Category: Speeches

Margaret Ferrier – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-06-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) of his Department’s civilian staff based in the UK, (b) military personnel based in the UK, (c) of his Department’s civilian staff based in Saudi Arabia and (d) military personnel based in Saudi Arabia were employed by the (i) Saudi Arabian National Guard Communications Project and (ii) Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Project on 1 April in each of the last six years.

Michael Fallon

The number of civilian and military personnel based in the UK and Saudi Arabia who were employed by the Saudi Arabian National Guard Communications Project (SANGCOM) and the Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Projects (MODSAP) on 1 April in each of the last six years is shown in the table below. The Saudi Arabian Government reimburses the UK MOD for these staff costs and there is, therefore, no cost to the UK taxpayer.

Manpower as at 1 April 2016	SANGCOM Project	MODSAP
UK-based Civilian Staff	2	73
UK-based Military Staff	0	31
Saudi Arabia-based Civilian Staff	31	37
Saudi Arabia-based Military Staff	20	68
Manpower as at 1 April 2015
UK-based Civilian Staff	2	71
UK-based Military Staff	0	35
Saudi Arabia-based Civilian Staff	34	33
Saudi Arabia-based Military Staff	20	61
Manpower as at 1 April 2014
UK-based Civilian Staff	1	69
UK-based Military Staff	0	42
Saudi Arabia-based Civilian Staff	28	32
Saudi Arabia-based Military Staff	20	50
Manpower as at 1 April 2013
UK-based Civilian Staff	1	69
UK-based Military Staff	0	44
Saudi Arabia-based Civilian Staff	28	31
Saudi Arabia-based Military Staff	21	46
Manpower as at 1 April 2012
UK-based Civilian Staff	1	69
UK-based Military Staff	0	44
Saudi Arabia-based Civilian Staff	26	34
Saudi Arabia-based Military Staff	19	48
Manpower as at 1 April 2011
UK-based Civilian Staff	1	75
UK-based Military Staff	0	46
Saudi Arabia-based Civilian Staff	21	32
Saudi Arabia-based Military Staff	19	60

01/01/2023

Helen Grant – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Grant on 2016-09-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department plans to initiate a further review of gambling advertising to follow up the review by the Industry Group for Responsible Gambling of 2014.

Tracey Crouch

The Government is committed to ensuring that people, particularly the young and vulnerable, are protected from the risk of gambling-related harm. We are keeping the issue of advertising under review to ensure that sufficient protections are in place, and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary.

01/01/2023
Gareth Thomas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-11-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many full-time equivalent UKTI staff in his Department were based in (a) India and (b) Gujarat in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry

UKTI-funded full-time equivalent (FTE) staff in India and Gujarat were as follows:

2015 – 90 UKTI FTE in India, of which 2 in Ahmedabad (Gujarat)

2014 – 86 UKTI FTE in India, of which 2 in Ahmedabad (Gujarat)

2013 – 87.2 UKTI FTE in India, of which 2 in Ahmedabad (Gujarat)

2012- 86.5 UKTI FTE in India, of which 2 in Ahmedabad (Gujarat)

2011- 83.85 UKTI FTE in India, of which 2 in Ahmedabad (Gujarat)

Under UKTI’s sector and project based approach, opportunities in Gujurat are supported by UKTI’s wider teams in India, as well as through links to experts and support in the FCO and in UKTI’s UK based networks.

01/01/2023
Luciana Berger – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2015-12-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish details of his proposal to introduce Ofsted-style ratings for clinical commissioning groups’ mental health services.

Alistair Burt

My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has announced that the new Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) assessment framework being developed by NHS England will contain six key clinical areas, including mental health. The framework will be published in March 2016 and will be operational from 1 April 2016.

An annual assessment of these clinical areas will be moderated by independent panels of experts. Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of MIND, has been appointed panel chair for mental health.

A first simple assessment of all CCGs in these six areas will be published in June 2016. The formal annual summative assessment of all CCGs for 2016/17 will happen at the end of that financial year and be published in summer 2017. The annual assessment will be based on a four point scale of outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate.

01/01/2023
Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-01-14.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many changes in household circumstances have been processed relating to claimants (a) working tax credit and (b) child tax credit in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Mr David Gauke

The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

01/01/2023
Chris White – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris White on 2016-02-09.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many businesses accessed the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) in 2014-15; what the cost of SEIS was to his Department in that year; and what the return on investment was for the economy as a result of the SEIS.

Mr David Gauke

The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) is forecast to cost the Exchequer £180m in 2014-15. Outturn figures for 2014-15 are not yet available. Updated figures on the cost of the relief will be published in December 2016.

The first official statistics on the number of companies raising funds, number of subscriptions, and amounts raised for Seed Enterprise Investment Schemes for 2014-15 will be published in April 2016.

No results have been published on the return on investment from the SEIS.

01/01/2023
Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-03-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of public-private partnerships delivering local authority services and representing good value for money.

Mr Marcus Jones

Local authority Private Finance Initiative Public Private Partnership projects, whether supported by this or other departments, were subject to extensive value for money assessments before authorities entered into their individual contracts. This Department does not undertake post-implementation value for money assessments of local authority Private Finance Initative contracts and services. However authorities are encouraged to continue to seek to improve the value for money of their projects wherever possible and the Department will provide advice and support upon request.

01/01/2023
Imran Hussain – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions she has had with her foreign counterparts on efforts to tackle dengue fever.

Mr Nick Hurd

Ministers and officials meet regularly with the Word Health Organisation to discuss a range of health issues including on the management of disease outbreaks. Dengue was discussed during last year’s World Health Assembly (WHA), which brings together the member states to discuss important issues. Senior officials from DFID and the Department of Health participate at the WHA.

DFID’s health focus is to improve the provision of basic health services for the poorest by supporting health systems strengthening, health worker capacity and access to essential medicines and equipment. Increasing coverage, access and quality will strengthen health services to address all health problems including communicable diseases.

01/01/2023
Keith Vaz – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-05-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to ensure emergency education, in particular for displaced children, is prioritised as part of the emergency response in Yemen; and whether education will be prioritised in her Department’s support for the recovery and reconstruction of Yemen.

Mr Desmond Swayne

UK aid to Yemen is currently focused on the most urgent life-saving needs, in particular food, nutrition, health, water and sanitation. We have so far helped more than 1.3 million Yemenis who have been affected by the conflict.

DFID has supported education in Yemen through the Social Fund for Development (SFD). Since 2010, more than 240,000 children have attended schools supported by SFD. DFID is also supporting the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to rehabilitate schools which is helping 3,500 refugee children and Yemeni children from their host communities, to resume education.

The UK is working closely with the Government of Yemen, Gulf countries, the World Bank, UN and other donors on planning for stabilisation and post-conflict recovery. Any future support will be based upon a comprehensive assessment of needs.

01/01/2023
Margaret Ferrier – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-06-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department will produce a new Strategy for Abolition of the Death Penalty.

Mr David Lidington

I refer the Hon. Member to my answer of 14 January in response to Written Question 21761 of 11 January from the Hon. Member for Birmingham Hall Green (Mr Godsiff ).

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01/01/2023