Category: Speeches

Diana Johnson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-05-26.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what discussions she has had with (a) the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and (b) members of the Northern Ireland Executive about the prosecution of women in Northern Ireland under the Offences against the Person Act 1861.

Caroline Dinenage

The Government regularly discusses equalities issues with the Devolved Administrations, including the Northern Ireland Executive. We also raise important issues with territorial offices when necessary, having due regard to devolution arrangements.

As part of the Northern Ireland Devolution Settlement, prosecutions under the Offences against the Person Act 1861 are a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.

01/01/2023
Rosie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rosie Cooper on 2016-07-21.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) consultation, (b) decision-making process and (c) timetable he plans for deciding the final rules for the Government’s Lifetime Individual Savings Accounts (ISA) scheme; and whether he plans to conduct a consultation on what life events in addition to the purchase of a first home will be eligible for penalty-free withdrawal of such investments before the age of 60.

Jane Ellison

Following the Budget, the Government has engaged with industry on the detailed design of the Lifetime ISA, including on penalty-free withdrawals.

The Queen’s Speech for the 2016-17 session announced the Government’s intention to legislate for the Lifetime ISA. The legislation which will enact this measure will be introduced to Parliament in due course.

The Government will continue to talk to industry and interested parties about the Lifetime ISA while the Bill is being considered by the House, leading up to its planned launch.

01/01/2023
Bob Stewart – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Stewart on 2016-10-07.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to introduce a sovereign wealth fund.

Simon Kirby

The government’s current priority is to reduce the deficit and start paying down national debt.

01/01/2023

Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames on 2015-10-28.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the average processing time taken for cases in the Investigatory Powers Tribunal from the time a complaint or claim was submitted to the announcement of a ruling in each year from 2010 to 2014 inclusive.

Lord Bates

The numbers of new cases received by the independent Investigatory Powers Tribunal each year are published on the Tribunal’s website at: http://www.ipt-uk.com/section.aspx?pageid=5 .

The numbers of complaints and claims for the years 2010 to 2014 are as follows.

Year	Human Rights Claims	Complaints	Both	Total
2010	49	40	75	164
2011	46	46	88	180
2012	37	52	79	168
2013	58	67	80	205
2014	58	60	97	215

The Investigatory Powers Tribunal does not collate the information about the average length of time from a complaint or claim being submitted to the announcement of a ruling. The cases received by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal vary in scope and complexity. Each case is considered on its own merits and receives appropriate legal scrutiny.

01/01/2023

Helen Goodman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2015-11-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish a response to the Human Rights Watch report, The Blood of People Who Don’t Cooperate: Continuing Torture and Mistreatment of Detainees in Bahrain, published on 22 November 2015.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We are considering the report carefully. The UK Government consistently and unreservedly condemns torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and it is a priority for us to combat it wherever and whenever it occurs. We are aware of ongoing allegations against Ministry of Interior personnel and we have expressed our concerns to the authorities. The Government of Bahrain has previously committed to consider ratifying the Optional Protocol of the Convention Against Torture. The UK strongly supports this and we have been working with the authorities to share best practice on torture prevention measures. We also continue to ask the Government of Bahrain to allow a visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture.

01/01/2023
Tim Loughton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2015-12-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which high performing children’s services departments have provided assistance to other local authorities with such departments judged as inadequate since 2010.

Edward Timpson

Since 2010, Hampshire County Council, Essex County Council, Leeds City Council, and Achieving for Children (a social enterprise company created by Kingston and Richmond Councils to provide their children’s services) have all provided assistance, through formal arrangements brokered by the Department for Education, to local authorities that have been judged inadequate by Ofsted. A range of support has been provided by Councils outside of those arrangements.

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

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2016-01-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate his Department has made of how many full time police officers will work in the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit in (a) 2016-17, (b) 2017-18, (c) 2018-19 and (d) 2019-20.

Mr Edward Vaizey

The Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit is funded by the Intellectual Property Office, but is considered operationally independent, and is fully managed by the City of London Police. Future staffing levels will be a matter for the City of London Police to determine in the light of the unit’s workload and requirements.

01/01/2023
Anne Main – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anne Main on 2016-02-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the effect on survival rates in kidney patients and on the Domain 1 outcomes of the NHS Outcomes Framework of transplants unsuccessful because of the lack of availability of immunosuppression treatments that the patient can tolerate, following the recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (review of TA 85) [ID456] to restrict access to such agents.

George Freeman

We have made no such assessment.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has not yet published its final updated guidance on the use of immunosuppressive therapy for kidney transplant in adults (review of TA85) or on the use of immunosuppressive therapy for kidney transplant in children and young people (review of TA99). NICE is developing resource impact reports to support implementation of its guidance which will be published alongside its final technology appraisal guidance.

01/01/2023
Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-03-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to clause 96 of the Investigatory Powers Bill, whether Immigration Officers carried out equipment interference before 1 March 2016.

James Brokenshire

Immigration officers have had the power to carry out property interference, including interference with equipment, since 2013 through an amendment to the Police Act 1997.

They may only use the power to investigate and prevent serious crime which relates to an immigration or nationality offence and have done so since 2013. The Bill maintains this position whilst strengthening safeguards and oversight.

01/01/2023
Mark Prisk – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Prisk on 2016-04-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the scope is of the current consultation on the Government National Carers Strategy.

Alistair Burt

The Government recognises the valuable contribution made by carers, many of whom spend a significant proportion of their life providing support to family members, friends and neighbours and they must receive support.

This is why the Department is leading on a new cross-Government National Carers Strategy to look at what more we can do to support existing and future carers.

On 18 March the Department launched the National Carers Strategy call for evidence for carers and those who support them. This is focussed on improving knowledge of local practice and hearing from carers about the kind of support that helps them. The consultation will end on 30 June 2016. We intend to publish the new strategy towards the end of 2016 but want to ensure that it is based on an academically robust examination of evidence and draws on a wide range of views and ideas.

As the strategy develops, we will consider evidence around the economic impact of caring and what role it plays within the health and care sectors and wider society. We will also look at both international and national best practice to see what support works best for carers so that they can find a healthy balance between providing high quality care and support and maintaining their own life and wellbeing.

01/01/2023