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  • Lord Tanlaw – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Lord Tanlaw – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Tanlaw on 2016-09-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to review the use of British Summer Time, and what assessment they have made of the possible impact of maintaining BST throughout the year.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    The Government has no plans to review the use of British Summer Time.

    In 2012, the Government published a review of the available evidence concerning the likely effects of moving to Central European Time (also known as Daylight Saving time) in the UK. This is attached, but is also available on the Government website at the following link.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/34587/12-1036-review-evidence-putting-clocks-forward.pdf

    “

  • Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-09-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much Ascent Flight Training charges the Ministry of Defence to train a fast jet pilot to the point where they are ready to move on to the Operational Conversion Unit of their chosen aircraft.

    Earl Howe

    Ascent Flight Training charges approximately £610,000 to train each fast jet student pilot to the point where they are ready to move on to the Operational Conversion Unit stage.

  • Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-09-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many fixed-wing jet trainees are projected to graduate from the Ascent Flight Training programme between 2016 and 2019; and when the programme is due to be fully up and running.

    Earl Howe

    It is anticipated that 118 fixed wing jet trainees will graduate from the Ascent Flight Training programme between 2016 and 2019. All elements of the recently contracted UK Military Flying Training System are due to be fully up and running by April 2019.

  • Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-09-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much Ascent Flight Training has been fined for failing to deliver an adequate service since it signed the 25-year contract with the Ministry of Defence.

    Earl Howe

    Up to June 2015, £308,000 was deducted from payments to Ascent Flight Training. No further deductions have been made since that time.

  • Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-09-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan HMS Ambush to be fully operational.

    Earl Howe

    HMS AMBUSH is undergoing repairs at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde.

    It is UK policy that we do not comment on matters relating to submarine activity or operations as this would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

  • Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-09-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the planned out-of-service date for HMS Ocean, and how her landing platform helicopter capabilities will be provided prior to the entry into service of HMS Prince of Wales.

    Earl Howe

    HMS OCEAN entered service in 1998 with an expected in service life of 20 years and she will decommission in 2018. The Strategic Defence Security Review 2015 made provision to augment the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers and maximise their ability to support amphibious operations. Prior to the carriers being brought into service, other Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships will provide support to amphibious operations.

  • Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-09-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the planned in-service dates for the offshore patrol vessels presently on order or planned; and how much each vessel will cost.

    Earl Howe

    In August 2014, the Ministry of Defence placed a contract valued at £348 million with BAE Systems on the Clyde for the procurement of three River Class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs). On current plans, we expect these three vessels to enter service between 2018 and 2019.

    The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 set out the Government’s plan to build two additional OPVs and we have begun the planning work necessary to contract for these additional ships. As with all equipment procurement programmes, the cost and schedule are set at the main investment decision, and we have not yet reached that decision point.

  • Baroness Wolf of Dulwich – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Baroness Wolf of Dulwich – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Wolf of Dulwich on 2016-09-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many students, broken down by region of domicile, were enrolled for higher education qualifications at further education colleges in England in the academic year 2014–15.

    Lord Nash

    Information prepared by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) on participation in Higher Education at Further Education Colleges (FECs) in England in the academic year 2014/15 has been provided in the table.

    Full-person equivalent students registered for a HE qualification by region of domicile

    Further Education Colleges in England

    Academic Year 2014/15

    Region of Domicile

    Academic Year 2014/15

    North East

    6,040

    North West

    14,690

    Yorkshire and the Humber

    12,595

    East Midlands

    5,945

    West Midlands

    5,150

    East of England

    3,755

    Greater London

    6,695

    South East

    7,640

    South West

    4,555

    Wales

    570

    Scotland

    315

    Northern Ireland

    195

    England (unknown)

    3,715

    United Kingdom (unknown)

    25

    EU

    565

    Rest of the world

    2,160

    Total (all domiciles)

    74,610

    Source: Information is derived from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) student return and the Skills Funding Agency individualised learner record (ILR) F05 return

    Prepared by: Analytical Services Directorate, HEFCE, 7 September 2016

    Coverage:

    – Students registered at FECs are only included if they are studying a prescribed course of HE.

    – Includes students across all years of study, at all levels and modes of higher education and distance learners.

    – Numbers are based on where the student was domiciled rather than where they student studied.

    – Full-person equivalents (FPEs) have been rounded to the nearest 5.

  • Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2016-09-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of violence against Dalits and minorities in India, and what discussions they have had with the government of India about that issue.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    India has a strong democratic framework, robust and independent institutions and its constitution guarantees fundamental human rights. However, it also faces numerous challenges relating to its size and social and economic development. We welcome Prime Minister Modi’s comments on 6 August when he spoke against “cow vigilantes” attacking minority groups and urged state governments in India to investigate such attacks.

    The UK discusses a wide range of matters with India, including religious tolerance and minority rights, both bilaterally and through the EU. The former Prime Minister (The Right Hon. David Cameron) discussed human rights with Prime Minister Modi in November 2015. Mr Modi reaffirmed his commitment and respect for India’s core values of tolerance and freedoms; points which he also stressed in his speech in Parliament on 12 November 2015.

    The British High Commission in India discusses the treatment of minorities with the Indian National Commission for Minorities and with state governments across India. They are in regular contact with civil society organisations working on the protection of minority rights across India, including key issues for minorities such as freedom of religious belief.

  • Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2016-09-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the findings of India’s National Crime Records Bureau that, in a three-year period there was an almost 40 per cent increase of crime against Dalits throughout India; that in 2015, in Gujarat, there was a 163.3 per cent increase in crime against Dalits; and that sexual assaults against women and rape are listed as the top crimes against scheduled castes.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    India has a strong democratic framework, independent and accountable law enforcement and judicial institutions. Its constitution guarantees fundamental human rights. However, it also faces numerous challenges relating to its size and social and economic development.

    We are aware of the particular concerns around violence against minority groups and women and girls in India. We are committed to working with the Government of India, international partners and civil society groups on these important issues.

    The British High Commission works with civil society and government bodies on projects which provide advice to lawyers and grassroots organisations that directly support the protection of minorities and Dalits. For example, we support a project which helps survivors of sexual violence understand their legal rights in the Indian criminal justice system. UK Government-funded training has helped to empower over 1000 Dalit women and men to exercise their legal rights. In November 2015, I met a group of senior Indian women advocates to discuss the challenges faced by women in India and how the UK Government could support their efforts to strengthen enforcement of the law.