Category: Speeches

  • Maria Eagle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Maria Eagle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2016-03-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what his Department’s expenditure was on Wi-Fi provision for public libraries in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13, (d) 2013-14, (e) 2014-15 and (f) 2015-16 to date.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    Public libraries are funded and run by local authorities. However, the Government provided funding in 2015-16 which means that by March 2016, free WiFi will be available in 99% of public libraries in England. In total, 70 local authorities will have received funding of around £2.7 million to upgrade or install WiFi in 1017 public libraries. In addition, through the Government’s super connected cities programme, WiFi was previously installed in 288 libraries across 14 cities, UK-wide by the end of March 2015.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-04-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much has been allocated to the community pharmacy contractual framework in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

    Alistair Burt

    Since the community pharmacy contractual framework was introduced in 2005, the usual practice has been to set one year funding settlements for community pharmacy. As previously announced, the funding for community pharmacy for 2016/17 is £2.63 billion. Discussions are being held with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee, which represents pharmacy owners.

    We cannot comment further on future funding at this time.

  • Anne Main – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Anne Main – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anne Main on 2016-05-23.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the income tax paid each year by EU nationals who remain in the UK for less than one year in each of the last three years.

    Damian Hinds

    The information requested is not available.

  • Alistair Carmichael – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Alistair Carmichael – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alistair Carmichael on 2016-07-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the latest arrangements are between the UK and US governments on holding detainees in Diego Garcia.

    Sir Alan Duncan

    The US provides the UK with an annual assurance that they have not held any detainees in, nor transported any detainees through, the territorial land, air or seas of the United Kingdom or its territories. The latest assurance was sent on 27 June 2016. Diego Garcia is one of the UK territories.

  • William Wragg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    William Wragg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by William Wragg on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the result of the EU referendum.

    David Mundell

    Following the EU Referendum, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Lord Dunlop, and I have met with Scottish Government Ministers on a number of occasions, including with the new Scottish Government Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe, Mr Michael Russell.

    We will continue to work with the Scottish Government as we form our negotiating strategy, working closely to get the best possible deal for all parts of the United Kingdom as we leave the European Union.

  • Philip Davies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Philip Davies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2015-11-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people over 100 years old living (a) in the UK and (b) overseas received the state pension in each of the last three years.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The requested information as of September 2012, 2013 and 2014 is within the table below:

    Country Sept-12 Sept-13 Sept-14
    GB 8,300 9,000 9,700
    Overseas 600 1,000 1,000
    Total 8,900 10,000 10,700

    “-“ indicates less than 100

    Source:
    DWP 5% data

    Notes:
    1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Totals may not sum due to rounding

    2. Cases where the payment has been suspended or the payment is not “live” have been omitted from these figures.

  • Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh on 2016-01-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2015 to Question 18865, who has attended each meeting of the Community Engagement Forum to date; and who has been invited to attend future meetings.

    Karen Bradley

    In his speech on countering extremism in July 2015, the Prime Minister said that he wanted to hear directly from all those in our society who are tackling extremism. The Community Engagement Forum is one of the ways the Prime Minister is doing this. The Forums provide a platform for a wide range of partners to share their experiences and learn from each other. Attendance at the Forums is fluid to ensure Ministers can hear from a wide range of partners. To date, the Community Engagement Forum has met on 13 October 2015 and 19 November 2015. The attendees have been from a wide range of backgrounds and were representatives of all parts of the UK.

    The following individuals attended the first meeting of the Community Engagement Forum on 13 October 2015

    David Cameron, Prime Minister

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister for Countering Extremism

    Theresa May, Home Secretary

    Louise Casey, Department for Communities and Local Government

    Max Chambers, Special Adviser on Home Affairs

    Camilla Cavendish, Number 10

    Brendan Threlfall, Number 10

    Arooj Shah, Councillor, St Mary’s Ward, Oldham

    Sean Harriss, Chief Executive, Lambeth Council

    Paul Martin, Chief Executive, Wandsworth Council

    Sheikh Musa Admani, Imam and Muslim chaplain, City University, London

    Fareed Ahmad, Ahmadiyya Muslim Association

    Farooq Aftab, General Secretary, Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association

