Category: Speeches

  • Tom Blenkinsop – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Tom Blenkinsop – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2016-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 14 June 2016 to Question 40132, whether there have been any changes to her Department’s plans for the roll out of the National Teaching Service; and when her Department expects to confirm the details of those plans.

    Nick Gibb

    We are currently reviewing the lessons learned from the National Teaching Service pilot alongside our growing evidence base on the recruitment challenges that different schools face. The next steps on this will be set out in due course.

  • Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2015-11-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether an additional allocation will be made to the National Health Service to compensate for the costs of the proposed increases in fees set out in the options in the consultation paper published by the Care Quality Commission on 2 November.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    Government policy for fee-setting regulators is that their chargeable costs should be fully covered through their fees income, in line with HM Treasury Guidance set out in ‘Managing Public Money’.

    The proposed fees increases being consulted upon for 2016-17 reflect the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) commitment to achieving full cost recovery, in line with Managing Public Money, within the period of the Spending Review. The fees being charged are therefore funding the CQC as an effective regulator. They allow the CQC’s tough inspection regime to drive up standards across the country, which in turn ensures quality and safety of health and social care provision.

    The CQC’s new regulatory model, led by three specialist Chief Inspectors, provides for robust monitoring and inspection of hospitals, adult care providers and general practitioners.

    Our expectation is that National Health Service providers should be able to absorb these increases within their overall income which will depend, amongst other factors, on the outcome of the Spending Review and the subsequent tariff setting process for 2016-17.

    The Department has also announced that it will make up to £15 million available for general practice in order to cover this and other pressures in 2016/17.

    It is for providers to ensure that they have the appropriate capacity and capability in place in order to deliver a safe, high quality service.

  • Nigel Dodds – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Nigel Dodds – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-11-30.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive about comparative support between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK for charities for encouraging young people to get involved in social action.

    Mr Rob Wilson

    Officials from the Office for Civil Society have regular contact with their counterparts in Northern Ireland on a range of matters of mutual interest, including better charity regulation. I would personally welcome any further contact and future collaboration in driving forward our mutually important agenda.

  • Nigel Evans – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Nigel Evans – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the UN to ensure the promotion of gender parity, equality and diversity in the selection process for the next Secretary General.

    James Duddridge

    Last year the UK launched an initiative to reform the selection process for the next UN Secretary General. We proposed measures that would deliver greater transparency, fairness and structure to the process. All other attributes being equal, it is high time for a woman to lead the United Nations – a job that represents the interests of all the world’s people cannot exclude half of its population. We were therefore pleased the General Assembly adopted a resolution (69/321) that broadly reflects our key proposals: clarity over timelines, greater transparency and an invitation to Member States to put forward women candidates. We also welcome the joint letter of 15 December 2015 (http://www.un.org/pga/70/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/08/15-Dec-2015_Appointment-of-Secretary-General-15-December-2015.pdf) from the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council that sets out principles to guide the selection process.

  • Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-02-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much his Department spent on advertising the Right to Buy scheme for council and housing association tenants in each month from October 2015 to January 2016.

    Brandon Lewis

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 2 December 2015, PQ 18460.

    At that time, Right to Buy campaign spend figures for October and November were provisional as the campaign was still running. Confirmed monthly expenditure from October to December 2015 is as follows:

    October – £155,001
    November – £171,066
    December – £142,656

    Figures for January 2016 are still be finalised so are not yet available.

  • Jonathan Ashworth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Jonathan Ashworth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2016-02-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many (a) publications, (b) consultation documents and (c) circulars her Department has issued since August 2012; and what the title was of each such publication, consultation document or circular.

    George Eustice

    This Department’s publications and consultations issued since August 2012 are available, indexed in date order, on the GOV.UK website. The indexes enable users to search by date and by type of publication. Approximately 2540 publications have been issued by, or jointly with, this Department since August 2012, including 210 consultations. We cannot identify any circulars published since August 2012.

  • Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department takes to advise HM Revenue and Customs when an individual is moved from the employment and support allowance work related activity group into the support group.

    Priti Patel

    The Department does not automatically share information on moves between the work related activity group and the support group with HM Revenue and Customs.

    At the end of each financial year the Department reports to the HM Revenue and Customs details of the tax code operated, the total amount of taxable benefit paid and the total amount of tax deducted for that tax year.

  • Julie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Julie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Cooper on 2016-04-25.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many financial firms were fined for financial misconduct in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014 and (f) 2015; and what the amount of the fine was in each such case.

    Harriett Baldwin

    This is an operational matter for the FCA which is an independent regulator. I have transferred this question across to them and they will respond fully in due course.

  • Chris Law – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Chris Law – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Law on 2016-06-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many times she has visited Scotland in an official capacity since the 2015 General Election; and what meetings were held on each such visit.

    Amber Rudd

    I visited Scotland in May 2016 for the inauguration of the Shetland Gas Plant, and again in June 2016 to attend the Oil and Gas Industry Conference. Details of meetings with external organisations will be published in due course at www.gov.uk.

    “

  • David Simpson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Trade

    David Simpson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Trade

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2016-09-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what plans his Department has in place to include the devolved administrations in UK trade negotiations in the future.

    Greg Hands

    In due course, Britain will be leaving the EU. This offers us an opportunity to forge a new role for ourselves in the world: to negotiate, in time, our own trade agreements and to be a positive and powerful force for free trade. The Prime Minister has established the Department for International Trade to promote British trade across the world and ensure the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us. The Government is currently reviewing its trade policy. We will engage fully with the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments and with a broad range of stakeholders over the coming weeks and months as we prepare for negotiations with our international partners.