Category: Speeches

  • Patrick Grady – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Patrick Grady – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to support the provision of non-formal education opportunities by NGOs for Syrian refugees in neighbouring and regional countries.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    At the Conference on Supporting Syria and the Region, we want the international community to agree a new goal that all Syrian refugee children and affected host country children are in education – formal school or non-formal – by the end of 2016/17. Equally, for inside Syria, it is our aim to increase access to good quality schooling or other learning opportunities such as self-learning and non-formal education. In neighbouring countries we will also increase access to vocational or skills training and higher education for children and youth.

    At the Conference our ambition is that international donors, governments from countries in the region hosting refugees, non-governmental organisations and the private sector come together to agree a set of reciprocal financial and policy commitments. The UK and co-hosts are working with donors and other partners to secure increased funding for education under the UN-led appeals for 2016 and longer term, multi-year education funding commitments to ensure sustainability. We are also working with refugee hosting governments in particular to agree the policy commitments necessary to turn increased funding into delivery on the ground.

  • Fiona Bruce – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Fiona Bruce – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether UK-owned tour companies that operate in North Korea contribute financially to that country’s nuclear and missile programmes or to elements of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea government responsible for human rights violations.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    We are aware of UK tour companies who operate in the North Korea. Given the closed nature of the regime there is very limited financial information from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) government on how their nuclear and ballistic missile programme or elements of the regime responsible for human rights violations are funded.

  • Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-03-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 15 March 2016 to Question 30642, what representations the Government made to military leaders in the Democratic Unity Party on patterns of behaviour suggesting that Kurdish forces are coordinating with the Assad regime and Russia.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) has stated his concerns publicly regarding the actions of Kurdish forces in North West Syria. We continue to work with our international partners and to use our contacts with Kurdish groups to influence their policy, including to express concerns over links with the Asad regime and attacks on the moderate Syrian opposition. We are working through the International Syria Support Group to ensure robust implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities in Syria and to focus the peace negotiations currently underway in Geneva on political transition away from Asad, to a government in Damascus that can represent the interests of all Syrians.

  • Anna Turley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Anna Turley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anna Turley on 2016-04-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to help tackle serious cases of animal cruelty.

    George Eustice

    In this country we have one of the most comprehensive pieces of legislation anywhere in the world to protect animals. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is an offence either to cause any captive animal unnecessary suffering or to fail to provide for its welfare needs. The maximum penalty is 6 months’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. The financial element of the penalty was raised only last year from a maximum fine of £20,000. Courts can also disqualify offenders found guilty of animal cruelty from keeping animals for as long a period as they consider appropriate. The overwhelming majority of people in this country are responsible but in circumstances where cruelty does occur I believe we have the necessary measures for enforcement agencies and courts to take action.

  • Tom Tugendhat – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Tom Tugendhat – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Tugendhat on 2016-05-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of his Department’s properties and in which locations are classified as void.

    Penny Mordaunt

    The number and locations of properties classified as void as of 24 May 2016 are shown in the table below:

