Category: Speeches

  • Tulip Siddiq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Tulip Siddiq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-03-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2016 to Question 28947, how many referrals the helpline has made to which relevant bodies in each year it has been in place, which relevant, on what date it is planned that the new modern slavery helpline will begin to operate; and how much funding the Government has allocated for the operation of that helpline.

    Karen Bradley

    I refer the Hon. Member to my response of 2 March. Between 31 July 2014 and 31 July 2015, 849 contacts were made to the NSPCC-run modern slavery helpline. Of these in total, 403 referrals were made to the police, 106 referrals were made to children’s services, 1 to the armed forces and 81 to other agencies. For the period 1 August 2015 to 31 January 2016 74 referrals were made to the helpline. Of these 49 referrals were made to the police, 14 referrals were made to children’s services and 11 to other agencies. A referral may be made to more than one agency and may include update referrals.

    No funding has been allocated for the NSPCC helpline for the financial year 2016-17. Polaris, a US-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), is establishing an enhanced UK helpline in collaboration with a UK-based NGO, which will supersede the current NSPCC helpline. The NSPCC helpline will remain in operation until the enhanced helpline is up and running. Start up funding of up to £1 illion has been provided by Google.org. The new helpline is expected to be in operation later this year.

  • Kerry McCarthy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Kerry McCarthy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2016-04-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons the Environment Agency’s Climate Ready Support Service has ended; and when the decision to end that service was made.

    Rory Stewart

    The Environment Agency’s Climate Ready Support Service was originally envisaged as a three year programme that was extended to a fourth year in March 2015. This enabled completion of the majority of National Adaptation Programme actions to which the service was contributing. The remaining ongoing actions are continuing without the need for the designated service. Adaptation is integrated throughout the work of all Government departments who continue to deliver, alongside local Government and many other organisations, their commitments set out in the National Adaptation Programme.

  • Rob Marris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Rob Marris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2016-05-18.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax avoidance cases have been submitted by HM Revenue and Customs to the General Anti-Abuse Rule Advisory Panel in (a) 2013, (b) 2014, (c) 2015 and (d) 2016 to date.

    Mr David Gauke

    The General Anti-Abuse Rule (GAAR) was introduced in July 2013, and only applies to abusive tax arrangements entered into from this date.

    This means that it will first apply to income tax returns for the tax year ending 5 April 2014, which must have been filed with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) by 31 January 2015.

    For cases to be tackled by the GAAR, HMRC must first enquire into tax returns once they are received, and gather all relevant facts. It is therefore still early in the process of litigation action for cases to be tackled by the GAAR.

    The GAAR Advisory Panel is an external body separate to HMRC. Their independent role means that they do not report the number of meetings held to HMRC.

  • Mark Menzies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Mark Menzies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Menzies on 2016-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to make a decision on the drug Nivolumab becoming available under the Early Access to Medicines Scheme to treat patients with renal cell carcinoma.

    George Freeman

    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a positive scientific opinion concerning the use of nivolumab for renal cell carcinoma under the Early Access to Medicines Scheme on 11 February 2016. This scientific opinion has now lapsed as nivolumab has received its marketing authorisation for use in for renal cell carcinoma from the European Commission.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many FTRS contracts have been used to reinforce the Capita armed forces since that contract began; and how it is being met.

    Mark Lancaster

    The Recruiting Partnering Project contract has been reinforced with 17 additional Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) contracts. These personnel have been used in a variety of roles supporting the Army’s recruiting effort.

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-11-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans for 3D heart imaging to identify blocked arteries to be available on the NHS.

    Jane Ellison

    Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which provides three dimensional imaging, is currently available within the National Health Service in England.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-12-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate his Department has made of the total number of student nurses in England and Wales in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

    Ben Gummer

    The following table shows the total number of student nurses in England, in training places as at 31 March in each year, for the period 2010/11 to 2014/15. The Department and Health Education England do not hold data for students undertaking their training in Wales.

    Year

    2010/11

    2011/12

    2012/13

    2013/14

    2014/15

    Nurses

    53,101

    51,824

    52,914

    48,484

    50,139

    Source: multi professional education and training budget monitoring returns

    In 2015 the National Health Service has seen record numbers of nurses and midwives in post. The latest data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre’s Hospital and Community Health Services monthly workforce statistics, which does not include nurses working in general practice, shows a total of 303,600 full time equivalent nurses and midwives, in post in England in August 2015.

  • Lord Judd – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Lord Judd – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Judd on 2016-01-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications of climate change for (1) the climate and geology of West Cumbria, and (2) future nuclear developments in the country.

    Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

    The energy National Policy Statements published in 2011 set out the considerations that should be taken into account by developers and the Planning Inspectorate to help ensure proposed new energy infrastructure, including new nuclear power stations, is resilient to climate change. The Nuclear National Policy Statement also explains that the independent nuclear regulators will ensure new nuclear power stations, including the one proposed for Moorside, will be located, constructed, operated and decommissioned with the long-term impacts of climate change in mind.

  • David Hanson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    David Hanson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2016-02-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the average hourly earnings of (a) female, (b) male, (c) full-time and (d) part-time employees of her Department were in each of the last five years.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    The figures given in the table below represent the average (mean) salary for each of the defined categories requested as at the 31st of January in each of the last three years. Providing information for 2012 and 2013 could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

    Year
    (as at 31/01)

    Average Female Hourly Rate
    (£)

    Average Male Hourly Rate
    (£)

    Average Full Time Hourly Rate
    (£)

    Average Part Time Hourly Rate
    (£)

    2014

    24.95

    26.53

    25.76

    25.05

    2015

    24.95

    27.03

    25.79

    27.10

    2016

    25.15

    27.18

    26.08

    25.68

    DFID pay is set within Civil Service rules defined by HM Treasury, and grade specific scales operate regardless of gender. Differences in hourly rates apply due to the grade and location profile of the organisation.

  • Barry Gardiner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Barry Gardiner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Gardiner on 2016-03-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what domestic programmes the Government has developed to help deliver the Global Goals for Sustainable Development which were adopted in September 2015.

    Justine Greening

    The UK Government as a whole is committed to implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Government’s manifesto sets out the plan of action for which it will be held accountable by the British people. This includes commitments relevant to each of the Goals, and it will guide our efforts to achieve them.

    The Global Goals are the starting point for, and will be embedded across, DFID’s work. Other Government Departments will lead on their respective policy areas.