Tag: Paula Sherriff

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2016-01-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what plans she has to share Government data with (a) Ofgem and (b) energy companies in relation to fuel poverty and energy efficiency.

Andrea Leadsom

Government data is currently shared with Ofgem and the licenced electricity suppliers for the purposes of delivering automatic energy bill rebates to customers in receipt of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit under the Warm Home Discount scheme. We intend to consult on the future design of the scheme, including the use of Government data, and are considering how good use of data can help us more widely to address fuel poverty.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consultations have taken place on privatisation of railway stations currently owned by Network Rail; and which stakeholders have been so consulted.

Claire Perry

Network Rail is exploring new models for station management and ownership with the goal to bring improvements for both passengers and the communities they serve. They have engaged Citigroup as advisors to consider a range of potential options but no decisions have been taken at this early stage. Any decisions on such potential future options will take account of the ‎findings of Nicola Shaw’s report into the longer term shape and financing of Network Rail.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2016-03-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what commercial sensitivity applies to section 106 (staff using handheld tablets) and section 28.1 (movement of staff) of the agreement between NXET Trains Limited and his Department of 15 July 2014 regarding the Essex Thameside franchise.

Claire Perry

The provisions mentioned have been redacted at the request of either the Director General for Rail or the Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2016-04-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much Transport for London will pay to the British Transport Police’s budget in 2016-17.

Claire Perry

The British Transport Police (BTP) Authority has approved a budget for 2016-17 which includes an amount of £66.933 million in respect of the Transport for London (TFL) Police Service Agreement and overhead charges. The figure excludes any additional policing services which are provided by the BTP at TfL’s request on a commercial basis.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2016-06-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2016 to Question 35252, how many staff within the scope of the HM Treasury guidance on senior off-payroll engagements were paid off-payroll in (a) NHS trusts in 2013-14 and (b) NHS foundation trusts in 2012-13.

Alistair Burt

Information collected by the NHS Trust Development Authority showed that as of 31 March 2014 there were 961 staff engaged by National Health Service trusts within the scope of the HM Treasury guidance. Information collected by the Health and Social Care Information Centre indicated that at 31 March 2013 there were 1,267 such staff engaged by NHS foundation trusts (FTs).

The numbers of Board off-payroll staff have declined consistently since the introduction of the HM Treasury guidance in August 2012. In 2012/13 there was a total of 2,403 engagements in trusts and FTs of which 200 were Board members or senior officials with significant financial responsibility. In 2013/14, there was a total of 2,070 of which 118 were Board members or senior officials with significant financial responsibility. In 2014/15, there were 1,193 in NHS trusts of which 52 were senior officials with significant financial responsibility. Figures for FTs in 2014/15 are not yet available. The Department continues to work with NHS Improvement to ensure that all off-payroll engagements comply with tax law and HM Treasury guidance.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2016-07-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department provides specialist care for victims of hate crime; and if she will provide additional resources to deal with the rise in hate crime since the referendum on UK membership of the EU.

Sarah Newton

The Government condemns all hate crimes and is committed to tackling these crimes in partnership with the communities affected.

We have in place some of the strongest legislation to tackle hate crime in the world – this includes specific offences for racially and religiously aggravated activity and offences of the stirring up of hatred on the grounds of race, religion and sexual orientation.

We also have stronger sentences for hate crime. We continue to carefully consider the recommendations from the Law Commission review into hate crime legislation. The Government has committed to taking action to improve our response to hate crime.

This includes joint training between the police and Crown Prosecution staff to improve the way the police identify and investigate hate crime; building on the improvements to police recording of hate crime by working with the police to break down religious-based hate crime by religion; and working with victims and advocacy groups to improve victims confidence to come forward and report such crimes.

The police are also improving their operational practices and recording. Last year, the College of Policing published Operational Guidance for officers responding to hate crime which comprehensively covers how to address all forms of hate crime.

Hate crime statistics show number of crimes recorded by the police by force area. The decision as to how hate crime is resourced in individual forces is an operational matter for the Police and Crime Commissioner for that area. The latest police funding settlement represents a fair deal for the police and reinforces this Government’s commitment to protect the public. No Police and Crime Commissioner who maximised precept income is facing a reduction in cash funding this year.

Police and Crime Commissioners are also responsible for commissioning local support services for victims of crime. The Ministry of Justice provides the Commissioner with a grant to enable services which best meet the needs of local victims of crime to be funded.

The Home Office published a new hate crime action plan on 26 July 2016, which sets out Government action over the next four years to tackle hate crime. It includes:

● new steps to boost reporting of hate crime and support victims;

● new CPS guidance to prosecutors on racially aggravated crime;

● a new £2.4 million fund for protective security measures at potentially vulnerable places of worship;

● and additional funding to community organisations tackling hate crime.

Nobody in this country should live in fear because of who they are and anyone who experiences hate crime should report it to the police, either in person at a police station, online through the True Vision website, or by phoning 101.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2015-11-26.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 1.251 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what the 26 new Enterprise Zones are; and which local enterprise partnerships made unsuccessful applications to become enterprise zones.

Mr David Gauke

The full list of successful Enterprise Zones, which is available to view online, was published by the Department of Communities and Local Government following the Spending Review announcement.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2016-01-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Energy and Climate Change on sharing data on households in receipt of welfare benefits; and what privacy safeguards apply to sharing individuals’ data with other Departments.

Justin Tomlinson

The Warm Home Discount Scheme was introduced in 2011 as a joint initiative between the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department of Energy and Climate Change, and energy suppliers for which we need data sharing arrangements which are reviewed annually. The initiative exists to help vulnerable and low income households with their energy costs.

By using an automated system, vulnerable pensioners do not have to go through a clerical claim process. Primary legislation removed the need for informed consent to the data-share for this purpose and a memorandum of understanding exists between DWP and DECC to ensure the successful delivery of the scheme. Legal gateway is provided by the Warm Home Discount Regulations 2011 and the Disclosure of State Pension Credit Information (Warm Home Discount) Regulations 2011 made in exercise of the powers conferred by the Energy Act 2010 and the Pension Act 2008.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans there are for (a) Transport for the North, (b) Transport for Greater Manchester and (c) Transport for London to take over from Network Rail the management or ownership of railway stations.

Claire Perry

The Department for Transport is working with Network Rail and other parties to explore new models for station management and ownership with the goal to bring improvements for both passengers and the communities they serve.

Any decisions on such potential future options will take account of the ‎recommendations of Nicola Shaw’s report into the longer term shape and financing of Network Rail, and the government would expect any proposals to demonstrate improvements for passengers and value for money for the taxpayer.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2016-03-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether there is any provision in the agreement between NXET Trains Limited and his Department of 15 July 2014 on the Essex Thameside franchise relating to the closure of ticket offices.

Claire Perry

The agreement between NXET Trains Limited and the Department for Transport is in the public domain and can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/486697/essex-thameside.pdf

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