Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Margaret Ferrier – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Margaret Ferrier – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2015-12-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps his Department has taken to promote use of the UK Guarantees Scheme in Scotland.

    David Mundell

    The HM Treasury Infrastructure support Guarantee scheme has been available for nearly three years and is well understood in the market by key infrastructure players.

    A range of projects have already been supported in Scotland, including Ineos Petrochemicals in Grangemouth and a Biomass project in Speyside with others currently participating in the process. Those interested in the scheme should contact IUKfinance@hmtreasury.gsi.gov.uk.

    “

  • Andrew Percy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    Andrew Percy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Percy on 2016-01-14.

    To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many defibrillators are provided in each building the Government Equalities Office manages.

    Caroline Dinenage

    The Government Equalities Office (GEO) does not manage any buildings. The GEO shares premises with the Department for Education. We refer the Honourable Member for Brigg and Goole to the answer submitted by that department to PQ Number 22555.

  • Lord Watson of Invergowrie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Lord Watson of Invergowrie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Watson of Invergowrie on 2016-02-02.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they intend to take in response to the skill shortages and consequent unfilled vacancies highlighted in the UK Commission for Employment and Skills Survey 2015 published on 28 January.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    We are investing in apprenticeships to meet identified skill needs across all sectors. We are committed to reaching 3 million apprenticeship starts in England by 2020 and will ensure they deliver the skills employers and the economy need for growth. We have also announced plans for ground-breaking reforms to technical and professional education, working in direct partnership with employers to ensure the new system provides the skills most needed for the 21st century. Together with creating 5 National Colleges, supporting a new network of Institutes of Technology and rolling out more degree and higher level apprenticeships, we are helping to equip people with the higher and technical level skills that are in demand.

    Our aim is for all local areas to take a leading role in skills provision to ensure it is responsive to local economic priorities and devolution deals with areas around the country are a big step towards this ambition so that they can secure the training and skills that local employers need.

  • Ann Coffey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Ann Coffey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Coffey on 2016-02-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department takes to monitor the compliance of local authorities with their statutory duty to secure sufficient accommodation for looked-after children.

    Edward Timpson

    Local authorities are required, so far as reasonably practicable, to secure sufficient accommodation within the authority’s area to meet the needs of looked after and vulnerable children. Statutory guidance to help local authorities meet this duty was issued in 2010.

    Local authorities’ compliance with the “sufficiency duty” is considered as part of Ofsted inspection. In order for a local authority’s overall effectiveness to be judged as good, they must demonstrate a clear strategy for commissioning and developing services and that there are sufficient resources to meet the needs of local children. Ensuring sufficient placements and services for looked after children also forms part of Ofsted’s judgement of local authorities’ leadership and management.

    Further details of the Ofsted inspection framework are available on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inspecting-local-authority-childrens-services-framework

    “

  • Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 21 April 2016 to Question 34010, what the cost of providing NHS dental services in the West Midlands was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

    Alistair Burt

    The table below shows the expenditure on National Health Service dental services in the West Midlands. The total expenditure figures have been broken down into primary care (delivered by high street dentists through General or Personal Dental Services contracts (GDS/PDS)) and other services (delivered in community and secondary care settings).

    2010/11 £000

    2011/12 £000

    2012/13 £000

    2013/14 £000

    2014/15 £000

    1

    GDS/PDS Cost

    279,997

    290,274

    286,385

    197,166

    200,904

    2

    Fees Charged

    (63,328)

    (65,765)

    (66,682)

    (47,667)

    (50,014)

    3

    Net Cost

    216,669

    224,509

    219,703

    149,499

    150,890

    4

    Other (community and secondary care)

    69,132

    65,093

    139,583

    71,233

    73,131

    5

    Total Expenditure

    349,129

    355,367

    359,286

    220,732

    224,021

    Source: Rows 1, 2, 3 – Primary care expenditure, Department of Health accounts (2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13) and NHS England accounts (2013/14 and 2014/15); Row 4 – other programme budgeting NHS England.

    Notes:

    1. Figures provided are the expenditure incurred by primary care trusts (PCTs) within the former West Midlands Strategic Health Authority (SHA), and, from April 2013, NHS England West Midlands Area Teams regional teams, in commissioning dental treatment. The balances show the gross expenditure incurred in providing GDS and PDS, which are alternative models of dental care, and the fees charged to the recipient in providing the treatment.
    2. Total expenditure is the sum of rows 3 and 4.
    3. Expenditure figures between years are not directly comparable owing to changes in commissioning arrangements from PCTs to NHS England from April 2013. The 2013/14 and 2014/15 columns do not include areas formerly known as Shropshire and Staffordshire, and Telford and Wrekin, which were part of the West Midlands SHA footprint.
    4. In addition, responsibility for public health and prevention programmes moved from PCTs to local authorities in April 2013.
  • Caroline Spelman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Caroline Spelman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Spelman on 2016-05-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding her Department has provided to (a) the UNHCR and (b) other organisations to support Eritrean refugees in Ethiopia in each of the last three years.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    Over the past three financial years DFID has disbursed £16,999,196 to UNHCR in Ethiopia (of which £7,010,225 was in 2013/14, £9,896,334 in 2014/15 and £91,637 in 2015/16).

    From this total, £1,108,571 was allocated for child protection services for Eritrean refugees (£368,068 in 2013/14 and £740,503 in 2014/15).

    A further £1,846,027 from this total was allocated over the three years in question for core relief items (basic household goods) for all refugees in Ethiopia, including Eritreans.

    Funding for Eritrean refugees was not provided directly to any other organisation in Ethiopia.

  • Tom Watson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Tom Watson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-07-20.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to amend the Ministerial Code to include the full text of the rules on business appointments.

    Ben Gummer

    An updated Ministerial Code will be published in due course.

    The business appointment rules already apply to former Ministers taking up any new or unpaid appointment within two years of leaving Ministerial office. The guidance can be found at:

    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-business-appointments-for-senior-public-servants

    “

  • Baroness Tonge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Baroness Tonge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-10-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of Palestine’s economic prospects over the next five years.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    ​The Palestinian economy continues to face a number of challenges, including the restrictions imposed by the occupation. The International Money Fund estimates that in the medium term growth is likely to be in the region of 2-3 per cent. If restrictions of the occupation were lifted, it is estimated that growth could be in the region of 7-9 per cent. We continue to support economic growth in the Occupied Palestinian Territories through the Palestinian Market Development Programme which assists companies to develop new products and enter new markets.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-11-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of households that will move into work as a result of moving onto universal credit by 2020.

    Priti Patel

    Once fully rolled-out, up to 300,000 more people are likely to be in work as a result of Universal Credit (UC).

    Evidence from “Universal Credit at Work Spring 2015” show claimants are more likely to be in work, spend more time in work, and earn more than their counterparts on Jobseekers Allowance.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/405921/uc-at-work-spring-2015.pdf

    “

  • Daniel Zeichner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Daniel Zeichner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-12-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will introduce financial incentives for bus and coach companies to bring forward capital investment in Passenger Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations-compliant vehicles ahead of the deadline for compliance of January 2017.

    Andrew Jones

    By January 2017 all buses designed to carry over twenty-two passengers on local or scheduled services must comply with the Passenger Service Vehicle Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR). Bus operators have had a long time to prepare for these new duties, and around 89% of vehicles are already compliant compared to just 59% in 2009/10. We have no plans to introduce financial incentives ahead of the deadline.