Category: Speeches

  • 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 2016-01-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the international legal implications of reports of Saudi Arabia bombing the Iranian Embassy in Sana’a; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Philip Hammond

    We are currently looking into unverified Iranian reports that a Saudi airstrike hit the Iranian Embassy in Sana’a. The Saudi government has denied that any such attack took place. The priority right now is for all parties to show restraint and responsibility in order to prevent the igniting of further hostilities. The British Government is urging all parties to show calm at this time and to work towards a de-escalation of growing tensions.

  • Sarah Champion – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Sarah Champion – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sarah Champion on 2016-02-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 37 of the document Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation, published by the Government in March 2015, what progress her Department has made on the establishment of a national task force of specialist professionals to support local authorities where child sexual exploitation is a particular concern.

    Karen Bradley

    The Government’s ‘Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation’ report launched in March 2015 announced the establishment of a new national taskforce to help local areas faced with significant concerns relating to high volumes of child sexual exploitation.

    We are currently finalising the way the taskforce, to be known as the Child Sexual Exploitation Response Unit, will work. The Response Unit will be launched in the Spring.

    The Response Unit will provide help to local areas experiencing particular issues and/or high volumes of child sexual exploitation cases by offering a range of support including advice from expert practitioners who have first-hand experience of tackling child sexual exploitation.

  • Douglas Carswell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    Douglas Carswell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2016-02-26.

    To ask the Leader of the House, with reference to the Prime Minister’s Oral Statement of 22 February 2016, Official Report, column 35, on the European Council, whether his Office is undertaking planning in the eventuality of a majority leave vote in the EU referendum.

    Chris Grayling

    On 19 February, the Prime Minister set out the Government’s view on remaining in the European Union.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-03-21.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 1.205 of the Budget 2016, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on insurance policy take-up of an increase in the standard rate of insurance premium tax.

    Harriett Baldwin

    As part of the costing process for all taxes, we looked at any behavioural changes.

    Where insurers pass on the rate increase, the increase may have a small impact on individuals and households purchasing insurance which is not exempt from IPT. This is not likely to lead to any significant change in take-up of insurance.

  • Angela Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Angela Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Smith on 2016-04-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people were (a) proceeded against and (b) convicted of an offence under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 in 2015.

    Rory Stewart

    The Government is committed to tackling wildlife crime. The UK National Wildlife Crime Unit, which is part-funded by Defra, monitors and gathers intelligence on illegal activities, including those relating to badger persecution and poaching, which are UK wildlife crime priorities. The Unit also provides assistance to police forces when required.

    Court proceedings data for 2015, including those for the offences listed above, are planned for publication by the Ministry of Justice in due course.

  • Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-06-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to increase the provision of respite and replacement care for carers in England.

    Alistair Burt

    The Government recognises the invaluable contribution made by unpaid carers and the importance of supporting them in their carer roles. This includes provision of and access to respite and replacement care.

    The Department has provided £400 million to the National Health Service over four years from 2011 for carers to have breaks from their caring responsibilities. The carers breaks funding of £130 million is now included in the Better Care Fund in 2016/17. The Department has also provided £186.6 million of funding in 2016/17 to local authorities for improved carers’ rights, as established in the Care Act 2014.

    The Care Act 2014 duty for local authorities to undertake carers’ assessments also provides an opportunity for the local authority and the carer to look at the support they need and the outcomes that they wish to achieve, including providing them with a break or taking up work, educational and leisure opportunities if they wish.

    The Department is committed to continuing to improve support for carers and is currently leading the development of a new cross-Government national carers’ strategy, due to be published by the end of 2016. We are currently consulting widely with a range of stakeholders and carers themselves to inform the development of the strategy.

  • Paul Monaghan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Paul Monaghan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Monaghan on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with people from other EU countries living in the UK since the EU referendum on their right to live in the UK after the UK’s exit from the EU.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Government Ministers and officials engage with a wide range of stakeholders.

    The Prime Minister has been clear that she wants to protect the status of EU nationals here. The only circumstances in which that would not be possible are if British citizens’ rights in other EU Member States were not protected in return.

  • Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-10-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what overseas visits he has made since his appointment.

    Margot James

    Ministerial visits are published quarterly on the Gov.UK website at the following link:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bis-quarterly-publications-april-to-june-2012

    “

  • George Howarth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    George Howarth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the additional travel costs likely to be incurred by people not resident in Halton, of commuting using the bridge, arising from the Mersey Gateway Project in the first year that bridge is open.

    Andrew Jones

    The Department does not hold the information requested.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-12-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is providing to the Libyan Council of Deputies to (a) tackle ungoverned regions and (b) support the transition to a democratic government in Libya; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The UK has strongly emphasised to the Libyan House of Representatives (aka Council of Deputies) and the other parties of the UN dialogue process that the establishment of a Government of National Accord is an important first step to restoring peace and stability in Libya. Only an inclusive government will deliver the peace and stability that the Libyan people desire and deny the space for Daesh and other extremist groups to operate. The UK stands ready to work with the international community to deliver a significant package of support to help a united Libyan Government of National Accord to deliver a stable and prosperous future for all Libyan citizens.