Category: Speeches

  • Patrick Grady – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Patrick Grady – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of bilateral investment treaties between the UK and developing countries on the ability of (a) infant industries and (b) small and medium-sized enterprises in such countries to contribute to poverty reduction.

    Sir Desmond Swayne

    Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) commit both Governments to provide a reciprocal standard of treatment towards each other’s investors, including: protection and security against discriminatory action, fair and equitable treatment and a commitment not to expropriate without compensation. The content of BITs do not place specific obligations on or provide support to domestic companies, including infant industries and SMEs, aimed at delivering wider policy objectives.

    Since 2012, through the Investment and Sustainable Development Programme, DFID has provided technical and legal assistance to 24 developing countries to develop and negotiate international investment agreements (including BITs) that best reflect their own interests.

  • David Hanson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    David Hanson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the proposed budget is for court reporting and transcribing services after the completion of the current tender process.

    Sir Oliver Heald

    Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has issued an Invitation to Tender for the future provision of court transcription services. The successful bidders will provide transcription services under a four year framework agreement, the value of which is estimated at between £20m and £28m over the term of the agreement.

    We are not in a position to disclose the proposed budget in any greater detail than outlined above for court reporting and transcription services whilst the competition is still running as this may undermine the Authority’s commercial position.

  • Lord Touhig – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord Touhig – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Touhig on 2015-11-10.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are any plans to increase the number of military doctors working less than full-time.

    Earl Howe

    While there are currently no plans to increase the numbers of military doctors, there are plans to provide a limited number of already serving regular medical officers the opportunity to be employed at reduced levels of obligation, for a number of days worked per year for a bounded period of time.

    Applicants will shortly be invited to participate in this Flexible Duties Employment Trial, which is due to commence in early 2016.

  • Angela Rayner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Angela Rayner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Rayner on 2015-12-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on businesses of the UK leaving the EU.

    Anna Soubry

    The Government is focused on delivering a successful renegotiation: it believes Britain’s interests are best served by being part of a reformed European Union, if necessary changes can be agreed. The Government believes it can and will succeed in reforming and renegotiating our relationship with the EU and campaigning to keep the UK in the EU on that basis.

  • Kevin Brennan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Kevin Brennan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2016-01-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 14 September 2015 to Question 8988, whether the Government has taken a decision on the funding of the Green Investment Bank’s business activity in future years.

    Anna Soubry

    Government funding for the Green Investment Bank (GIB) for the 2016-17 period and beyond has now been announced as part of the current spending review. This is a good settlement for GIB and provides what GIB management wanted by allowing for 100% funding of GIB’s investments to the point of majority sale, assuming a sale in the next financial year.

  • Chris Law – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Chris Law – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Law on 2016-02-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the City Deal for Dundee and neighbouring authorities; and when the Government plans to make a decision on that deal.

    David Mundell

    I have met separately with local authorities in Dundee, Angus and Perth and I was able to confirm that the UK Government is interested to hear from any local authority or group of local authorities interested in pursuing a City Deal. To date, we have not received formal proposals from any of those Councils.

  • David Anderson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    David Anderson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 February 2016 to Question 26409, what squadrons or elements other than Reaper Squadrons 39 and 13 make up the Reaper force as a whole.

    Penny Mordaunt

    No other squadrons or elements make up the Reaper Force. However, individuals in Reaper Force posts who are to be embedded with other countries’ armed forces are usually allocated to 54(Reserve) Squadron, for administrative reasons.

  • Kirsten Oswald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Kirsten Oswald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what standing procedures his Department has for engaging other departments and the devolved administrations in promoting delivery of the Armed Forces Covenant.

    Mark Lancaster

    A feature of the Armed Forces Covenant is the Covenant Reference Group (CRG) which is chaired by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and includes representatives from all of the main Government Departments and Devolved Administrations. The CRG meets regularly to guide and direct work on the Armed Forces Covenant. The CRG also includes the three Service Family Federations, COBSEO (the Confederation of Service Charities) and other charities. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) also holds regular meetings with Devolved Administrations specifically to take forward Covenant work. The MOD also works closely with other Government Departments through the CRG Ministerial Sub-committee to meet their commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant and in much of their day to day work.

  • Ian Blackford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Ian Blackford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Blackford on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what account his Department is taking of future levels of healthy life expectancy in making decisions on future levels of pension age.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The Pensions Act 2014 provides a statutory framework, which commits future governments to regular and structured review of the State Pension age at least once every six years. The first review, due to report by May 2017 will take into account up to date life expectancy data and the findings of the independently led review.

  • Vernon Coaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Vernon Coaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she plans to take in response to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland’s statutory report into the murders at the Heights Bar, Loughinisland on 18 June 1994, published on 9 June 2016; and if she will make a statement.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    What happened at Loughinisland in June 1994 was an act of unspeakable evil, for which there could be no possible justification. The whole House will want to pass on its heartfelt condolences and sympathies to those affected by this appalling atrocity.

    The Government accepts the Police Ombudsman’s Report and the Chief Constable’s response. We take any allegations of police misconduct very seriously and where there is evidence of wrongdoing it must be pursued – everyone is subject to the rule of law.

    The Report is also very clear, however, that those responsible for this despicable attack were the UVF terrorist gang who planned it and carried it out. Nor did the police have prior knowledge of the attack which could have enabled them to prevent it.

    The Chief Constable made clear in his report; “The PSNI remains firmly committed to apprehending those responsible for these murders and appeal to the community for information to allow us to do so.”

    On behalf of the Government I echo that commitment and that appeal.