Category: Speeches

  • Lord Harrison – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lord Harrison – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Harrison on 2016-02-02.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to the finding of the report by the Fair Admissions Campaign and the British Humanist Association last year An Unholy Mess that a significant number of religiously selective schools are asking parents for information they do not need, and are not allowed to ask for, such as the predicted grades of their children, and how this could be prevented in future.

    Lord Nash

    Admission authorities for all state-funded schools, including schools with a religious designation, are required to comply with the mandatory provisions of the School Admissions Code and other admissions law.

    Where an objection is made to the Schools Adjudicator, if the arrangements are found to be unfair or fail to comply with the Code, the admission authority must make changes to ensure their arrangements are compliant without undue delay. Where an admission authority fails to implement decisions of the adjudicator, the Secretary of State may direct the admission authority to do so.

    We continue to keep the Code under review, and, where we consider any changes are necessary to make the admissions system work more effectively for parents, these will be subject to a full public consultation.

  • Nicholas Soames – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Nicholas Soames – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2016-02-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment his Department has made of the serviceability and spares situation of the UK-based tank fleet; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank serviceability and spares situation is routinely assessed to identify issues. A recent in-depth assessment was undertaken and additional repair funding allocated to maintain the capability. Furthermore, a Life Extension Programme is currently in the assessment phase.

  • Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will estimate the number of UK firms based in the East of England that trade with other EU member states; and how many people are employed by each such firm.

    Anna Soubry

    HMRC Regional Trade Statistics on the number of firms trading with the EU are publically available through the UKTradeInfo website.

    HM Treasury has published estimates of the number of UK jobs linked to EU exports broken down by region. These are available through the GOV.UK website.

  • Matthew Offord – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Matthew Offord – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2016-04-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the employment rights of staff members seconded to or working within international organisations are protected.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The Foreign and Commonwealth (FCO) supports outward secondments that develop the skills and experience of our staff. Our staff are encouraged to take up opportunities where the work is in line with the FCO’s strategic priorities.

    The terms and conditions of employees working for international organisations are set by the organisation they work for during the secondment. The host organisation also takes responsibility for ensuring the duty of care to our secondees is properly discharged and that their working conditions are satisfactory. This would include having proper grievance procedures in place. The FCO takes this into account when agreeing to a secondment, and individual volunteers are expected to satisfy themselves that they are aware of any differences between the two organisations terms and conditions before agreeing any contract. Secondees remain our employees during their secondments and continue to enjoy the protection of their employment rights with the FCO.

  • The Lord Bishop of Rochester – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The Lord Bishop of Rochester – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Rochester on 2016-06-10.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they are having with prison chaplains, including those of Muslim and Christian faith, to address concerns about radicalisation and extremism in prisons.

    Lord Faulks

    Prison staff regularly discuss issues relating to radicalisation and extremism with prison chaplains of all faiths, both at a local and regional level. Prisoners who are identified as holding extremist views or being vulnerable to radicalisation are managed through a range of interventions to tackle and disrupt extremist behaviour.

    Last year the Justice Secretary commissioned A review of extremism in prisons

    As we have made clear, the report has been received and a summary document will be published in due course.

  • Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-09-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many full-time equivalent staff of her Department, at what grades, have been seconded to the Department for International Trade.

    Rory Stewart

    Two DFID staff will soon be moving to the Department for International Trade on loan for a period of 2 years taking up Senior Civil Service roles. We expect that several DFID staff will be strong candidates for other roles in the new Department currently being advertised.

  • Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2016-10-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any approach has been made to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority regarding the possibility of performing spindle-chromosome complex transfer in the UK; and if so, when any such approaches were made and by whom.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that no such approach has been made to the Authority.

  • Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2015-11-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Burma about the enactment of four race and religion laws; what discussions they are having with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy about those laws; and what they are doing to monitor and counter the role of religious extremism in Burma’s political life.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    We have been concerned by the increase in religious intolerance in Burma. This has been evidenced starkly in the four discriminatory race and religion laws, but also by restrictions on the Rohingya community, their disenfranchisement from the 8 November elections, the rise of Buddhist nationalism, hate speech and anti-Muslim violence. We have raised our concerns about the four laws in detail with the Burmese authorities both bilaterally and in company with our partners in the EU, and will continue to do so with any incoming government. Our representations on the four laws in Burma have focussed on the government and parliament who proposed, introduced and approved these bills, rather than with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy party which opposed the laws. We will continue to monitor this concerning trend and raise our ongoing concerns with any incoming administration following the election.

  • Baroness Corston – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Baroness Corston – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Corston on 2015-12-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have a policy on the use of public relations companies by private organisations delivering public services under government contracts.

    Lord Bridges of Headley

    We do not currently have a specific policy on the use of public relations companies by private organisations delivering public services under government contracts, but we expect the very highest value for money in all things.

  • Andrew Percy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Andrew Percy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Percy on 2016-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many defibrillators are provided in each building his Department manages.

    Priti Patel

    The Department does not currently hold a record of sites that have defibrillators. The Department’s current policy is not to install defibrillators on its sites unless approached by an Ambulance Trust or other external organisations who want to do so. We are, however, currently reviewing this policy to ensure it reflects up to date advice from our Occupational Health Advisers.