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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

40905

registered interest
date	03/03/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many awards of tax credits there have been where the national insurance number of one or more claimants was identifiable as one issued to a person who was not a UK national at the time of issue of the number in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the total amount was of those awards.
tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
tabling member printed	Nicholas Soames
uin	190311
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>In March 2013, information was extracted from HMRC's tax credit system in respect of the number of families claiming tax credits where, if claiming as a couple, at least one of the family members was recorded as being a non-UK national when they registered for a National Insurance number.</p><p> </p><p>The extract shows that as at March 2013, 715,900 such families were claiming tax credits. If we assume no further changes until the end of the relevant year, the annual tax credits entitlement of these awards was £4.9 billion. The same extract showed that the total number of families claiming tax credits was 4,705,100 with an annual entitlement of £29.55 billion.</p><p> </p><p>For this purpose, as nationality was based on nationality at the time a claimant first registered for a National Insurance Number (NINO)the nationality of some of those claimants may have since changed. The information is not therefore sufficiently reliable to be used for formal statistical purposes.</p><p> </p><p>Based on this information the numbers of non-UK nationals claiming Tax Credits as a percentage of the entire Tax Credits population are broadly in line with the percentage of non-UK nationals in the UK workforce (according to figures in the 2013 Labour Force Survey complied by the ONS).</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Loughborough answering member printed Nicky Morgan question first answered 01/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4027 label Biography information for Baroness Morgan of Cotes
tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

40314

registered interest
date	26/02/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
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 the Home Department, how many police forces in England have signed local protocols for those detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.
tabling member constituency	Broxbourne
tabling member printed	Mr Charles Walker
uin	189645
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>I understand that, as of 13 May 2014, 36 of the 39 territorial police forces in <br>England - plus British Transport Police - are currently signed up to local <br>protocols for those detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. The other 3 <br>forces report that they are in the process of agreeing such protocols with <br>local partner agencies.<br><br>The agreement of mental health protocols by local agencies is promoted at <br>national level, including through the Mental Health Act 1983 Codes of Practice <br>and the new national Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat, which states that:<br><br>‘Every area should have a local protocol in place, agreed by NHS commissioners, <br>the police force, the ambulance service, and social services. This should <br>describe the approach to be taken when a police officer uses powers under the <br>Mental Health Act'.<br><br>The Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat can be found at: <br>https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/281242<br>/36353_Mental_Health_Crisis_accessible.pdf<br><br>The Department of Health, supported by the Home Office and Mind, is encouraging <br>local areas to sign-up to the principles of the Concordat, with the expectation <br>that all areas in England will have signed local declarations by December <br>2014. The Department of Health will publish details of the areas that have <br>signed such declarations.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Ashford answering member printed Damian Green question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 76 label Biography information for Damian Green
tabling member	1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker

39612

registered interest
date	24/02/2014
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, what criteria will be used to identify preferred bidders for probation contracts.
tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
tabling member printed	Mr Elfyn Llwyd
uin	189000
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p>Under our Transforming Rehabilitation proposals we are opening up the market to a diverse range of new providers across the public, private and voluntary sectors to bring innovation to rehabilitative services and help deliver reductions in reoffending rates. We are currently engaged in a competition to appoint the 21 owners of the new Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) which will be responsible for the provision of services to all but those offenders which pose the highest risk. We will assess the bids we receive over the summer, and appoint CRC owners later this year. Offers will be evaluated using quality and financial criteria. We expect the new owners to implement their new operating models during 2015.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are taking a staged approach to implementation and are rolling out business readiness tests at key stages of implementation so that we can ensure we are managing the transition to the new system in a safe and measured way which maintains public protection.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Kenilworth and Southam answering member printed Jeremy Wright question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1560 label Biography information for Sir Jeremy Wright
tabling member	549 label Biography information for Mr Elfyn Llwyd

39732

registered interest
date	24/02/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
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 the Home Department, how many asylum cases were awaiting decision for travel documents on 1 February 2014.
tabling member constituency	Leicester East
tabling member printed	Keith Vaz
uin	189239
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>We are unable to provide figures specific to asylum cases awaiting travel <br>documents. This information is only held within paper case files, which would <br>mean this question could only be answered through a disproportionately <br>expensive manual case search.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
tabling member	338 label Biography information for Keith Vaz

