Our legal aid system is a fundamental pillar of access to justice; that is why we have made sure that legal aid continues to be available for the most vulnerable in our society and for the most serious cases. The Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 provides for legal aid to be available, among other matters, for asylum cases, immigration detention, immigration applications and appeals in cases of human trafficking and modern slavery, subject to a test of the applicant\u2019s financial means and the merits of their case.<\/p>
This government is absolutely committed to ensuring access to justice, and it will remain at the heart of our reforms.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4007", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dominic Raab"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Esher and Walton"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dominic Raab"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-10-31", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-10-31T17:09:06.853Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "54"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Justice"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-10-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Legal Aid Scheme: Asylum"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to enable refugees and asylum seekers to access legal aid.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4649", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Thelma Walker"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colne Valley"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Thelma Walker"} ], "uin" : "108874"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/773918", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/773918/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Local authorities' expenditure on services, including on Adult Social Care for previous years, can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/local-authority-revenue-expenditure-and-financing<\/a> The number of girls taking science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) A Levels has increased by 20% since 2010 and we are closing the gap between males and females in some subjects (chemistry, biology, mathematics and computing). The Department recognises that we need to do more to increase the number of girls participating in STEM subjects. The Department runs a number of projects to improve participation. For example, we are funding the Stimulating Physics Network to improve the take up of A level physics, particularly by girls. The Department announced a new Level 3 Maths Support Programme, worth £16m over two years, which will be required to raise the participation of girls in A level mathematics and further mathematics, and we continue to fund support to schools to improve the quality of teaching in mathematics, computing and science in primary and secondary schools.<\/p> <\/p> The Department is taking action to improve STEM participation throughout the education pipeline. For example, in Higher Education we have seen applications from women to engineering, computer science and maths degrees rise since 2013 but, we know there is more that we can do. From the 2018/19 academic year, we are introducing maintenance loans available for part-time undergraduate students to help with living costs, which we anticipate will help widen participation.<\/p> <\/p> We are raising awareness amongst children of the range of careers that science and technical qualifications offer, and providing stimulating scientific activities to increase their interest in STEM subjects. This includes the STEM Ambassadors programme, a nationwide network of over 30,000 volunteers, 42% of whom are women, from a range of employers, who work with schools across the UK.<\/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" : "2017-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-10-27T12:51:04.337Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-10-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "STEM Subjects: Females"}
, "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, what plans her Department has to increase the number of girls participating in STEM subjects after the age of 16.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4649", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Thelma Walker"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colne Valley"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Thelma Walker"}
], "uin" : "108751"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/773962", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/773962/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Kirklees Council has advised the Environment Agency that approximately 20 residential properties and one business have been flooded in the Colne Valley since 2010. This includes flooding from all sources.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4098", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Dr Thérèse Coffey"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Suffolk Coastal"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Dr Thérèse Coffey"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-10-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-10-26T16:32:26.79Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-10-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Floods: Colne Valley"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) residential properties and (b) businesses have been flooded in the Colne Valley in each year since 2010.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4649", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Thelma Walker"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colne Valley"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Thelma Walker"}
], "uin" : "108750"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/773979", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/773979/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Foreign and Commonwealth Office supports international implementation of the Paris Agreement through our ministers, diplomatic network and the Foreign Secretary\u2019s Climate Change Envoy. This includes pressing for continued political commitment, providing advice and assistance to other countries in meeting their Nationally Determined Contributions, and promoting UK best practice. Building on the Government\u2019s climate policy framework, the Clean Growth Strategy has given us a further set of policies to action and influence others.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1405", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mark Field"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Cities of London and Westminster"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mark Field"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-10-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-10-27T13:39:51.007Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-10-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Climate Change Convention"}
, "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 steps his Department has recently taken to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4649", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Thelma Walker"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colne Valley"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Thelma Walker"}
], "uin" : "108744"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/774060", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Home Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/774060/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We recognise that it is crucial that the police have the right resources, capabilities and powers to keep the public safe. We have provided millions of pounds of extra investment through the Police Transformation Fund to transform policing to respond to changing crimes and threats including crimes against vulnerable people such as child sexual abuse.<\/p> <\/p> The 2015 Spending Review protected overall police spending in real terms. We are undertaking a programme of engagement with the police to understand the impact of changing demands, <\/strong>and to hear how the police are managing these. That includes what more can be done to improve productivity and efficiency, reduce bureaucracy, and make prudent use of financial reserves.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1561", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Nick Hurd"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-10-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-10-24T13:52:47.74Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Home Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-10-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Children: Protection"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effects of the recent changes in neighbourhood policing levels on the police's ability to protect vulnerable children.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4649", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Thelma Walker"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colne Valley"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Thelma Walker"}
], "uin" : "108746"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/774137", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/774137/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Colne Valley constituency falls within the area of BDUK partner 'Superfast West Yorkshire'. It is this local body who are responsible for managing superfast rollout in West Yorkshire. For further details of their plan, please contact the project directly https://www.superfastwestyorkshire.co.uk/<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4070", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Matt Hancock"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "West Suffolk"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Matt Hancock"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-10-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-10-26T11:36:53.307Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "10"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Digital, Culture, Media and Sport"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-10-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Broadband: Colne Valley"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans she has to improve superfast broadband coverage in Colne Valley constituency.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4649", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Thelma Walker"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colne Valley"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Thelma Walker"}
], "uin" : "108749"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/768058", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/768058/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department does not hold information on spending specifically as a proportion of the school budget, but does hold information on the amount spent by schools on supply teaching staff (including such costs as insurance and agency fees) as a proportion of total expenditure by schools. We publish these data annually at:<\/p> Local authority maintained schools on the Department\u2019s School and College Performance website: https://www.gov.uk/school-performance-tables<\/a>, and<\/p>
Councils have also been able to add a precept for adult social care onto their council tax, which most of them have done.
Local authority expenditure is funded through a range of income sources including government grants, council tax, business rates and fees and charges. Many government grants are not ring-fenced, leaving local authorities to determine how much is spent on different services.
However, the Government has provided specific funding to councils for adult social care in recent years, most noticeably through the improved Better Care Fund which was supplemented by the additional £2 billion announced at Spring Budget 2017. Details of individual council allocations of the Spring Budget funding can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-allocations-of-the-additional-funding-for-adult-social-care<\/a>
Details of the original improved Better Care Fund allocations along with the potential revenue from the precept (as announced at SR15) can be found with core spending power tables published with the LGFS - www.gov.uk/government/collections/final-local-government-finance-settlement-england-2017-to-2018<\/a>.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4024", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Marcus Jones"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Nuneaton"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mr Marcus Jones"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-10-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-10-24T14:00:56.24Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-10-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Services: Finance"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much funding his Department has allocated to adult social care in (a) Kirklees, (b) West Yorkshire and (c) England in each of the last seven years.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4649", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Thelma Walker"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colne Valley"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Thelma Walker"}
], "uin" : "108764"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/773951", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/773951/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "