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50050

registered interest
date	07/05/2014
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will raise at the UN the prospects of severe famine in South Sudan.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	197991
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The UK is extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in South Sudan. The ongoing conflict, which has led to the displacement of over 900,000 people within the country, limited the ability of people to plant their crops, and disrupted trade and local markets. There is concern that those in conflict-affected states will experience famine later this year.</p><p>The UK is taking a leading role in responding to the crisis. We have so far contributed £20 million to the United Nations and International Non-Governmental Organisations for emergency humanitarian assistance inside South Sudan. We are considering additional support. We will continue to take every opportunity, including in the United Nations, to raise our concerns about the deteriorating humanitarian situation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hornsey and Wood Green answering member printed Lynne Featherstone question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1531 label Biography information for Baroness Featherstone
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

50051

registered interest
date	07/05/2014
answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies on voluntary restrictions by network providers of adult content of recent proposals from the European Parliament on a European single market for electronic communications.
tabling member constituency	Vale of Glamorgan
tabling member printed	Alun Cairns
uin	198046
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>We are aware that there some concerns that the European Parliament's amendments to the draft Connected Continent regulation may restrict ISPs ability to block illegal content or to filter adult content at the request of customers. The UK Government supports the aims of the Connect Continent package, but let me clear that we will not agree to any proposals that restrict the ability of parents to protect their children from inappropriate content on line. We are confident that this was not the intention of the European Parliament and we are working with EU Member States, the European Commission and the European Parliament to deliver a final package that promotes an open, safe and secure internet.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	4086 label Biography information for Alun Cairns

50053

registered interest
date	07/05/2014
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he has taken to include financial capability education in the national curriculum; and what guidance his Department has issued on such education.
tabling member constituency	Blackpool North and Cleveleys
tabling member printed	Paul Maynard
uin	198136
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>The new mathematics curriculum will ensure that all young people leave school with an understanding of the mathematics skills needed for personal finance.</p><p>For the first time financial literacy will also be a compulsory part of citizenship for 11- to 16-year-olds from September 2014. Pupils will learn the importance of budgeting, sound management of money, credit and debt, as well as understanding of different financial services and products.</p><p>The new programmes of study for mathematics and citizenship make it clear what pupils should learn, including developing their use of formal mathematical knowledge to interpret and solve problems including financial mathematics.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
tabling member	3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard

50054

registered interest
date	07/05/2014
answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to implement the recommendations of the Arts on Prescription 2010-2012 report produced by the charity Arts & Minds.
tabling member constituency	Cambridge
tabling member printed	Dr Julian Huppert
uin	197995
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>The Arts &amp; Minds charity is doing important work within the arts and health sector. I recently held a roundtable meeting on arts and health focusing on some of the issues raised in the Arts on Prescription report which the Executive Director of Arts &amp; Minds attended. Health initiatives like the Arts on Prescription scheme have the potential to result in cost savings across health and social care and health practitioners and other relevant authorities should give careful consideration to the recommendations.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	3931 label Biography information for Dr Julian Huppert

50064

registered interest
date	07/05/2014
answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
answering dept id	63
answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2014, Official Report, column 791W, on fossil fuels: imports, how much in thousand tonnes of (a) oil and (b) gas was (i) exported from and (ii) imported to the UK in 2012 and 2013.
tabling member constituency	Esher and Walton
tabling member printed	Mr Dominic Raab
uin	198118
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>Data on gas trade in units of thousand tonnes is not available, the standard unit of measurement is GWh.</p><p> </p><p>In 2012, the UK imported 53,763 thousand tonnes of crude oil and 534,987 GWh of gas and exported 28,535 thousand tonnes of crude oil and 131,711 GWh of gas.</p><p> </p><p>In 2013, provisional figures show that the UK imported 50,311 thousand tonnes of crude oil and 523,506 GWh of gas and exported 30,382 thousand tonnes of crude oil and 99,582 GWh of gas.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Michael Fallon question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 88 label Biography information for Sir Michael Fallon
tabling member	4007 label Biography information for Dominic Raab

