Category: Speeches

Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-06-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Kenyan counterparts on the proposed demolition of the Dadaab and Kakuma refugee camps in that country; and what assessment he has made of the potential effect of those proposed demolitions on future migration flows across the Mediterranean.

James Duddridge

During his visit to Kenya on 3 June, the Foreign Secretary raised the announced closure of Dadaab refugee camp with the Kenyan Government, including President Kenyatta. We recognise the significant burden that Kenya faces in housing a large number of refugees. The Government of Kenya assured the Foreign Secretary that refugees would be treated in line with their international obligations.

We are committed to working with Kenya and other members of the international community to ensure refugees are kept safe and that progress is made on the Tripartite Agreement, including safe and dignified refugee return. Our view, shared with the Kenyan Government, is that durable solutions for refugees are needed so that they will not be driven to undertaking the dangerous journeys, including across the Mediterranean.

January 1, 2023
Jim McMahon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim McMahon on 2016-09-02.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of private landlords who will be affected by the tax relief change to higher rate taxpayers announced in the Summer Budget 2015.

Jane Ellison

HMRC estimate that 1 in 5 landlords will pay more tax as a result of this measure.

Given that only a small proportion of the housing market is affected by this change, the Government does not expect these changes to have a large impact on rent levels or house prices. The Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) also expects the impact on the housing market will be small.

The Government will double the housing budget from 2018-19 and has set out the most ambitious affordable housing plan since the 1970s to support working people in their aim to own their own home, together the measures in the plan amount to over £20 billion of investment in housing between 2016-17 and 2020-21.

The level of housing benefits is dependent on a number of factors such as, household and individual circumstances in regards to employment and household income, inflation and rents. The Government does not expect a large impact on rent levels from this policy, and any impact would be dampened in the short term due to other policy decisions. Therefore, the government does not anticipate changes to the overall level of housing benefits as a result. Nevertheless, the government will continue to monitor rental levels charged in the private rented sector.

Landlords are required to maintain their properties to a legal minimum standard. The reform to the wear and tear allowance means that all landlords will now be able to offset the costs of replacing furnishings in their properties removing the previous disincentive to do so. The Government therefore does not think that the changes to the tax rules will reduce standards for tenants.

Some landlords may face difficult decisions regarding their properties. This is why the Government has chosen to act in a proportionate and gradual way. Basic rate income tax relief will still be available on a landlord’s finance costs, the restriction will not be introduced until April 2017 and then it will be phased in over 4 years. This gives landlords time to plan ahead of the changes.

January 1, 2023
Alistair Carmichael – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alistair Carmichael on 2015-11-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent discussions he has had with the National Offender Management Service on the implementation of guidelines on the care and management of transsexual prisoners.

Caroline Dinenage

As I informed the Women and Equalities Committee, the National Offender Management Service is currently reviewing the policy document on transgender prisoners to ensure that this continues to provide the most appropriate support for transgender people in custody, as well as extending it to address the needs of transgender people serving community sentences. I will be taking a close personal interest in this to ensure that transgender offenders continue to be appropriately cared for and supported. The intention is to implement the revised guidance in due course.

January 1, 2023
Jake Berry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jake Berry on 2015-12-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much it cost his Department to send out winter fuel allowance payments in (a) 2013, (b) 2014 and (c) 2015.

Justin Tomlinson

The information is not readily available and could only be provided at a disproportional cost.

January 1, 2023
Liz Kendall – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz Kendall on 2016-01-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many people of each gender work in his Department.

David Mundell

As at 31 December 2015, there were 32 men and 27 women working in the Scotland Office.

Information on staff gender breakdown by grade in the Scotland Office for previous years is published in the Office’s annual reports. The latest annual report for 2014-15 is available in the House of Commons Library.

January 1, 2023
Antoinette Sandbach – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Antoinette Sandbach on 2016-02-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of a lack of bovine TB vaccine on the spread of bovine TB in the areas that border Wales.

