The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-05-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the press notice Next Steps to spread educational excellence everywhere announced, dated 6 May 2016, how long before she made the announcement of her decision to change her policy on schools becoming academies that decision was made.
Edward Timpson
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Trefgarne on 2016-06-28.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they intend to appoint a permanent Chief Constable of Surrey.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Since their introduction in 2012, the appointment of a chief constable is a matter for the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Surrey’s new Police and Crime Commissioner, David Munro, announced on 14 June that Nick Ephgrave is his preferred candidate for the role of Chief Constable of Surrey Police. The appointment is subject to a confirmation hearing by the Surrey Police and Crime Panel on 5 July.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2016-09-08.
To ask the Attorney General, if he will take steps to encourage barristers who are employed through the Service Prosecuting Authority to enter the selection competition to become Queen’s Counsel.
Robert Buckland
I would strongly encourage anyone with the appropriate skills and experience to apply to become Queen’s Counsel, including those at the employed bar and within the Service Prosecuting Authority.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2015-11-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the economic effect of the England Coast Path on each area through which opened sections of that path pass.
Rory Stewart
Annex 4 of the impact assessment which was prepared for the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 included a summary of the estimated social and economic benefits and costs of the coastal access provisions.
The impact assessment noted that the average annual benefits to people who would make use of the improved access would be £12.35m. This figure would increase over time and from year 20 onwards was estimated at £25.8m per year. The benefits would include the improved health and wellbeing that access to the natural environment would bring. The impact assessment also noted that there would be a benefit to the coastal economy from increased spending in coastal areas where additional visitors were attracted to the area. The assessment suggested that the uplift from increased spending would be on average £6 – £9 per day visitor and £35 – £45 per overnight visitor.
A copy of the impact assessment is available on the National Archive website.
As the right of coastal access is implemented throughout England, Natural England will collect and evaluate national and local information about the social and economic benefits of new and improved access.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2015-12-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what account the prison estates review took of the existence of restrictive covenants prior to the Government’s announcement of the programme of prison closures and new prison construction.
Andrew Selous
We will consider what impact the existence of any restrictive covenant would have on any future closures and new prison sites. Providing a list of restrictive covenants on the use and disposal of each prison in England and Wales could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Donelan on 2016-01-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of (a) known available oil and gas reserves and (b) reserves estimated to be found as a result of fracking she plans to be left unexploited.
Andrea Leadsom
The amount of exploitable oil and gas reserves is determined by their commercial viability, which is a decision for industry. The shale gas industry in the UK is still at a very early stage and production has not yet started. The Government will not be able to forecast the scale or timing of shale development until the results from first exploration sites are available and it is possible to estimate the extent of gas that can be technically and commercially recovered.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Storey on 2016-02-09.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Evans of Bowes Park on 26 January (HL5024), whether the Quality Assurance Agency requests data from higher education institutions regarding the number of cases of plagiarism and how those cases were handled each year.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
There is no centrally held set of data on the number of recorded plagiarism cases in higher education. This is an institutional matter and cases are handled by individual institutions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-03-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Prime Minister’s Statement of 22 February 2016, Official Report, column 23, on the European Council, when the reforms secured by the Prime Minister will become legally binding.
Mr David Lidington
The Decision of the Heads of State or Government, meeting within the European Council, concerning a new settlement for the United Kingdom within the European Union became legally binding from the point it was adopted by the Heads of State or Government on 19 February 2016. This Decision shall take effect on the same date at the Government of the United Kingdom informs the Secretary-General of the Council that the United Kingdom has decided to remain a member of the European Union.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Lammy on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people were refused pregnancy termination on the basis of their immigration status in (a) 2013, (b) 2014, (c) 2015 and (d) 2016.
Alistair Burt
The Department does not hold this information.
National Health Service hospital treatment is free to those people who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, or those exempt from charge under the NHS (Charges to Overseas Visitors) Regulations 2015, as amended. Anyone else should present a European Health Insurance Card, S1 or S2 form or pay direct for their NHS care. Those who need care and treatment urgently will still receive it even if they are chargeable and cannot pay straight away.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-05-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will suspend immediately UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
The UK Government takes its arms export responsibilities very seriously and operates one of the most robust arms export control regimes in the world. All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking account of all relevant factors at the time of the application. A licence will not be issued for any country, including Saudi Arabia, if to do so would be inconsistent with any provision of the mandatory Criteria. Our export licensing system allows us to respond quickly to changed circumstances, with the option to suspend or revoke any export licence, including those for Saudi Arabia, where we consider that this is a necessary step.
The Government is satisfied that extant licences for Saudi Arabia are compliant with the UK’s export licensing criteria.