50065

registered interest
date	07/05/2014
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been spent on the Digital Services Framework in each month to date; and what proportion of such spending was with small and medium-sized enterprises.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	198052
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>At the time of the last General Election this country was spending more than almost any other country in the developed world on ICT but the quality of the services and technology offered to civil servants and to the public was hardly impressive. Departments were – and in many cases are - burdened with legacy IT equipment which is not appropriate for a modern workplace. In addition there was a long-standing shortage of digital skills.</p><p>After the General Election, the Cabinet Office launched the new Government Digital Service to support departments in digitising public services and to redesign our online offering to the public.</p><p>Prior to August 2010, £27,000 was spent on hosting the Cabinet Office site (as well as other agency sites). In August of that year, we switched to using cloud-based services. For 2012-3, £2623 was spent maintaining the Cabinet Office website. In February 2013 Cabinet Office joined gov.uk. The creation of gov.uk saved £42 million in 2012-3 and £50m estimated savings for 2013/2014 for <a href="http://gov.uk/" target="_blank">GOV.UK</a> from closing down Directgov and BusinessLink.</p><p>The Capabilities Plan, which is refreshed annually, reports on digital skills across the Civil Service. The Cabinet Office publishes Quarterly Progress Reports against the Government Digital Strategy which covers digital capability, as does the Government Digital Strategy 2013 Annual Report. All of these are readily available online.</p><p>Prior to 2010 agile methods were not required. The Government Digital by Default Service Standard requires new or redesigned digital services to be developed using agile methods. Compliance is ensured through cross-Government IT spending controls. Prior to the last General Election there was no-cross Government IT spending controls. These helped saved £500 million for taxpayers in 2012-13 alone, contributing to an unprecedented £10 billion of efficiency savings in that year. All of this could have been initiated prior to 2010. There are currently 5 agile coach positions in Cabinet Office.</p><p>Prior to the last General Election there was no central monitoring of spend with SMEs. Various bureaucratic procurement practices mitigated against SMEs and resulted in a playing field which was biased against SMEs. The Digital Services framework went live in November 2013. 83% of the suppliers are SMEs. Of the 9 competitions so far awarded 5 have gone to SMEs – this is 30% by value.</p><p>Under an IT contract signed in 2009, Cabinet Office staff IT costs around £7,000 per user per annum. We want staff to have IT equipment which actually suits their needs to allow everyone to work effectively and drive up productivity. As part of that we will consider giving staff equipment including tablets and mobile devices when there is an appropriate business need. For further details I refer the Hon Member to HC Deb, 7 March 2013, c1140W.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd grouped question UIN 197973 197977 198053 198054 question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

50066

registered interest
date	07/05/2014
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of (a) digital and (b) Agile skill in (i) his Department and (ii) other Government departments; and if he will make it his policy to report on digital skills in departmental reporting plans.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	198053
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>At the time of the last General Election this country was spending more than almost any other country in the developed world on ICT but the quality of the services and technology offered to civil servants and to the public was hardly impressive. Departments were – and in many cases are - burdened with legacy IT equipment which is not appropriate for a modern workplace. In addition there was a long-standing shortage of digital skills.</p><p>After the General Election, the Cabinet Office launched the new Government Digital Service to support departments in digitising public services and to redesign our online offering to the public.</p><p>Prior to August 2010, £27,000 was spent on hosting the Cabinet Office site (as well as other agency sites). In August of that year, we switched to using cloud-based services. For 2012-3, £2623 was spent maintaining the Cabinet Office website. In February 2013 Cabinet Office joined gov.uk. The creation of gov.uk saved £42 million in 2012-3 and £50m estimated savings for 2013/2014 for <a href="http://gov.uk/" target="_blank">GOV.UK</a> from closing down Directgov and BusinessLink.</p><p>The Capabilities Plan, which is refreshed annually, reports on digital skills across the Civil Service. The Cabinet Office publishes Quarterly Progress Reports against the Government Digital Strategy which covers digital capability, as does the Government Digital Strategy 2013 Annual Report. All of these are readily available online.</p><p>Prior to 2010 agile methods were not required. The Government Digital by Default Service Standard requires new or redesigned digital services to be developed using agile methods. Compliance is ensured through cross-Government IT spending controls. Prior to the last General Election there was no-cross Government IT spending controls. These helped saved £500 million for taxpayers in 2012-13 alone, contributing to an unprecedented £10 billion of efficiency savings in that year. All of this could have been initiated prior to 2010. There are currently 5 agile coach positions in Cabinet Office.</p><p>Prior to the last General Election there was no central monitoring of spend with SMEs. Various bureaucratic procurement practices mitigated against SMEs and resulted in a playing field which was biased against SMEs. The Digital Services framework went live in November 2013. 83% of the suppliers are SMEs. Of the 9 competitions so far awarded 5 have gone to SMEs – this is 30% by value.</p><p>Under an IT contract signed in 2009, Cabinet Office staff IT costs around £7,000 per user per annum. We want staff to have IT equipment which actually suits their needs to allow everyone to work effectively and drive up productivity. As part of that we will consider giving staff equipment including tablets and mobile devices when there is an appropriate business need. For further details I refer the Hon Member to HC Deb, 7 March 2013, c1140W.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd grouped question UIN 197973 197977 198052 198054 question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

