Category: Speeches

  • Baroness Suttie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Baroness Suttie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Suttie on 2015-10-23.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with business on how labour inspection and enforcement could support implementation of section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, relating to transparency in the supply chains of commercial organisations.

    Lord Bates

    Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 focuses on encouraging businesses to take action to prevent modern slavery in their supply chains. The state seeks to prevent this type of abuse through labour inspection and enforcement. We want these two areas of activity to complement each other to prevent labour exploitation in the UK. We have recently launched a consultation on the Government’s approach to tackling exploitation in the labour market. We will use the outcomes of this consultation to ensure that our final proposals complement section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act as effectively as possible.

  • Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much and what proportion of brownfield land is controlled by central government departments.

    Brandon Lewis

    The Department for Communities and Local Government does not hold this information.

    The Housing and Planning Bill will require local authorities to have a statutory register of brownfield land that is suitable for housing, improving the availability and transparency of up-to-date information.

  • Mr Charles Walker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Mr Charles Walker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Charles Walker on 2014-02-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police forces in England have signed local protocols for those detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.

    Damian Green

    I understand that, as of 13 May 2014, 36 of the 39 territorial police forces in
    England – plus British Transport Police – are currently signed up to local
    protocols for those detained under the Mental Health Act 1983. The other 3
    forces report that they are in the process of agreeing such protocols with
    local partner agencies.

    The agreement of mental health protocols by local agencies is promoted at
    national level, including through the Mental Health Act 1983 Codes of Practice
    and the new national Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat, which states that:

    ‘Every area should have a local protocol in place, agreed by NHS commissioners,
    the police force, the ambulance service, and social services. This should
    describe the approach to be taken when a police officer uses powers under the
    Mental Health Act’.

    The Mental Health Crisis Care Concordat can be found at:
    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/281242
    /36353_Mental_Health_Crisis_accessible.pdf

    The Department of Health, supported by the Home Office and Mind, is encouraging
    local areas to sign-up to the principles of the Concordat, with the expectation
    that all areas in England will have signed local declarations by December
    2014. The Department of Health will publish details of the areas that have
    signed such declarations.

  • Gavin Williamson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Gavin Williamson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Williamson on 2014-02-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to protect library services.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    I have been asked to reply.

    Together with other public services, local authorities are rising to the challenge of delivering and developing the library service, with many reviewing and re-shaping their library offer. Some changes have been made in response to the on-going funding environment to which all public services are making their contribution to savings. But many changes have also been made because individual authorities are looking at better ways of delivering a range of services so that they are fit for the present and the future. Details of the various developments in library services in England, including a range of innovative approaches to the task of delivering a comprehensive and efficient service are set out in the annual report to Parliament during 2012/13 and can be accessed at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/report-under-the-public-libraries-and-museums-act-1964-for-201213

    “

  • Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2013-11-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which contracts his Department holds with (a) Capita, (b) A4E, (c) G4S, (d) Serco, (e) GeoAMEY, (f) Sodexo and (g) Mitie; when each contract started; how much each contract is expect to cost over its lifetime; when each contract is due to end; whether there are any options in the contract for extension; whether any financial penalties have been incurred by each contractor to date; and whether each such contract has a break clause.

    Jeremy Wright

    I undertook to write to you when the information had been received.

    The table contained within Annex A details the live contracts that the Department holds with Capita, G4S, Serco, GeoAmey, Sodexo and MITIE. The table provides you with details on the start and end dates of these contracts, the estimated value of the contract as advertised when the procurement process was initiated, extension options and whether there is a break clause. Where information pertaining to any of these questions is already in the public domain, you will find for ease of reference links to the Hansard extracts.

    There are no contracts between the Department and A4E.

    The table within Annex A provides details on financial penalties where this information is already available in the public domain. To obtain this information for all the contracts listed would incur disproportionate costs.

    The details for the legacy Electronic Monitoring contracts between the Department and G4S and Serco have not been provided to you due to the ongoing criminal investigation into issues relating to these contracts.

