Category: Speeches

  • Douglas Carswell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Douglas Carswell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2016-02-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Prime Minister’s Oral Statement of 22 February 2016, Official Report, column 35, on the European Council, whether her Department is undertaking planning in the eventuality of a majority leave vote in the EU referendum.

    Nick Gibb

    At the February European Council, the Government negotiated a new settlement, giving the United Kingdom a special status in a reformed European Union. The Government’s position, as set out by the Prime Minister to the House on 22 February, is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.

  • Joan Ryan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Joan Ryan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Joan Ryan on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of neighbourhood policing capacity.

    Mike Penning

    Decisions about the number of officers deployed to neighbourhood policing, and their specific roles, are for Chief Constables and democratically accountable Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). They are responsible for ensuring the needs of the local community are met. Priorities for each area are set out in the PCC’s – in London the Mayor’s – Police and Crime Plan. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary independently assesses the efficiency and effectiveness of police force activity, including neighbourhood policing.

  • Paul Monaghan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Paul Monaghan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Monaghan on 2016-05-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will intervene to suspend the decision by Capita relating to Mrs Marleen Baldwin; and if she will ensure that Mrs Baldwin is not forcibly removed from the UK until she has reviewed her case.

    James Brokenshire

    We do not comment publicly on individual cases. UK Visas and Immigration will write to the Honourable Member to provide an update on this case.

    There are no plans for a specific review of the administrative handling of immigration applications from Canadian nationals for indefinite leave to remain. UK Visas and Immigration is, however, committed to the principles of continuous improvement and to applying these to ensure processes are efficient and effective.

    The administrative requirements, and service standards, to which applicants for indefinite leave to remain are subject, are set out at www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/settle-in-the-uk. This information is reviewed regularly, with a view to ensuring it is as clear as possible.

  • Royston Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Royston Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Royston Smith on 2016-06-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people (a) in general and (b) who have long-term health conditions are liable for prescription charges.

    Alistair Burt

    The information requested is not collected centrally. We estimate that 60% of people in England are not required to pay for their prescriptions, though it is not possible to indicate how many people on either side may have a long-term health condition. The prescription charge exemptions include exemption for those on low income, which is based on receipt of certain benefits or through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Where someone does not qualify for exemption from prescription charges, Prescription Prepayment Certificates are available. The three-month and 12-month certificates allow someone to claim as many prescriptions as they need for £29.10 and £104, respectively.

  • Baroness Helic – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Baroness Helic – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Helic on 2016-09-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Saudi-led coalition regarding attacks on medical facilities in Yemen, and what their policy is on that issue.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    We are aware of reports of alleged airstrikes on medical facilities in Yemen. It is important that the Saudi-led Coalition conducts thorough and conclusive investigations into incidents where it is alleged that International Humanitarian Law has been breached. They have the best insight into their own military procedures and will be able to conduct the most thorough and conclusive investigations. This is the standard we set ourselves and our allies. The Saudi led Coalition Joint Investigations Assessment Team announced the outcome of 8 investigations on 4 August.

  • Helen Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Helen Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2015-11-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs in Warrington which are (a) dependent on and (b) directly related to Britain continuing to maintain an at-sea nuclear deterrent; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The Ministry of Defence no longer compiles national or regional defence industry employment statistics as they do not directly support policy-making or operations.

  • Lord MacKenzie of Culkein – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord MacKenzie of Culkein – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord MacKenzie of Culkein on 2015-12-01.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what research has been conducted into whether clinical teams, mentors and practice educators can support an additional 10,000 nursing and midwifery students while ensuring the quality of their practice placements.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The additional places will include placements in line with existing degrees, to do so there will be no change required to existing statutory regulation or education standards.Delivering suitable high quality placements as now, is part of the universities commitment on delivering an additional 10,000 student places.

    Education standards will continue to be set United Kingdom-wide by the statutory Nursing and Midwifery Council and Health Care Professionals Council who as part of their approvals process assess the quality of practice placements. Professional bodies are also involved in setting curricula, particularly in the allied health professions and this will continue. It will be for universities to work as part of their local health economy with placement providers to secure extra placements for the additional students.

  • Gregory Campbell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Gregory Campbell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions her Department has had with the devolved assemblies on best practice on insulation of historic and other older properties.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Department has regular discussions with its counterparts in the devolved administrations in order to ensure the sharing of best practice and ideas between all parts of the UK.

  • Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-01-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to reduce food waste.

    Rory Stewart

    Through the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the Government has made significant progress to reduce food waste through the Courtauld Commitment, the Love Food Hate Waste Campaign and the Hospitality and Food Service Agreement.

    Household food waste reduced by 15% between 2007 and 2012 and Courtauld Commitment signatories reported a reduction in supply chain waste of 7.4% from 2009 to 2012, with interim results for Courtauld 3 showing a further 3.2% reduction by 2014.

    Interim results for the Hospitality Agreement show signatories achieved a reduction in CO2e emissions of 3.6% by preventing food waste and the food and packaging recycling rate rose from 45% to 57% between 2012 and 2014.

    WRAP is currently brokering a new agreement with the food sector to build on this success. The Courtauld Commitment 2025 will take a whole food supply chain approach to food sustainability and will include new ambitious targets to reduce food waste. Courtauld 2025 is expected to be launched in March 2016.

  • Mary Glindon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    Mary Glindon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Glindon on 2016-02-08.

    To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what change there has been to the level of the Equality and Human Rights Commission budget since 2007; and if she will make a statement.

    Caroline Dinenage

    Following the results of the Spending Review the Department for Education is currently finalising budgets over the review period for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) along with other budgets for which the Department is responsible. I am not in a position to confirm the level of funding that the EHRC will receive until this process is complete.

    The EHRC’s budget is available in its annual report, which is available to view here: http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/about-us/about-commission/corporate-reporting/annual-reports

    “