Category: Speeches

  • Nic Dakin – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Nic Dakin – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nic Dakin on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to hold NHS bodies accountable to the recommendations of the Accelerated Access Review.

    George Freeman

    The Accelerated Access Review, which was set up to look at speeding up access to innovative drugs including those for rare diseases, devices and diagnostics for National Health Service patients, has been making strong progress since it was first announced in November 2014.

    The review is independently chaired by Sir Hugh Taylor and has been engaging stakeholders extensively since the summer to gather evidence on the big questions the review is considering, and has developed a number of emerging solutions.

    Sir Hugh published his interim report of the review on 27 October 2015. The report is high-level, direction-setting and grounded in evidence gathered through the review’s stakeholder engagement to date. Included in the report were proposals for a National Innovation Partnership of key bodies in the innovation pathway who would be party to a Concordat committing them to the ambitions set out in the review. The review has used a second phase of engagement to work closely with industry stakeholders, Government, the NHS and arm’s length bodies on these and other proposals set out in the interim report.

    In April 2016 the review will conclude with Sir Hugh making his final recommendations to Government. The Department will review these recommendations and consider how best to respond.

  • Hilary Benn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Hilary Benn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of whether Russian airstrikes in Syria have breached international humanitarian law.

    Mr Philip Hammond

    We are aware of reports of alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in Syria. The UK supports the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria, which is mandated by the Human Rights Council to investigate all alleged violations of international human rights law including those that may constitute crimes against humanity in Syria with a view to ensuring perpetrators are held to account. In addition, the UK co-sponsored a UN Security Council resolution to refer all those who are alleged to be responsible for war-crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria, regardless of affiliation, to the International Criminal Court. Russia and China chose to veto this resolution.

  • 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 2016-03-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much her Department has spent on academy conversions.

    Edward Timpson

    There have been 4897 academy conversions during the current and preceding five financial years. During the same period, the department has spent £323 million to support schools to become academies.

    Further details are in the table below:

    Financial Year

    Academy Conversions

    Costs

    2015-16 (April 15 – January 16)

    530

    £17m

    2014-15

    899

    £48m

    2013-14

    964

    £59m

    2012-13

    1079

    £65m

    2011-12

    1165

    £67m

    2010-11

    260

    £67m

    Total

    4897

    £323m
  • David Mackintosh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    David Mackintosh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Mackintosh on 2016-04-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps his Department is taking to provide young offenders with (a) rehabilitation and (b) education to reduce the likelihood of them reoffending.

    Andrew Selous

    Although youth crime is down, reoffending rates are far too high and the care and supervision of young offenders in custody is not good enough.

    That is why the Justice Secretary has asked Charlie Taylor to conduct a review of youth justice. He will report back later this year with recommendations on how to improve the treatment of young people in our care.

  • Tom Tugendhat – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Tom Tugendhat – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Tugendhat on 2016-05-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many of his Department’s properties classified as void have been empty for over 12 months.

    Penny Mordaunt

    The number and locations of properties classified as void as of 24 May 2016 are shown in the table below:

