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41303

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2014
	answering body	Speaker's Committee on the Electorial Commission
	answering dept id	36
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what percentage of postal votes were cast in the 100 constituencies with the largest amount of postal votes in the most recent general election.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	190399
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2014 answer text <p>The Electoral Commission has provided the table below, which shows the 100 constituencies where the largest number of postal votes were issued at 2010 general election, in descending order. It also shows the total number of postal votes at the count as a percentage of all votes at the count.</p> answering member constituency South West Devon answering member printed Mr Gary Streeter question first answered 13/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 234 label Biography information for Sir Gary Streeter attachment 1 file name 2013-03-07-Ruane-Chris-100-constituencies-general-election-190399_table.docx title Postal votes by constituency in 2010
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

41304

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2014
	answering body	Speaker's Committee on the Electorial Commission
	answering dept id	36
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how many (a) items of correspondence and (b) meetings with Ministers in the Electoral Commission has had on (i) postal ballot restrictions and (ii) use of photo ID for voting, in each of the last four years.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	190401
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2014 answer text <p>The Electoral Commission informs me that it has met and corresponded with Ministers regularly over the last four years on matters pertaining to the full range of its responsibilities, including proposed changes to the handling of completed postal ballot applications and the potential use of photo ID for voting. </p><p> </p><p>The Commission will continue to update Ministers on the progress of its work in this area. </p><p> </p> answering member constituency South West Devon answering member printed Mr Gary Streeter question first answered 12/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 234 label Biography information for Sir Gary Streeter
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

41291

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	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 Justice, how much his Department spent on first-class rail travel by (a) Ministers and (b) officials in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013.
	tabling member constituency	Tooting
	tabling member printed	Sadiq Khan
	uin	190548
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State has put in place a ban on all first class rail. An exception to this ban is to support the needs of some disabled staff in carrying out their duties, where it is reasonable to do so, and which exceptionally justify the use of first class rail travel.</p><p> </p><p>The table below provides details of spend on first class rail travel for Ministers and officials for the calendar years 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. This shows a reduction of £1,589,275, 80%, over the period.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Calendar Year</p></td><td><p>Spend</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009*</p></td><td><p>£3,989, 713</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>£1,988,205</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>£421,346</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>£352,927</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>£398,930</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>* Spend information is only available for the period April to December 2009</p><p> </p><p>In addition to the reduction in spend on first class rail travel, the total MoJ spend on travel has fallen by more than 40% since 2009, a saving of more than £9 million. The spend on first class rail and air travel in the financial year 2009-10 was £4.4 million.</p> answering member constituency Ashford answering member printed Damian Green question first answered 07/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 76 label Biography information for Damian Green
	tabling member	1577 label Biography information for Sadiq Khan

41185

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	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 Defence, what the objectives are of Britain's Defence and Security Strategy.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
	tabling member printed	Nicholas Soames
	uin	190480
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p>The National Security Strategy defines two strategic objectives. These are firstly to ensure a secure and resilient UK – protecting our people, economy, infrastructure, territory and way of life from all major risks that can affect us directly – and secondly, shaping a stable world – acting to reduce the likelihood of risks affecting the UK or our interests overseas. Taken together, the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review define the ends, ways and means through which Government seeks to strengthen our security and build our prosperity.</p> answering member constituency Runnymede and Weybridge answering member printed Mr Philip Hammond question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 105 label Biography information for Lord Hammond of Runnymede
	tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

41278

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2014
	answering body	Deputy Prime Minister
	answering dept id	58
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what requirements there are for a political party operating in another country which has a branch in the UK to register with the Electoral Commission.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
	tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
	uin	190541
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Political parties are regulated by the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (PPERA) 2000. Under its provisions, parties that wish to field candidates at elections and have their name appear on the ballot paper must be registered with the Electoral Commission (section 22). There are separate registers for Great Britain and Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Tunbridge Wells answering member printed Greg Clark question first answered 10/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1578 label Biography information for Greg Clark
	tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

