Category: Speeches

  • Neil Coyle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Neil Coyle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-01-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how the Preventing Suicide in England strategy, published on 10 September 2012, is being monitored for its impact on reducing suicide; and how the commitment to people who had been identified as being especially vulnerable due to social and economic circumstances is being delivered.

    Alistair Burt

    The cross-Government National Suicide Prevention Strategy (2012) is monitored by the National Suicide Prevention Strategy Advisory Group, which meets regularly to monitor progress on the shared areas for action and objectives outlined in the National Strategy. The Department publishes an annual report of progress against the National Strategy, which highlights developments in suicide and self-harm prevention and emerging trends.

    The Department also commissions the Office for National Statistics to analyse and publish annual data on suicide rates.

    The Department works closely with colleagues in other Government departments and arm’s length bodies to take forward actions within the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. This also includes working with a range of stakeholders including the Samaritans and Network Rail to deliver specific suicide prevention activities and provide advice and guidance on suicide prevention.

    The Department provides financial support to the National Suicide Prevention Alliance which brings together a number of suicide prevention organisations to work towards achieving the aims of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

    The All Party Parliamentary Group on Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention raises awareness within Parliament and encourages discussion and debate of all issues involved in suicide and self-harm prevention.

  • Robert Neill – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Robert Neill – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Neill on 2016-02-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2015 to Question 15112, when he intends to bring forward amendments to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015; what provisions will apply to office premises that have been granted prior approval for conversion to residential use but which will not be completed before 30 May 2016; and if he will make a statement.

    Brandon Lewis

    We announced on 13 October 2015 that the permitted development right for the change of use from office to residential is to be made permanent, and that those with prior approval will have three years from the date of prior approval in which to change use. Further information on the detail and timing of the regulations will be provided in due course.

  • Virendra Sharma – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Virendra Sharma – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-03-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive on the illegal dog trade.

    George Eustice

    The Government takes the illegal movement of dogs seriously and it is committed to working with the Devolved Administrations, delivery bodies, enforcement agencies and non-government organisations to tackle this issue.

    Whilst there have been no recent Ministerial meetings on the illegal movement of dogs, Defra’s Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) has recently discussed the issue with his Devolved Administration counterparts, including the Northern Ireland CVO.

    Additionally, there have been discussions on this issue between other Defra officials and officials within the Northern Ireland Devolved Administration.

  • Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-04-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 13 July 2016 to Question 6002, when the liaison personnel in Saudi coalition headquarters were first deployed; how many liaison personnel worked in those headquarters between March 2015 and January 2016; what rules of engagement or memorandum of understanding governs the role of those personnel; and whether any of those personnel have a role in the commission of inquiry announced by the Saudi coalition on 31 January 2016.

    Michael Fallon

    The Liaison Officers were first deployed in May 2015. We do not discuss specific numbers for operational reasons. As Liaison Officers they are not expected to be in a situation where they would require Rules of Engagement nor provide advice to the Saudi investigatory committee.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-06-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent steps he has taken to reduce bed-blocking in hospitals.

    Alistair Burt

    To reduce bed-blocking we are working closely with NHS England, NHS Improvement, Local Government Association, Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and the Department for Communities and Local Government, to provide a wide ranging package of support to help local areas improve transfers out of hospital and reduce delays.

    The Government is giving local authorities access to up to £3.5 billion of new support for social care by 2019/20. In 2016-17, there is also a new Better Care Fund requirement on local areas to develop a clear, focused action plan for managing delays, including locally agreed targets. The requirement is designed to reduce delays across the health and care system.

  • Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl McCartney on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government Equalities Office has taken to prepare for the UK to leave the EU since 23 June 2016; and what further such steps the Government Equalities Office plans to take in the remainder of 2016.

    Caroline Dinenage

    The Department for Exiting the European Union has responsibility for overseeing preparations for the withdrawal of the UK from the EU and conducting these withdrawal negotiations in support of the Prime Minister. In doing this it is working very closely with other Government departments, including the Government Equalities Office, and a wide range of other interested parties.

  • Tommy Sheppard – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Tommy Sheppard – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tommy Sheppard on 2016-10-10.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to update the List of Ministerial Responsibilities.

    Ben Gummer

    An updated version of the list of Ministerial Responsibilities will be published shortly.

  • Baroness Stern – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Baroness Stern – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Stern on 2015-11-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of funding allocated to Syria supports non-humanitarian work.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The UK has delivered over £85 million in non-humanitarian support to Syria, Jordan and Lebanon since the start of the crisis, in addition to the £1.12 billion that has been allocated in humanitarian aid. This has focussed on strengthening the moderate opposition, building resilience against extremists, fostering civil society structures in besieged areas, and laying the foundations for a more peaceful and inclusive future for Syria.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Dan Jarvis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2016-01-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many RAF missions have been flown over Syria.

    Penny Mordaunt

    I can confirm that from November 2014 until 10 January 2016 the RAF has conducted 324 missions over Syria.

  • Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-01-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to address the prevalence of hunger in Malawi.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    DFID has a significant programme of ongoing support in health, education, agriculture, water and sanitation and economic development, particularly in rural areas and with the private sector, for growth, jobs, incomes and food insecurity. We support increasing access to justice for women and vulnerable groups, accountability and governance reforms.

    The UK was one of the first development partners to respond to Malawi’s international appeal for emergency aid in October 2015. The UK has now committed £14.5m through partners including the World Food Programme, UNICEF and an International Non-Governmental Organisation (INGO) consortium led by Save the Children. This support includes:

    • Food for over 800,000 people, including pre-positioning of food, nutrition supplies and livestock vaccines.
    • Cash transfers for up to 450,000 people who live near functioning markets but do not have the means to purchase food
    • Mass screening of up to 800,000 children to identify urgent nutritional support needs
    • Specialist supplies for up to 75,000 children and others suffering from acute malnutrition
    • Vital protection support to vulnerable people, including women and girls, in displacement and refugee camps