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  • Gregory Campbell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Gregory Campbell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2014-04-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee will be given access to papers previously withheld from freedom of information requests as part of its current inquiry into the administrative scheme for the on-the-runs.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    The inquiry led by Lady Justice Hallett has access to all papers that it requests or requires from my Department, in order to produce a full public account of the ‘on the runs’ administrative scheme.

  • Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-04-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what meetings her Department has had with the government of the Republic of Ireland about First World War commemorations.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    Ministers and officials from the Northern Ireland Office have been in regular contact with the Irish Government about our approach to the First World War centenary, particularly over the course of the last year. This includes planning for joint Ministerial attendance at a number of events which will take place in Belfast, Dublin and France over the course of the coming months.

    These contacts have included discussions on how both Governments can work together to mark the wider decade of commemorations in Ireland in a manner which promotes reconciliation and contributes to a peaceful, shared future.

    I recently joined the Irish Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to lay the foundation stone for a Commonwealth War Graves Commission Cross of Sacrifice at Glasnevin in Dublin to commemorate men from the island of Ireland who gave their lives in both World Wars.

  • Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-04-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how much her Department has spent on legacy issues in each year since 2010; and how many staff are employed on dealing with such legacy issues.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    It is not possible to provide a breakdown of spend by the Northern Ireland Office on legacy issues annually since 2010 as matters related cut across so many aspects of the Department’s work.

    Within the Northern Ireland Office’s Engagement Group there is a Legacy Unit which currently consists of 4 members of staff. This unit deals with a wide range of issues arising from Northern Ireland’s troubled past, including calls for further inquiries and reviews; legal challenges brought in relation to legacy cases; applications for public interest immunity; and compensation for certain miscarriages of justice. In addition, the Legacy Unit oversees the sponsorship of the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims Remains.

  • Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-04-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent assessment she has made of the level of co-operation between the security forces in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    There continues to be very close contact between the PSNI and An Garda Siochana to tackle the threat faced from dissident republican activity on both sides of the border. Every opportunity will be taken to consider ways to improve cross border working relationships and deepen the collective understanding of the threat, building on the excellent co-operation that exists.

  • Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-04-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the cost is of the relocation of the London headquarters of her Department.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    The cost of relocating my Department’s London office in 2013 was £1,156,236. The estimated savings as a result of the move are approximately £1m per year.

  • Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-04-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the implications for security in Northern Ireland of recent reports of the taping of telephone calls made to and from police stations in the Republic of Ireland; and whether she has made representations to the Irish government on that matter.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    I meet regularly with members of the Irish Government including Justice Minister, Alan Shatter where we discuss a range of issues. This is a matter for the Irish Government, but I have received reassurance from Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore that these matters will not undermine the co-operation arrangements between An Garda Síochána and the PSNI.

  • Tom Blenkinsop – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Tom Blenkinsop – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-04-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on how many occasions practical driving tests have been appealed to magistrates’ and sheriff courts in each year since 2008; how many such appeals were upheld; and for what reasons.

    Stephen Hammond

    Since 2008 DVSA holds record of 12 practical driving test appeals that have come before the magistrate’s court; we have no record of any practical driving test appeals that have come before the Sheriff’s court. None of these appeals were upheld as detailed in the chart below.

    Date and place of hearing Under S90 or S133 RTA Outcome
    11.06.2008 – Croydon S133 Dismissed
    27.01.2009 – Bexley Heath S90 Dismissed
    25.03.2009 – Caernarfon S133 Withdrawn
    01/06/2009 – UNKNOWN S90 Settled without prejudice prior to hearing
    15.07.2009 Leicester S90 Dismissed
    31.07.2009 Leicester S133 Withdrawn
    5.11.2010 – UNKNOWN S90 Failed to attend preliminary hearing
    28.02.2011 Coventry S133 Withdrawn
    13.09.2011 Sheffield S90 Not upheld
    26.07.2012 Wakefield S90 Cancelled preliminary hearing
    02.08.2012 Bournemouth S90 Withdrawn
    11.11.2013 Wolverhampton S133 Withdrawn at hearing on judge’s advice

  • Richard Burden – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2014-04-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to work with affected hauliers to avoid the increased cost caused by the reduction in Vehicle Excise Duty introduced as part of the Heavy Goods Vehicle User Levy.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    We have worked closely with the UK road freight sector throughout the development of the Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Road User Levy to ensure that the cost to UK business as a result of paying a combined charge for Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) and HGV levy from 1st April 2014 is minimised, whilst working within the minimum levels of Vehicle Excise Duty set out in the Eurovignette Directive. Furthermore, to keep the administrative burden to UK operators to a minimum, the Levy will be paid at the same time as VED and in a single transaction.

    Where costs do rise as a result of the combined Levy and VED payment, hauliers have the option to lower the plated weight of the vehicle and thereby reduce the VED they need to pay.

  • Richard Burden – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2014-04-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department’s policy is on (a) the frequency of periodic roadworthiness tests for old vehicles and (b) the stringency of technical roadside inspections for commercial vehicles in line with European Union roadworthiness package adopted by the European Parliament on 12 March 2014.

    Stephen Hammond

    The Department will be consulting widely on the changes required by the new Directive relating to old vehicles with a view to supporting road safety and minimising unnecessary burdens for vehicle owners. This engagement will start in coming months. The new Directive regarding technical roadside inspections will be very close to existing practice in Great Britain, if any changes to processes are required these will be adopted after consultation.

  • Tom Blenkinsop – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Tom Blenkinsop – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-04-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average age of rolling stock serving the (a) Tees Valley Line and (b) Esk Valley Line is.

    Stephen Hammond

    The rolling stock operated on these two lines is a mixture of Class 142 and Class 156 units which were constructed between 1985 and 1989.

    However, the age of rolling stock is a crude measure of quality – as a properly planned refurbishment of an older train can result in a very pleasant travelling environment and a "new train feel" but at a fraction of the cost of a new unit.

    Information on the average age of rolling stock is available from the Office of Rail Regulation’s website, by following this link:

    http://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/displayreport/report/html/53dcc4e1-3223-48f9-9e9c-10d51359cdd7

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