Category: Speeches

  • John Mann – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    John Mann – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the options for a transport tunnel connecting Sheffield and Manchester city regions.

    Andrew Jones

    In November, the Secretary of State received the interim report of the Strategic Study into a potential Trans-Pennine Tunnel. This early work has shown that a tunnel is technically feasible, and that there is a clear strategic case for linking the Manchester and Sheffield city regions.

    However further work is needed into the costs and economic benefits of such a tunnel before any judgement can be reached about whether or not it will be value for money. The full report of the study, due in 2016, should address these issues.

  • Lord Greaves – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Lord Greaves – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Greaves on 2016-01-21.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will extend to government departments, government agencies and other public bodies the requirement for local authorities to publish lists of the brownfield land they own.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    Government records details of its land and property holdings on the electronic Property Information Management System database. The Government Property Finder website draws on this information and allows the public to search and map the estate. The Cabinet Office is currently considering future data requirements, including whether there should be any specific reporting requirements on brownfield land.

  • Lord Rea – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Rea – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rea on 2016-02-10.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the risk of a driver’s involvement in a collision involving injuries or death when they have a blood alcohol concentration of 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood or more; and how that assessment of risk compares with that made when the alcohol limit for drivers was set in 1967.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    Sir Peter North’s 2010 Review of drink and drug driving made an assessment of various studies. The Coalition Government responded in March 2011 by setting out its position on maintaining the current limit. This Government agrees with that assessment and we do not believe any further studies have provided sufficient evidence to change that position. There are therefore no plans to change the current laws.

  • Baroness Hollins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Baroness Hollins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hollins on 2016-03-07.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what preparations have been made to achieve the safe and effective transfer of responsibility for Tier 4 obesity services from NHS England to Clinical Commissioning Groups.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    Specialised commissioning teams at NHS England are in contact with clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and a formal process has been agreed to transfer the technical and service aspects of the commissioning responsibility.

    This process includes NHS England leading on the contract negotiation for 2016/17 on behalf of CCGs based on the current service provision. Although the transfer is effective from April 2016 in terms of the contract values, the timing of the handover will be agreed between local specialised commissioning teams and CCGs, in line with their preparedness.

    NHS England will continue to work with CCGs to provide support as appropriate.

    NHS England does not expect the services patients receive to be affected following the transfer of obesity surgery commissioning responsibilities to CCGs from April 2016, as the change is primarily to commissioning responsibilities.

    No service changes are included as part of the transfer process. The transfer process will include providing information to CCGs on pathways, provider performance and any quality issues relating to this service.

    The transfer should support better integration between Tier 3 and Tier 4 services (which include obesity services) which in turn should improve access for eligible patient and streamline pathways. Clinical teams remain responsible for the quality of their services.

    NHS England through its clinical reference group has finalised clinical guidance to support commissioners and clinical teams. We would also look to leadership from royal colleges and professional groups to promote best practice in this area. CCGs already have mechanisms in place to monitor provider performance and quality through the existing quality assurance processes.

  • Christopher Chope – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Christopher Chope – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2016-04-13.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, on what date he expects the removal of VAT from women’s sanitary products to take effect.

    Mr David Gauke

    The zero rate of VAT for sanitary products will take effect as soon as possible after Royal Assent.

  • Liam Byrne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Liam Byrne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liam Byrne on 2016-05-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what criminal record-sharing facilities exist between the UK and the A2 countries of the EU; and if she will make a statement.

    James Brokenshire

    The UK exchanges criminal records information with the A2 countries – Bulgaria and Romania – as a result of the UK’s participation in the European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS).

  • Lord Bassam of Brighton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Bassam of Brighton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 2016-07-07.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they will take to prevent further deterioration of Southern Rail services.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    Prior to the start of the industrial action by the RMT on Southern, the performance on this route was improving; we urge the union in the strongest terms to get round the table and end this unjustified action which is harming passengers.

  • Baroness Randerson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Baroness Randerson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-10-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of objections to the creation of lorry area in Kent to address problems caused by Operation Stack.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    Highways England (HE) held a public consultation on their proposals for a lorry area between 11 December 2015 and 26 January 2016. The information gathered was analysed and published in:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/535213/Public_Consultation_Report_Managing_Freight_Through_Kent_March_2016.pdf and is attached for ease of reference.

    Highways England held a second public consultation between 12 August and 23 September 2016 on the design of the lorry area. They are currently analysing all comments Highways England received and will publish a consultation report in due course.

    “

  • Douglas Carswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Douglas Carswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-11-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many doctors trained in the UK emigrated in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2013 and (d) 2014; and what assessment he has made of the effect such emigration has had on the provision of emergency medicine.

    Ben Gummer

    This information is not collected centrally.

  • Thangam Debbonaire – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    Thangam Debbonaire – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thangam Debbonaire on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Leader of the House, what plans he has to reform timetabling of private members’ bills; and if he will make a statement.

    Chris Grayling

    The Government has no plans to change the timetabling of private members’ bills.