Category: Speeches

Jonathan Ashworth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2016-02-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2016 to Question 27903, which countries were visited in each of the overseas visits referred to in the Answer; and which trade envoy undertook each such visit.

Anna Soubry

The table below outlines which countries were visited, and by which Trade Envoy.

YEAR	TRADE ENVOY	COUNTRY
2012	Baroness Morris	Jordan
2013	Baroness Morris	Palestine, Kuwait
2013	Lord Risby	Algeria
2013	Baroness Scotland	South Africa
2013	Lord Putnam	Vietnam, Laos
2013	Baroness Bonham-Carter	Mexico x2
2013	Richard Graham	Indonesia
2014	Baroness Bonham-Carter	Mexico x2
2014	Richard Graham	Indonesia x2
2014	Mark Prisk	Iceland, Finland, Sweden
2014	Lord Risby	Algeria x3, Tunisia
2014	David Heath	Nigeria x2, Angola x2
2014	Lord Sharman	Morocco x2
2014	Baroness Scotland	South Africa x2
2014	Lord Hollick	Kenya, Tanzania,
2014	Lord Janvrin	Turkey x2
2014	Charles Hendry	Kazakhstan x2
2014	Baroness Morris	Palestine x2, Jordan
2014	Lord King	Saudi Arabia
2014	Charles Hendry	Azerbaijan x2
2015	Charles Hendry	Kazakhstan x2, Azerbaijan
2015	Baroness Morris	Kuwait x3, Palestine
2015	Lord Janvrin	Turkey x2
2015	Lord King	Saudi Arabia x3
2015	Baroness Nicholson	Iraq
2015	Baroness Bonham-Carter	Mexico x2
2015	Lord Putnam	Vietnam x2, Cambodia x2, Laos
2015	Lord Hollick	Tanzania, Kenya
2015	Lord Risby	Algeria
2015	David Heath	Angola, Nigeria
2015	Baroness Scotland	South Africa x2
2015	Richard Graham	Indonesia x3, Singapore, Malaysia
2015	Mark Prisk	Norway, Sweden
2016	Lord Risby	Algeria
2016	Lord Hollick	Tanzania, Kenya
2016	Baroness Northover	Angola
2016	Baroness Scotland	South Africa
2016	Jeffrey Donaldson MP	Egypt
2016	Baroness Morris	Kuwait
2016	Lord Putnam	Vietnam, Cambodia x2, Laos
2016	Richard Graham	Indonesia, Singapore

01/01/2023

Sue Hayman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sue Hayman on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much subsidy was paid to the operators of the Northern rail franchise in each financial year between December 2004 and April 2016.

Andrew Jones

Subsidies paid from 2004 to 2008:

2004/05 – 81.0 million (part year – December 2004 to March 2005)

2005/06 – 278.2 million

2006/07 – 168.5 million

2007/08 – 119.3 million

Figures from 2008 onwards are published on the Office of Rail and Road’s (‘ORR’) website at: http://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/displayreport/report/html/95218cca-408d-4047-83ce-a542c53b59e6. 2015-16 financial information will be made available following publication of Audited Statutory Accounts.

“

01/01/2023
Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl McCartney on 2016-04-27.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what representations he has received on the potential merits of exempting telematics car insurance policies from insurance premium tax.

Harriett Baldwin

HM Treasury receives representations on a wide variety of issues. We keep all taxes under review.

01/01/2023
David Hanson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2016-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects Capita to respond to the right hon. Member for Delyn in relation to correspondence dated 1 February, 14 April and 10 June 2016 relating to Mrs M. of Flint.

Justin Tomlinson

The letters to which you refer were received by Capita but not processed in line with their standard procedures. Capita apologises for the delay and any inconvenience caused and are investigating why their procedures were not followed.

Capita sent their reply to the honourable Member on Friday, 17 June.

01/01/2023
Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-09-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Chinese government on banning organ tourism to China.

Alok Sharma

As My Rt Hon. Friend, the former Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Hugo Swire, stated to the house on the 12 July 2016, we have raised concerns about reports of organ harvesting, as well as about the torture and mistreatment of detainees, during the annual UK-China human rights dialogue. We will do so again at the next round. My officials also raised the issue with their Chinese counterparts on 1 September 2016.

However, despite the fact that UK physicians always advise patients against, it is very difficult to prevent UK citizens travelling to less well-regulated countries to seek an organ transplant. Although numbers are not known, it is thought that very few patients in the UK choose to do so.

01/01/2023
Peter Bone – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Bone on 2016-10-18.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of the change in the value of the pound on the negotiations on the UK leaving the EU.

Simon Kirby

The UK has an inflation target, not an exchange rate target, and the Government does not express a view on the level of the exchange rate. Instead, the exchange rate is allowed to adjust flexibly in response to economic conditions and movements in sterling are determined by market forces.

The UK economy is fundamentally strong and is well-placed to deal with the challenges, and take advantage of the opportunities, that lie ahead. HM Government is not giving a running commentary on our exit negotiations.

01/01/2023
Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-11-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of annual funding cycles on the ability of further education and sixth form colleges to undertake financial planning; what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on that matter; what plans the Government has to change those funding cycles to reflect Government spending review cycles; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Sam Gyimah

16-19 funding is that it is based on the level of recruitment institutions delivered in the previous year. That means institutions’ funding keeps pace with changing student numbers with the minimum delay. The Government has no plans to change the 16-19 funding system.

01/01/2023
Justin Madders – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2015-12-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy to guarantee that all patients who had their operations cancelled as a result of the proposed industrial action by junior doctors will be offered another date for their operation within the next 28 days.

Ben Gummer

The NHS is making every effort to rearrange treatment for people whose operations were cancelled as quickly as possible.

We recognise that cancellations by the hospital are upsetting and inconvenient for patients, which is why there is a pledge on cancelled operations in the Handbook on the NHS Constitution. When a patient’s operation is cancelled by the hospital at the last minute (on or after the day of admission, including the day of surgery) for non-clinical reasons, the hospital should offer another binding date within a maximum of the next 28 days or fund the patient’s treatment at the time and hospital of the patient’s choice.

For operations that were cancelled before the day of admission, the pledge does not apply. However, the NHS Constitution includes the right “to access services within maximum waiting times, or for the NHS to take all reasonable steps to offer you a range of alternative providers if this is not possible”. Patients have the right to start consultant-led treatment within a maximum of 18 weeks from referral for non-urgent conditions. If this is not possible, and where patients request it, the organisation responsible for commissioning the patient’s care must investigate offering a range of suitable alternative providers that would be able to see or treat the patient more quickly than the original provider. The commissioning organisation must take all reasonable steps to meet patients’ requests.

01/01/2023
Andrew Percy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Percy on 2016-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made representations to the Palestinian Authority on recent comments related to the practice of honouring terrorists by Rami Hamdallah.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We condemn the glorification of terrorism and all incitement to commit violence, whichever side it comes from. Since the start of the current violence we have spoken regularly to both the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority, urging them to use their influence to de-escalate the tensions. We regularly raise incitement with the Palestinian Authority, and have urged key figures to encourage calm and condemn violence. We continue to support the reinstatement of the Tripartite Committee as the appropriate channel to deal with allegations of incitement from either side.

01/01/2023
Henry Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2016-02-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the quantity and quality of specialist therapeutic support available to children who have experienced abuse.

Alistair Burt

Children who have been abused may require a range of services to meet their needs. Local commissioners are responsible for assessing local need and ensuring the delivery of appropriate services. Local partners and NHS England need to work together to help children who have experienced abuse or neglect access appropriate care pathways and evidence-based care.

01/01/2023