agency, (b) the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organisation, (c) the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, (d) the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention and (e) the Arms Trade Treaty in each of the last six years.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has made the following financial contributions over the last six years.

    International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) = £2,127,798.

    Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organisation = £152,800.

    Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty = £487,547.

    Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention = £304,372.

    Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) = £187,254.

    These figures are broken down by financial year in the attached document.

    Additionally over this period the FCO has contributed over £2.5 million to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the OPCW-UN Joint Investigative Mechanism into the use of chemical weapons in Syria. This does not include the UK subscription which is paid by DECC.

    We have also supported projects in support of these treaties and organisations. For example the FCO has funded a number of projects over the years aimed at assisting countries to sign and ratify the ATT.

    “

  • Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-06-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many airlines are required to copy passengers’ documents, on how many flight routes, before the passenger is allowed to board.

    James Brokenshire

    The Home Office do not currently require airlines to copy passenger documents before allowing them to board. For flights to the UK, airlines may be liable to a charge of £2000 for any passenger that does not produce valid travel documents on arrival.

  • Amanda Solloway – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Amanda Solloway – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Amanda Solloway on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the effect that inability to access GP appointments is having on the levels of people presenting at Accident and Emergency services in Derby; and if he will take steps to increase access to GP appointments in Derby.

    David Mowat

    The commissioning and provision of primary medical care services, including general practitioner (GP) appointments, is a matter for NHS England and local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). As such, the Department itself makes no assessment of the effect of accessibility of GP appointments on accident and emergency services in Derby.

    Southern Derbyshire CCG acknowledges that results from this year’s GP Patient Survey varied across its 55 GP practices, although the CCG believes that overall it is in line with average national performance. The CCG is therefore focusing support on those practices in greatest need. My hon. Friend may wish to contact the Chief Officer of her local CCG, Southern Derbyshire CCG, for the relevant information.

    To implement the Government’s commitment to transform GP access, £175 million has been invested in the GP Access Fund from April 2014 to test improved and innovative access to GP services in schemes across the country. Across the two waves of the Access Fund, there are 57 schemes covering over 2,500 practices. 18 million patients, a third of the population, have benefited from improved access and transformational change at local level including evening and weekend appointments.

  • Jack Dromey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Jack Dromey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jack Dromey on 2016-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to ensure that all EU-derived employment rights will be (a) protected in the long-term and (b) retained in primary legislation after the UK leaves the EU.

    Margot James

    As a Government, we have been clear that we will do nothing to undermine workers’ rights. All law in this area at the time of exit will be brought under UK law as part of the Great Repeal Bill, ensuring continuity.