Category: Speeches

  • Steve Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Steve Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2016-07-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on his Department’s work with the European Regional Development Fund.

    Andrew Percy

    This Government remains committed to investment in growth and infrastructure across all parts of the country. As the former Prime Minister made clear, while the UK remains a member of the EU, current EU funding arrangements continue unchanged. It will now be for the Government to begin the negotiations to leave, and set out arrangements for those currently in receipt of EU funds.

  • Kirsten Oswald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Kirsten Oswald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 August 2016 to Question 43327, whether his Department has classified the international armed conflict with Daesh to be with or without territorial restriction.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    Armed conflict with Daesh is non-international in character and is territorially restricted.

  • Nusrat Ghani – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Nusrat Ghani – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nusrat Ghani on 2015-10-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to promote the safety of students in Ethiopia who are campaigning for democracy and human rights.

    Grant Shapps

    We remain deeply concerned about the deaths that followed the student protests in early May 2014 in Oromiya State in Ethiopia, and have raised our concerns with the authorities at the highest levels. We sought assurances that any members of the security forces who are found to have used excessive force are held to account, and that measures will be put in place to avoid further such incidents.

    The UK Government takes allegations of human rights abuses very seriously. We regularly raise democracy and human rights concerns , including at the highest level of the Ethiopian Government.

  • Rushanara Ali – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Rushanara Ali – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rushanara Ali on 2015-11-24.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to IR35 tax regulations on (a) self-employed people and (b) people who own small businesses.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government is considering responses to the discussion document published in July on how to improve the effectiveness of the existing intermediaries legislation (IR35). As set out in the discussion document, the Government’s objective is to find a solution that protects the Exchequer and improves fairness in the system without creating disproportionate burdens on business.

  • Caroline Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Caroline Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 2 July 2014, Official Report, column 676W on AWE, what his most recent estimate is of the (a) anticipated out-turn cost and (b) projected in-service date of each of the new build projects in the Atomic Weapons Establishment Site Development Context Plan.

    Michael Fallon

    The approved costs and in-service dates of the current new build projects at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, are shown below.

    In-service dates are shown in bandings to avoid prejudice to national security and defence. No costs are attributed to projects detailed in Table 2 as these have yet to be formally approved.

    Table 1 – Approved new-build projects

    Ongoing projects

    Function

    In-Service Period

    Approved cost £million

    Warhead assembly/disassembly – Mensa

    Manufacturing/production

    2016-20

    734

    Uranium components – Pegasus

    Manufacturing/production

    2016-20

    634

    Table 2 – Planned projects not yet approved

    Ongoing projects

    Function

    In-Service Period

    Salts Processing – Octans

    Testing/research

    2020-25

    Initiator system manufacture-Taurus

    Manufacturing/production

    2020-25

    Large Scale formulations-Scorpius

    Manufacturing/production

    2025-30

    Small Scale formulations-Cepheus

    Manufacturing/production

    2025-30

    New Plutonium (Pu) Facility – not yet named

    Manufacturing/production

    2025-30

    New depleted Uranium Facility

    Manufacturing/production

    2025-30

    Assembly for Trials-Columba

    Testing/research

    2025-30

    High Explosive Climatic Trials

    Testing/research

    2025-30

    Non-Metallics & materials R&D-Libra

    Testing/research

    2025-30

    Chemical processing-Astra

    Manufacturing/production

    2025-30
  • Maria Eagle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Maria Eagle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2016-01-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the BBC on an extension of the current BBC Charter period by order of the Queen in Council.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    I and my officials continue to have an ongoing dialogue with the BBC regarding the content and process of the BBC Charter Review.

  • Matthew Pennycook – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Matthew Pennycook – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2016-02-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the extent of anti-competitive practices in the newspaper wholesale market.

