Category: Speeches

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Royal Colleges on the use of cancer drugs to slow down Parkinson’s disease.

    Jane Ellison

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets regularly with the Royal Colleges, however he has not specifically discussed this matter. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is currently updating its guidance on Parkinson’s disease to take into account the latest evidence.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much was paid by (a) the Police Federation, (b) UNISON and (c) other trades unions to each police constabulary in England in 2014.

    Mike Penning

    This information is not held by the Home Office.

  • Vicky Foxcroft – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    Vicky Foxcroft – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vicky Foxcroft on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what assessment her Department has made on accessibility of utilities bills for (a) people with disabilities and (b) elderly people.

    Caroline Dinenage

    The Equality Act 2010 protects service users from discrimination on a number of grounds, including disability and age. In the case of disability, it also requires providers of services to make reasonable adjustments for customers who require them. The government has recently published a memorandum to the Act, on post-legislative scrutiny. A link to the memorandum can be found here:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/441838/Memo_to_Women_Equalities.pdf

    “

  • Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2015-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have about the claim by the government of Italy that, of the 13,026 children who arrived unaccompanied in Italy in 2014, 3,707 disappeared after arriving; what assessment they have made of where those children are; and what consideration they are giving to the request of Save the Children that the United Kingdom should provide refuge for 3,000 unaccompanied children.

    Lord Bates

    The UK recognises the need to provide protection to those fleeing persecution. However, it is an accepted principle that asylum seekers should seek protection in the first safe country they reach. In line with their international obligations, EU Member States have a responsibility to register and process all asylum claims made on their territory, including those made by unaccompanied children. This extends to providing adequate support and accommodation.

    The Government has been consistently clear that we do not agree with the relocation of asylum seekers between Member States. We believe it will act as a pull factor, and that it does not address the cause of the problem but simply moves it around the EU. Making an exception for children makes little sense as they are on the territory of Member States who have duties to protect and support them.

  • Baroness Lister of Burtersett – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Baroness Lister of Burtersett – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett on 2015-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on work incentives of the changes to universal credit work allowances announced in the Budget.

    Lord Freud

    Universal Credit (UC) has been designed to reduce poverty and ensure work pays. This remains the case following the Summer Budget.

    The Budget made a number of changes that could have an effect on work incentives, such as introducing of the National Living Wage, that will help ensure this country moves from a low wage, high tax society to a high wage, low tax society.

  • Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2015-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the Which? survey which showed that 9 out of 10 of the Volkswagen owners surveyed believe they should receive compensation.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    There has been no assessment of the Which? survey.

    The Government expects Volkswagen to set out quickly the steps necessary to correct the problem and to support owners of the affected vehicles in the UK.

    This Government is already playing its part by ensuring vehicle owners will not incur higher VED or Company Car Tax if their existing vehicles are found to be fitted with illegal software that manipulates emissions tests.

  • Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville on 2015-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government for each local authority area what they expect to be the average discount from the Right to Buy scheme for housing association tenants in London.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    Working with the National Housing Federation, the Government has secured an historic agreement with housing associations to give their tenants the opportunity to buy their home with Right to Buy discounts equivalent to those enjoyed by Council tenants, up to a maximum discount of 70% of market value, or £77,900 (£103,900 in London), whichever is lower. This will deliver the manifesto commitment to extend the benefits of Right to Buy to 1.3 million housing association tenants.

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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2015-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to protect British journalists in the light of the assault by Israeli soldiers on two AFP journalists during a West Bank demonstration.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The safety of British nationals is a key concern. Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice highlights specific risks relating to travel within the Occupied Palestinian Territories, for example, risks relating to Palestinian demonstrations. We also provide consular assistance to British nationals in line with our guidance when it is required. The UK has repeatedly made clear to Israel our longstanding concerns about the manner in which the Israeli Defence Force polices non-violent protests and the border areas, including use of live ammunition. We are also clear that protection of the freedom of the media is an important part of respecting human rights.

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Andrew Gwynne – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much was paid in (a) year end and (b) in-year bonuses to officials of his Department in each of the last three years.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    Non consolidated performance awards are paid to reward excellence and are given to no more than 25% of staff each year based on the relative assessment of performance against objectives throughout the reporting year. The awards are not pensionable and the values for each grade are set centrally and agreed by the Secretary of State as part of the annual pay remit.

    The Special Bonus Scheme (SBS) is discretionary and there is no limit on the number of people that can receive a cash award provided the award is approved within the policy, rules and guidance governing the SBS. Special Bonuses are not pensionable and are awarded for exceptional performance in a specific task or for the achievement of a professional qualification that benefits the Ministry of Defence and the individual. A Special Bonus can be awarded at any time. Awards vary in value with the maximum single payment being £2,000.

    The following table shows how much the Department has paid out in year-end performance awards and the SBS in each of the last four financial years to staff below the Senior Civil Service.

    TYPE OF AWARD

    FINANCIAL YEAR (1 APRIL TO 31 MARCH) £ Million

    2011-12

    2012-13

    2013-14

    2014-15

    Performance Award

    38

    25

    20

    18.5

    Special Bonus Scheme

    3.9

    4

    4

    4.6

    Total

    41.9

    29.0

    24.0

    23.1

    The following table details the combined total value of payments made to staff below the Senior Civil Service by way of non consolidated performance awards and SBS awards for financial years 2008-09 to 2010-11.

    Financial Year

    Total Value of Awards made £ Million

    2008-09

    47.5

    2009-10

    44.2

    2010-11

    43.5

    “

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Andrew Gwynne – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will undertake a feasibility study on establishing a credit union open to British military personnel; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    On 8 December 2014, the then Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans (Anna Soubry) fully endorsed the expansion of existing, strong Credit Unions to the Armed Forces community and stated that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) was working to bring this about. The Minister also advised that the MOD’s payroll provider was working with officials to scope and cost payroll deductions for a Credit Union.

    The work on scoping payroll deductions has now been concluded successfully and we have now established a facility where Credit Union services are available to Armed Forces personnel via payroll deductions; the formal launch of this service took place on 15 October 2015.

    The three chosen Credit Unions are PlaneSaver Credit Union, London Mutual Credit Union and Police Credit Union trading as Serve and Protect. This facility will provide UK Armed Forces personnel with access to dependable savings facilities and safe affordable loans.

    An internal communication has been issued across the Department to alert Service personnel of this new facility.