Category: Speeches

Baroness Hodgson of Abinger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hodgson of Abinger on 2016-01-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will ensure that Syrian women are appropriately represented and will play a meaningful role in discussions at the Syria Donors Conference in February 2016, rather than at the preceding civil society conference.

Earl of Courtown

As you know, women and girls is a top priority for DFID. The focus of the Syria Conference is to raise significant new funding to meet the immediate and longer-term needs of all those affected by the crisis within Syria and to support neighbouring countries, who have shown enormous generosity in hosting refugees, to cope with the impact of the crisis. We also hope that the Conference outcomes will support on-going discussions on a political situation to the conflict.

Under UN Resolution 1325, we are committed to ensuring appropriate representation of women in Conference delegations and panels. This will be pursued through our engagement with overseas delegations to include strong female representation. The Conference will include a strong focus on the situation inside Syria, the very human impact on women, girls and youth, and ways we can protect them from harm, including sexual and gender-based violence. As you know, on the day before the event, we are also supporting a large gathering of civil society, from which a cross-section, including representation of women and girls, will contribute to discussions in the Conference.

01/01/2023
Christian Matheson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2016-02-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many inquests have taken place related to the death of UK citizens whilst at sea in each year including and since 2010.

Caroline Dinenage

The information requested is not held centrally.

01/01/2023
Phil Boswell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Phil Boswell on 2016-02-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his Department’s practice in consulting manufacturers on policy of the findings by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in its report, Engineered in Britain, on the proportion of manufacturers who consider that the Government is performing well on manufacturing policy.

Anna Soubry

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers report “Engineered in Britain” states that the proportion of manufacturers who consider that the Government is performing well on manufacturing policy rose from 12% in 2011 to 24% in 2015. BIS Ministers and officials hold regular discussions with manufacturing companies and their representatives, including the Sector Councils, to develop a clear understanding of the capabilities and needs of UK manufacturing. Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills spoke at the EEF National Manufacturing Conference on 24 February 2016 and I attended and spoke at the EEF National Manufacturing Dinner on the same date.

01/01/2023
Mike Freer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Freer on 2016-03-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which (a) ministers and (b) officials of her Department will be present at the International Aids Conference in Durban in July 2016.

Mr Nick Hurd

The UK government will be represented at the International AIDS Conference in Durban in July 2016. Precise attendance has still to be finalised.

01/01/2023

Alan Brown – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2016-04-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 26 April 2016 to Question 35019, on social fund, for what reasons management information is only held from 2013.

Justin Tomlinson

Pursuant to the Answer of 26 April 2016 the information previously provided was extracted from the current live Operational Activity Based Management Information System.

The information from 2010 until 2013 is not readily available as it is archived. However we have now been able to extract the historical data which is displayed in the table below.

	2009/10	2010/11	2011/12	2012/13	2013/14	2014/15	2015/16
Bereavement Benefit	145	130	116	106	94	84	78
Maternity Allowance	108	82	77	75	70	66	72
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit	309	243	241	226	192	166	148
Social Fund	4321	2480	1968	1552	798	411	349

Notes: The table above shows average Full Time Equivalent for each financial year from April to March.

Source: Jobcentre Plus Activity Based Management System (L1A) and Operational Activity Based Management Information System (L1A)

01/01/2023

Robert Flello – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2016-06-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions his Department has had with trades unions officials representing Highways England traffic officers on the potential danger of serious injury or death arising from trying to move a heavy goods vehicle from a live lane using a Highways England traffic officer 4 by 4 vehicle.

Andrew Jones

The Trade Union that represents Highways England Traffic Officers was consulted throughout the life of the enhanced carriageway clearance project, which focused on carriageway clearance of vehicles of all types. Trade Union representatives attended a number of meetings and specific workshops.

01/01/2023
Tom Watson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants are currently claiming expenses under the Public Duty Cost Allowance after leaving office.

Ben Gummer

The Public Duties Cost Allowance is to assist former Prime Ministers with the costs of continuing to fulfil duties associated with their previous position in public life. A copy of the policy and guidance on the allowance is in the Library of the House. The costs are a reimbursement of incurred expenses for necessary office costs and secretarial costs arising from their special position in public life. The allowance is not paid to support private or parliamentary duties. Civil servants are not entitled to claim this allowance.

Current recipients of the allowance are published in the Cabinet Office Annual Reports and Accounts. Previous recipients have included Lady Thatcher; the current recipients who are former Prime Ministers are Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. I also refer the Hon. Member to my answers to him of 9 September 2016 to (UIN 44045, 44048, 44049, 44053, 44054, 44055, 44056).

The Public Duties Cost Allowance rate is currently set at a limit of £115,000 per annum. When originally introduced, the Government stated that it would be the equivalent in amount to the Parliamentary Office Costs Allowance. I would note that that allowance is now known as the Parliamentary Staffing Allowance, determined by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and that is currently set at the rate of £148,500 per annum.”

01/01/2023
Lord Condon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Condon on 2016-10-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to encourage the provision and wearing of body cameras by operational police officers to improve police and public confidence in cases of disputed incidents.

Baroness Williams of Trafford

The Home Office fully supports the police exploiting technology to help cut crime wherever possible. Body worn video can be a powerful tool to help the police be more effective, efficient and accountable. The decision to procure and deploy it is an operational one for chief officers.

01/01/2023
Cheryl Gillan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cheryl Gillan on 2015-11-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many people work on High Speed 2 in (a) his Department and (b) HS2 Ltd; and what the (i) grade, (ii) salary and (iii) location is of each such person.

Mr Robert Goodwill

With regards to part (a), (i) and (ii) of the question, the High Speed Rail headcount for permanent full time equivalents (FTEs) currently in post in the Department is shown in the attached table 1. The salaries shown are average DfT Central salaries. All staff are located in Great Minister House in London.

With regards to part (b), (i), (ii) and (iii) of the question, the HS2 Ltd headcount for permanent full time equivalents (FTEs) currently in post is shown in the attached table 2. Table 2 also shows the split between staff based in London and in Birmingham, with salaries at each grade shown as averages.

01/01/2023
Mark Pritchard – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2015-11-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when his Department will publish its consultation on verification mechanisms to restrict under 18 access to pornographic websites.

Mr Edward Vaizey

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is currently preparing a consultation on the Government’s manifesto commitment requiring age verification for access to all sites containing pornographic material. This will be published in due course.

01/01/2023