Author: admin

  • Lord Beecham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Lord Beecham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2015-10-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to divert part or all of the £160m JEREMIE (Joint European Resources for Micro to medium Enterprises) 2 fund, succeeding the Finance for Business North East fund, to other Northern areas described as part of the Northern Powerhouse; and if so, what proportion of funding will be diverted, and why they are taking such action.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    The Government has no intention of imposing any arrangements for the next round of ERDF ‘JEREMIE’ style Access to Finance funds that do not carry local support.

  • Lord Beecham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Beecham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2015-10-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they instructed local authorities not to disclose the contents of their submissions for the Comprehensive Spending Review; and, if so, why.

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    Her Majesty’s Government has not instructed local authorities on the matter of disclosing the contents of their submissions for the Comprehensive Spending Review. Local authorities are free to publish the contents of their submissions and many have chosen to do so.

  • Lord Beecham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Lord Beecham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2015-10-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in relation to the decision to award MTCNovo the contract to run Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre, what assessment they have made of the experience that company has in running residential establishments that care for vulnerable children; and whether MTCNovo, including its partners or significant subcontractors, has been found to have breached human rights or equality legislation in the last three years, either in the United Kingdom or abroad.

    Lord Faulks

    MTC and their main partner Amey were subject to robust and rigorous assessment at the pre-qualification stage of the competition. This included a thorough examination of health and safety, equalities, human rights and discrimination policies, and a requirement to demonstrate their experience of managing children and young people.

    There were no findings of a breach in human rights or equality legislation.

  • Lord Berkeley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Berkeley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2015-10-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much Network Rail, the Department for Transport, First Great Western and Agility trains have each committed to contributing to the £7.5 billion Great Western route modernisation programme.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    Contracts between the Department for Transport and Agility Trains and Great Western Rail are commercially confidential.

  • Lord Berkeley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Berkeley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2015-10-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government which organisations are contributing to the new bridge across the South Western Main Line south of Clapham Junction station giving access to Emanuel School, and how much they are each contributing.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    Network Rail is an arm’s-length public sector body and the sources of funding contributions towards the construction of the new bridge are a commercial matter for the company.

    Network Rail advises that the new bridge across the South West Mainline was privately funded by one organisation. Network Rail has signed a confidentially agreement with this organisation which does not allow the release of commercial information.

  • Lord Berkeley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Berkeley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2015-10-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the maximum gradients on the proposed HS2 line, and where they are located.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    In general the normal limiting gradient on the proposed HS2 line is 2.5%, which occurs at various locations along the route.

    However, there are a few instances of steeper gradients where there are physical constraints that do not allow gradients of 2.5% or less to be achieved, namely:

    – Between Euston Station and Euston Tunnels (3.4%)

    – In the Euston Tunnels before Old Oak Common (3.5%)

    – The east end of the Bromford Tunnel (2.9%)

    – The approach to Birmingham Curzon St (3.03%)

  • Lord Berkeley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Berkeley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2015-10-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect on UK business of the continuing disruption by migrants of rail and road freight traffic through the Channel Tunnel.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    Although it has made no specific assessment, the Government is well aware of the disruptive impact of migrants seeking to access the UK across the English Channel, both through the Channel Tunnel and on the shipping routes. The impact at the Channel Tunnel is particularly severe on the rail freight operators, who have seen a significant reduction in their business, and on Eurotunnel itself.

  • Lord Berkeley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Berkeley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2015-10-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage local authorities to construct busways, and what is their latest estimate of the cost per mile of new busways.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    It is for local authorities to decide how best to deal with the transport issues in their areas. Should they decide that a Busway is the solution they wish to implement they would need to undertake the necessary design and obtain legal orders. Should they require government funding they should submit a bid through the Local Growth Fund process in conjunction with their Local Enterprise Partnership.

    We do not have an estimate of the cost per mile of new busways. The last two schemes approved by the Government have been Cambridgeshire Guided Bus (42km, both guided and on-road, costing £180m) and Luton Guided Bus (7.2km of on and off road at a total cost of £89.2m).

  • Lord Birt – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Birt – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Birt on 2015-10-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider introducing identity cards for all United Kingdom residents.

    Lord Bates

    The Government has no plans to introduce an identity card system for British Citizens. The Biometric Residence Permit is issued to non-EEA nationals staying in the UK for more than six months. These provide evidence of the holders’ immigration status in the UK.

  • The Lord Bishop of Bristol – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The Lord Bishop of Bristol – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Bristol on 2015-10-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, and in particular its commitment to freedom of religion or belief.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    Saudi Arabia is a Foreign & Commonwealth Office priority country because of the human rights situation, particularly on the death penalty, access to justice, women’s rights, restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion or belief. The British Government strongly supports the right to freedom of religion or belief. Islamic law is strictly enforced in Saudi Arabia and the public practice of any form of religion other than Islam is illegal. The Saudi authorities do accept foreign workers privately practising religions other than Islam.

    We believe that the key to increasing freedom in this area is to focus on tolerance. We have worked with Saudi Arabia to identify areas where different faiths could work together and foster trust.