Category: Speeches

  • Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-05-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which suppliers are approved to install the service offered under the satellite broadband subsidy scheme; and what regulation those suppliers are subject to from BT on installation procedure.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    Suppliers for the main scheme are as follows:

    www.ibub.co.uk/satellitescheme/

    www.europasat.com/lp/bduk-national/

    www.broadbandwherever.net/BDUK

    http://www.primetech-bduk.co.uk

    www.digiweb.com/satellite/

    http://avonlinebroadband.com/broadband-vouchers/

    www.corsat.co.uk/bduk/

    www.ruralbroadband.co.uk/bduk

    www.notspotbroadband.com/grant-schemes/

    http://toowayinfo.bentleywalker.com/bduk/

    Suppliers for the supplementary scheme (which include fixed wireless providers) are as follows:

    http://www.voip-unlimited.net/airwave-home/

    http://www.juice-broadband.com/

    http://lothianbroadband.com/

    https://6ginternet.com/subsidy

    https://www.wessexinternet.com/

    https://wispire.co.uk/

    www.ruralbroadband.co.uk/

    www.quickline.co.uk/

    www.notspotbroadband.com/

    www.avonlinebroadband.com/

    http://www.symmetris.co.uk/

    www.bentley-walker.com/

    http://b4rn.org.uk/

    www.europasat.com/

    http://www.securewebservices.co.uk/

    www.satelliteinternet.co.uk/

    www.digiweb.com/satellite/

    www.broadbandwherever.net/home

    The suppliers on the main scheme are contracted by BT as being able to provide satellite products through BT Wholesale. BT only contracts with suppliers who are able to demonstrate that they have a competent network of installers who are able to meet installation standards set out as part of the contract terms between supplier and BT.

    “

  • Amanda Solloway – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Amanda Solloway – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Amanda Solloway on 2016-06-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress the Government has made on supporting women with perinatal mental health issues.

    Alistair Burt

    The Government is fully committed to improving perinatal mental health services. Following an announcement by the Prime Minister in January, we are investing an additional £365 million by 2021 to improve services so that women are able to access the right care, at the right time and close to home.

  • Lord Hylton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Hylton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2016-09-08.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Pakistan about the kidnapping and forced conversion of Christian and Hindu girls and young women, the alignment of Pakistani Law with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and freedom of religion.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    We are concerned about continuing reports of abuses against religious minorities in Pakistan. The Government strongly condemns the persecution of all minorities, including the targeting of innocent people based on their beliefs or gender. Our concerns are reflected in the latest update to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office annual human rights report.

    We regularly raise our concerns about the protection of vulnerable groups, including women and religious minorities, with the Pakistani Government at a senior level. In April, the previous Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Philip Hammond), raised the importance of safeguarding the rights of all minorities with Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs.

    It is encouraging that the government of Pakistan has enacted legislation to protect religious minorities. The UK Government continues to urge Pakistan to honour in practice its human rights obligations, including those related to religious minorities and women, and to uphold the rule of law.

  • Iain Stewart – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Iain Stewart – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Stewart on 2015-11-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the portion of loan outlay that will never be repaid by graduates who have undertaken (a) full-time and (b) part-time higher education degrees.

    Joseph Johnson

    (a) We estimate that the proportion of the value of full time loans which will not be repaid is around 45%.

    (b) Our current estimate is that around 40% of the value of part time loans will not be repaid. We will update our estimate as we get more information on the actual repayments from students taking out these loans.

  • Jake Berry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Jake Berry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jake Berry on 2015-11-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many applications to buy public owned land for residential development made between 2009 and 2015 were (a) made, (b) granted and (c) developed as set out in those applications.

    Brandon Lewis

    As part of the Public Sector Land programme between April 2009 and March 2015, a total of 838 central Government-owned sites were sold. The Department does not hold information on the numbers of applications for sale or disposal of central government land, nor the build-out rates for individual sites.

  • Eilidh Whiteford – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Eilidh Whiteford – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Eilidh Whiteford on 2015-12-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people receive employment and support allowance in the work-related activity group on grounds of mental or behavioural disorders.

