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101665

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Ministry of Justice: Written Questions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2014 to Question 200960, when he plans to write to the hon. Member for Coventry South to provide the information he omitted to provide in that Answer.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	212532
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>I wrote to the Honourable Member on 3 November with the information he requested in his Question 200960, and apologising for the delay in writing to him.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 03/11/2014 17:21:31 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

101613

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the programme management of universal credit made use of the Prince2 methodology.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds West
	tabling member printed	Rachel Reeves
	uin	212397
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Universal Credit Programme has and continues to employ PRINCE 2 methodology among other development programmes in the delivery of IT and Business Services. Alongside this the Programme also adheres to the Government Digital Service standards required for Digital Projects and Programmes, ensuring that external assurance of the Programme considers the robustness of the programme management controls being applied.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 03/11/2014 17:43:49 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	4031 label Biography information for Rachel Reeves

101612

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many front line job centre advisers took part in user acceptance testing of the IT systems developed to facilitate the delivery of universal credit pathfinders.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds West
	tabling member printed	Rachel Reeves
	uin	212396
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>DWP has well developed processes for testing IT systems prior to roll out. This encompasses a range of testing phases, which includes user and business testing cycles. Testing is done through a range of expert practitioners who have experience in managing and delivering DWP business.</p><p> </p><p>UC IT systems used these testing methodologies to ensure expert practitioners and staff including front line work coaches were a key part of test cycles.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The number of front line work coaches involved at each stage of testing varies and as such we are unable to give an exact figure.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper grouped question UIN 212398 question first answered 06/11/2014 16:41:45 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper previous answer version 25887 answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	4031 label Biography information for Rachel Reeves

101611

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what metrics were used to determine whether the IT systems developed to facilitate the delivery of universal credit pathfinders were fit for purpose.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds West
	tabling member printed	Rachel Reeves
	uin	212395
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>DWP uses a standard methodology to design and test business processes and IT systems. These have been developed over years of best practice using external expertise and in-house practitioners who have many years of experience in delivering DWP business. These best practice methods have been used to test that the Universal Credit IT systems and business processes are complete and fit for purpose prior to roll out.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper grouped question UIN 212490 question first answered 04/11/2014 17:17:16 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper previous answer version 25886 answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	4031 label Biography information for Rachel Reeves

101604

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Employment Schemes: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects to inform residential training colleges for disabled people whether their funding will be extended beyond August 2015.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	212413
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>It is a priority for me to ensure that as many disabled people as possible are helped towards employment through the Department’s various employment programmes.</p><p> </p><p>As mentioned in the “Disability and Health Employment Strategy: the discussions so far”, I understand the importance of a specialist support offer for disabled people, and I want to continue to improve this offer by considering a wide range of ideas and initiatives.</p><p> </p><p>My officials are currently undertaking a detailed analysis of how best to support disabled customers, and the role that Residential Training Colleges should play in this support. I cannot yet confirm when I will be able to inform residential training colleges of the outcome of this work, which will take account of the broader Disability Health and Employment Strategy and of the Department’s other employment programmes including Work Programme and Work Choice. As part of the process, officials will undertake an equality analysis so that I fully understand the impact of any future proposals before I make my final decision.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 03/11/2014 17:46:00 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

101664

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Public Opinion
	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 (a) focus groups and (b) surveys in (i) 2013 and (ii) 2014 to date.
	tabling member constituency	Croydon North
	tabling member printed	Mr Steve Reed
	uin	212505
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The Ministry of Justice does not centrally record expenditure on focus groups and surveys. To obtain this information from across the Ministry would incur a disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 05/11/2014 17:32:16 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed

101606

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Motability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what funds the Government has provided to Motability in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Hall Green
	tabling member printed	Mr Roger Godsiff
	uin	212415
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The information requested is in the table below. Motability administers the Specialised Vehicles Fund (SVF) on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). DWP provides funding for the SVF which helps people who need a wheelchair accessible or heavily adapted vehicle.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Amount (£ millions)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010/2011</p></td><td><p>£ 19.244</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2011/2012</p></td><td><p>£ 18.036</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012/2013</p></td><td><p>£ 18.036</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013/2014</p></td><td><p>£ 18.036</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014/2015</p></td><td><p>£ 18.036</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 04/11/2014 17:29:36 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper previous answer version 25892 answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	304 label Biography information for Mr Roger Godsiff

101610

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: British Nationals Abroad
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a conclusion has been reached on infringement proceedings generated by the European Commission against the Government of the United Kingdom, with regard to the application of the 'Past Presence' test for disability benefit purposes as it affects ex-patriate citizens of the United Kingdom now resident in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	North Thanet
	tabling member printed	Sir Roger Gale
	uin	212388
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>There has been no formal conclusion to the infringement proceedings brought by the European Commission against the Government of the UK with regard to the application of the ‘Past Presence Test’ for certain disability benefits.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 03/11/2014 15:54:22 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	87 label Biography information for Sir Roger Gale

101607

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects Jobcentre Plus to deploy an IT solution for the calculation of universal credit for those other than single people; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	212412
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Universal Credit has been available online for new claims from Single people from April 2013, has been available to Couples from June 2014 and will be available to Families by the end of the year.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 06/11/2014 17:08:10 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper previous answer version 25890 answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

