Category: Speeches

  • Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-04-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the total operating budget for the BBC in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    It is important that the BBC has a sustainable budget, allowing it to continue to provide world-class content and services. The Government will set out plans for the future of the BBC, including its funding, in a White Paper in May.

  • Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-05-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on which dates in 2015 enforced removals of people from Yemen who had unsuccessfully claimed asylum took place.

    James Brokenshire

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 14 April 2016, Question number 33999.

    There were no enforced removals of nationals from Yemen in 2015 who had unsuccessfully claimed asylum.

  • Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2016-07-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had since the last meeting of the National Autism Programme Board on increasing accountability for improving outcomes for autistic people within NHS England and on creating a new role of National Clinical Director for autism.

    David Mowat

    Since the meeting of the cross government Autism Programme Board on 16 June 2016, discussions with NHS England have focused on taking forward the actions agreed to improve diagnostic waiting times and outcomes for people with autism. The National Autistic Society and the report of the Westminster Commission on Autism have both suggested that NHS England create a new role of National Clinical Director for autism, and this is a matter for NHS England to consider.

    The Autism Programme Board at its last meeting also considered current and possible future sources of autism data. The Board asked that further consideration be given to this issue and for the Department to report back to them before their autumn meeting. This work is on-going.

  • Hilary Benn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union

    Hilary Benn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2016-10-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, if he will make an assessment of the effect on the UK (a) car, (b) food and (c) drinks industry of the UK leaving the EU without securing any preferential trade agreements and reverting to standard World Trade Organisation tariffs.

    Mr Robin Walker

    My Department, working with officials across government, continues to undertake a wide range of data analyses to inform the UK’s position for the upcoming negotiations with our EU partners. We have been clear that we will not provide a running commentary that might undermine our negotiating position.

  • Drew Hendry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Drew Hendry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2015-10-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to reduce violence against women and girls.

    Justine Greening

    Addressing violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a top priority for the UK Government and DFID’s Ministerial team. The UK led efforts across the globe to ensure that a target to end VAWG formed part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and we are now focused on seeing this target implemented. Following our Call to Action to Protect Women and Girls in Emergencies in 2013 and Girl Summit in 2014, DFID has also continued to scale up its own programmes to address VAWG.

  • Gregory Campbell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Gregory Campbell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2015-11-24.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many fuel laundering plants were discovered in Northern Ireland in 2014; and how many of those plants were (a) fully operational at the time of discovery and (b) within ten miles of the border of the Republic of Ireland.

    Damian Hinds

    31 fuel laundering plants were discovered in Northern Ireland in 2014. All 31 were considered to be operational at the time of discovery.

    Area specific information cannot be supplied as it is likely to be used by those minded to undermine HMRC’s strategy in dealing with fuel fraud and as such have a detrimental impact

    on its ability to assess and collect tax.

  • James Berry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    James Berry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by James Berry on 2015-12-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will commission a review of portion sizes to inform the food industry and consumers about what constitutes a healthy portion.

    Jane Ellison

    Public Health England’s recent report, Sugar Reduction: The evidence for action, highlights that portion sizes have been increasing over time and that this results in more calories being consumed. We have a number of tools to help inform what constitutes a healthy portion size, for example the Front of Pack nutrition labelling scheme, the eatwell plate and the Change4Life programme.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-01-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of Russian funding for political groups in NATO member states who oppose NATO and nuclear weapons.

    Mr David Lidington

    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has made no such assessment. At the Wales Summit in 2014 all NATO Heads of State/Government reaffirmed their commitment to NATO as a nuclear alliance.

  • Diane Abbott – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Diane Abbott – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diane Abbott on 2016-02-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 15 February 2016 to Question 26161, how will the funds raised as result of the Supporting Syria Conference be used to create sustainable jobs in Levantine states with high youth unemployment.

    Justine Greening

    As set out in the Co-hosts’ Declaration from the Supporting Syria and the Region Conference (available at https://www.supportingsyria2016.com/media/) donor funding will support plans set out in detailed Statements of Intent by refugee-hosting governments aimed at improving the investment climate and creating jobs for host communities and refugees from Syria.

    “

  • Geraint Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Geraint Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Geraint Davies on 2016-03-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to assist the RWE Group and the Health and Safety Executive in developing plans for the next stage of recovery at Didcot Power Station.

    Justin Tomlinson

    As the Minister with responsibility for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), I have met with representatives of Thames Valley Police (TVP) and HSE to discuss progress with recovery. I have received assurance that the responsible organisation, RWE Group, has presented a plan to HSE and TVP to commence work safely on the debris pile of the collapsed structure in order to recover the missing men.

    The Strategic Coordinating Group (‘Gold’ command) is coordinating the multi-agency responders to resume the recovery operation. Progress with the plan over the coming days will be monitored by HSE and TVP as part of the ongoing response to the incident.