    County

    Voids

    ABERDEENSHIRE

    5

    ANGUS

    20

    ARGYLL AND BUTE

    237

    AVON

    42

    AYRSHIRE

    21

    BEDFORDSHIRE

    194

    BERKS

    276

    BUCKS

    183

    CAITHNESS

    1

    CAMBS

    373

    CHESHIRE

    50

    CLWYD

    1

    CORNWALL

    46

    *COUNTY ANTRIM

    647

    *COUNTY DOWN

    397

    COUNTY DURHAM

    16

    CUMBRIA

    14

    DEVON

    202

    DORSET

    151

    DUMBARTON

    4

    DUMFRIES

    3

    DURHAM

    8

    DYFED

    45

    EAST SUSSEX

    2

    EAST YORKSHIRE

    4

    EDINBURGH

    169

    ESSEX

    155

    FIFE

    221

    GLOUCESTERSHIRE

    88

    GWENT

    45

    GWYNEDD

    53

    **HANTS

    1074

    HEREFORDSHIRE

    8

    HERTS

    176

    INVERNESS-SHIRE

    58

    ISLE OF BENBECULA

    3

    KENT

    483

    LANCASHIRE

    86

    LEICESTERSHIRE

    162

    LINCOLNSHIRE

    294

    LONDON

    86

    MIDDLESEX

    163

    MIDLOTHIAN

    43

    MORAY

    121

    NORFOLK

    209

    NORTH LANARKSHIRE

    4

    NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE

    3

    NORTH YORKS

    522

    NORTHUMBERLAND

    67

    NOTTINGHAM

    58

    ORKNEY ISLANDS

    1

    OXON

    361

    OXON

    1

    PEMBROKE

    4

    PERTH

    3

    POWYS

    64

    RENFREWSHIRE

    26

    ROSS AND CROMARTY

    1

    SHETLAND ISLANDS

    1

    SHROPSHIRE

    223

    SOMERSET

    90

    SOUTH GLAMORGAN

    111

    SOUTH YORKS

    2

    ST ANDREWS

    3

    STAFFORDSHIRE

    83

    STIRLING

    1

    SUFFOLK

    281

    SURREY

    222

    SWINDON, WILTS

    19

    TYNE AND WEAR

    12

    WARWICKSHIRE

    69

    WEST MIDLANDS

    9

    WEST SUSSEX

    14

    WEST YORKS

    2

    ***WILTS

    1294

    YORKSHIRE

    29

    (blank)

    Total Voids

    10219

    Of these properties 4623 were vacant for more than 12 months.

    *The majority of void properties in Northern Ireland are awaiting demolition while 59 have been gifted to the NI Executive.

    **Void properties in Hants have been retained due to short term Ministry of Defence requirements and plans have been made to release many of these for disposal.

    ***In the Wiltshire region a number of properties remain void to accommodate Army personnel returning to the area from Germany as a result of the Army Basing Programme.

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-07-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his Department’s plans are for the Office for Life Sciences; and if he will make a statement.

    Joseph Johnson

    The Office for Life Sciences was established in 2011 to support the development and adoption of 21st century health and life sciences technology, delivering the improved patient outcomes and increasing wider growth and prosperity. This agenda remains a core part of the Government’s plans for a comprehensive industrial strategy and for transforming health and care.

  • William Wragg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    William Wragg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by William Wragg on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer about the level of VAT imposed on women’s sanitary products; and what assessment she has made of the impact of that policy on equalities issues.

    Caroline Dinenage

    The Government made a legal commitment to apply a zero rate of VAT to women’s sanitary products as soon as we are legally able in this year’s Finance Act, which received Royal Assent on 16 September 2016. While we remain in the EU, we will continue to fulfil our obligations to it, including applying EU law on VAT. The Minister has therefore had no further discussions on this issue.

  • 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 2015-11-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what support his Department is providing to higher education institutions to increase the number of post-doctoral positions offered; and if he will make a statement.

    Joseph Johnson

    The Government recognises the importance of sustaining a strong research community across the UK. In allocating Science and Research funding, the Government asks the Research Councils, Higher Education Funding Council for England, British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering and Royal Society to ensure that they are “maintaining a substantial flow of new researchers and high level skills”. Research Councils support 14,000 research staff and fellows, including 10,000 university researchers, many of whom are in early research careers. The National Academies provide over 690 early career research fellowships.

  • Kerry McCarthy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Kerry McCarthy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2015-12-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which of her Department’s properties will be owned and managed by the Government Property Unit; what the annual rent will be; and what the estimated annual cost is of the services the Government Property Unit will provide to her Department.

    George Eustice

    Defra is fully engaged with the development of the New Property Model for government property. The Property Model is being designed by the Government Property Unit and Departments are still to discuss the detail of the transfer of property into the new government property vehicle, the level of property cost recharges and any management cost involved.

  • Lord Burnett – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord Burnett – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Burnett on 2015-12-21.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many complaints have been raised, and disciplinary proceedings brought, annually over the last 20 years involving the interaction between men and women serving on Royal Navy warships and submarines.

    Earl Howe

    This information is not held in the format requested.