Category: Speeches

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-07-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will provide support to overseas students who convert to Christianity in the UK to ensure they are not persecuted for their religious beliefs when they return to their country of origin.

    Alok Sharma

    The UK is a staunch defender of the right to freedom of religion or belief internationally. We believe that societies where freedom of religion or belief is protected are fairer, more tolerant and better able to resist extremist ideologies.

    With this in mind, we actively lobby governments for changes to laws and practices that discriminate against individuals on the basis of their religion or belief.

    In many cases students have access to alumni networks, often supported or endorsed by the British Embassy, once they have returned to their country of origin. Such networks can offer moral and practical support in times of need.

  • Barry Gardiner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Barry Gardiner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Gardiner on 2016-09-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, with reference to his oral statement of 15 September, how the measures announced in that statement will increase security at the Hinkley C project.

    Jesse Norman

    As announced on 15 September, following the comprehensive review of the Hinkley Point C project, my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State announced new safeguards for future foreign investment in critical infrastructure.

    In respect of Hinkley Point C, the Government is able to prevent the sale of EDF’s controlling stake prior to the completion of construction. This agreement has been confirmed in an exchange of letters between the Government and EDF.

  • Kwasi Kwarteng – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Kwasi Kwarteng – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kwasi Kwarteng on 2015-11-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding the Government plans to provide for research on diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma brain tumours.

    George Freeman

    The usual practice of the Department’s National Institute for Health Research and of the Medical Research Council is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. Both funders welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma and other brain tumours. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-12-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2015 to Question 19589, what the budget for the BIS Automotive sector team has been in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

    Anna Soubry

    The administrative budget associated with the BIS Automotive sector team for the last five financial years is illustrated below.

    Financial Year

    Administrative Cost

    11/12

    £1,393,614*^

    12/13

    £1,187,636^

    13/14

    £1,207,986^

    14/15

    £1,256,570^

    15/16

    £1,219,550^

    *Includes funding for the Advanced Manufacturing Showcasing team who came under the same administrative budget for these years.

    ^ Includes one FTE on loan to the Office for Low Emission Vehicles

  • Jessica Morden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Jessica Morden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jessica Morden on 2016-01-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his Department’s policy is on providing direct web links to information requested in written parliamentary questions in the Answers to those questions.

    Joseph Johnson

    The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not have a specific policy on the provision of web links. Parliamentary Questions are answered according to the preferred approach of each individual Minister.

  • Imran Hussain – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Imran Hussain – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-02-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussions her Department is having with HM Treasury on renegotiation of tax treaties between the UK and developing countries.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    Negotiation of UK tax treaties is a matter for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). HMRC actively engages with developing countries and has recently agreed treaties with Senegal and Zambia.

    DFID works closely with both HM Treasury and HMRC to develop the Government’s tax and development policy and to improve the capacity of developing country tax administrations. DFID was at the forefront internationally of developing the Addis Tax Initiative, launched last year, which sees signatory donors commit to double their support on tax and signatory partner countries to commit to implement tax reform. It also calls for policy coherence on tax and development. There are currently over 30 signatories.

  • Mrs Anne Main – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Mrs Anne Main – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mrs Anne Main on 2016-03-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many foreign national offenders of each nationality are serving custodial sentences of (a) less than six months, (b) six months to one year, (c) one year to two years, (d) two years to three years, (e) three years to four years, (f) four years to five years, (g) five years to 10 years and (h) more than 10 years.

    Andrew Selous

    Information on Foreign national offenders is regularly published on gov.uk website on the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/offender-management-statistics-quarterly-july-to-september-2015

    The specific information requested can be found in the attached annex.

    “

  • Jess Phillips – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jess Phillips – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-04-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many of the 22 new free schools announced by her Department on 5 February 2016 are being sponsored by trusts and chains which currently run schools which have an inadequate Ofsted rating.

    Edward Timpson

    Twenty two free school applications were approved as part of Wave 10, which was announced on 5 February 2016. One of the approved applications has a sponsor (South Gloucestershire and Stroud College) which also sponsors The Forest High School, judged by Ofsted to be inadequate in May 2015. However, the inspection was conducted only two months after the trust was asked to take over the academy and since then Ofsted has assessed the academy to be taking effective action towards the removal of special measures. The trust is working in partnership with an outstanding special school to establish the free school.

  • Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-05-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 18 April 2016 to Question 33136, who is responsible for seeking to direct the admission of children to academies.

    Nick Gibb

    If a local authority considers that an academy will best meet the needs of a child, and the academy refuses to admit the child, the local authority can ask the Secretary of State to intervene. The Secretary of State has the power under an academy’s funding agreement to direct the academy to admit a child. The Education Funding Agency issues directions on behalf of the Secretary of State.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-07-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of the use of pig organ transplants for humans.

    Nicola Blackwood

    The Department has no plans to make such an assessment.