UKPOL.CO.UK

Category: Speeches

  • Jonathan Reynolds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jonathan Reynolds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Reynolds on 2016-10-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment Network Rail has made of the (a) available capacity on the Stalybridge to Stockport railway line and (b) feasibility of providing additional passenger services on that railway line.

    Paul Maynard

    1) Available capacity on the Stalybridge to Stockport railway line

    The single line sections limit the track capacity on this route, which is currently used for frequent freight services and empty stock moves for Northern Rail.

    Platform and track capacity at Stockport is also a constraint on service expansion in this area.

    2) Feasibility of providing additional passenger services on that railway line.

    Additional services on this route are not committed by Northern during the current franchise. To support expansion of services in the future, DfT and Rail North contracted a Service Option Fund through Northern’s Franchise Agreement that will be used from 2019 onwards to assist with the operating cost impact of running extra services.

    The assessment of which service options are the most beneficial will be done in consultation with stakeholders (through Rail North) and will include analysis of the business case for each route to ensure that all relevant factors are considered.

  • Ian C. Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Ian C. Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian C. Lucas on 2015-11-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he has held discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on privatisation of Channel 4 in the last 12 months.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Secretary of State meets regularly with the Chancellor to discuss matters relating to DCMS policy. The government has made no decisions regarding reform of Channel 4.The government is considering a range of options as to how best to ensure Channel 4’s future sustainability while maintaining its ability to deliver against its remit, including options put forward by Channel 4.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-11-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what facilities are provided by Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on its premises for the use of cyclists.

    George Freeman

    This is a matter for the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

    We have written to Stuart Heys, Chair of the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust informing him of the hon. Member’s enquiry. He will reply shortly and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  • Patrick Grady – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Patrick Grady – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-01-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what support his Department provides to UK-based renewable energy companies seeking to invest in developing country markets; how many companies in that sector have received such support; and what steps he is taking to increase such support (a) in general and (b) through export guarantees.

    Anna Soubry

    UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) supports UK companies who want to grow their business overseas. We provide tailored support packages for companies from first time exporters to medium sized businesses, whilst also providing digital and online support to all businesses. We continue to proactively support UK renewable companies and recognise the huge potential in developing country markets. Support from UK Export Finance (principally in the form of insurance to exporters, guarantees to banks and loans to overseas buyers) is also available for UK exporters in all sectors including the renewable energy sector.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-01-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many trained dogs have been injured while working in prisons in each of the last five years.

    Andrew Selous

    Information relating to injuries sustained by dogs working in prisons is not centrally collated and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-02-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will direct Highways England to give evidence to the public hearing on 18 March 2016 organised by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner into closures and delays on the M6 on 4 and 5 February 2016.

    Andrew Jones

    Highways England is aware of the public hearing and has agreed to attend and give evidence.

  • Lord Addington – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lord Addington – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Addington on 2016-03-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the announced changes to the initial teacher training criteria, why the suggested content was not made compulsory.

    Lord Nash

    The initial teacher training (ITT) criteria document contains both statutory guidance and accompanying advice from the National College for Teaching and Leadership (NCTL). Accredited ITT providers must have regard to the statutory guidance when carrying out their duties relating to ITT. The criteria are made under The Education (School Teachers’ Qualifications) (England) Regulations 2003 (S.I. 2003/1662). They set out criteria which providers must ensure that candidates meet when they seek to gain a training place, and programme design, management and quality assurance criteria that must be met by those ITT providers in the design and delivery of their programmes. There are criteria specific to employment-based ITT routes.

    The accompanying advice is designed to help training providers understand and interpret the statutory criteria. Ofsted uses the supporting advice when it inspects ITT providers under the relevant initial teacher education framework for inspection. The content of ITT is not specified by the criteria and supporting advice, except that providers must ensure that programmes are designed to enable trainee teachers to be assessed as meeting the relevant standards (the Teachers’ Standards). No changes have been made to the ITT criteria recently; the last change was made in June 2015 (Criterion C2.2). This removed the previously specified age ranges, allowing providers greater scope to work with schools to determine the age range that their programmes would be designed to cover, within the specified primary, middle, and secondary phases.

    On 16 March, NCTL combined the statutory guidance and supporting advice into a single document to improve clarity. Some routine and minor amendments were made to the supporting advice to assist ITT providers. These related to safeguarding arrangements, middle years programmes, and secondary subjects that are typically offered in schools in only one Key Stage. NCTL also included advice for ITT providers on the Government’s Prevent strategy.

  • Kevan Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Kevan Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2016-04-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 6.50 of the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, if he will ensure that the refresh of the defence industrial policy includes measures to (a) maximise export potential, (b) generate intellectual property rights and (c) promote engineering skills in the defence and aerospace sector.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The Government remains committed to the principles set out in the 2012 National Security Through Technology White Paper. We will always strive to get the best value for money for the taxpayer in a way that strengthens national prosperity. This will be our approach in refreshing defence industrial policy and in promoting an innovative, skilled and globally competitive UK defence sector.

  • Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2016-06-06.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they will hold with the Competition and Markets Authority and the National Trading Standards Board in the light of the recommendations of the Waterson Review on secondary ticketing published on 26 May.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    The Government is considering Professor Waterson’s Review and will publish its response in due course.

  • Lord Berkeley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Berkeley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2016-07-20.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan to implement the recommendations made by the Law Commission in 2013 regarding level crossing legislation.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    The Department for Transport is close to finalising its response to the Law Commission’s recommendations on the reform of level crossing legislation.

    This is a complex area and it has been necessary to explore all the available options in detail. Whilst this has taken time, I am confident that we will be able to come forward with proposals for a cohesive package of improvements shortly.