    Priti Patel

    The information available is in the table below:

    As at May 2015

    Work Related Activity Group

    Caseload (Thousands)

    Mental and Behavioural Disorders

    240.64

    Notes:

    The extract is as at May 2015 which is the latest data available.

    Source:

    DWP Tabulation Tool http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/100pc/tabtool.html

    “

  • Owen Thompson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Owen Thompson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Thompson on 2016-01-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to ensure that football supporters from all nations of the UK have equal free access to their national team games aired on television.

    Tracey Crouch

    I share the enthusiasm of all supporters to be able to watch their home nation on TV. Where home nations compete in the European Championship and World Cup final tournaments, fans can watch them on free to air television as they are Listed Events. Beyond that it is a matter for the Scottish FA to negotiate with UEFA, under a central sales strategy, who broadcasts Scotland qualifying or friendly matches.

  • Nick Clegg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Nick Clegg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Clegg on 2016-02-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of (a) primary and (b) secondary school budgets have been spent on tackling mental health problems in each of the last five years; and if the Government will take steps to protect such spending in future.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    The most recent prevalence survey estimated that 1 in 10 children have a diagnosable mental health disorder, and more have lower level problems. This is why the Government has made good mental health, character and resilience a high priority. The Department of Health is commissioning a new prevalence survey to update this estimate for a wider range of ages, from 2-19. It is due to report in 2018. We do not routinely collect data that allows us to measure the amount schools spend specifically on addressing mental health issues.

    We are committed to better understanding what schools are doing on this matter, which is why my department is commissioning an extensive survey. This survey will provide a robust national picture of mental health support provided by schools and colleges.

    It is for head teachers to determine how they spend their individual school budgets to best meet the needs of all their pupils. In the Spending Review we announced that the core schools budget will be protected in real terms through this Parliament. We are also protecting the Pupil Premium, which many schools use to fund mental health provision, at current pupil rates. Within these protections, we announced in December 2015 that an additional £92.5 million will specifically be provided in the high needs element of the Dedicated School Grant (DSG) next year.

    We have also made £1.4 billion available over the next five years to transform local children and young people’s mental health services to deliver more integrated and accessible services. Clinical Commissioning Groups have been required to work with others services locally, including schools, to produce plans that set out how they will transform children and young people’s mental health services locally to make them more accessible and increase the focus on prevention.

    We are also contributing to a £3 million joint pilot with NHS England for training single points of contact in schools and specialist mental health services, to ensure that children and young people have timely access to specialist support where needed. There are 22 pilot areas covering more than 200 schools across 27 CCGs.

  • Cat Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Cat Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2016-03-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what representations his Department has received on the incidence of refusals by taxi drivers to carry assistance dogs; and if he will introduce compulsory disability awareness training for drivers of taxis and private hire vehicles.

    Andrew Jones

    I am aware of the ongoing problems passengers accompanied by assistance dogs encounter when using taxis and private hire vehicles.

    The Department has issued comprehensive guidance to both licensing authorities and the licensed industry in respect of the relevant duties in the Equality Act 2010. Any allegations of breaches of the Act must be reported to the local licensing authority to enable them to take appropriate action.

    Although there is no legal requirement for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers to undertake disability awareness training, the Department’s Best Practice Guidance on taxi and private hire vehicle licensing recommends that local licensing authorities to work with the industry in their area to improve drivers’ awareness of the needs of disabled people. This includes encouraging their drivers to undertake disability awareness training.

  • Gavin Robinson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Gavin Robinson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Robinson on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations 2007 to ensure that customers can use discount vouchers to purchase formula in supermarkets.

    Jane Ellison

    The restrictions on promotional sales of infant formula are an important aspect of the Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations 2007 which implement the World Health Organization International Code on the Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes. There are no plans to amend this part of the Regulations. While the Department encourages exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life because of the significant health benefits to both mothers and babies, we recognise that infant feeding choices are complex and based on individual and family circumstances, and therefore, low income households have access to the Healthy Start Scheme and may use the vouchers to purchase infant formula.