Category: Speeches

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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-09-13.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the UK has signed and ratified (1) Articles 1(c) and 2 of the Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade and Institutions, and Practices Similar to Slavery; (2) Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages; (3) Articles 3 and 23 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; (4) Article 10 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; (5) Articles 2 and 16 of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women; and (6) the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and if so, when.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The UK has ratified all of these treaties and it is not possible to ratify single articles of these treaties. The UK ratified the Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery, the Slave Trade and Institutions, and Practices Similar to Slavery in 1957; acceded to the Convention on Consent to Marriage, Minimum Age for Marriage and Registration of Marriages in 1970; ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1976; the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in 1976; ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women in 1986; and ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991.

  • Callum McCaig – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Callum McCaig – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Callum McCaig on 2015-11-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions her Department has had with National Grid on its Winter Outlook Report 2015-16, published in October 2015.

    Andrea Leadsom

    DECC Officials work closely with National Grid counterparts on the analysis in the winter outlook and maintain a constant dialogue as it is developed.

    The Winter Outlook Report presents a snapshot view of the forecast security of supply situation which is constantly being analysed by National Grid in cooperation with DECC and Ofgem. The Winter Outlook is part of a wider programme of analysis including National Grid’s Summer Outlook, Winter Outlook Consultation and Ofgem’s capacity assessment.

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  • Bill Esterson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Bill Esterson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bill Esterson on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make an estimate of the number of (a) cats and (b) dogs killed by accidental ingestion of poisonous antifreeze in each of the last five years.

    George Eustice

    We have no estimates of the numbers of cats or dogs killed by antifreeze.

    However there are periodically reported cases where antifreeze may have contributed to the death of pet animals. This issue was most recently debated in Parliament on the 2 December 2014.

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  • Cheryl Gillan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Cheryl Gillan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cheryl Gillan on 2016-01-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he made of the number of lung cancer patients in England who have accessed the immuno-oncology drug nivolumab via private healthcare providers or other private sources of funding in the last year; and when NICE will make its final decision about NHS patients gaining access to that drug.

    George Freeman

    The Department does not hold the requested information concerning private healthcare or other private sources of funding.

    The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence currently has two technology appraisals of nivolumab for lung cancer in development:

    (i) Nivolumab for previously treated locally advanced or metastatic squamous non-small-cell lung cancer, with an anticipated publication date of May 2016.

    (ii) Nivolumab for previously treated locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous non-small-cell lung cancer, with an anticipated publication date of September 2016.

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

    Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what representations she has received from faith schools on admissions and staffing policies in such schools; and if she will make a statement.

    Edward Timpson

    The Department greatly values the role of Church and other faith schools in our education system.

    Ministers and officials meet representatives of these schools on a regular basis to discuss a range of topics including staffing and admissions.

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-03-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost was of the recruitment process for the post of National Guardian in the Care Quality Commission.

    Ben Gummer

    The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. The CQC has provided the following information.

    The cost of recruiting for the post of National Guardian was £61,300 (including VAT) and the costs of recruitment were borne equally across NHS Trust Development Authority, NHS England, the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts (Monitor) and the CQC. This figure includes the cost of executive search, advertising and minimal individual expenses.

    The recruitment services for the role were provided by Russell Reynolds Associates. Due to the short duration in post of the person appointed the CQC does not envisage a fee being levied to support the recruitment of a replacement.

  • Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno on 2016-04-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action is being taken by the Crown Prosecution Service following the publication of the Panama Papers.

    Lord Keen of Elie

    The Government has announced plans to create a cross-agency taskforce to investigate all evidence of illegality that has emerged from the so called “Panama Papers” revelations. The Government will take whatever action is necessary after the work of the taskforce has been completed.

    The Crown Prosecution Service will advise on any criminal investigations commenced by HMRC, the police or the National Crime Agency and will bring criminal proceedings if cases pass the evidential and public interest stages of the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

  • Hilary Benn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Hilary Benn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Egyptian government on the death penalty imposed on Ibrahim Mohammed Helal and other journalists in that country.

    Mr Philip Hammond

    We regularly raise our concerns over press freedoms with the Egyptian authorities both in London and in Cairo. The Prime Minister, the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) raised the detention of journalists with President Sisi during his visit to the UK in November 2015. I raised press freedoms and freedom of expression with the Egyptian Ambassador in April, and these concerns are expanded upon in the Human Rights Priority Country report on Egypt which was published on 21 April. It is a long term policy of the UK Government to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle and we have raised this with the Egyptian Government. There are further stages in the legal process and we will continue to monitor the case.

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-07-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2016 to Question 41943, how many people have (a) claimed and (b) received payment under the vaccine damages payment scheme in respect of a vaccine used for whooping cough.

    Justin Tomlinson

    I refer the honourable gentleman to my response to his question dated 31 May 2016. Information regarding claims and awards in respect of a particular disease or vaccine is unavailable.

  • Lord Stoddart of Swindon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Stoddart of Swindon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2016-09-13.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the widening of the M4 motorway between junctions 3 and 12 will commence, when it is likely to be completed, and what measures they will put in place to avoid delays to traffic during the construction period.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    Highways England’s latest Delivery Plan states that the start of works for the M4 Junction 3-12 scheme is the fourth quarter of 2016/2017 and it will open to traffic in 2021/22.

    Measures to avoid delays to traffic during the construction period include:

    • Maintaining three lanes of traffic in each direction during peak periods
    • Using average speed camera equipment to smooth flows and improve safety and journey time reliability
    • Installing a CCTV system to identify vehicles in need of recovery and other incidents, with free recovery of broken down vehicles to remove obstructions and keep traffic flowing
    • Minimising traffic management during Bank Holiday periods and working with major events to coordinate traffic management
    • Timing overnight lane closures and full carriageway closures at less sensitive times.