50067

registered interest
date	07/05/2014
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Agile coach positions there are in his Department; and how many such posts are filled by (a) permanent and (b) contract staff.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
uin	198054
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>At the time of the last General Election this country was spending more than almost any other country in the developed world on ICT but the quality of the services and technology offered to civil servants and to the public was hardly impressive. Departments were – and in many cases are - burdened with legacy IT equipment which is not appropriate for a modern workplace. In addition there was a long-standing shortage of digital skills.</p><p>After the General Election, the Cabinet Office launched the new Government Digital Service to support departments in digitising public services and to redesign our online offering to the public.</p><p>Prior to August 2010, £27,000 was spent on hosting the Cabinet Office site (as well as other agency sites). In August of that year, we switched to using cloud-based services. For 2012-3, £2623 was spent maintaining the Cabinet Office website. In February 2013 Cabinet Office joined gov.uk. The creation of gov.uk saved £42 million in 2012-3 and £50m estimated savings for 2013/2014 for <a href="http://gov.uk/" target="_blank">GOV.UK</a> from closing down Directgov and BusinessLink.</p><p>The Capabilities Plan, which is refreshed annually, reports on digital skills across the Civil Service. The Cabinet Office publishes Quarterly Progress Reports against the Government Digital Strategy which covers digital capability, as does the Government Digital Strategy 2013 Annual Report. All of these are readily available online.</p><p>Prior to 2010 agile methods were not required. The Government Digital by Default Service Standard requires new or redesigned digital services to be developed using agile methods. Compliance is ensured through cross-Government IT spending controls. Prior to the last General Election there was no-cross Government IT spending controls. These helped saved £500 million for taxpayers in 2012-13 alone, contributing to an unprecedented £10 billion of efficiency savings in that year. All of this could have been initiated prior to 2010. There are currently 5 agile coach positions in Cabinet Office.</p><p>Prior to the last General Election there was no central monitoring of spend with SMEs. Various bureaucratic procurement practices mitigated against SMEs and resulted in a playing field which was biased against SMEs. The Digital Services framework went live in November 2013. 83% of the suppliers are SMEs. Of the 9 competitions so far awarded 5 have gone to SMEs – this is 30% by value.</p><p>Under an IT contract signed in 2009, Cabinet Office staff IT costs around £7,000 per user per annum. We want staff to have IT equipment which actually suits their needs to allow everyone to work effectively and drive up productivity. As part of that we will consider giving staff equipment including tablets and mobile devices when there is an appropriate business need. For further details I refer the Hon Member to HC Deb, 7 March 2013, c1140W.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd grouped question UIN 197973 197977 198052 198053 question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

50072

registered interest
date	07/05/2014
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what basis the Government calculates entitlement to holiday pay for civil servants.
tabling member constituency	Christchurch
tabling member printed	Mr Christopher Chope
uin	198115
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>This is a matter delegated to individual Civil Service Departments and agencies under the Civil Service Management Code (CSMC).</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Mr Francis Maude question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 115 label Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham
tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope

50073

registered interest
date	07/05/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will introduce legislative proposals that employers be required to calculate holiday pay solely by reference to standard contract hours.
tabling member constituency	Christchurch
tabling member printed	Mr Christopher Chope
uin	198114
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>There are no current plans to require employers to calculate holiday pay solely by reference to standard contract hours.</p><p> </p><p>The arrangements for holiday pay are set out in the Working Time Regulations 1998.</p><p> </p><p>These arrangements differ according to the working pattern of the individual worker. If a worker has fixed hours and fixed pay, then a week's holiday pay is the same amount as a worker receives for each week's work. If the worker has no fixed hours, then a week's holiday pay represents the average pay that a worker received over the previous 12 weeks.</p><p> </p><p>More information about holiday pay can be found on the Gov.UK website at</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/holiday-entitlement-rights/holiday-pay-the-basics</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Cardiff Central answering member printed Jenny Willott question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1497 label Biography information for Jenny Willott
tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope