Every parliamentary written question tabled by Andrew Rosindell this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 901–920 of 1,629 · this parliament
How much Network Rail spends on renting commercial space outside London; and how much Network Rail commercial space is empty.
Network Rail does not hold the information centrally regarding it’s spend on renting commercial space outside of London. Across the 20 stations managed by Network Rail, the commercial vacancy rate is 3.2%.
When Network Rail last carried out (a) a survey and (b) audit of its land estate which could be suitable for renewable energy generation; and what assessment was made of its megawatt generation potential.
The most recent survey and analysis of the potential for renewable energy generation across Network Rail’s land estate was carried out in May 2020, with the potential capacity found to be 188 MWp across 34 sites. Network Rail is continuing the roll out of new renewable energy generation assets across its estate.
When she plans to issue a tender procurement notice to deliver a new Great British Railways online rail ticket retailer.
The Department is working on plans for Great British Railways’ (GBR) future retail capability and assessing its impact. It will go live once GBR is established. We will provide further details in due course.
Which open access rail applications are awaiting a decision by the Office of Rail and Road.
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) have confirmed to the Department that there are currently 12 open access applications that are awaiting decisions by the ORR. Details of live applications can be found via the ORR’s website: https://www.orr.gov.uk/rail-guidance-compliance/network-access/regulated-networks/network-rail/current-applications
When she expects Train Operating Company retail websites will cease to operate; and what transitional process her Department plans alongside a new Great British Railways online rail ticket retailer.
The Department is working on plans for Great British Railways’ (GBR) future retail capability and assessing its impact. It will go live once GBR is established. We will provide further details in due course.
Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to protect private landlords from repeat non-paying tenants.
The Renters’ Rights Bill will introduce new protections for tenants and landlords when rent is not paid. When tenants temporarily fall into rent arrears, we will support both parties by preventing tenancies which are otherwise viable from ending. We will increase the notice period for an arrears eviction to four weeks and increase the threshold for mandatory eviction to three months’ rent arrears. Landlords will still have access to robust grounds for possession for rent arrears, including the mandatory ground for three months arrears, and discretionary grounds which could be used for cases involving repeat non or late payment of rent that does not meet the mandatory threshold.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how the Governor of Saint Helena’s special responsibility for finance differs from the role of the Finance Minister.
Each Overseas Territory has a unique constitution. St Helena introduced a ministerial form of government in 2021 and the updated constitution provides that St Helena ministers have responsibility departments and shall exercise general direction and policy control of that department. The St Helena Treasury was one of the departments transferred to a minister. Part 8 of the Constitution, together with the Public Finance Ordinance 2010, sets out roles and responsibilities in how public finances are managed. Under Section 44(1)(f) of the constitution, the Governor has a special responsibility for finance. In practice, day to day responsibility is exercised through Executive Council and as prescribed by subordinate ordinance.
What steps she is taking to ensure that materials used in schools do not contain scientifically inaccurate or misleading claims.
Schools are subject to statutory duties regarding political impartiality under section 406 and 407 of the Equality Act 1996. This means schools must not promote partisan political views and should ensure that pupils are provided with a balanced treatment of political issues. In 2022 the department published comprehensive guidance to support schools to meet their duties on political impartiality: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools#using-external-agencies.This includes sections on choosing resources and working with external organisations.The department does not approve or monitor externally produced resources or track their distribution. We have also not met or corresponded with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and do not fund them.If a parent is concerned about a school using politically partial, inaccurate or inappropriate resources, they should raise the matter with the school immediately and, if necessary, escalate it through the school’s publish complaints process: https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-school.
What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of emotionally distressing (a) imagery and (b) language used in classroom materials provided by animal rights campaigners on children.
Schools are subject to statutory duties regarding political impartiality under section 406 and 407 of the Equality Act 1996. This means schools must not promote partisan political views and should ensure that pupils are provided with a balanced treatment of political issues. In 2022 the department published comprehensive guidance to support schools to meet their duties on political impartiality: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools#using-external-agencies.This includes sections on choosing resources and working with external organisations.The department does not approve or monitor externally produced resources or track their distribution. We have also not met or corresponded with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and do not fund them.If a parent is concerned about a school using politically partial, inaccurate or inappropriate resources, they should raise the matter with the school immediately and, if necessary, escalate it through the school’s publish complaints process: https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-school.
