Category: Speeches

  • Paul Flynn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Paul Flynn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2016-02-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for projects supported by State Aid agreements of the UK leaving the EU.

    Anna Soubry

    The Government’s view is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off in a reformed European Union.

    As required by the EU Referendum Act 2015, the Government is committed to producing clear information, ahead of the Referendum, on: the outcome of the renegotiation, rights and obligations in European Union law, an assessment of alternatives to membership, and the process for leaving.

  • Margaret Ritchie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Margaret Ritchie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to consult on proposals to repeal the Human Rights Act 1998.

    Dominic Raab

    We will bring forward proposals for a Bill of Rights, which will replace the Human Rights Act. Our Bill will protect fundamental human rights, but also prevent their abuse and restore some common sense to the system. We will fully consult on our proposals before introducing legislation and will publish our proposals in due course.

  • James Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    James Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by James Morris on 2016-04-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans the Government has to support the most vulnerable children and families.

    Edward Timpson

    It is a fundamental priority for this Government to keep children safe from harm and improve their life chances. We are reforming children’s social care, putting practice excellence and achieving more for children at its heart. We have made significant progress, reducing bureaucracy and recently announced a further £200m to support innovative new ways of working that focus on the needs of children and families.

  • Karl Turner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Karl Turner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2016-05-25.

    To ask the Attorney General, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been for each category of hate crime since 2010.

    Robert Buckland

    The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains a central record of the number of prosecutions flagged as hate crimes. Hate crimes comprise offences motivated by hostility or prejudice to a person’s race or perceived race, religion or perceived religion, sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation, disability or perceived disability and transgender identity or perceived transgender identity. These data are accurate only to the extent that the flag has been correctly applied.

    The tables below show the number and proportion of convictions and overall prosecutions, by each category of hate crime, during each of the last five available years:

    TOTAL HATE CRIME PROSECUTIONS

    Convictions

    Total

    2010-11

    12,651

    82.8%

    15,284

    2011-12

    11,843

    83.4%

    14,196

    2012-13

    10,794

    82.6%

    13,070

    2013-14

    11,915

    84.7%

    14,074

    2014-15

    12,220

    82.9%

    14,738

    RACIAL HATE CRIME PROSECUTIONS

    Convictions

    Total

    2010-11

    10,566

    83.1%

    12,711

    2011-12

    9,933

    84.4%

    11,774

    2012-13

    9,107

    83.3%

    10,935

    2013-14

    10,069

    85.2%

    11,818

    2014-15

    10,123

    83.5%

    12,130

    RELIGIOUS HATE CRIME PROSECUTIONS

    Convictions

    Total

    2010-11

    472

    83.4%

    566

    2011-12

    479

    80.8%

    593

    2012-13

    308

    77.2%

    399

    2013-14

    463

    84.2%

    550

    2014-15

    557

    83.8%

    665

    HOMOPHOBIC & TRANSPHOBIC HATE CRIME PROSECUTIONS (1)

    Convictions

    Total

    2010-11

    1,034

    80.7%

    1,281

    2011-12

    951

    78.7%

    1,208

    2012-13

    885

    80.7%

    1,096

    2013-14

    913

    80.7%

    1,132

    2014-15

    1,037

    81.2%

    1,277

    (1) A separate flag for Transphobic crime was introduced in December 2012 following the amendment to the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

    DISABILITY HATE CRIME PROSECUTIONS

    Convictions

    Total

    2010-11

    579

    79.8%

    726

    2011-12

    480

    77.3%

    621

    2012-13

    494

    77.2%

    640

    2013-14

    470

    81.9%

    574

    2014-15

    503

    75.5%

    666

    Data Source: CPS Management Information System

  • Rosie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Rosie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rosie Cooper on 2016-07-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether the placing of mental health patients in care homes is in compliance with NHS guidelines on patient care.

    Nicola Blackwood

    A person who requires mental health treatment should have their needs assessed by a mental health professional who will then refer them for treatment in the least restrictive environment to meet their clinical needs and risk. For the majority of patients care and treatment will be provided while they are living in their own home.

    If a person needs treatment which can only be provided in hospital or their level of risk is such that it can only be managed in a hospital then that treatment would be provided in a hospital, which is registered to provide that type of care. It is unlikely that a care home could provide care and treatment for a person who has been assessed as needing hospital treatment.

  • Kirsten Oswald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Kirsten Oswald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2016 to Question 39787, if he will place a copy in the Library of the Joint Doctrine Publication 030.2, Unmanned Aircraft Systems; and if he will make a statement.

    Mike Penning

    To ensure defence doctrine reflects UK Government policy, the drafting of Joint Doctrine Publication 0-30.2 "Unmanned Aircraft Systems" is being developed in parallel with the Defence policy review concerning both remotely piloted air and highly automated systems. Officials are currently consulting stakeholders and expect to conclude the review early in 2017 at which point we expect to publish the updated doctrine.

  • George Howarth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    George Howarth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Howarth on 2015-11-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the extent of gambling addiction in young people in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

    Tracey Crouch

    The Gambling Commission recently published the findings from a 2015 survey of gambling participation and problem gambling amongst 11-15 year olds. It found that 0.6% of 11-15 year olds being classified as problem gamblers. More information can be found here:

    http://www.natlotcomm.gov.uk/publications-and-research/research-programme/underage-play/ipsos-mori-young-people-omnibus-2015.html

    “

  • Chris Evans – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Chris Evans – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Evans on 2015-12-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will revise the bidding procurement process for the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme in order to increase the number of bidders for the provision of mobile services.

    Mike Penning

    The Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) Mobile Services procurement attracted all national mobile network operators and on 13 November announced its intention to award a contract to EE. Subject to an application decision in the High Court on 8-9 December to lift the automatic suspension, following a challenge by one of the down-selected bidders, EE will be awarded the contract for Mobile Services.

  • Laurence Robertson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Laurence Robertson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Laurence Robertson on 2016-01-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she plans to continue with the visa scheme which allows Filipino nurses to come to the UK to work on its current basis; and if she will make a statement.

    James Brokenshire

    Tier 2 of the Points Based System for immigration – the skilled work route – allows non-EEA workers to fill graduate level occupations, and is the main route used by Filipino nurses wishing to work in the UK.

    In June 2015, the Government commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to advise on restricting Tier 2 to genuine skills shortages and jobs which require highly-specialised experts, but with sufficient flexibility to include high value roles and key public service workers. The MAC has now reported and the Government is currently considering the MAC’s advice.

    In October 2015, the Home Secretary agreed, exceptionally, to place nurses on the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) as an interim measure, pending a full review of the evidence by the MAC. The MAC will advise separately on whether nurses should remain on the SOL by 15 February and we await their recommendation with interest. Skilled jobs which are not on the SOL may still qualify for Tier 2, provided the sponsoring employer has carried out a Resident Labour Market Test.

  • Kevin Brennan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Kevin Brennan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2016-01-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which organisations he has consulted on the changes to Sunday trading in the 12 months.

    Anna Soubry

    The Government ran a public consultation, which closed in September 2015, on its proposals to devolve the power to extend Sunday trading powers to local areas. The Department also met with a range of interested parties including trade unions, religious groups, retailers and retail bodies, and representatives of local authorities.

    The Government plans to publish its response to the consultation shortly.