Strengthening and Sustaining the Union is a key priority for the UK Government. This is why we have asked Lord Dunlop to carry out a review to ensure that we are working in the most effective way possible to realise fully all the benefits of being a United Kingdom.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1512", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Mundell"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "David Mundell"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "912072"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-24T14:37:34.3Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "United Kingdom"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "What steps he is taking to strengthen the Union.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1441", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bellingham"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North West Norfolk"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Sir Henry Bellingham"} ], "uin" : "912066"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141592", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Scotland Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141592/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
I have regular discussions with my Rt honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on a range of issues.<\/p>
<\/p>
Whilst the Pension Credit GB caseload stands at around 1.6 million, the number of Pension Credit claims in Scotland stands at around 150,000 - an almost 10% reduction in the number of claims since May 2017.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1512", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Mundell"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "David Mundell"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-24T14:33:23.2Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Pension Credit: Scotland"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on trends in the level of claims for pension credit in Scotland.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4614", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Hugh Gaffney"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Hugh Gaffney"} ], "uin" : "912067"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141593", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Scotland Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141593/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Strengthening and Sustaining the Union is a key priority for the UK Government. This is why we have asked Lord Dunlop to carry out a review to ensure that we are working in the most effective way possible to realise fully all the benefits of being a United Kingdom.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1512", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for David Mundell"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "David Mundell"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-07-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "912066"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-07-24T14:37:34.347Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Scotland"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "United Kingdom"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "What steps he is taking to strengthen the Union.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1566", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Daniel Kawczynski"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Shrewsbury and Atcham"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Daniel Kawczynski"} ], "uin" : "912072"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141607", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Ministry of Defence"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141607/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
There are three Medical Deployability Standard (MDS) categories for the Armed Forces. Medically Fully Deployable (MFD) personnel are those medically fit for duty with no employment limitations. Medically Limited Deployable (MLD) personnel are medically fit for duty with minor employment limitations. MLD personnel may have a medical condition or functional limitation that prevents the meeting of all Medically Fully Deployable (MFD) requirements. Medically Not Deployable (MND) personnel are medically fit for duty with major employment limitations. MND personnel are not fit to deploy on operations but may be deployable on UK-based exercises.<\/p>
For the numbers of UK Regular Armed Forces and UK Future Reserves 2020 personnel in each MDS category in each year up to 2017, I refer the hon. Member to the answer the previous Minister for Defence People and Veterans (Tobias Ellwood), gave him on 8 November 2017, to Question 110876.<\/p>
The attached table provides the number and percentage of UK Regular Armed Forces in each MDS category, by Service as at 1 April 2018 and 1 April 2019. These figures include full-time trained and serving personnel against requirement. This was the deployable population.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4485", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Johnny Mercer"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Plymouth, Moor View"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Johnny Mercer"} , "attachment" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141607/answer/attachment/1", "fileName" : {"_value" : "Hansard Extract 8 November 2017, UIN 110876.docx"} , "title" : "Armed Forces"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141607/answer/attachment/2", "fileName" : {"_value" : "UK Regular Armed Forces.docx"} , "title" : "Armed Forces"} ], "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-09-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-09-03T13:38:14.357Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "11"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Defence"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Armed Forces"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) regular (i) soldiers, (ii) sailors and (iii) airmen and (b) reserve (A) soldiers, (B) sailors and (C) airmen by medical category there were in each year since 2010.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4601", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Andrew Bowie"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Andrew Bowie"} ], "uin" : "281768"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141610", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141610/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
\u200bWe are firmly committed to protecting all children affected by armed conflict, including ending the recruitment and use of child soldiers.<\/p>
The UK is an active member of the UN Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), which leads the international response to the issue of child soldiers and child protection. This includes pressing those parties to conflicts listed in the UN Secretary-General's annual report on CAAC, including Yemen, to enter into concrete action plans with the UN to verify and release child soldiers.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1466", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Andrew Murrison"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "South West Wiltshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Andrew Murrison"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-09-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-09-03T10:46:13.317Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Yemen: Armed Conflict"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of including people and organisations in breach of international law in Yemen in the UN Secretary General's 2020 report on Children and Armed Conflict.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4006", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hendon"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Dr Matthew Offord"} ], "uin" : "281724"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141613", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141613/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
In a no deal Brexit, the Government\u2019s priority is to avoid delays at the border and keep goods flowing, whilst protecting security and revenue. HM Revenue and Customs is working closely with businesses involved in importing goods into the UK as parcels and packages to support their preparations for exiting the EU.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3991", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jesse Norman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hereford and South Herefordshire"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jesse Norman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-09-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-09-03T15:03:37.827Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Customs"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answers of 11 June 2019 to Questions 258889 and 258888, what steps his Department is taking to tackle delays on customs house clearance times for packages sent from EU member states.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/151", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tom Brake"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Carshalton and Wallington"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tom Brake"} ], "uin" : "281546"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141629", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141629/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As a global leader in tobacco control, the Department plans to send representatives to the 18th<\/sup> World Health Organization World Conference on Tobacco or Health in March 2021.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4380", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jo Churchill"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bury St Edmunds"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Jo Churchill"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-09-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-09-03T14:31:47.907Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "17"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Health and Social Care"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "World Conference on Tobacco or Health"}
, "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 and Social Care, whether he plans to attend the next World Health Organization World Conference on Tobacco or Health in the Irish Republic.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1409", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Londonderry"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Gregory Campbell"}
], "uin" : "281639"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141646", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141646/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government has accepted the School Teachers' Review Body\u2019s recommendations in full to uplift the minima and maxima of all pay ranges and allowances by 2.75%. To help schools implement the teachers\u2019 pay award, the Department for Education is investing an additional £105 million into the existing Teachers\u2019 Pay Grant this financial year. This is on top of the £321 million funding that schools are receiving this year to implement the residual 2018/19 pay award.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/111", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nick Gibb"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bognor Regis and Littlehampton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Nick Gibb"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-09-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-09-03T11:49:34.557Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Teachers: Pay Settlements"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Written Statement of 22 July 2019, HCWS1766 on Teachers update, whether the £105 million is additional funding from the public purse.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4356", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Angela Rayner"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ashton-under-Lyne"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Angela Rayner"}
], "uin" : "281772"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141652", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health and Social Care"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1141652/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "