Category: Speeches

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-12-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of the total declared claw back from BT under National Broadband Scheme contracts has been reallocated to local authorities for additional roll-out under the Scheme.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    All of the£129 million clawback funding that has been announced by BT is available to the local authorities to support additional roll-out, subject to suitable deployment opportunities being identified which ensure value for money.

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

    Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-01-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will hold discussions with train operators on making the process of purchasing railway tickets from ticket machines simpler in respect of (a) indicating peak and off-peak times, (b) where peak and off-peak times differs between train operators and (c) in other ways.

    Claire Perry

    I recognise that ticket vending machines can sometimes be confusing and do not always make it easy for passengers to find the best ticket for their journey.For that reason, I challenged the rail industry at a Summit I held in December 2014 to improve the information they provide through ticket vending machines.The industry has responded by agreeing with the Office of Rail and Road a code of practice on retail information, published in March 2015, and most train operators now have actions underway or complete, which include providing new messages on screens to explain time restrictions and improving the availability of off-peak tickets through vending machines. The Department continues to monitor progress closely in this area.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Sadiq Khan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2016-02-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the number of jobs that will be created as a result of funding from the European Structural and Investment Funds spent in London between 2016 and 2020.

    Anna Soubry

    Information on the number of jobs that will be created from the European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds spent in London in the 2014-2020 programming period is set out in the ESI Funds strategy prepared by the London Enterprise Panel and other local partners which can be found on the London Enterprise Panel website.

  • 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 2016-03-03.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to tackle the use of money laundering services in the Maldives by UK citizens.

    Harriett Baldwin

    The Government believes that money laundering is a critical enabler of both terrorism and serious and organised crime. This is why the UK’s anti-money laundering regime contains controls and supervisory mechanisms which aim to make the UK financial system a hostile environment for illicit finances, whilst minimising the burden on legitimate businesses and reducing the overall burden of regulation.

    The Government expects UK citizens to comply with anti-money laundering regulations both at home and abroad and strives, particularly through the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), to improve global standards and combat money laundering.

  • Lord Myners – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Myners – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Myners on 2016-04-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the proposed takeover of the London Stock Exchange by Deutsche Börse gives rise to issues of national importance.

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    I refer the noble Lord to the investor relations section of the London Stock Exchange Group website, which contains information about the proposed merger, including some information on the combined group’s proposed structure. I also refer the noble Lord to my previous written answer HL7153.

    Once formally notified of the proposed merger, the Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority (as supervisors of the London Stock Exchange Group’s UK-authorised subsidiaries) must assess the proposal from a regulatory standpoint.

    In addition the proposed merger must be approved by competition authorities and is subject to a range of other assessments including those of overseas regulators and shareholders.

    European Regulation No 648/2012 (EMIR) sets out detailed standards on the quality of collateral that a central counterparty (CCP) can accept, and includes a general requirement that the CCP can demonstrate to its supervisor that the form of collateral in question does not present unmanageable risk to the CCP. Furthermore, CCPs are permitted under EMIR to invest their collateral “only in cash or in highly liquid financial instruments with minimal market and credit risk.”

    Any proposals for inter-CCP links would need to be assessed against relevant parts of EMIR by the Bank of England, as supervisor of LCH. EMIR requires that models used to set CCP margin requirements (and any changes to them) are validated by the CCP’s supervisor. EMIR also requires that a CCP wishing to extend its business to additional products or services must obtain the authorisation of its supervisor.

  • Edward Argar – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Edward Argar – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Argar on 2016-05-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what weighting is given to bids made by British companies tendering for contracts from her Department for projects overseas.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    No additional weighting is given to bids made by British companies tendering for contracts for projects overseas.

    100% of DFID aid assistance is untied. British companies have proven to be very successful, winning over 85% of contracts awarded by DFID and also competing successfully for contracts from other international development agencies.

  • John Spellar – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    John Spellar – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Spellar on 2016-06-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that his Department’s purchasing policies support British (a) industry and (b) agriculture.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Department’s purchasing policies support the Government’s commitment to do all it can to ensure UK suppliers can compete effectively for public sector contracts, in line with our current international obligations and guidance issued by the Crown Commercial Service.

  • Gregory Campbell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Gregory Campbell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 20 March 2015 to Question 227862 and pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2016 to Question 45109, on Northern Ireland Universities Air Squadron, what assessment he has made of the full 24 student places to be filled.

    Mark Lancaster

    The Northern Ireland University Air Squadron provision of 24 student places reflects the current flying opportunities and staffing levels. The precise number recruited this academic year may not be known immediately, as students can express their interest and join the Squadron throughout the year.

  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-11-16.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total amount received by the Treasury in profit from the Crown Estate was in each of the last five years.

    Damian Hinds

    The information requested can be obtained from the Crown Estate’s annual report and accounts which are available on their website at the following link:

    http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/our-business/financial-information/

    “

  • Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2015-12-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 1 December 2015 to Question 17678, how many (a) military and (b) civil servant personnel of each rank and grade are employed at (i) MoD Grantown-on-Spey, (b) MoD Llanwrst, (c) MoD Fairbourne and (d) MoD Crickhowell; and if he will make a statement.

    Mark Lancaster

    Information on the rank and grade of personnel Stationed at the listed locations as at 1 October for each year is provided in the tables below. The data has been rounded in accordance with data protection principles, where ~ denotes less than 5.

    NATO Rank

    2007

    2008

    2009

    2010

    2011

    2012

    2013

    2014

    2015

    Llanrwst

    OR-6

    ~

    ~

    ~

    10

    10

    10

    10

    10

    0

    OR-4

    0

    0

    0

    ~

    5

    5

    5

    ~

    0

    Fairbourne

    OF-3

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    OF-2

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    0

    0

    OR-7

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    OR-6

    5

    5

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    OR-4

    10

    10

    15

    15

    10

    15

    10

    10

    5

    Crickhowell

    OF-4

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    ~

    OF-3

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    OF-2

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    OF-1

    ~

    0

    0

    0

    ~

    0

    0

    0

    0

    OR-8

    0

    0

    ~

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    OR-7

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    OR-6

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    OR-4

    5

    5

    ~

    5

    10

    10

    5

    10

    5

    OR-3

    ~

    ~

    5

    10

    5

    ~

    0

    0

    0

    OR-2

    ~

    5

    10

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    0

    0

    Grantown-on-Spey

    OF-3

    0

    0

    0

    ~

    ~

    0

    ~

    0

    ~

    OF-2

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    ~

    0

    0

    0

    OR-9

    0

    0

    0

    0

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    OR-7

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    ~

    ~

    ~

    OR-6

    0

    0

    0

    ~

    ~

    5

    5

    10

    10

    OR-4

    0

    0

    0

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    5

    Grade Levels

    2007

    2008

    2009

    2010

    2011

    2012

    2013

    2014

    2015

    Llanrwst

    Band D

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    Band E

    5

    5

    5

    5

    5

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    Industrial

    5

    ~

    5

    ~

    5

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    Fairbourne

    Band E

    10

    10

    5

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    Industrial

    10

    10

    5

    10

    10

    10

    ~

    ~

    ~

    Crickhowell

    Band C

    0

    ~

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    ~

    Band D

    5

    5

    5

    5

    5

    5

    5

    5

    5

    Band E

    5

    10

    5

    10

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    Industrial

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    Grantown-on-Spey

    Band E

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    Industrial

    ~

    5

    ~

    5

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    ~

    “