Category: Speeches

  • Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-01-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of possible links between trafficking of women and girls and the spread of the Zika virus.

    Mr David Lidington

    We are aware of meetings this week in Geneva of the WHO International Health Regulations Emergency Committee, to consider whether the Zika outbreak should be designated a public health emergency of international concern. We are not aware of a connection being made with human trafficking. Were such a connection substantiated, it would be an added reason for taking firm action to eradicate this crime. Modern slavery is a global crime and requires a strong and collaborative international response. The Government’s Modern Slavery Strategy commits the Government to tackle modern slavery by working with multi-lateral institutions, foreign governments, civil society organisations and faith groups. The Government and the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner have been successful in working with other Governments to include a commitment to end modern slavery in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The UK government successfully pushed for a Commonwealth Heads of Government commitment on this issue. The UK was also the first country in the world to bring in transparency in supply chains legislation, through the 2015 Modern Slavery Act, which requires businesses operating in the UK with a turnover of over £36 million to report annually on what they are doing to prevent modern slavery in their global supply chains.

  • Lady Hermon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Lady Hermon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lady Hermon on 2016-02-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2016 to Question 25652, what media outlets will be used to carry advertising as part of the national campaign for apprenticeships.

    Nick Boles

    The national campaign for apprenticeships will target a range of audiences including young people, employers and parents.

    Advertising will be through a number of different media channels including television, out of home advertising (e.g. posters), radio, digital and social media.

  • Royston Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Royston Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Royston Smith on 2016-03-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential for driverless cars to improve the efficiency of use of road space on motorways.

    Andrew Jones

    Connected and autonomous vehicles could potentially have significant impacts on traffic flow and road network efficiency. The government recognises that this is an important issue and needs to be better understood to properly inform long-term policy and investment decisions. For this reason, the Department for Transport is currently conducting research to explore the traffic flow impacts of connected and autonomous vehicles. This work is ongoing, and forms part of a much wider programme of research and development that the Government is supporting to examine the issues associated with these technologies.

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

    Lord Rosser – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rosser on 2016-04-21.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the importance of rural transport services in tackling loneliness amongst (1) young people, (2) the elderly, (3) those suffering from mental ill health, and (4) those suffering from physical ill health.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    The Government recognises the importance of public transport for both the sustainability and independence of communities. Inadequate transport provision is a very real concern and can be a barrier to the wellbeing of all, particularly those living in more isolated areas.

    Ultimately, however, it is for local authorities, working in partnership with their communities, to identify the right transport solutions that meet the economic and environmental challenges faced in their areas and deliver the greatest benefits for their residents.

  • Rebecca Long Bailey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Rebecca Long Bailey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2016-06-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department first knew of the possible psychotic side effects of Lariam form of mefloquine.

    Mark Lancaster

    A review of archived policy documents indicates that the Ministry of Defence was aware of these possible side effects from at least 1997 onwards.

    It should be noted that all anti-malarial drugs can cause adverse reactions in some individuals. It is therefore Defence policy that they should only be prescribed after an individual risk assessment, to ensure an individual can tolerate the medication. Should side effects be experienced, these are to be reported immediately to a medical officer or GP, who may stop the drug and prescribe an alternative if necessary.

  • Kate Osamor – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Kate Osamor – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Osamor on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the Government’s policy is on maintaining its commitment to spending 0.7 per cent of gross national income on overseas aid.

    Priti Patel

    This Government remains committed to continuing the UK’s leading role on international development, including through spending 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) on overseas aid.

    As an outward-looking, globally engaged nation, we believe that the UK should work to tackle international problems at their source – not wait for them to arrive on our doorstep.

  • Lord Beecham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Lord Beecham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2016-10-10.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) EU students, and (2) students of other nationalities, remain in the UK after completing their university courses in the UK; and in each case for how long on average.

    Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen

    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. What happens in terms of the migration system that will be established as we leave the EU is a matter that will be very closely scrutinised and looked at in great detail by the government and within the government.

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

    Lord Bradley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradley on 2015-10-29.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many places in category D prisons in England and Wales were occupied by prisoners in each month since January 2013.

    Lord Faulks

    Progression to open prisons is never automatic, and prisoners must generally be within two years of release before they can be considered for allocation. Public protection is paramount, only those prisoners who are assessed as low risk of escape/abscond and low risk of causing harm to the public are transferred to an open prison.

    The following table shows the number of category D places that were available and occupied by prisoners in open prisons in England and Wales as at the last Friday in each month since January 2013. This information is published monthly on gov.uk

    The data above does not include the number of places available and in use in category D units in otherwise closed prisons.

    Breakdown of the population and capacity of the dedicated open estate from

    January 2013 to October 2015.

    Month

    Capacity

    Population

    Jan-13

    5,131

    4,933

    Feb-13

    5,131

    4,953

    Mar-13

    5,131

    4,982

    Apr-13

    5,131

    4,993

    May-13

    5,131

    4,988

    Jun-13

    5,131

    4,981

    Jul-13

    5,131

    4,988

    Aug-13

    5,131

    4,994

    Sep-13

    5,131

    4,990

    Oct-13

    5,131

    5,005

    Nov-13

    5,203

    5,048

    Dec-13

    5,217

    4,993

    Jan-14

    5,217

    4,932

    Feb-14

    5,217

    4,994

    Mar-14

    5,217

    5,037

    Apr-14

    5,339

    5,159

    May-14

    5,339

    5,122

    Jun-14

    5,339

    5,087

    Jul-14

    5,339

    5,082

    Aug-14

    5,374

    5,011

    Sep-14

    5,374

    4,943

    Oct-14

    5,397

    4,846

    Nov-14

    5,397

    4,814

    Dec-14

    5,397

    4,759

    Jan-15

    5,405

    4,666

    Feb-15

    5,329

    4,680

    Mar-15

    5,131

    4,691

    Apr-15

    5,453

    4,922

    May-15

    5,468

    4,876

    Jun-15

    5,544

    5,020

    Jul-15

    5,569

    5,019

    Aug-15

    5,569

    5,062

    Sep-15

    5,520

    5,076

    Oct-15

    5,550

    5,127

  • Paula Sherriff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Paula Sherriff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2015-11-26.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 1.251 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what the 26 new Enterprise Zones are; and which local enterprise partnerships made unsuccessful applications to become enterprise zones.

    Mr David Gauke

    The full list of successful Enterprise Zones, which is available to view online, was published by the Department of Communities and Local Government following the Spending Review announcement.

  • Patrick Grady – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Patrick Grady – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-01-11.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on which occasions officials of his Department have met representatives of the Royal Bank of Scotland in each of the last five years; and what topics were discussed at each such meeting.

    Harriett Baldwin

    HM Treasury officials meet regularly with representatives of financial services firms, including Royal Bank of Scotland, to discuss a wide range of domestic and international financial services issues. However, the Department does not maintain a registry of working level meetings.