Category: Speeches

  • Lord Taylor of Warwick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Lord Taylor of Warwick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick on 2016-04-26.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the recent claims by the President of the United States that the UK leaving the EU could cause severe consequences to UK and US trade.

    Lord Price

    The Government has assessed that the total volume of UK trade with the world would be between 9% and 24% lower after 15 years if the UK left the EU.

    If the UK withdrew from the EU we would no longer benefit from the trade agreement the EU is negotiating with the US. Negotiating a replacement agreement would take years as the US would almost certainly want to conclude its negotiations with the EU first before deciding whether to enter into separate negotiations with the UK.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-06-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of existing public transport infrastructure for people with sight and hearing loss; and if he will make a statement.

    Andrew Jones

    Accessible public transport is vital in enabling people who are visually or hearing impaired, as well as other disabled people, to live and work with independence and dignity.

    The Department has committed to publishing an accessibility action plan to improve access to public transport and contribute to halving the employment gap between non-disabled and disabled people.

    Throughout its development we are working with the Disabled Persons’ Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) and organisations representing the interests of disabled people, including those who are visually and hearing impaired, helping us to understand what works well, and what barriers still remain.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Trade

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Trade

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps he is taking to retain current inward investors in the UK after the UK leaves the EU.

    Greg Hands

    The UK remains the most attractive place in Europe to invest in. As well as attracting new projects, this Department already focuses substantial effort on retention of our existing investors and supporting them to grow and remain in the UK to maximise wealth creation. On 5th September 2016, the Directorate General within DIT responsible for inward investment moved to a new, more focussed operating model to deliver inward investment, which will push this agenda and provide more focussed support than ever before to retain our inward investors.

  • Louise Ellman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Louise Ellman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Ellman on 2016-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to alter the terms of reference of the Expert Working Panel Group Inquiry into Primodos.

    Nicola Blackwood

    The terms of reference of the Commission on Human Medicines’ Expert Working Group on Hormone Pregnancy Tests were reviewed by the Group at their first meeting on 14 October 2015, endorsed by the Commission on Human Medicines and formally adopted by all members, invited experts and observers of the Expert Working Group at their second meeting on 4 December 2015.

    On 13 October 2016 at a Backbench Business Committee debate secured by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Hormone Pregnancy Tests, the Government committed to respond in detail to the concerns raised by the APPG, which include the terms of reference of the Expert Working Group on Hormone Pregnancy Tests, and to then meet with the APPG to discuss these concerns.

  • Graham Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Graham Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2015-11-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of whether attacks by ISIL against Iraqi Yazidis constitute to genocide.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The Government believes that recognition of genocides should be a matter for international courts. It should be a legal, rather than political determination, decided by international judges after consideration of all the evidence available in the context of a credible international judicial process. I deplore the targeting and persecution of Yezidis and other minorities by the so called Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant. We continue to urge the Government of Iraq to do all it can to ensure the security and rights of all minority communities in Iraq, including the Yezidi. We are working in Iraq to build consensus around the importance of freedom of religion or belief; and supporting practical projects on community dialogue with civil society and faith groups. The UK is supporting the international humanitarian relief effort in Iraq by providing £79.5m to help the 3.2 million internally displaced Iraqis, including many who have fled their homes on account of ISIL’s persecution on the grounds of religion. The money is providing clean water, sanitation, essential medicines, and funding for NGOs and charities, some of which is specifically designed to protect women and children.

  • Bridget Phillipson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Bridget Phillipson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2015-12-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, with reference to paragraph 39 (e) on page 12 of the North East Devolution Agreement, what discussions he has had with the First Minister of Scotland on Government support for joint initiatives between the North East and Scotland.

    David Mundell

    The UK Government supports opportunities for joint initiatives between the North East and Scotland. The Borderlands Initiative is a cross-border project which brings together the five local authorities of Dumfries and Galloway, Scottish Borders, Carlisle City Council, Cumbria Council and Northumberland. It aims to promote economic growth and competitiveness across the Borderlands and is jointly supported by the UK and Scottish Government.

  • Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-01-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to notify universal credit claimants of the changes to their entitlement taking effect from April 2016.

    Priti Patel

    We will notify all claimants who we expect to be directly affected by the change, offering tailored support depending on the claimant’s circumstances.

  • Lord Ouseley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Ouseley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ouseley on 2016-02-01.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications for the quality of social care and support systems, including independent living of the elderly and disabled people, of not providing extra funding for the Better Care Fund in 2016–17

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The Government’s decision to introduce the adult social care precept from 2016/17 and additional Better Care Fund funding from 2018/19 reflected consideration of social care cost pressures as part of the Spending Review process.

    Under the Care Act councils are obliged to ensure that any person in its area wishing to access services in the market has a variety of high quality services to choose from.

  • Baroness Tonge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Baroness Tonge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-02-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government who will represent them at the forthcoming World Humanitarian Summit in May.

    Baroness Verma

    Final decisions on who will be in the delegation will be taken nearer the time.

  • Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who claim disability living allowance in (a) England and (b) Wales have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The Department does not hold such information about the disabling condition of people who have applied for Disability Living Allowance. Information on DLA claimants’ disabling condition is only held for those who have entitlement to the benefit.

    The information we have for the number of people claiming (i.e. entitled to) Disability Living Allowance, by main disabling condition and geography is published and available at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/default.asp

    Guidance for users can be found at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/home/newuser.asp

    “