  • Chris Leslie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Chris Leslie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Leslie on 2014-01-09.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion and value of his Department’s contracts have been let (a) under the restricted procedure, (b) by the open procedure, (c) via framework agreements and (d) via a tendering process involving the use of a pre-qualification questionnaire in each of the last three years.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Since January 2011, central government departments have been required to publish on Contracts Finder information on the tenders issued and contracts they award with a value over £10,000 (excluding VAT) (www.gov.uk/contractsfinder).

    Public Procurement Regulations require that prescribed procurement procedures are used when procurements exceed the EU contract threshold values. This legal framework helps to ensure that public procurement is conducted in a fair and open manner both within the UK and across the EU.

    Less than two percent of all contracts were let under the restricted procedure in each of the last three years.

    In 2010/11 there was one contract let under the restricted procedure. This was for actuarial support to the independent commission on Equitable Life Payments that was set up by this government to recommend how best to fairly allocate funds provided for the Equitable Life Payments Scheme (ELPS) and had a contract value of £1million.

    In 2011/12 there were two contracts let under the restricted procedure. They were (i) Corporate Financial Advice framework contract (estimated contract value of £5 million over the 2 years but no guaranteed spend)and (ii) a contract for actuarial support for (ELPS) in making fair and transparent payments to Equitable Life policyholders who suffered financial losses as a result of Government maladministration which occurred in the regulation of Equitable Life. The contract value was £5.4 million.

    The information requested for the proportion and value of HM Treasury contracts that have been let via framework agreements and where a tendering process involving the use of a pre-qualification questionnaire in each of the last three years is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  • Lord Stoddart of Swindon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Stoddart of Swindon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2015-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the agreement at the 18 May European Union Council meeting that the EU will work towards allowing visa-free access to the EU for Turkish citizens, whether Turkish citizens will be granted visa-free access to the United Kingdom.

    Lord Bates

    The UK does not participate in the immigration and border aspects of the Schengen acquis so there is no obligation on the UK to liberalise the visa regime for Turkish citizens as a result of the European Union Council decision. We continue to monitor the situation including the Commission’s assessment of the security and migratory impacts of visa liberalisation.

    The Government regularly reviews the visa system. Visa regimes are imposed and removed on the basis of the risk that the country’s citizens pose to the UK. There are no current plans to change the visa regime for Turkish citizens.

  • Stephen Hammond – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Stephen Hammond – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Hammond on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department has taken to prepare for the implementation of the proposed General Data Protection Regulation; which non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and agencies overseen by his Department will be affected by that regulation; and what estimate he has made of the potential liability of his Department, its agencies and NDPBs in connection with that proposed regulation.

    Joseph Johnson

    Negotiations on the proposed General Data Protection Regulation are still continuing and our negotiating position has taken into account the likely impact on Government Departments, NDPBs and agencies. Once the outcome of trilogue negotiations between the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament and the Commission are complete, and the Regulation has been adopted, there will be a maximum implementation period of two years. Between now and then, Government departments who will be affected by the Regulation are closely involved in work led by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport to consider the implications of the text as it develops through the negotiating process.

  • Peter Kyle – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Peter Kyle – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2015-10-19.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made on the feasibility study into the Brighton Main Line 2 proposals announced as part of the Summer Budget 2015 on 8 July 2015.

    Greg Hands

    Last week, the government published the terms of reference of the London-South Coast Rail Corridor Study. This will consider the case for investment in existing and new capacity on this important corridor, including the feasibility of a second Brighton Main line, and will recommend priorities in the short, medium and long term.

  • Peter Bone – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Peter Bone – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Bone on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to support the establishment of an NFL franchise in London.

    Tracey Crouch

    As the Chancellor stated in October 2014, the Government fully backs the NFL franchise, and HM Treasury is currently in discussions with the Greater London Authority about increasing the number of NFL matches in London.