Category: Speeches

  • Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-10-30.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, in what circumstances major Government programmes are exempted from the requirement for Gateway Reviews.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Major Project Portfolio for each Department is agreed by the Department, the Major Projects Authority and the relevant HM Treasury spending team. Each programme on the portfolio is subject to an agreed schedule of approvals and assurance, which will normally include Gateway Reviews. There is no provision for formal exemption.

    A Project Assessment Review is conducted either instead of or in addition to Gateway Reviews, and allows for specific terms of reference to be tailored to meet the assurance needs of the particular Government Major Project.

  • Kevan Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Kevan Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2015-11-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what timetable he has set for the introduction of the Rapid Strike brigade as set out in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The two Strike Brigades will provide a rapidly deployable agile force, with enhanced range, speed, protection and firepower, significantly enhancing the UK’s ability to respond to international crises.

    As previously announced on 3 September 2014 by My right hon. Friend the Defence Secretary (Michael Fallon) (Official Report, column 19WS) a contract has been awarded to deliver 589 Ajax vehicles. Detailed allocation plans have yet to be finalised. Fielding of Strike Brigades will start from 2018, delivering an initial operating capability in 2021 and moving towards Full Operating Capability from 2025.

  • Louise Haigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Louise Haigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2015 to Question 15020, for what reason his Department’s outstanding spend data over £25,000 has not yet been published.

    Matthew Hancock

    The data is being compiled and will be published as soon as is practicable.

  • Louise Ellman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Louise Ellman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Ellman on 2016-01-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what tests were undertaken by (a) the Vehicle Certification Agency, (b) the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and (c) any other testing authority as part of in-service emissions testing in each of the last 10 years; and which models were tested in each such year.

    Andrew Jones

    Tests which were undertaken by the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) include the in service light duty testing programme, which were conducted in accordance with the New European Drive Cycle requirements.

    Aftermarket alterations tests were conducted in accordance with the European Transient Cycle and North London Delivery Truck Cycle. Light duty emissions followed the New European Drive Cycle requirements.

    The models that were tested by VCA in the last ten years can be found in the table below.

