Category: Speeches

  • Owen Thompson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union

    Owen Thompson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Thompson on 2016-10-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will devolve control over immigration to the Scottish Government as part of his negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.

    Mr David Jones

    Immigration is a reserved matter. However, we are working closely with the Scottish Government and we will get the best possible deal for all parts of the United Kingdom as we leave the EU. We will give the Scottish Government every opportunity to have their say as we develop the negotiating strategy.

  • Steve Reed – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Steve Reed – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2015-11-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much his Department provided to Croydon Council in Homeless Prevention Grant in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14, (c) 2014-15 and (d) 2015-16.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    We have made available over £500 million to local authorities and the voluntary sector to tackle homelessness. Since 2010, this has helped local authorities to prevent 935,800 households from becoming homeless.

    Croydon Council received Homelessness Prevention Grant of £1,125,000 in 2012-13. From 2013-14 support for preventing homelessness has been included in the annual Local Government Finance Settlement, split between Revenue Support Grant and estimated retained business rates.

    In the following years Croydon Council’s level of notional grant was as follows: £945,000 in 2013-14, £931,000 in 2014-15 and £930,000 in 2015-16.

    Revenue Support Grant and retained business rates are not ring-fenced it is up to individual authorities to decide how grant funding should be spent in order to deliver local services.

  • Henry Bellingham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Henry Bellingham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Bellingham on 2015-12-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to amend the annual limit set on nurse educational places; and if he will make a statement.

    Ben Gummer

    From 2017 we are removing the limit on the number of students that can study nursing. This reform is expected to enable universities to provide up to 10,000 additional nursing and other health professional training places over this Parliament. This will open up opportunities for applicants which universities have previously been forced to turn down.

  • David Amess – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    David Amess – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2016-01-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many technologies have been assessed through NHS England’s commissioning through evaluation process in (a) 2014 and (b) 2015.

    George Freeman

    In 2014, five treatments commencedevaluation under NHS England’s Commissioning through Evaluation programme.

    In 2015, six treatments commenced evaluation under NHS England’s Commissioning through Evaluation programme.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-02-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2015 to Question 14462, what the benefit: cost ratio was of the Great Western Main Line electrification programme on the latest date for which figures are available.

    Claire Perry

    Network Rail is continuing to refine its work schedule for delivering the Great Western Route Modernisation programme and the Hendy Report is currently the subject of a consultation with stakeholders. A revised benefit-cost ratio for the programme will be produced after the conclusion of these important strands of work.

  • Lord MacKenzie of Culkein – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord MacKenzie of Culkein – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord MacKenzie of Culkein on 2016-02-26.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will respond to the report A Review of Choice at the End of Life, published by the End of Life Coalition in February 2015.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The Department commissioned the independently-led Review of Choice in End of Life Care which provided advice to Ministers last year. The Review set out a vision for enabling greater choice and improving quality at the end of life for every dying person.

    We want to ensure that patients have greater choice about the care they receive at the end of their life and we are working with NHS England to see how this can best be achieved. We will set out our full response to the Choice Review shortly.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the average value of unused food thrown away by households in the last 12 months.

    Rory Stewart

    Through the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), the Government continues to work with the grocery sector to reduce household food waste. The Love Food Hate Waste programme helps UK households to reduce food waste and save money through awareness raising and consumer advice. There has been a 15% (1.3 million tonnes) reduction in household food waste between 2007 and 2012.

    WRAP launched Courtauld 2025 on 15 March, which builds on the progress we have already made. This new agreement includes a target to reduce food and drink waste arising in the UK by 20% by 2025 (calculated as a relative reduction per head of population).

    For the average household, the price of avoidable food and drink waste is £470 per year. For the average household with children, the cost of avoidable food and drink waste is £700 per year.

    The total amount of food thrown away by the average household is 260 kg per year. 160 kg of this is avoidable waste. For the average household with children, this figure rises to 390 kg per year, including 240 kg of avoidable food waste.

    These are the latest available figures, applying to 2012. WRAP aims to publish updated figures for household food waste later this year.

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

    Jeff Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeff Smith on 2016-04-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects all regions in England to have a complete Liaison and Diversion service.

    Alistair Burt

    Liaison and Diversion services are currently provided to over 50% of the population of England. Full roll out by 2020/21, as recommended by the “Five Year Forward View for Mental Health” report published in February 2016, is subject to a decision from HM Treasury on the full business case. A formal response is expected from HM Treasury in the next few days and an announcement will be made shortly thereafter.

  • Nigel Dodds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Nigel Dodds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2016-06-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions she has had with her US counterpart on levels of corruption in states in receipt of international aid.

    Sir Desmond Swayne

    The Secretary of State met with Gayle Smith on 18 April for the annual DFID-USAID development dialogue in Washington DC.

    My senior officials and those of USAID engage frequently and the UK and USA are working closely to follow up on commitments made in our respective country statements at the Prime Minister’s Anti-Corruption Summit on 12 May.

  • Ian Austin – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Ian Austin – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the potential effect of Skills Funding Agency proposals to reduce 16-18 apprenticeship funding on the finances of apprenticeship providers.

    Robert Halfon

    The aim for an employer-led system has been clear for some time. Our 2020 Vision Document published in December 2014 made clear the need for providers to respond to employer demand.

    With the introduction of the apprenticeships levy, employers will directly purchase their own apprenticeship training – choosing the apprenticeship training they want to purchase and negotiating on price. This means we have to simplify the funding system to encourage employers to recruit more apprentices of all ages and from all backgrounds, including young people.

    As a result of the levy we will be investing £2.5 billion in apprenticeships; that’s double what was spent on apprenticeships in 2010-11.

    Our funding proposals will introduce a simpler pricing system with a maximum cost for each type of apprenticeship, regardless of age or location. We do not want to dis-incentivise employers from taking on young apprentices so we’re evening out the costs of each apprenticeship, and employers won’t have to pay more to give a 16 to 18-year-old their first step on the career ladder. We are also progressively withdrawing frameworks as standards become available so the funding difference for frameworks is a transitional issue.

    We are also proposing to give employers and training providers an extra £1,000 each for every 16-18 year old apprentice they take on. Providers will need to adapt but we’re making sure there is more money going in overall.

    We’ve published these proposals well in advance of the new system coming in so that providers have time to prepare. The new funding model will only apply to new apprenticeship starts after May 2017, so providers will continue to benefit from stability in funding for apprentices already in the system. The current survey on the draft proposals concluded on 5th September, and feedback will inform the final policy which we aim to publish in October.