Tag: Toby Perkins

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Toby Perkins on 2015-10-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to UK Defence in Numbers, published by his Department in August 2015, in what capacity the seven Jet Provost training aircrafts referred to in that document may be used; and when those aircraft were last used for that purpose.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Defence in Numbers booklet is a snap shot of the UK’s Defence capability and how we are spending the fifth largest Defence budget in the world. As well as giving details on civilian and personnel numbers and current operations, it also includes a list of the Ministry of Defence’s equipment holdings, the vast majority of which are in service and deployable. We will continue to review the Defence in Numbers booklet to ensure that it best reflects the breadth of defence equipment.

The pieces of equipment listed in the Defence in Numbers booklet that are not capable for use on the front-line are: Jet provost aircraft, BAE-125 aircraft, Wessex helicopters, Challenger 1 battle tanks, FH70 Towed Howitzers and Chieftain Armoured Vehicles. These platforms are used in either a training or ceremonial capacity.

Currently 90 Tornado aircraft remain in the operational fleet and are, or could be, returned to combat ready status; this number includes aircraft undergoing periodic deep maintenance and modification which are not immediately available for operational use.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Toby Perkins on 2015-11-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what progress the Government has made on the UK commitment to ensure 20 per cent of its energy will come from renewables by 2020.

Andrea Leadsom

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich on 6 July 2015 to Question 4832:

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2015-06-30/4832/.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Toby Perkins on 2016-02-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many companies have signed up to the Veterans Guaranteed Interview scheme in each year since its inception.

Priti Patel

The Veterans Interview Programme was launched in November 2012 as a non-political, cross party initiative. It was purposefully set up with light governance arrangements to ensure the focus is on support for veterans and not on completing paperwork. Although DWP provides support for the scheme on this basis, employers are not required to let the Department know once they have decided to take part in the programme. As a result we do not have the information available to answer this question.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Toby Perkins on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many work capability assessments have been (a) completed and (b) cancelled by Maximus Health and Human Services Ltd in (i) total and (ii) each local authority area.

Priti Patel

Work capability assessments are delivered by Centre for Health Disability Assessments (CHDA is a MAXIMUS company).

Nationally, in the quarter from January 2016 to March 2016, the number of completed assessments was 417,143 and the number of cancellations was 10,143.

Information is not available by local authority area.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Toby Perkins on 2016-06-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect on the public purse of privatising the Land Registry while maintaining ownership of the Land Register.

Anna Soubry

A Government consultation seeking views on options to move Land Registry operations to the private sector closed on 26 May. My department is analysing these responses to help inform a Government decision. The effect on the public purse will also be considered as part of this decision.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Toby Perkins on 2015-10-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to UK Defence in Numbers, published by his Department in August 2015, how many of the 125 Tornado Combat aircraft referred to in that document are combat ready.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Defence in Numbers booklet is a snap shot of the UK’s Defence capability and how we are spending the fifth largest Defence budget in the world. As well as giving details on civilian and personnel numbers and current operations, it also includes a list of the Ministry of Defence’s equipment holdings, the vast majority of which are in service and deployable. We will continue to review the Defence in Numbers booklet to ensure that it best reflects the breadth of defence equipment.

The pieces of equipment listed in the Defence in Numbers booklet that are not capable for use on the front-line are: Jet provost aircraft, BAE-125 aircraft, Wessex helicopters, Challenger 1 battle tanks, FH70 Towed Howitzers and Chieftain Armoured Vehicles. These platforms are used in either a training or ceremonial capacity.

Currently 90 Tornado aircraft remain in the operational fleet and are, or could be, returned to combat ready status; this number includes aircraft undergoing periodic deep maintenance and modification which are not immediately available for operational use.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Toby Perkins on 2015-11-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to raise the welfare standards of animals in battery cages.

George Eustice

All animals are protected by comprehensive animal welfare legislation, including the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal. The UK also has species specific legal requirements which protect the welfare of all farm animals in whatever system they are kept. Battery cages for laying hens were banned in 2012 as there was clear evidence that these cages were detrimental to laying hen welfare. A statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Gamebirds Reared for Sport Shooting provides rearers of gamebirds with information on how to meet the welfare needs of their livestock as required by the Animal Welfare Act including in cage rearing systems.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Toby Perkins on 2016-01-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the government has initiated legal action against any law firms for abuse of the Iraq Historic Allegations Team inquiry.

Penny Mordaunt

The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has been conducting a wide-ranging investigation into two firms – Leigh Day & Co, and Public Interest Lawyers – as a result of concerns about their conduct in the Al-Sweady Inquiry and associated litigation. Among other things, it is investigating how these firms obtain instructions from claimants in Iraq – a matter that is directly relevant to the unprecedented number of allegations with which the Iraq Historic Allegations Team is contending.

The Government welcomes the SRA’s decision to refer Leigh Day & Co to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, and awaits its decision with regard to Public Interest Lawyers. We will decide what further action may be appropriate in the light of the results of this process.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Toby Perkins on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons appointments were cancelled by Maximus Health and Human Services Ltd in each local authority area in each month of that organisation’s contract with his Department.

Priti Patel

Work capability assessments are delivered by Centre for Health Disability Assessments (CHDA is a MAXIMUS company).

Nationally, in the quarter from January 2016 to March 2016, the number of completed assessments was 417,143 and the number of cancellations was 10,143.

Information is not available by local authority area.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Toby Perkins on 2016-06-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in Fallujah.

Sir Desmond Swayne

The UK is concerned by reports of a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Fallujah. The UN estimates that up to 90,000 civilians may be trapped inside the city and surrounding areas. We call on all sides to the conflict to respect International Humanitarian Law and to ensure free, unimpeded access for humanitarian agencies.

Since June 2014, the UK has committed £79.5 million in humanitarian assistance to the crisis in Iraq. The UK is the largest contributor to the Iraq Humanitarian Pooled Fund, through which we are funding projects to support those leaving Fallujah. Our humanitarian partners continue to engage with the Government of Iraq, civil and military authorities to find ways of reaching civilians.