Category: Speeches

  • Richard Burden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-11-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential for the UK to be a world leader in (a) production of, (b) use of and (c) research into autonomous vehicle technology; and what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of practice developed in autonomous vehicle projects and research in Sweden.

    Andrew Jones

    We recognise the transformative potential that connected and autonomous vehicle (CAV) technologies have for mobility and our transport system, and the significant opportunities that exist for UK industry in their development and commercialisation.

    That is why we are committed to the development of CAVs, maintaining and improving the UK’s world leading position. Together with industry, academia, and cities we are running trials of CAVs in four cities in England, and have plans for a connected corridor on a key route combining urban roads and motorways. We are also funding research into intelligent mobility focusing on connected and autonomous vehicles.

    The Government has also announced:

    – A £20 million collaborative R&D competition, match-funded by industry, to explore user behaviours, and how other road users will respond to these technologies.

    – A world-leading, Code of Practice for driverless cars to help make UK best place for testing without placing additional regulatory burden on industry.

    – A new joint policy team, the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), which will act as a single point of contact for industry and co-ordinate/enhance government activity.

    There are a number of other countries, including Sweden that are trialling driverless vehicles. We will review outcomes of both the UK and international trials and take forward the valuable insights they will provide for policy development.

  • John Healey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    John Healey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Healey on 2016-01-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many leases of what tenure are planned for the new homes to be built on the direct commissioning sites at (a) Northstowe, (b) Old Oak Common, (c) Daedelus Waterfront, (d) Connaught Barracks and (e) Lower Grayling Well.

    Brandon Lewis

    The holding costs for the site relate to the entirety of the site and are consistent with the legal and health and safety obligations of the Homes and Communities Agency as land owner.

  • Nicholas Brown – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Nicholas Brown – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2016-02-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the level of provision of paediatric palliative care services in North East England (a) in general and (b) in comparison to other English regions.

    Ben Gummer

    Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) have responsibility for ensuring that they are meeting the needs of those requiring children’s palliative care services, considering the full range of local provision, both statutory and voluntary sectors, and the wishes of children and young people and their families. We do not undertake national comparisons of the approach to palliative care in different regions.

    We understand that NHS Newcastle Gateshead CCG, together with partners across the region is working as a priority to commission a regional service that will be able to provide high quality care that can meet the needs of children, young people and families at this difficult time in their lives, replacing the current fast-track response agreed with local paediatric care service providers.

  • Virendra Sharma – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Virendra Sharma – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-02-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the (a) policy and (b) other responsibilities are of each special adviser in his Department.

    Jane Ellison

    The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers sets out the role of special advisers and describes the range of activities they may undertake. Copies of the Code of Conduct are available in the Library and on-line at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/468340/CODE_OF_CONDUCT_FOR_SPECIAL_ADVISERS_-_15_OCTOBER_2015_FINAL.pdf

    “

  • Charlotte Leslie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Charlotte Leslie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2016-03-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2016 to Question 27389, what assessment her Department has made of the ability of failed asylum seekers to fund travel to their country of origin.

    James Brokenshire

    Migrants in the UK without permission, including those who have failed in a claim for asylum, are expected to leave the UK promptly and voluntarily. Those who need help purchasing a ticket or organising their travel can contact the Voluntary Return Service that came into effect on 1 January, who can provide assistance as appropriate. Subject to the bespoke needs of the individual or family, reintegration support in the country of origin may also be provided. Those individuals who do not leave voluntarily will be forcibly removed.

  • Simon Hoare – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Simon Hoare – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Simon Hoare on 2016-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2016 to Question 26606, whether it is his Department’s intention that all patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis will have access to the drugs previously covered by the Risk Sharing Scheme (a) until and (b) beyond the conclusion of the NICE Multiple Sclerosis MTA in 2017.

    George Freeman

    The Multiple Sclerosis Risk-Sharing Scheme will remain in place until the publication of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) final updated technology appraisal guidance on disease modifying therapies for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

    As long as they are clinically eligible, new and existing patients can continue to access these therapies as part of the Scheme.

    Once NICE’s appraisal has been completed, the normal access arrangements will apply. National Health Service commissioners are legally required to fund drugs and treatments recommended by NICE within three months of NICE’s guidance being published. In the absence of a positive recommendation from NICE, it is for commissioners to make decisions on whether to fund treatments based on an assessment of the available evidence.

  • Liz Saville Roberts – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Liz Saville Roberts – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz Saville Roberts on 2016-05-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of reform of access to legal aid in cases of domestic violence on children; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    When reforming legal aid the government was careful to protect legal aid for the highest priority cases, including those relating to domestic violence and child abuse.

    The government is committed to undertaking a post-implementation review of the reforms within 3 to 5 years of their implementation.

  • Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-07-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her policy is on prioritising maintaining or increasing the number of students from the EU who attend universities in the UK.

    Joseph Johnson

    The UK has a long established higher education system that supports, and attracts, the brightest minds, at all stages of their careers.

    Existing rules on EU and other EEA students remain in force. Future arrangements for EU students wishing to study in the UK will need to be considered as part of wider discussions about the UK’s relationship with the EU.

  • Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2016-10-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to raise the issue of stateless North Koreans with the government of China; and what steps they plan to take to aid stateless North Koreans in need if the government of China is unwilling to assist them.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    We are aware of reports of thirty North Koreans being sent back to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) after a period of detention in China.

    Despite claims by the DPRK authorities that forcibly repatriated refugees are well treated and reintegrated into DPRK society, reports suggest that they are often mistreated by the authorities.

    We will raise the issue of non-refoulement at the next UK-China Human rights Dialogue, scheduled to take place this month.

  • Roger Godsiff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Roger Godsiff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2015-11-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what consideration his Department has given to suspending the UK’s arms export licences to Saudi Arabia in the light of the conflict in Yemen.

    Anna Soubry

    All export licence applications are carefully assessed on a case by case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, taking account of all relevant factors at the time of the application. A licence will not be issued for any country if to do so would be inconsistent with any provision of the Criteria.

    We keep all licences under review in the light of changing circumstances in countries of destination for UK arms exports, including Saudi Arabia.

    A political solution is the best way to bring long term stability to Yemen and to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe. The UK is fully and actively supporting the UN’s efforts to achieve this.