    County

    Voids

    ABERDEENSHIRE

    5

    ANGUS

    20

    ARGYLL AND BUTE

    237

    AVON

    42

    AYRSHIRE

    21

    BEDFORDSHIRE

    194

    BERKS

    276

    BUCKS

    183

    CAITHNESS

    1

    CAMBS

    373

    CHESHIRE

    50

    CLWYD

    1

    CORNWALL

    46

    *COUNTY ANTRIM

    647

    *COUNTY DOWN

    397

    COUNTY DURHAM

    16

    CUMBRIA

    14

    DEVON

    202

    DORSET

    151

    DUMBARTON

    4

    DUMFRIES

    3

    DURHAM

    8

    DYFED

    45

    EAST SUSSEX

    2

    EAST YORKSHIRE

    4

    EDINBURGH

    169

    ESSEX

    155

    FIFE

    221

    GLOUCESTERSHIRE

    88

    GWENT

    45

    GWYNEDD

    53

    **HANTS

    1074

    HEREFORDSHIRE

    8

    HERTS

    176

    INVERNESS-SHIRE

    58

    ISLE OF BENBECULA

    3

    KENT

    483

    LANCASHIRE

    86

    LEICESTERSHIRE

    162

    LINCOLNSHIRE

    294

    LONDON

    86

    MIDDLESEX

    163

    MIDLOTHIAN

    43

    MORAY

    121

    NORFOLK

    209

    NORTH LANARKSHIRE

    4

    NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE

    3

    NORTH YORKS

    522

    NORTHUMBERLAND

    67

    NOTTINGHAM

    58

    ORKNEY ISLANDS

    1

    OXON

    361

    OXON

    1

    PEMBROKE

    4

    PERTH

    3

    POWYS

    64

    RENFREWSHIRE

    26

    ROSS AND CROMARTY

    1

    SHETLAND ISLANDS

    1

    SHROPSHIRE

    223

    SOMERSET

    90

    SOUTH GLAMORGAN

    111

    SOUTH YORKS

    2

    ST ANDREWS

    3

    STAFFORDSHIRE

    83

    STIRLING

    1

    SUFFOLK

    281

    SURREY

    222

    SWINDON, WILTS

    19

    TYNE AND WEAR

    12

    WARWICKSHIRE

    69

    WEST MIDLANDS

    9

    WEST SUSSEX

    14

    WEST YORKS

    2

    ***WILTS

    1294

    YORKSHIRE

    29

    (blank)

    Total Voids

    10219

    Of these properties 4623 were vacant for more than 12 months.

    *The majority of void properties in Northern Ireland are awaiting demolition while 59 have been gifted to the NI Executive.

    **Void properties in Hants have been retained due to short term Ministry of Defence requirements and plans have been made to release many of these for disposal.

    ***In the Wiltshire region a number of properties remain void to accommodate Army personnel returning to the area from Germany as a result of the Army Basing Programme.

  • Kirsten Oswald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    Kirsten Oswald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2016-07-19.

    To ask the Prime Minister, with reference to the 2015-16 Annual Report of the Intelligence and Security Committee, for what reasons it was decided not to provide the Intelligence and Security Committee with evidence on the UK’s role in US air strikes against (a) Junaid Hussain and (b) Mohammed Emwazi.

    Mrs Theresa May

    I refer the hon. Member to paragraph 15 of the 2015-16 Annual Report of the Intelligence and Security Committee.

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

    Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many residential properties purchased ahead of the construction of High Speed 2 are being let; and what estimate his Department has made of the total amount it will receive in rent payments from those properties.

    Andrew Jones

    As of 30th September 2016, the Department has purchased a total of 483 properties. The Departments estimate of income from the HS2 Portfolio is circa £7.5m per annum.

  • Owen Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Owen Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2015-11-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made on establishing pilot schemes to support carers to stay in work in North Tyneside, Northamptonshire, Cheshire West, Gateshead, Bury, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Staffordshire and Stoke and Sefton.

    Justin Tomlinson

    Government has provided £1.6 million of funding for nine Carers in Employment pilots in North Tyneside, Northamptonshire, Cheshire West, Gateshead, Bury, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Staffordshire and Stoke and Sefton, to explore how carers can be supported to stay in, or return to paid work alongside their caring responsibilities. They began running in all nine Local Authorities from April 2015. These pilot projects support local businesses to make the best use of flexible working arrangements, maximise the use of assistive technology; improve carers’ access to information and resources, and support carers to set up micro-businesses that will expand the local care market.

  • Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2015-12-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many of the Clinical Commissioning Groups in England and Wales have prevented access to dermatology specials for their patients on the grounds of cost in the last five years.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    This information is not collected centrally.

  • Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the capital spend on transport was per head of population in (a) Ellesmere Port and Neston constituency, (b) the North West and (c) England in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

    Andrew Jones

    Figures on transport capital spend per head of population can be derived for the North West and England from the HM Treasury Country and Regional Analysis (CRA).

    Data on spend per head on transport is not available at the level of Ellesmere Port and Neston Constituency.