Category: Speeches

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

    Andrew Gwynne – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, 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.

    Mike Penning

    Details of the cost of a) year end and b) in year performance related payments that have been paid to officials of the department from 2011/2012 and 2013/2014 can be found at:

    2011/2012: http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-consolidated-performance-related-payments-ncprps

    2013/2014: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mod-non-consolidated-performance-related-pay-2013-to-2014

    Data on payments made during 2014/2015 will be published in March 2016.

    “

  • 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 2015-10-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the United Kingdom Embassy in Pyongyang and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are utilising their resources to gather evidence that can be used in any possible future International Criminal Court trials of Kim Jong-un or other senior officials of North Korea; and, if so, how.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    Our Embassy in Pyongyang produces diplomatic reporting and analysis to inform policy on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). This includes human rights. However, neither our Embassy nor the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are trained nor tasked to gather evidence. Information gathering on reported human rights violations within the DPRK is now being undertaken by the UN Human Rights Office in Seoul which opened in June.

  • The Lord Bishop of Coventry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The Lord Bishop of Coventry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry on 2015-10-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of steps taken by Saudi Arabia to revise textbooks, curricula, and teaching methods to remove content disparaging religions other than Islam.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    Freedom of religion or belief is severely restricted in Saudi Arabia. Public expression of any religion other than Islam is forbidden, non-Muslims are not permitted to worship openly or establish places of worship in Saudi Arabia although private worship is permitted.

    We are aware that the Saudi Arabian authorities have introduced programmes focussed on removing material from text books that might be considered hateful or inciteful. We continue to support dialogue and opportunities for reform.

  • Lord Laird – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Lord Laird – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2015-10-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any agreement with the provisional IRA in recent years, and if so, what was covered by that agreement.

    Lord Dunlop

    The Government has not made any agreement with the provisional IRA, or any other paramilitary organisation.

  • Lord Storey – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Lord Storey – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Storey on 2015-10-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government which City Region bids have been (1) successful, and (2) unsuccessful.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    In response to the Government’s invitation we have received 38 proposals from places seeking Devolution Deals with the Government.We have secured deals with Greater Manchester, Cornwall, Sheffield City Region, the North East and Tees Valley. The Government will continue to work with the other places to develop their proposals, and will continue to consider any new proposals

  • Gareth Johnson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Gareth Johnson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Johnson on 2015-10-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many small businesses were registered in Dartford in each of the last 10 years.

    Anna Soubry

    The number of small businesses that were registered for VAT or PAYE in Dartford between 2006 and 2015 is shown below.

    Year

    Number of small[1] businesses registered for VAT or PAYE[2] in Dartford

    2006

    2,420

    2007

    2,475

    2008

    3,180

    2009

    3,150

    2010

    3,005

    2011

    2,955

    2012

    3,135

    2013

    3,205

    2014

    3,380

    2015

    3,725

    Source: ONS, UK Business: activity, size and location.

    [1] Small businesses defined as employing less than 50 people. Data refers to Dartford parliamentary constituency.

    [2] For 2006 and 2007, only the numbers of VAT registered businesses are available.

  • 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 2015-10-22.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Government Digital Service plans to publish its business plan for 2015-16.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Government Digital Service will set out its business plan after the spending review.

  • Grahame Morris – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Grahame Morris – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2015-10-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number of properties required to meet housing demand in (a) England, (b) the North East and (c) Easington constituency in each of the next five years.

    Brandon Lewis

    The Government does not assess demand for housing or set housing targets. The National Planning Policy Framework and planning guidance expects local authorities to objectively identify and then meet the housing needs of their area.

  • 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 2015-10-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 69 of his Department’s Defence Equipment Plan 2015, what the reasons are for the decrease in planned spending on ISTAR; and how that decrease will be achieved.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    I refer the hon. Member to the Defence Equipment Plan 2015, which can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-defence-equipment-plan-2015. Paragraph 11 explains the movements in the high level elements of the equipment plan from the previous financial year. Each of the operating centre breakdowns in Section C of the Equipment Plan contains an explanation of any increase or decrease in spending from the previous financial year.

    “

  • Maria Eagle – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Maria Eagle – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-10-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many full-time staff are based in the Kabul Intimidation Investigation Unit; and what the roles of those staff are.

    Penny Mordaunt

    The Intimidation Investigation Unit (IIU), based in Kabul, has six full time, in-theatre staff:

    A Ministry of Defence (MOD) civil servant leads the team as the Scheme Manager, overseeing the investigation of intimidation cases, presenting cases at decision panels, and managing any policy issues which arise.

    Another MOD civil servant, employed as the Policy and Secretariat Officer, manages the overall caseload appropriately and ensures that case records are maintained.

    Two appropriately trained and experienced police officers, seconded from Home Office constabularies, are employed to conduct the investigations into intimidation claims. Their tasks include conducting interviews and assessing evidence.

    Two British military interpreters, fluent in Pashtun and Dari, who provide support to interviews and translate documents that have been provided as evidence.

    Though not members of the IIU staff, the IIU receives additional in-theatre support from a Danish legal adviser, and from staff within the Labour Support Unit.

    The work of the IIU in-theatre is overseen by the Operation TORAL Civil Secretary, who dedicates the majority of their time to chairing the in-theatre decision panels and provides guidance should cases or issues need to be escalated.

    Additional support is provided from the UK by a full-time policy officer based at Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ), and by senior managers within PJHQ who oversee the whole of Operation TORAL.