Category: Speeches

  • Baroness Donaghy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Baroness Donaghy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Donaghy on 2015-11-23.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many secondary phase students, by individual secondary subject, were recruited in 2015–16 to initial teacher training programmes delivered through (1) core university provision, (2) school-centred initial teacher training provision, (3) School Direct salaried, and (4) School Direct fee-paying provision, compared to the total number of training places allocated to each of those routes and subjects.

    Lord Nash

    For the academic year 2015 to 2016 we recruited 13,034 initial trainee teachers to primary programmes (compared to 12,872 in 2014 to 2015) and 15,114 to secondary programmes (compared to 12,971 in 2014 to 2015). These figures are for postgraduate only and include Teach First and forecasted trainees. This represents 116% and 82% against the Teacher Supply Model (TSM) target respectively. The target is higher this year compared to academic year 2014 to 2015.

    We allocated a total of 13,962 postgraduate places in primary and 22,800 postgraduate secondary programmes, against TSM targets of 11,245 and 18,541 respectively.

    We allocate more ITT places than we require trainee teachers, and the extent to which we over-allocate differs by route. When assessing recruitment overall we measure the number of trainee teachers recruited against the number required, rather than against the proportion of allocated places that are filled.

    The table below shows the total postgraduate trainees by secondary subject and primary phase. The total includes 1,584 Teach First and 379 forecast trainees. The table also includes trainees and allocations by route.

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-01-06.

    To ask the Prime Minister, when he last met or spoke to the head of government in each British Overseas Territory.

    Mr David Cameron

    I met elected leaders, ministers and representatives of all of the twelve inhabited British Overseas Territories at Downing Street in December 2012. I met the leaders of Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar and Montserrat at Downing Street in June 2013, and the Gibraltar Chief Minister in August 2013.

    The Minister for the Overseas Territories, my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (Mr Duddridge), met the Overseas Territories’ elected leaders and representatives at the most recent Joint Ministerial Council in December 2015.

    In addition other members of the Foreign Office Ministerial team and Ministers from across Whitehall Departments regularly meet leaders of the Overseas Territories at the annual Joint Ministerial Council.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2016-01-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 27 January 2015 to Question 221410, when he expects the concept phase of the development of a collision warning system for the Typhoon aircraft to be complete; and when he expects an investment decision to be made.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    We remain committed to reducing the risk of aircraft-to-aircraft collision through exploiting technology and reviewing operating procedures on Typhoon aircraft.

    Two possible equipment solutions have been demonstrated and will be part of formal assessment in the coming months.

  • Douglas Chapman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Douglas Chapman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-02-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when a copy of DCDS(MilCap)/14/06/11, dated 18 June 2014, was presented to the Procurator Fiscal.

    Penny Mordaunt

    A copy of the document was placed in the Library of the house on 20 March 2015 in response to Question 227404. Ministry of Defence (MOD) records suggest that it was not asked for by or provided directly to the Procurator Fiscal. The MOD routinely provides support to the Procurator Fiscal as required in order to support their investigations.

  • Lord Hylton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Lord Hylton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2016-03-21.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to publicise the EU interpretation notice on the labelling of goods derived from Israeli settlements in occupied territories, including on their websites.

    Lord Gardiner of Kimble

    The Government is examining the Interpretative Notice alongside existing technical advice to UK retailers and importers. No changes have been made to the UK guidance at present, but this matter remains under review.

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

    Lord Laird – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-04-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for the control of drones flying in UK air space.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    There are existing regulations in place that require users of drones to maintain direct, unaided visual contact with their vehicle and to not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property. Work is underway to better understand the risk posed by flying drones close to commercial planes. Guidance on tackling the risks of criminal drone use has been provided to constabularies across the UK.

    The Department for Transport (DfT) is currently working with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to develop consistent, EU-wide safety rules for drones. We have also completed a series of public dialogues ahead of a public consultation which will help to inform a government strategy to be published this year. The consultation will look at a range of options including regulation, registration and licensing options, and the potential for restrictions on purchase and use.

    Education of drone users is vital. The DfT is working with the CAA on raising awareness of responsible drone use. This includes the CAA’s ‘Drone Code’ safety awareness campaign, the issuing of safety leaflets at the point of sale, publishing an animated video on their website, and running ‘small UAS’ (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Risk and Hazard workshops with industry as part of the Mid Air Collision Programme.

  • Tommy Sheppard – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Tommy Sheppard – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tommy Sheppard on 2016-05-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he has made representations to the Turkish government on the effect of its policies on freedom of speech, the right to a fair trial and the rule of law.

    Mr David Lidington

    As a friend and ally we regularly underline the importance of freedom of expression and all fundamental freedoms as part of our broader dialogue with the Turkish government.

  • Ruth Cadbury – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Ruth Cadbury – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ruth Cadbury on 2016-07-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will estimate the contribution to the UK economy of airline passengers who have transferred through Heathrow Airport in each of the last three years.

    Mr John Hayes

    The Department has no plans to undertake such analysis of the specific contribution.

    However, transfer passengers benefit the UK economy primarily through increased connectivity – their demand has helped to make more flights and routes viable, generating connectivity benefits to UK residents. In addition, they have directly contributed to revenue and employment for UK airlines and Heathrow airport.

  • Nic Dakin – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Nic Dakin – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nic Dakin on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Skills Plan, what her policy is on enabling students to continue to study a mixture of both (a) academic and (b) vocational subjects.

    Robert Halfon

    As set out in our Post 16 Skills Plan, we will take forward the recommendations of the Sainsbury Review to put in place a world-class technical option that provides preparation for highly skilled employment. The technical option will be a prestigious and high-quality option for 16 year olds as an alternative to academic study. Applied general qualifications such as BTECs are not designed to be part of the technical education option. We plan to review the contribution of these qualifications to preparing students for higher education and the impact any reform would have on widening participation. We will announce our decisions later in the year.

    It is important that individuals are able to switch between the academic and technical options so that students’ options are not closed down. Flexible learning will be important to learners of all ages, given the changing labour market. We accepted the Sainsbury panel’s recommendation that there should be appropriate bridging courses to make movement between the two options easily accessible and will be looking at options for putting these courses in place.

  • Tim Loughton – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Tim Loughton – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2015-10-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of children have been placed in residential children’s homes outside their home local authority area in each of the last five years.

    Edward Timpson

    Information on the number of children accommodated in children’s homes inside and outside the Council boundary is published in table A2 of the statistical first release “Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers), year ending 31 March 2015” at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption-2014-to-2015

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