<\/p>
Since 1998, all new trains have been fitted with audio-visual Passenger Information Systems (PIS). Many older trains have also been retrofitted with this equipment while those that have not do at least have tannoy systems. The law requires all trains to have audio-visual PIS by 2020 and the industry's ongoing work to meet this has been further facilitated by recent franchise decisions.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1585", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Stephen Hammond"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wimbledon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Stephen Hammond"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-17T15:04:55.5155515Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "27"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Transport"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Railways: Information Services"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the availability of passenger information data on board trains.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4124", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chi Onwurah"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chi Onwurah"} ], "uin" : "200376"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61313", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Deputy Prime Minister"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61313/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
People can continue to apply to register to vote on a paper form, available from their local Electoral Registration Officer (ERO).<\/p>
EROs are encouraged to provide assistance for electors through both face-to-face contact and telephone communication, irrespective of the format of registration.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1578", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Greg Clark"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Tunbridge Wells"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Greg Clark"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-16T10:14:50.6519078Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "58"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Deputy Prime Minister"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Deputy Prime Minister"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Electoral Register"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what support his Department makes available to encourage electoral registration for those who are not able to register online.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4124", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chi Onwurah"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chi Onwurah"} ], "uin" : "200185"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61314", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/61314/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
In 2010, responding to Professor Sir Ian Gilmore's review into extending entitlement to free prescriptions to all those with a long-term condition, the Government made clear that in light of the challenging financial context, no changes would be made to the current list of exemptions. Prescription charges in England raise valuable income, in the region of £450 million each year, which helps the National Health Service to maintain vital services for patients.<\/p>
<\/p>
The extensive system of exemption arrangements, including for those on low incomes who may struggle to pay for their prescriptions, which is in place means that around 90% of all prescription items are already dispensed free of charge. Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPCs) are also available for those who have to pay NHS prescription charges and need multiple prescriptions. This is the fifth year the cost of an annual certificate, and the third year the cost of a three month certificate, have been frozen. Both certificates will also remain at £104 and £29.10 respectively, next year. There is no limit to the number of items that can be obtained through a PPC. The annual certificate benefits anyone needing more than 12 items a year, and the three month certificate anyone needing more than three items in that three month period.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3932", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Central Suffolk and North Ipswich"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Daniel Poulter"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-16", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-16T13:38:11.3884577Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cystic Fibrosis"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will review prescription charges for adults with cystic fibrosis.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4124", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chi Onwurah"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne Central"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chi Onwurah"} ], "uin" : "200281"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/60628", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Business, Innovation and Skills"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/60628/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
<\/p>
The National Academies, the UK's leading learned societies, are independent, self-governing bodies. Ministers have no role in Academy appointments but we encourage them to embed equality and diversity in everything they do. Professor Dame Ann Dowling is expected to be confirmed as the first female President of the Royal Academy of Engineering in September. <\/strong> The current Presidents of the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Society of Biology are all female.<\/p> <\/p> <\/strong><\/p> <\/p> Ministers in the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) appoint Chairs to the Research Councils and these appointments are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. BIS Ministers are committed to the principle of public appointments on merit through an open and transparent process and to providing equal opportunities for all, irrespective of race, age, disability, gender, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, transgender and working patterns. There are seven Research Councils, the Chairs of which are currently male. The Research Councils are committed to improving diversity in their public appointments and held a workshop in March 2014 to agree an action plan to increase the diversity of each Council. The action plan will be published on the RCUK website and disseminated to all Council members.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The BIS Board, which provides collective strategic leadership of the Department, has endorsed a plan of activity and a number of actions to help the Department not only to improve its position on gender-diversity during 2014/15 but to reinforce its continued commitment to attracting a strong and diverse field of candidates to public appointments.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/53", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Willetts"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Havant"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr David Willetts"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-12T16:18:01.5360145Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "26"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Business, Innovation and Skills"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Research: Gender"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment she has made of the gender balance amongst chairs and presidents of (a) learned societies and (b) research councils.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4124", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chi Onwurah"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne Central"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chi Onwurah"}
], "uin" : "199684"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/58270", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "HM Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/58270/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " HMRC requires specific legal authority or a \u2018gateway' in order to be able to disclose information it holds in connection with its functions. Once this is in place, HMRC requires any disclosure of information to a public sector body to be governed by a robust Memorandum of Understanding. This will set out:<\/p> <\/p> · The legal basis for sharing the information;<\/p> · The agreed administrative arrangements, including timescales, persons involved, security arrangements and frequency of disclosure;<\/p> · The circumstances (if any) under which the data may be disclosed and the sanctions that protect against unlawful disclosure of the information; and<\/p> · The mechanism for maintaining an audit trail or record for HMRC of all external disclosures of data.<\/p> <\/p> HMRC has a duty to ensure that any information transfers to a public sector body are legal and secure. HMRC also seeks an ongoing assurance that the transferred information will be treated in accordance with agreed standards and protocols. In addition, even where a legal gateway exists, any information disclosures must be compliant with both the Data Protection Act and the Human Rights Act.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1529", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr David Gauke"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Hertfordshire"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr David Gauke"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-10T09:57:14.2179874Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "CaTreasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-05", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Information Sharing"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the contribution by the Deputy Leader of the House, Official Report, columns 841-2, on New clause 1 of the Deregulation Bill, how the information-sharing gateway will operate.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4124", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chi Onwurah"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Newcastle upon Tyne Central"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chi Onwurah"}
], "uin" : "199417"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/58271", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/58271/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The 2013 Civil Service-wide Capabilities Plan identified four priorities for capability building, one of which is digital capability. The report and the Government's Civil Service Reform plan noted that there was a long-standing weakness in digital capability. If action had begun under a previous administration to address this the digital capability of the civil service would have been far better at the time of the last General Election.<\/p> The Cabinet Office publishes Quarterly Progress Reports against the Government Digital Strategy, which covers digital capability. This can be found at:<\/p>