Whether (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have (i) met and (ii) corresponded with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals on animal welfare policy in the last five years.
Schools are subject to statutory duties regarding political impartiality under section 406 and 407 of the Equality Act 1996. This means schools must not promote partisan political views and should ensure that pupils are provided with a balanced treatment of political issues. In 2022 the department published comprehensive guidance to support schools to meet their duties on political impartiality: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools#using-external-agencies.This includes sections on choosing resources and working with external organisations.The department does not approve or monitor externally produced resources or track their distribution. We have also not met or corresponded with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and do not fund them.If a parent is concerned about a school using politically partial, inaccurate or inappropriate resources, they should raise the matter with the school immediately and, if necessary, escalate it through the school’s publish complaints process: https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-school.
Whether she plans to take steps to prohibit the use of educational materials produced by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in schools in England.
Schools are subject to statutory duties regarding political impartiality under section 406 and 407 of the Equality Act 1996. This means schools must not promote partisan political views and should ensure that pupils are provided with a balanced treatment of political issues. In 2022 the department published comprehensive guidance to support schools to meet their duties on political impartiality: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools#using-external-agencies.This includes sections on choosing resources and working with external organisations.The department does not approve or monitor externally produced resources or track their distribution. We have also not met or corresponded with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and do not fund them.If a parent is concerned about a school using politically partial, inaccurate or inappropriate resources, they should raise the matter with the school immediately and, if necessary, escalate it through the school’s publish complaints process: https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-school.
What guidance her Department issues to schools on the use of educational materials produced by (a) PETA and (b) other political and campaign organisations.
Schools are subject to statutory duties regarding political impartiality under section 406 and 407 of the Equality Act 1996. This means schools must not promote partisan political views and should ensure that pupils are provided with a balanced treatment of political issues. In 2022 the department published comprehensive guidance to support schools to meet their duties on political impartiality: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools#using-external-agencies.This includes sections on choosing resources and working with external organisations.The department does not approve or monitor externally produced resources or track their distribution. We have also not met or corresponded with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and do not fund them.If a parent is concerned about a school using politically partial, inaccurate or inappropriate resources, they should raise the matter with the school immediately and, if necessary, escalate it through the school’s publish complaints process: https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-school.
Whether her Department has provided funding to support the educational activities of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in schools.
Schools are subject to statutory duties regarding political impartiality under section 406 and 407 of the Equality Act 1996. This means schools must not promote partisan political views and should ensure that pupils are provided with a balanced treatment of political issues. In 2022 the department published comprehensive guidance to support schools to meet their duties on political impartiality: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools#using-external-agencies.This includes sections on choosing resources and working with external organisations.The department does not approve or monitor externally produced resources or track their distribution. We have also not met or corresponded with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and do not fund them.If a parent is concerned about a school using politically partial, inaccurate or inappropriate resources, they should raise the matter with the school immediately and, if necessary, escalate it through the school’s publish complaints process: https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-school.
If she will require campaign organisations that provide teaching materials to disclose data on (a) reach, (b) school uptake and (c) expenditure on education initiatives.
Schools are subject to statutory duties regarding political impartiality under section 406 and 407 of the Equality Act 1996. This means schools must not promote partisan political views and should ensure that pupils are provided with a balanced treatment of political issues. In 2022 the department published comprehensive guidance to support schools to meet their duties on political impartiality: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools#using-external-agencies.This includes sections on choosing resources and working with external organisations.The department does not approve or monitor externally produced resources or track their distribution. We have also not met or corresponded with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and do not fund them.If a parent is concerned about a school using politically partial, inaccurate or inappropriate resources, they should raise the matter with the school immediately and, if necessary, escalate it through the school’s publish complaints process: https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-school.