39114

registered interest
date	21/02/2014
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, what steps his Department is taking to protect library services.
tabling member constituency	South Staffordshire
tabling member printed	Gavin Williamson
uin	188738
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2014 answer text <p>I have been asked to reply.</p><p>Together with other public services, local authorities are rising to the challenge of delivering and developing the library service, with many reviewing and re-shaping their library offer. Some changes have been made in response to the on-going funding environment to which all public services are making their contribution to savings. But many changes have also been made because individual authorities are looking at better ways of delivering a range of services so that they are fit for the present and the future. Details of the various developments in library services in England, including a range of innovative approaches to the task of delivering a comprehensive and efficient service are set out in the annual report to Parliament during 2012/13 and can be accessed at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-under-the-public-libraries-and-museums-act-1964-for-201213" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-under-the-public-libraries-and-museums-act-1964-for-201213</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Wantage answering member printed Mr Edward Vaizey question first answered 08/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1580 label Biography information for Lord Vaizey of Didcot
tabling member	4108 label Biography information for Sir Gavin Williamson

39278

registered interest
date	21/02/2014
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 many places are available in mother and baby units in the custodial estate in England and Wales.
tabling member constituency	Darlington
tabling member printed	Jenny Chapman
uin	188790
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>There is currently space for 64 mothers and 70 babies in mother and baby units in the custodial estate within England and Wales, which allows for multiple births.</p> answering member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark answering member printed Simon Hughes question first answered 29/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 194 label Biography information for Simon Hughes
tabling member	3972 label Biography information for Baroness Chapman of Darlington

38947

registered interest
date	13/02/2014
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, pursuant to Question 187339 of 11 February 2014, where each vacancy is located; and what the role of each position is.
tabling member constituency	Moray
tabling member printed	Angus Robertson
uin	188564
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>Safety-Critical posts are fielded across the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&amp;S) organisation in a number of areas. The role of these posts is defined in DE&amp;S policy as having specified safety-related, decision-making responsibilities and accountabilities, and must be filled by people competent to make such decisions. Should a post become vacant, priority is given to recruitment action. Until the vacancy is filled, the post responsibilities are either transferred to other competent people or, to ensure safety, related activities cease. <br><br>Safety-Critical post data is reviewed on a monthly basis and as at 1 April 2014 there were 97 vacant Safety-Critical posts in DE&amp;S out of a total of 1,321. The number of Safety-Critical posts and vacancies will change regularly to reflect project requirements and as the result of staff turnover. Current vacancies are located as follows:<br><br></p> answering member constituency Ludlow answering member printed Mr Philip Dunne question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1542 label Biography information for Philip Dunne attachment 1 file name 188564 Table accompanying answer.doc title Table - Part of the answer
tabling member	1433 label Biography information for Angus Robertson

38564

registered interest
date	12/02/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the size, in square metres, of the offices assigned to each of his Department's Ministers is; and how many officials, at what grade, work in the private offices of each of his Department's Ministers.
tabling member constituency	North Durham
tabling member printed	Mr Kevan Jones
uin	188327
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p>I can confirm that Ministers have a total of 256.08 sq m of office space currently assigned to them.</p><p> </p><p>In total, there are 35staff working in ministerial offices, compared to 38 members of staff in 2009. This is as follows:</p><p> </p><p>Range B: 6</p><p>Range C: 8</p><p>Range D: 13</p><p>Range E: 5</p><p>Range E2: 2</p><p>SCS: 1</p><p> </p><p>These figures are based on the latest data available for staffing numbers for HMT Treasury as of May 2014.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
tabling member	1438 label Biography information for Mr Kevan Jones

38613

registered interest
date	12/02/2014
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, how many nuclear-qualified Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel have been required by his Department in each of the last three years; and how many such posts were vacant in each such year in each location.
tabling member constituency	Moray
tabling member printed	Angus Robertson
uin	188387
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/05/2014 answer text <p>The following tables summarise the number of civilian Nuclear Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel (NSQEP) posts and the number of NSQEP vacancies by location:<br><br></p> answering member constituency Ludlow answering member printed Mr Philip Dunne question first answered 12/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1542 label Biography information for Philip Dunne attachment 1 file name 188387 Table and text part of answer.doc title 188387 Tables and text part of answer
tabling member	1433 label Biography information for Angus Robertson