Category: Speeches

  • Paul Monaghan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Paul Monaghan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Monaghan on 2016-04-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what measures she has put in place to compensate officers of the Civil Nuclear Constabulary if they are dismissed because of failing (a) fitness and (b) eyesight tests for reasons attributable to advancing age.

    Andrea Leadsom

    This is a matter for the Civil Nuclear Police Authority, who are responsible for the terms and conditions of the officers they employ, as well as ensuring that the capability of officers meets the standards required to carry out their mission of protecting civil nuclear material.

  • Lord Freyberg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Freyberg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Freyberg on 2016-05-23.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what research they have carried out into levels of NO2 emissions by diesel trains in urban areas, and whether they intend to apply similar control measures for diesel trains as have been agreed for road vehicles.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    The air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide we published in December 2015 sets out a comprehensive approach to improving the UK’s air quality, reducing health impacts, and fulfilling our legal obligations. The analysis undertaken for the plan took account of the emissions from rail travel as part of the assessment of emission sources.

    Whilst emissions from the rail sector are relatively low, the air quality plan set out that UK is committed to reducing them even further, along with some of the steps we are taking. For example, the Government has committed to a major rail electrification programme that will see a significant number of diesel trains progressively replaced with electric equivalents.

  • 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 2016-07-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing domestic Remotely Piloted Aircraft System pilot training capability.

    Mike Penning

    The Armed Forces continually assesses aircrew training requirements and the efficacy of its training capability to ensure it is fit for purpose.

    Specialist flying training for RAF Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) pilots who are not previously qualified and experienced military pilots starts with a bespoke version of Elementary Flying Training on the Tutor aircraft. All pilots then conduct MQ-9 Reaper-specific conversion training and qualifications in the USA. Once this training is completed pilots in the RPAS Pilot branch are awarded their wings. MQ-9 Reaper conversion training is currently conducted at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico and Creech Air Force Base, Nevada using a mix of US and UK facilities and instructors.

    Watchkeeper training is conducted in both the UK mainland and at the British base on the British Overseas Territory of Ascension Island. All basic manned flying training, theory training and simulator training is conducted in mainland UK, students then deploy to Ascension Island for the live flying elements of their course.

    Desert Hawk 3 training is conducted in both the UK and USA. All theory training is conducted in the UK but some live flying is conducted in Camp Roberts California.

  • John Pugh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    John Pugh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Pugh on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, approximately how many (a) British and (b) non-British nationals are employed cleaning the Westminster estate of her Department.

    Dr Phillip Lee

    The Ministry of Justice does not employ cleaning staff. Cleaning of the Ministry of Justice’s estate is outsourced. The contract requires that all contracted staff have undergone the necessary pre-employment checks and have the right to work in the UK.

  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-11-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations his Department has made to the government of Saudi Arabia on the reaffirmation in UN Security Council Resolution 2199 (2015) of 12 February 2015 of its Resolution 1373 (2001) on matters including the prevention and suppression of financing of terrorist acts.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    All UN Member States, including Saudi Arabia, are subject to the terms of UN Security Council Resolutions 2199 and 1373 and the UK consistently calls on all nations to fully implement these in multilateral and bilateral meetings. Saudi Arabia is a member of the Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force which conducts evaluations of its members to assess compliance with the international standard. A Financial Action Task Force report on terrorist financing published on 16 November 2015 noted that since 2010, Saudi Arabia had achieved the highest number of terrorist financing convictions out of the 33 jurisdictions who had achieved a conviction.

  • Edward Garnier – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Edward Garnier – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Garnier on 2016-01-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether it is his policy that costs in fatal cases involving a claim for less than £25,000, including the costs of representation at inquest, will fall outside of the proposed fixed recoverable costs in clinical negligence schemes.

    Ben Gummer

    The Department is currently preparing to go out to public consultation on the introduction of fixed recoverable costs (FRC) for clinical negligence claims as originally proposed by Lord Woolf and Lord Justice Jackson in 1996 and 2009 respectively. The consultation will include consideration on the maximum value of claims that will be covered by the FRC regime and whether there should be any exemptions. We will review all responses before making a final decision on these issues.

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Leader of the House, what the order of precedence is for induction to the Privy Council.

    Chris Grayling

    By custom and convention, the Order of precedence for the induction of new members of the Privy Council is that those wishing to take an Oath are appointed first, followed by those wishing to make affirmation. Other than this distinction, the Order of induction is alphabetical. Privy Counsellor appointments are published after each Privy Council meeting and are available at http://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/privy-council/privy-council-meetings/.

  • Jim McMahon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Jim McMahon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim McMahon on 2016-02-22.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what formula was used to calculate the Government’s proposed living wage.

    Harriett Baldwin

    The Government has asked the Low Pay Commission to increase the National Living Wage to 60% of median earnings by 2020. This is a level consistent with the recommendations of leading experts in the Bain Report. Our target is for the National Living Wage to reach £9 by 2020.

    On this basis, we have set the initial rate at £7.20 from April 2016. This marks the first step towards our target and represents a £900 a year increase in earnings for a full-time worker on the National Minimum Wage.

  • Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-03-16.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 33 of the Budget 2016, whether flavoured milks will be exempt from the sugar levy.

    Mr David Gauke

    Milk-based drinks, including flavoured milks, are not in scope of the levy. Milk contains calcium and other nutrients which are vital to children’s health.

  • Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-04-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of refugees from Burundi on neighbouring countries; what discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) Uganda, (b) Tanzania, (c) Rwanda and (d) the Democratic Republic of Congo on the humanitarian situation related to refugees from Burundi; and if he will make a statement.

    James Duddridge

    The UK is very concerned about the ongoing political and human rights crisis in Burundi, and the flow of refugees to neighbouring countries. Over 257,000 Burundians have become refugees since April 2015. The UK’s humanitarian response has concentrated on the region, particularly in Tanzania and Rwanda, for which we have provided £21.15 million since April 2015. We are also supporting refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda through existing programmes and the provision of technical advice. In December 2015 I visited Uganda and Rwanda where I highlighted the deteriorating situation and urged regional players to take concrete steps to find a solution. My Hon. Friend and the Department for International Development Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Nick Hurd MP visited Nyarugusu refugee camp in western Tanzania in March, and met with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and donor partners. He continues to raise the plight of Burundian refugees with influential regional partners, including during his recent visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and with interested parties, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and David Miliband of the International Rescue Committee. Whilst there are no plans to make a statement at this stage, we will continue monitoring the political and human rights situation in Burundi.