Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label attachment file name title
tabling member	label

Search

41717

	registered interest
	date	06/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many staff are currently employed for more than 50 per cent of their working week to support the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Education in his role as Accounting Officer; and what are their job titles.
	tabling member printed	Lord Mendelsohn
	uin	HL5808
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2014 answer text <p>A large proportion of the staff who work in the Department for Education support the Permanent Secretary in his role as Accounting Officer.</p><p>The information requested about those who do so for more than 50% of their working week is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 19/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	4286 label Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn

42637

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many staff are currently employed for more than 50 per cent of their working week to support the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Work and Pensions in his role as Accounting Officer; and what are their job titles.
	tabling member printed	Lord Mendelsohn
	uin	HL5906
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>In one sense, all DWP staff support the Accounting Officer through their individual responsibilities to work confidently within the system of control for which the Accounting Officer is ultimately responsible, to ensure the effective operation of a major government department, which will make some £136.4 billion in welfare payments this year.</p><p> </p><p>More narrowly, the Accounting Officer is directly supported in his role by his Finance Director General, the 40 Senior Civil Servants that comprise that DG's senior management team; and - in turn – by other colleagues when they handle issues which require explicit Accounting Officer involvement. </p> answering member printed Lord Freud question first answered 19/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
	tabling member	4286 label Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn

42899

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Work and Pensions, Steve Webb MP, on 20 January (HC Deb, col 49W), when Ministers announced that it was their intention that "2014–15 would be the last year of separate funding for local welfare provision from the Department for Work and Pensions".
	tabling member printed	Baroness King of Bow
	uin	HL5964
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The coalition Government outlined the evidence in <em>Local support to replace Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans for living expenses in England, Government response to the call for evidence June 2011.</em> A copy was placed in the House library and it can be found online at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-support-to-replace-community-care-grants-and-crisis-loans-for-living-expenses-call-for-evidence" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/local-support-to-replace-community-care-grants-and-crisis-loans-for-living-expenses-call-for-evidence</a> </p><p> </p><p>Nottinghamshire County Council have consulted on their plans to wind down their dedicated scheme and provide support by other means. Information on other authorities will be provided by the review my Department will shortly be carrying out about the way local authorities have used the funding provided following the abolition of the discretionary Social Fund. We are making arrangements with local authorities regarding this. A copy of the findings will be placed in the House Library.</p><p> </p><p>There has never been a commitment to provide specific funding beyond 2014/15. On the basis of experience on the ground since support was localised, central government believes that it makes most sense for councils to choose how much funding to allocate to these services in their areas in future - according to local priorities and needs - and how to provide such support.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Freud grouped question UIN HL5962 HL5963 question first answered 19/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
	tabling member	143 label Biography information for Baroness King of Bow

42699

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to ensure that all statistics identified as high impact outputs with less widespread support by the Office for National Statistics in its consultation on statistical products 2013 will continue to be funded for 2014-15.
	tabling member constituency	North Ayrshire and Arran
	tabling member printed	Katy Clark
	uin	191818
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2014 answer text <p> I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 March 2014 (Official Report) Column Ref: 470W.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 19/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd attachment 1 file name PQ191818 - Referral Answer.docx title Referral answer for Member
	tabling member	1590 label Biography information for Baroness Clark of Kilwinning

42698

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the empty property business rates for the vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS database owned by (a) his Department and (b) any executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies of his Department in the current financial year.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	191802
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2014 answer text <p>At the time of the last General Election the central Government estate was far larger than required and taxpayers were paying to maintain, run and rent properties which were under-occupied while other part of the freehold estate remained vacant.</p><p>The Government Property Unit has been supporting departments to rationalise rapidly the Government's estate including by taking a whole of Government view of property. Since the 2010 General Election over £1.25 billion has been raised by selling surplus freehold properties. Through the exiting of property across the central civil estate, we have also delivered cumulative, gross run rate savings of over £454 million per annum.</p><p>Where surplus property is awaiting disposal or lease end, the government looks to explore all disposal options, including commercially sub-letting all or part of the space. Surplus property is listed on gov.uk</p><p>There is no liability at taxpayers' expense for business rates on any vacant Cabinet Office properties in the current financial year.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Mr Francis Maude question first answered 19/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 115 label Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

42735

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many available school places there are at schools that provide specialist support for children and young people on the atuism spectrum in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) London, (d) Lambeth and (e) Streatham parliamentary constituency; and how many such places will be available in each of the next 15 years.
	tabling member constituency	Streatham
	tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
	uin	191883
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2014 answer text <p>These figures are not collected centrally. The Department for Education does not collect information on the number of places available to provide specialist support in schools for children and young people on the autism spectrum. Local authorities are expected to keep their arrangements for providing special educational needs under review.</p><p>We do collect the numbers of pupils in special schools in England with a primary need of ‘Autistic Spectrum Disorder' are given in the table below.</p><p>Pupils with special educational needs with a primary need of ‘Autistic Spectrum Disorder' in special schools in England, January 2013</p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><p>Number</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>England</p></td><td><p>20,735</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London</p></td><td><p>3,640</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Lambeth</p></td><td><p>150</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Source: School Census</p><p>Figures are rounded to the nearest 5.</p><p>Information on special educational needs is published annually in the publication Special Educational Needs in England', available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-educational-needs-in-england-january-2013" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-educational-needs-in-england-january-2013</a></p> answering member constituency Crewe and Nantwich answering member printed Mr Edward Timpson question first answered 19/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1605 label Biography information for Edward Timpson
	tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

42734

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the empty property business rates for the vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS database owned by (a) his Department and (b) any executive agencies or non-departmental public bodies of his Department in the current financial year.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	191806
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2014 answer text <p>Since May 2010 the Department for Education has reduced the size of its estate from 30 properties, at a cost of circa £51 million per annum, to 11 properties costing circa £34 million per annum. This is a saving of circa £17 million per annum. The Department is planning to further reduce the size of the estate to 6 properties. This will achieve further annual savings to the Department of circa £2.5 million. The Department also plans to vacate Sanctuary Buildings at lease expiry in 2017.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Education, including the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), has the following vacant properties recorded on the e-PIMS property database.</p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><p>Number of properties</p></td><td><p>Business Rates 13-14</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Department for Education</p></td><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>£79,010.25</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service</p></td><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>£9,222.00</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The Department for Education properties are legacy Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) properties which became the Department's responsibility following the closure of the TEC in the early 2000s. The Department had successfully sub-let a number of facilities, although over the last three years some of the sub-tenants have operated lease break options and the properties are again vacant.</p><p> </p><p>These properties are advertised on the Government Property Unit's e-PIMS property database for use by other Government Departments and we are also marketing these facilities to the private sector, via letting agents, to secure new sub-tenants in order to mitigate costs, including business rates. The Department has offered all vacant properties listed above to the Government business incubator initiative and for free schools.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 19/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

42732

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of teachers teaching in (a) the UK, (b) England, (c) London, (d) Lambeth and (e) Streatham parliamentary constituency have undertook specialist training on educational provision for children and young people on the autism spectrum in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Streatham
	tabling member printed	Mr Chuka Umunna
	uin	191882
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2014 answer text <p>These figures are not collected centrally. Schools make their own decisions on what training their staffs need to support their pupils based on the individual circumstances of the school.</p><p>The Department for Education funds the Autism Education Trust (AET) to provide tiered training on autism: basic awareness training for teaching and non-teaching staff at level 1; practical knowledge and hands-on tools and techniques for all staff working directly with children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders at level 2; and level 3 training for those seeking more advanced knowledge and those pursuing a training role, such as lead practitioners in autism and Special Educational Needs Co-ordinators. Between 2011 and 2013 the AET received grant funding to provide training to schools and from 2013 to 2015 is receiving funding under contract to provide training to early years providers, schools and further education colleges.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Crewe and Nantwich answering member printed Mr Edward Timpson question first answered 19/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1605 label Biography information for Edward Timpson
	tabling member	4128 label Biography information for Chuka Umunna

42869

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have received sanctions of their jobseeker's allowance for non-attendance in (a) Portsmouth South constituency, (b) Portsmouth, (c) Hampshire and (d) England to date.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Mr Mike Hancock
	uin	191713
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The information requested is shown in the table below.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Number of individuals who had their Jobseeker's Allowance sanctioned for failure to attend, from April 2000 to September 2013.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Failure to attend</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>England</p></td><td><p>1,408,227</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Hampshire</p></td><td><p>16,794</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Portsmouth UA</p></td><td><p>5,169</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Portsmouth South constituency</p></td><td><p>3,158</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Notes: </p><p> </p><ol start="1" type="1"><li>Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) figures have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data.</li></ol><p> </p><p>2. A table produced with no breakdowns, only containing a total, will be a measure of the total number of individual people who have had a (JSA) sanction decision made i.e. an individual person will be counted once, irrespective of their characteristics, sanction decision outcome, reason for referral etc.</p><p> </p><p>3. New sanctions rules came into force for JSA from 22 October 2012. The number of JSA sanctions applied for the new regime is the number of low, intermediate, and high level referrals where the decision was found against the claimant. Further information can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jobseekers-allowance-overview-of-sanctions-rules" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jobseekers-allowance-overview-of-sanctions-rules</a></p><p> </p><p>4. Information on the old JSA regime is available from April 2000 to 21 October 2012. The number of JSA sanctions applied was the number of fixed length, varied length and entitlement decisions where the decision was found against the claimant.</p><p> </p><p>5. The figure for Hampshire includes the following local authorities: Basingstoke and Deane, East Hampshire, Eastleigh, Fareham, Gosport, Hart, Havant, New Forest, Rushmoor, Test Valley and Winchester.</p><p> </p><p>6. Failure to attend includes: Failure to attend a place on a training scheme or employment programme, Failure to attend or failure to participate in an Adviser interview and Failure to attend Back to Work Session, without good reason.</p><p> </p><p>7. This information is published and available at:</p><p> </p><p> <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 19/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	59 label Biography information for Mr Mike Hancock

42879

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2014, Official Report, column 848W, on incapacity benefit, what estimate his Department originally made of the number of Incapacity Benefit claimants who would be migrated to employment and support allowance; what his Department's latest estimate of the number of such claimants is; and what proportion of such claimants are still to be migrated.
	tabling member constituency	Aberdeen South
	tabling member printed	Dame Anne Begg
	uin	191719
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The Department published an impact assessment on the migration of existing incapacity benefits customers to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) which can be found on the internet at the link below:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/875/pdfs/uksiem_20100875_en.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/875/pdfs/uksiem_20100875_en.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Department regularly publishes official statistics on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) and the reassessment of Incapacity Benefit claimants. The latest WCA report on Incapacity Benefit reassessment was published in January 2014 and can be found on the internet at the link below:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-january-2014" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-january-2014</a></p><p> </p><p>The latest official statistics show that as of March 2013, 77 per cent of claimants had been found to be eligible for ESA. Around 27 per cent of the caseload had by March 2013 yet to commence the migration process.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 19/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	572 label Biography information for Dame Anne Begg