What steps her Department is taking to ensure that educational materials used in primary schools are (a) age-appropriate and (b) free from (i) extremist and (ii) emotionally manipulative content.
Schools are subject to statutory duties regarding political impartiality under section 406 and 407 of the Equality Act 1996. This means schools must not promote partisan political views and should ensure that pupils are provided with a balanced treatment of political issues. In 2022 the department published comprehensive guidance to support schools to meet their duties on political impartiality: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools#using-external-agencies.This includes sections on choosing resources and working with external organisations.The department does not approve or monitor externally produced resources or track their distribution. We have also not met or corresponded with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and do not fund them.If a parent is concerned about a school using politically partial, inaccurate or inappropriate resources, they should raise the matter with the school immediately and, if necessary, escalate it through the school’s publish complaints process: https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-school.
What assessment she has made of the potential impact of material produced by PETA on the school curriculum.
Schools are subject to statutory duties regarding political impartiality under section 406 and 407 of the Equality Act 1996. This means schools must not promote partisan political views and should ensure that pupils are provided with a balanced treatment of political issues. In 2022 the department published comprehensive guidance to support schools to meet their duties on political impartiality: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools#using-external-agencies.This includes sections on choosing resources and working with external organisations.The department does not approve or monitor externally produced resources or track their distribution. We have also not met or corresponded with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and do not fund them.If a parent is concerned about a school using politically partial, inaccurate or inappropriate resources, they should raise the matter with the school immediately and, if necessary, escalate it through the school’s publish complaints process: https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-school.
Whether her Department monitors the (a) distribution and (b) use of educational materials from (a) PETA and (b) other organisations in English schools.
Schools are subject to statutory duties regarding political impartiality under section 406 and 407 of the Equality Act 1996. This means schools must not promote partisan political views and should ensure that pupils are provided with a balanced treatment of political issues. In 2022 the department published comprehensive guidance to support schools to meet their duties on political impartiality: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools#using-external-agencies.This includes sections on choosing resources and working with external organisations.The department does not approve or monitor externally produced resources or track their distribution. We have also not met or corresponded with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and do not fund them.If a parent is concerned about a school using politically partial, inaccurate or inappropriate resources, they should raise the matter with the school immediately and, if necessary, escalate it through the school’s publish complaints process: https://www.gov.uk/complain-about-school.
Communities and Local Government, what steps she is taking to increase the recruitment and retention of trading standards officers within local councils.
Local authorities are independent employers responsible for the recruitment and retention of their own workforces.
What steps her Department is taking to help tackle illegal private hire taxi drivers.
Enforcement of the taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) licensing regime is a matter for licensing authorities and the police. Best Practice Guidance issued by the Department for Transport to licensing authorities in England highlights some of the actions licensing authorities should take to reduce the use of those unlicensed, uninsured and unvetted who are seeking to illegally carry passengers. These include assisting the public to recognise the difference between taxis and PHVs; taxis should be required to display a roof sign and, these should be prohibited for PHVs. Taxi marshal schemes provide an opportunity to prevent the use of unlicensed vehicle that might be plying for hire. The important role ‘test purchasing’ can play in identifying and evidencing illegal drivers that should be prosecuted is highlighted. Licensing authorities should also recognise that unnecessary barriers to obtaining a licence can potentially restrict the availability of the licensed trade to such an extent that the public resort to the use of unlicensed drivers and vehicles.
Innovation and Technology, what steps his Department is taking to support the (a) development and (b) deployment of artificial intelligence to reduce the use of animals in scientific (i) research and (ii) testing.
The Labour Manifesto commits to “partner with scientists, industry, and civil society as we work towards the phasing out of animal testing”. While it is not yet possible to replace all animal use, we support the development and application of approaches that replace, reduce and refine animal use in research (the 3Rs), including via artificial intelligence. The Prime Minister launched the AI Opportunities Action Plan in January which outlined 50 actions needed to drive up the development and deployment of AI.The Government will publish a strategy to support the development, validation and uptake of alternative methods later this year.