    Michael Nazir-Ali, former Bishop of Rochester

    Khatun Sapnara, circuit judge

    Aina Khan, solicitor

    Fiyaz Mughal OBE, Director, Faith Matters

    Sadja Mughal OBE, Director, Jan Trust

    Haras Rafiq, Managing Director, Quilliam Foundation

    Sara Khan, Co-founder and Director, Inspire

    Wahida Shaffi, Near Neighbours Coordinator; National Women’s Programme Lead, Christian Muslim Forum

    Faiza Vaid, Executive Director, Muslim Women’s Network

    Aysha and Kiran Iqbal Patel, Directors, Odara

    Kamal Hanif OBE, Executive Head, Waverley School, Birmingham

    Alun Francis, Principal and Chief Executive, Oldham College

    Imam Qari Asim, Chief Imam, Leeds Makkah Mosque (was invited but unable to attend)

    The following individuals attended the second meeting of the Community Engagement Forum on 19 November 2015:

    Rt. Hon. Nicky Morgan MP, Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities

    Lord Ahmad, Minister for Countering Extremism

    Louise Casey, Independent review on isolated communities

    Alun Francis, Principal and Chief Executive of Oldham College

    Aina Khan, Head of Islamic Department, Duncan Lewis Solicitors

    Sajda Mughal OBE, Managing Director at Jan Trust

    Mary Ney, Supporting Commissioner, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

    Syima Aslam, Organiser of Bradford Literary Festival

    Farook Yunus, Leader of Kumon Y’all

    Sara Khan, Director and Co-founder of Inspire

    Shaukat Warraich, Chief Executive, Faith Associates

    Anil Bhanot OBE, Managing Trustee and Director of Hindu Council UK

    Gillian Merron, Chief Executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews

    William Nye, Secretary General of the General Synod of the Church of England

    Lord Singh of Wimbledon CBE, Director of the Network of Sikh Organisations

    Christine Fischer, Catholic Education Service

    Pascale Vassie, Executive Director, National Resource Centre for Supplementary Education (NRCSE)

    Martin Pratt, Director of Children, Schools and Families, Camden Council

    Matthew Coffey, Chief Operating Officer, Ofsted

    Phil Champain, Director 3 Faiths Forum

    Her Honour Judge Khatun Sapnara, Circuit Judge East London Family Court and Kingston Crown Court

    Sue Robb, Head of Early Years, 4Children

    The next Community Engagement Forum is scheduled for 14 January 2016. The government is also engaging directly at ministerial level with representatives from community, faith and civil groups, and have engaged directly with both the Scottish and Welsh governments.

  • Kate Hoey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Kate Hoey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of recent trends in the relative size of the Shia population in Bahrain; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not carried out an assessment on this. We refer to various published sources, including those from the Government of Bahrain and international organisations such as the United Nations and World Bank.

  • Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when she plans to reply to the letter of 15 February 2016 from the Rt hon. Member for Birkenhead regarding free school meals.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    The Secretary of State has received the Rt hon. Member for Birkenhead’s letter of 15 February 2016 about free school meals and will respond shortly, and within the normal timeframe for correspondence.

  • Flick Drummond – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Flick Drummond – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Flick Drummond on 2016-03-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to increase the provision of free wi-fi and improve bandwidth access for armed forces personnel in military bases overseas to remove the need for such personnel to pay individual monthly subscriptions for access to the internet.

    Penny Mordaunt

    In Cyprus we have recently funded a programme of work to have Wi-Fi installed in the Single Living Accommodation at RAF Akrotiri, Episkopi Garrison, Dhekelia Station and, more recently, Ayios Nikolaos. This demonstrates the value placed on overseas service and the efforts made to address perceived disadvantage. WiFi is also available to personnel at the other Permanent Joint Operating Bases (PJOBs) in Gibraltar, Falkland Islands, Diego Garcia and Ascension Island. However, this is provided by civilian contractors and the quality and cost to personnel varies across the sites.

    Furthermore, for personnel deployed on Operations overseas, connection to family and friends is recognised as beneficial to the well-being of deployed Service Personnel and is realised via a variety of methods including; phone, mail and internet provision. Some locations are harder to reach, including some parts of Africa. Therefore, wherever practicable, the best method of internet provision is considered based upon connectivity, cyber security, duration of operation and value for money. Subsequently, provision of internet for welfare communication is normally met at Public expense, noting that in some locations where the provision of internet is provided by coalition partners, the MOD pays for some provision, allowing personnel to ‘top up’ or buy a faster service at their own expense.