101535

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Lighting
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has issued to local authorities on the level of street lighting they should have in place.
	tabling member constituency	Bury St Edmunds
	tabling member printed	Mr David Ruffley
	uin	212384
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2014 answer text <p><ins class="ministerial">Street lighting plays an important role in road safety, as well as ensuring the personal safety of pedestrians. I refer my Hon Friend to the answer of 13 May 2014, Official Report, columns 535-36W, which provides a comprehensive answer on how there is no prescriptive Whitehall guidance, and places in context the policy of the last Administration which actively encouraged cuts to street lighting.</ins></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">Street lighting plays an important role in road safety, as well as ensuring the personal safety of pedestrians. There may be some roads where lights could be dimmed in the very early hours, saving taxpayers’ money. However, this should be a local decision by elected local councillors, reflecting local circumstances-specially in relation to any concerns about crime. Equally, not every neighbourhood wants street lighting, as some communities, especially in rural areas, value dark skies.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">We believe that councils should listen to the views of their local residents, and then adopt appropriate local policies based on the neighbourhood, the precise location and the usage of the road/street. I previously noted that “Manual for Streets” contains some useful guidance on getting the balance right when providing street lighting, taking into account the different issues around safety, crime prevention, street clutter and light pollution. Ultimately, there is no prescriptive Whitehall guidance, and any assessment will depend on local circumstances and local views.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">Notwithstanding, I would observe that Her Majesty’s Opposition seem to have a short memory about their actions on cutting street lighting when they were in office:</del></p><p><del class="ministerial"><em>Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs</em><em>:</em></del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The right hon. Member for Leeds Central (Hilary Benn) (now Shadow Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government) when Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, his Department and its quangos lectured local councils to switch off or reduce street lighting to minimise carbon emissions. For example, in 2007, he personally launched the Carbon Trust Standard, which was tied to an extensive programme to reduce street lighting as part of the Local Authority Carbon Management Programme. As DEFRA Ministers told the House:</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">“All authorities should be seeking to reduce energy usage both to cut costs and to help combat climate change. As street lighting accounts for a significant proportion of the energy used by authorities, it should be readily identified as an area that should be examined for potential efficiency savings”</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">(6 November 2006, <em>Official Report</em>, column 709W).</del></p><p><del class="ministerial"><em>Department for Transport</em><em>:</em></del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The Minister of State for Transport, the noble Lord Adonis (now a Shadow Treasury Minister) when asked about reducing the hours of operation of street lighting, noted that</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">“the Government also support the Carbon Trust’s local authority carbon management programme, which provides councils with support and guidance to help them realise carbon emissions savings from street lighting”</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">(17 December 2008, <em>Official Report</em>, <em>House of Lords</em>, column WA52). Transport Ministers also endorsed the Highways Agency’s</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">‘Efficiency Strategy for Road Lighting’ which led to switching off motorway lighting at night (21 April 2008,</del></p><p><br /><del class="ministerial"><em>Official Report, </em>column 1444W; Highways Agency</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">“Efficiency Strategy for Road Lighting Midnight Switch Off for Motorway Lighting”, 2009).</del></p><p><del class="ministerial"><em>Department for Communities and Local Government</em><em>:</em></del></p><p><del class="ministerial">The right hon. Member for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford (Yvette Cooper) (now Shadow Home Secretary), when as Minister in the precursor Department to DCLG, noted there was nuanced debate on the extent of street lighting:</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">“We all recognise the fact that there is a series of tensions around light pollution. People in the cities will never have the same view of the night sky as one can get in the middle of Dartmoor... There can be tensions too at neighbourhood level between the security-obsessed householder who has glaring white security lights stuck to every corner of the house, which flicker on every time a little bird flies past or the cat runs across the garden, and the neighbour who... has a telescope and cannot see across the garden, let alone into the skies”</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">(12 February 2004, <em>Official Report</em>, column 510WH).</del></p><p><del class="ministerial"><em>Department </em><em>of</em><em> Energy and Climate Change</em><em>:</em></del></p><p><del class="ministerial">In 2008, the right hon. Member for Leeds East (Hilary Benn) also personally launched the Carbon Reduction Commitment, which resulted in councils cutting carbon emissions from street lighting, including dimming or switching off lights. The Highway Agency’s “Energy Strategy for Roadside Equipment” (April 2010) explained that the approach of “dimming, trimming and partial night lighting” was a consequence of the requirements to meet the Carbon Reduction Commitment. As DECC Ministers said to the House:</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">“DECC is working to include street lighting in the Carbon Reduction Commitment. This will provide an incentive for local authorities to improve the energy efficiency of street lights. DECC is working closely with Communities and Local Government to develop the policy, in so far as it relates to local authorities”</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">(19 June 2009, <em>Official Report</em>, column 515W). Of course, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change at that time was the right hon. Member for Doncaster North (Edward Miliband) now Leader of HM Opposition.</del></p><p><del class="ministerial">I hope this illuminates the historical fogginess of the Labour party’s current campaign on municipal street lighting. I would suggest the last person out of Labour HQ tonight should turn off the lights.</del></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins question first answered 06/11/2014 17:31:07 question first ministerially corrected 10/11/2014 17:19:10 answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins previous answer version 26617 answering member constituency Keighley answering member printed Kris Hopkins answering member 4043 label Biography information for Kris Hopkins
	tabling member	133 label Biography information for Mr David Ruffley