    Vehicle Model

    Year of testing

    Audi A4 Petrol EIV

    2005/06

    BMW 320TD Diesel EIV

    2005/06

    Fiat Punto 1.3l Multijet Diesel EIV

    2005/06

    Ford Fiesta 1.6l Petrol EIV

    2005/06

    Mazda 6 TS 2.0l EIV

    2005/06

    Mercedes A170 Diesel Euro III

    2005/06

    Mercedes C220 2.2l Diesel EIV

    2005/06

    Mitsubishi Carisma Petrol Euro III

    2005/06

    Mitsubishi Spacestar 1.6l Petrol EIV

    2005/06

    Toyota Corolla 1995cc Diesel EIV

    2005/06

    Vauxhall Vectra 1.8l 16V Petrol EIV

    2005/06

    Vauxhall Zafira 1.6l 16V Petrol EIV

    2005/06

    VW Golf 2.0l TDI Diesel IV

    2005/06

    Audi A4 Petrol EIV

    2006/07

    BMW 320TD Diesel EIV

    2006/07

    Fiat Punto 1.3l Multijet Diesel EIV

    2006/07

    Mada RX8 2.6l Petrol EIV

    2006/07

    Toyota Corolla 1995cc Diesel EIV

    2006/07

    Vauxhall Vectra 1.8l 16V Petrol EIV

    2006/07

    Vauxhall Zafira 1.6l 16V Petrol EIV

    2006/07

    VW Golf 2.0l TDI Diesel IV

    2006/07

    Fiat Punto 1.3l Multijet Diesel EIV

    2007/08

    Ford 1.8ltr Connect

    2007/08

    Ford Focus 1.6ltr

    2007/08

    LDV Maxus 2.5ltr 120PS

    2007/08

    Peugeot 307 1.6ltr

    2007/08

    Peugeot Partner 1.6HDI

    2007/08

    Porsche Boxster 3.2l EIV

    2007/08

    Renault Clio 1.5D 86bhp

    2007/08

    VW Golf 2.0l TDI Diesel IV

    2007/08

    VW Transporter 2.5ltr 130PS

    2007/08

    Alfa Romeo 1.9l TDI EIV

    2008/09

    BMW 523i 2.5l EIV

    2008/09

    BMW Mini One D

    2008/09

    BMW X5 3.0l TD EIV

    2008/09

    Ford Focus 1.6l TD EIV

    2008/09

    Renault Scenic 2.0l Dci 150 EIV

    2008/09

    Smart FourTwo 698cc EIV

    2008/09

    Subaru Forester 2.0l EIV

    2008/09

    Vauxhall Astra Twintop 1.8l EIV

    2008/09

    VW Golf 2.0l TDI Diesel IV

    2008/09

    Citreon C3 1.6l EIV

    2009/10

    Ford Focus ST 2.5l EIV

    2009/10

    Honda Civic ES IMA Hybrid 1.3l EIV

    2009/10

    Honda FR-V 2.2l TD EIV

    2009/10

    Jaguar X Type 2.2l TD EIV

    2009/10

    Kia Rio 1.5l TD EIV

    2009/10

    Skoda Octavia Tdi 2.0l EIV

    2009/10

    Toyota Yaris Tdi 1.4l EIV

    2009/10

    VW Golf 2.0l TDI Diesel IV

    2009/10

    VW Touran 1.4l EIV

    2009/10

    Chevrolet Matiz 0.8l EIV

    2010/11

    Fiat 500 1.2l EIV

    2010/11

    Ford Mondeo 2.2l Duratorq EIV

    2010/11

    Honda FR-V 2.2l TD EIV

    2010/11

    Hyundai i10 1.1l EIV

    2010/11

    Jaguar X Type 2.2l TD EIV

    2010/11

    Kia Rio 1.5l TD EIV

    2010/11

    Smart FourTwo 1.0l EIV

    2010/11

    Vauxhall Corsa 1.3l CDTi EIV

    2010/11

    Vauxhall Vectra 1.9l CDTi EIV

    2010/11

    As reported previously, following the work in 2010-2011, the focus of emissions testing changed to consider aftermarket alteration of vehicles, both light and heavy duty.

    The vehicles tested were

    Light Duty

    Peugeot RCZ

    2013/14

    Ford C-Max

    2013/14

    Heavy Duty

    Mercedes Actros

    2012/13

    DAF CF 85

    2014/15

    I would also refer the Hon Member to my answer of 20 January 2016, UIN 22742 (http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2clords&uin=22742) for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, which tabled the number of MOT in service emission tests conducted in the last 10 years. The models subject to this test would cover every manufacturers model range subject to the MOT test during this period.

    The Department for Transport does not hold information on work carried out by other testing authorities.

  • David Hanson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    David Hanson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many undeclared passengers were identified by the Border Force in each of the last five years.

    James Brokenshire

    For the purpose of this question Border Force have assumed that ‘undeclared passenger’ means any passenger travelling in any mode of transport whose movement has not been notified in the prescribed manner.

    Border Force does not collate records of ‘undeclared passengers’. But it works closely with aircraft operators, pilots and others to maximise the provision of Advance Passenger Information in all modes.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-03-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 67 of Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd’s Regulatory Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2015, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of Network Rail’s reduction in insurance cover on that company’s finances.

    Claire Perry

    My Department has not made an assessment of the effect of this decision. It is for Network Rail to ensure the right approach to its insurance cover to provide value for money, in line with Managing Public Money guidance.

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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Bridgen on 2016-04-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of administering European Social Funds in each of the (a) last and (b) next five years.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    The Department cannot separate out the costs of administering the functions for the European Social Fund (ESF) programme.

  • Roger Godsiff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Roger Godsiff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of the changes to junior doctors’ contracts and NHS working patterns on hospices and other institutions providing end of life care.

    Ben Gummer

    Most junior doctors working in hospices do so as either a volunteer or as part of their training placement with a National Health Service trust or foundation trust, who under the new contract will appoint a guardian of safe working hours.

    It was also agreed in the May negotiations that non-hospital employers with fewer than 10 trainees (this could include palliative care) must contract the guardian of safe working hours at a neighbouring NHS trust to oversee the safe working of trainees.

    The trainees affected by these arrangements will be represented in the Junior Doctor Forum and the Guardian must either be familiar with the issues face by the trainees working in the relevant setting or have access to support and advice on such issues.

    Hospices will decide locally how to deploy trainee doctors and on-call arrangements.

  • David Simpson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    David Simpson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2016-07-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department plans to encourage more farmers to submit their Basic Payment Scheme payments applications online.

    George Eustice

    For the Basic Payment Scheme 2016 over 80% of farmers chose to apply online.

    For the Basic Payment Scheme 2017 the Rural Payments Agency will have a planned campaign of activity to encourage as many as possible of the remaining 20% of customers that applied on paper to apply online.

  • Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Trade

    Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Trade

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what schedules his Department has prepared for World Trade Organisation tariffs on goods and services for the period after the UK has exited the EU.

    Greg Hands

    The UK already has World Trade Organisation (WTO) schedules for goods and services, contained within those of the EU.