George Eustice

Following advice from Public Health England on the need to prioritise available stocks for humans, the Government has taken the decision to suspend attempts to source BCG vaccine for the Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme and other private badger vaccination deployment projects in England until the supply situation is resolved. This follows the decision of the Welsh Government to do the same. Our long-term research to develop an oral TB vaccine for badgers and an effective TB vaccine for cattle is not expected to be affected by the current supply issue.

The Government is continuing to take strong action to deliver a long-term plan to eradicate the disease and protect the future of the UK’s dairy and beef industries. The comprehensive strategy includes strengthening cattle testing and movement controls, improving biosecurity on farm and when trading, and badger control in areas where TB is rife. Bovine TB policy is a devolved matter but my department liaises closely with the Welsh Government on matters of common interest, including the impact of the current hiatus in badger vaccination in both England and Wales.

January 1, 2023

Robert Neill – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Neill on 2016-02-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of applications for Disclosure and Barring Service checks (a) nationally, (b) in London and (c) in Bromley and Chislehurst constituency met the published service standards for waiting times in the last 6 months.

Karen Bradley

The published service standards are to complete 85% of disclosure applications within 21 days and 95% within 56 days. The tables below show the proportion of applications which met the service standards a) nationally, b) in London and c) in Bromley and Chislehurst.

A) Nationally

Month	% Completed within 21 Calendar Days	% Completed within 56 Calendar Days
Aug-15	83.4%	94.9%
Sep-15	87.3%	95.1%
Oct-15	87.6%	95.4%
Nov-15	86.3%	94.5%
Dec-15	86.0%	94.3%
Jan-16	85.8%	93.9%
Total	86.1%	94.7%

B) London

Month	% Completed within 21 Calendar Days	% Completed within 56 Calendar Days
Aug-15	83.5%	86.7%
Sep-15	85.2%	87.6%
Oct-15	85.7%	88.1%
Nov-15	83.7%	86.2%
Dec-15	80.8%	85.5%
Jan-16	81.2%	83.9%
Total	83.5%	86.4%

C) Bromley and Chislehurst

Month	% Completed within 21 Calendar Days	% Completed within 56 Calendar Days
Aug-15	85.9%	89.1%
Sep-15	86.5%	89.7%
Oct-15	85.4%	88.9%
Nov-15	86.5%	89.5%
Dec-15	80.2%	86.2%
Jan-16	84.7%	87.7%
Total	84.9%	88.6%

January 1, 2023

Paul Monaghan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Monaghan on 2016-03-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the progress made at the recent UN peace talks in Geneva on Syria.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The latest phase of UN-facilitated peace talks on Syria came to a pause in Geneva on 24 March. UN Special Envoy, Staffan de Mistura intends to reconvene the parties after the Easter break. This latest phase continued in the “proximity talks” format rather than direct talks between the parties. During their discussions with the UN Special Envoy, the High Negotiations Committee of the Syrian Opposition presented their plans for political transition. Conversely, we understand that the Syrian regime did not engage on issues of substance during their discussions with the UN Special Envoy. At the conclusion of this round of talks, the UN produced a paper outlining its assessment of the “points of convergence” between the opposition and regime and has invited both sides to consider it before talks resume on or around 10 April.

January 1, 2023
Anne Main – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anne Main on 2016-05-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department and its agencies and non-departmental public bodies have spent on infraction proceedings in each of the last 10 years.

Mr Nick Hurd

I refer the my hon. Friend to the answer given by my Rt Hon. Friend the Minister for the cabinet Office today to UIN: 36288

January 1, 2023
Michelle Donelan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Donelan on 2016-06-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding is allocated to each region for support services for people with motor neurone disease.

Jane Ellison

Clinical commissioning groups and NHS England are responsible for delivering services for people with motor neurone disease, funded from their annual funding allocations. Information on funding for motor neurone related services is not collected centrally.

January 1, 2023