    Nick Boles

    Responsibility for considering competition issues in the UK falls to the independent competition authorities. Since 2014 this role has been carried out by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

    The Office of Fair Trading (OFT), the predecessor of the CMA, conducted a detailed investigation of the operation of the distribution arrangements for the supply of newspapers and magazines in England and Wales over a number of years. In September 2009, the OFT decided that, although there might be competition concerns, developments benefiting consumers could come about from industry parties self-assessing their distribution agreements following competition guidance provided by the OFT.

    The OFT considered that it would not be feasible for the Competition Commission to obtain the necessary evidence at that time properly to assess how the supply chains were likely to evolve in the short term. This decision was reviewed and confirmed in March 2012 and was upheld by the Competition Appeal Tribunal in October 2012.

  • Luke Hall – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Luke Hall – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luke Hall on 2016-03-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what social security benefits are being claimed by patients in (a) Ashworth, (b) Broadmoor and (c) Rampton high security psychiatric hospitals.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The information requested is not readily available, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  • Heidi Alexander – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Heidi Alexander – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Heidi Alexander on 2016-04-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which hospitals he has visited in an official capacity in 2016; and what the date was of each such visit.

    Jane Ellison

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and his team have visited the following hospitals in an official capacity in 2016 to date.

    Secretary of State for Health

    29 January 2016 Kings College Hospital, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, King’s Health Partners

    5 February 2016 Coombe Wood Perinatal Mental Health Unit, Park Royal Centre for Mental Health, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

    14 April 2016 Oxford University, Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

    Lord Prior

    6 January 2016 Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust

    20 January 2016 East Surrey Hospital, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

    3 February 2016 St Thomas Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

    18 February 2016 Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

    16 March 2016 Southmead Hospital, North Bristol NHS Trust

    22 March 2016 Guy’s Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

    24 March 2016 Royal Derby Hospital, Derby Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust

    24 March 2016 Lings Bar Hospital, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

    12 April 2016 Royal Brompton Hospital, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust

    Ben Gummer

    14 January 2016 Watford General Hospital, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust

    21 January 2016 Salford Royal Hospital, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust

    21 January 2016 St Mary’s Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    15 February 2016 Royal Cornwall Hospital, at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

    16 February 2016 Mount Gould Hospital, Livewell Southwest

    16 February 2016 Tiverton and District Hospital, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust

    17 February 2016 Dorset County Hospital, Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    17 February 2016 Southampton General Hospital, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

    29 February 2016 St Mary’s Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

    14 March 2016 St Thomas’ Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

    Alistair Burt

    3 March 2016 St Pancras Hospital, Camden & Islington NHS Foundation Trust

    11 March 2016 Wythenshawe Hospital, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust

    17 March 2016 Kings College Hospital, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    14 April 2016 Clock View Hospital and Ashworth Hospital, Mersey Care NHS Trust

    George Freeman

    7 March 2016 CityLabs, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Oxford Rd, Manchester

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and his team have visited the following primary care services in an official capacity in 2016 to date.

    Secretary of State for Health

    15 January 2016 Hillfoot Surgery, Pudsey, West Yorkshire

    Alistair Burt

    11 February 2016 Copes Pharmacy Ltd, London

    11 March 2016 Five Oakes Family Practice, Manchester

    Jane Ellison

    4 February 2016 The Acton African Well Woman Clinic, Hillcrest Surgery, London

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and his team have visited the following residential and nursing homes in an official capacity in 2016 to date.

    Secretary of State for Health

    5 February 2016 Coombe Wood Perinatal Mental Health Unit, Park Royal Centre for Mental Health, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

    Ben Gummer

    15 February 2016 St Julia’s Hospice, Cornwall Hospice Care

    Alistair Burt

    25 February 2016 The Betty and Asher Loftus Centre, London

  • Baroness Tonge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Baroness Tonge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-05-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the violations of the conditions of the EU Association Agreement by the government of Israel, what discussions they have had with other members of the EU, and the EU institutions, concerning the suspension of that agreement.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The EU Association Agreement provides an important framework to discuss the EU’s human rights concerns, and we work with the EU and Israel to address these. The EU regularly raises its concerns with Israel in meetings at all levels through the structures of the Association Agreement.