Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Cotes (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has received on introducing a part-time season ticket for rail.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Department has received Parliamentary questions and correspondence from public and Parliamentarians about the introduction of part-time season tickets. We, of course, continue to challenge the rail industry to develop proposals for pricing and delivering more flexible ticketing options for those who work or commute part-time and progress is being made by the industry. c2c have a Flexi-Season on a smart card. Arriva Trains Wales have introduced a Mobile Multi-Flex product for customers in Cardiff and the surrounding areas. In addition both the recently announced South Western and West Midlands franchises include the announcement of a new flexible season ticket which will benefit people working fewer than 5 days a week.
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Cotes (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has received on introducing a part-time season ticket for rail.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Marylebone
The Department has received Parliamentary questions and correspondence from public and Parliamentarians about the introduction of part-time season tickets. We, of course, continue to challenge the rail industry to develop proposals for pricing and delivering more flexible ticketing options for those who work or commute part-time and progress is being made by the industry. c2c have a Flexi-Season on a smart card. Arriva Trains Wales have introduced a Mobile Multi-Flex product for customers in Cardiff and the surrounding areas. In addition both the recently announced South Western and West Midlands franchises include the announcement of a new flexible season ticket which will benefit people working fewer than 5 days a week.
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Cotes (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his Department's policy is on the provision in the NHS of interpretation services for refugees.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The National Health Service should provide appropriate interpreting services to all patients requiring them. Individuals who experience a communications barrier, such as people whose first language is not English and who may need to communicate in another language, may require the provision of interpreting and translation services. This complies with the Equality Act 2010, the Human Rights Act 1998 and / or other legislative present provisions. In the case of those with a sensory impairment (such as British Sign Language speakers or braille readers), there are explicit obligations to make reasonable adjustments, provided by the Equality Act 2010 and the Accessible Information Standard.
This makes it imperative for organisations to provide appropriate language and communication support to ensure that patients are able to communicate effectively and appropriately with clinicians and other health service professionals.
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Cotes (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the timescale is for his Department’s review of Companies House.
Answered by Andrew Griffiths
In line with Cabinet Office guidance*, the Department will undertake a tailored review of Companies House within this Parliament.
*https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/tailored-reviews-of-public-bodies-guidance
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Cotes (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what representations he has received from (a) the Burial and Cremation Advisory Group and (b) other stakeholders on the reuse of graves; and whether his Department plans to continue to review the matter of such reuse.
Answered by Phillip Lee
We continue to keep the issue of burial space under review and to maintain a dialogue about it with the Burial and Cremation Advisory Group - an expert group which meets twice yearly and is chaired by the Ministry of Justice - and other stakeholders.
In addition, as part of its 13th Programme of Law Reform, the Law Commission will be undertaking a project to consider the modernisation and streamlining of burial and cremation law, with a view to putting forward a legal framework for the future.
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Cotes (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, for what reason the Answer of 16 November 2017 to Question 113491 did not indicate when he plans to publish a future partnership or position paper on (a) services and (b) financial services.
Answered by Robin Walker
On 15 December the European Council confirmed that we will move onto the second phase of negotiations, including discussions on the future relationship. Decisions on the publication of any future UK papers are a matter for the UK Government. We have published 14 detailed papers on the negotiations to date and will continue to set out our positions at the appropriate time. We are seeking a deal that should allow for the freest possible trade in goods and services, including financial services, between Britain and the EU’s member states.
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Cotes (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, when he plans to publish a future partnership paper or position paper on (a) services and (b) financial services.
Answered by Robin Walker
Over the summer, the Government published a series of papers on the new deep and special partnership the UK wants to build with the EU. These papers represent the hard work and detailed thinking that has been going on behind the scenes across Whitehall since last year’s referendum.
We are continuing a comprehensive programme of engagement with businesses and third party organisations to further inform our thinking. Ministers from the Department for Exiting the EU alone have undertaken a wide-ranging programme of stakeholder engagement in the past year, including attendance at over 50 round tables and over 250 bilateral meetings.
The Government remains committed to securing the best possible deal for the United Kingdom - a deal that works for all sectors of the UK economy. We have been engaging with businesses and industry bodies from all sectors of the economy and all regions of the UK in order to inform our negotiations with the EU. The Government will continue to set out its position as appropriate.
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Cotes (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department plans to make further announcements on funding awards for character education under the character grants programme.
Answered by Nick Gibb
We want all schools to offer a broad and balanced education consisting of a rigorous academic curriculum supported with activities to develop attributes such as resilience, self-efficacy, character and leadership.
That is why the Department invested £3.5m in the Character Grant scheme, which provided developmental activities to young people. On Monday 9 October the Department announced that the Character Grant programme has closed and replaced with £22 million to fund the development of essential life skills in children and young people in the twelve Opportunity Areas. By directing funding specifically towards disadvantaged children in some of the most deprived parts of the country, we are able to help children who face the greatest difficulties building these life skills.
The web link to the announcement is on Gov.uk, here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/plans-launched-to-drive-social-mobility-in-opportunity-areas
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Cotes (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what representations he has received from the metals industries on the effect on that sector of the UK leaving the EU.
Answered by Claire Perry
Ministers and officials have engaged extensively on EU exit with metals companies and representative bodies across the UK. Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy discussed the trade regime post-EU exit at a meeting of the Steel Council on 7th September. We want to achieve the best possible outcome and the strongest possible partnership - one that works for UK businesses. We plan to be ambitious in these negotiations and will secure the best possible access for firms to trade with and operate in the European market.
Asked by: Baroness Morgan of Cotes (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish his Department's response to the future funding of supported housing consultation.
Answered by Marcus Jones
Developing a workable and sustainable funding model for supported housing is a priority for the Government. We have been listening to the sector through responses to our consultation and have also been talking stock of the joint DCLG/DWP Select committee report. We will set out further details on our plans in the autumn.