41277

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2014
	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, what work his Department has commissioned on the use by migrants of UK welfare systems.
	tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
	tabling member printed	Dame Tessa Jowell
	uin	190447
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The previous government did not collect data, we are rectifying and the data collected on migrants' use of the welfare system continues to grow as the current welfare reforms are rolled out. For example under the recently strengthened Habitual Residence Test we have started to record nationality and immigration status<em>.</em></p><p>Under Universal Credit we will also make better records of claimants circumstances including nationality.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 17/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	159 label Biography information for Baroness Jowell

41344

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2014
	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 what assessment they have made of the impact on individuals and local authorities of their recently-announced decision to end the Local Welfare Assistance Fund of £347 million in 2015.
	tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
	uin	HL5735
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>I refer the noble Lord to the reply given by my noble Friend, the Under-Secretary of State and Government Spokesperson, Department for Communities and Local Government, Baroness Stowell of Beeston, to the noble Lady, Baroness King of Bow, on 3 Mar 2014, Official Report, House of Lords, columns WA278. </p><p><a href="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201314/ldhansrd/text/140303w0001.htm#14030332000452" target="_blank">http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld201314/ldhansrd/text/140303w0001.htm#14030332000452</a></p> answering member printed Lord Freud question first answered 18/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
	tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

41162

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	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 Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2014, Official Report, column 694W, on polling stations, what assessment he has made of the effect of foreign language translation by local authorities on integration of non-English speakers into their communities.
	tabling member constituency	Bromley and Chislehurst
	tabling member printed	Robert Neill
	uin	190554
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>In March 2013, my Department published new guidance for local authorities outlining how councils should stop translating into foreign languages. As outlined in the Written Ministerial Statement of 12 March 2013, <em>Official Report</em>, Column 5WS, such translation weakens integration; discourages communities from learning English; undermines rather than strengthens equality goals; harms community relations; and is an expensive waste of taxpayers' money at a time when councils need to be making sensible savings. It is disappointing that councils like Tower Hamlets have disregarded that guidance, and reflects broader issues with the dysfunctional governance and divisive practices of the council.</p><p>I would add that in light of previous instances of electoral fraud, including impersonation in polling stations, postal voting irregularities and allegations of improper influence, Ministers in this Department have concerns about the practice of allowing foreign language translators/interpreters inside polling stations. The privacy of the ballot must be protected and voters inside a polling station should not be subject to any pressure or influence to vote in a particular way. In that context, the integrity of the ballot box and of the local democratic process requires independent and transparent scrutiny in polling stations by polling agents, council staff, the police and, indeed, passing members of the public who are also voting. This is undermined by polling room administration being conducted in foreign languages.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	1601 label Biography information for Sir Robert Neill

41151

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	hansard heading	Emergencies
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Office has provided advice to ensure that all local resilience forums have effective and linked websites providing public information before, during and after an emergency.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	190463
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2014 answer text <p>These recommendations were put forward by Sir Michael Pitt following the floods of summer 2007 as part of the independent Pitt Review. This review included 92 recommendations aimed at improving the way the risk of flooding is managed in the UK. The final progress report on the implementation of these recommendations was published on 27 January 2012. The full report can be found on GOV.UK here:</p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-s-response-to-sir-michael-pitts-review-of-the-summer-2007-floods-final-progress-report" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-s-response-to-sir-michael-pitts-review-of-the-summer-2007-floods-final-progress-report</a></p><p>Since the Pitt Review was published in 2008, Cabinet Office, working with other Government Departments, has followed a systematic programme to enhance the resilience of the UK. As such the majority of recommendations made by Sir Michael Pitt have now been implemented. This includes the production of Sector Resilience Plans, classified documents which have been annually since 2010, the establishment of a Cabinet Committee on Flooding, and ongoing work with industry and local resilience forums to ensure essential services can continue in the face of disruptive challenges, including worst case flooding events.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency West Dorset answering member printed Mr Oliver Letwin question first answered 11/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 247 label Biography information for Sir Oliver Letwin
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

41153

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2014
	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 publish on his Department's website the minutes of the Fraud Error and Debt Taskforce from June 2013.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	190570
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2014 answer text <p>The meeting originally scheduled for June 2013 was postponed.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Horsham answering member printed Mr Francis Maude question first answered 10/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 115 label Biography information for Lord Maude of Horsham
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah