Category: Speeches

  • John Randall – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    John Randall – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Randall on 2015-02-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her modern day slavery strategy will contain plans to prevent victims of modern day slavery being retrafficked (a) within the UK, (b) within the EU and (c) elsewhere.

    Karen Bradley

    The Modern Slavery Strategy, published on 28 November 2014, sets out this
    Government’s approach to tackling modern slavery. The strategy places
    considerable focus on support for victims of slavery and trafficking, to enable
    them to recover from their ordeal and move on with their lives. This includes
    strengthening support for victims to help them avoid being retrafficked.
    Commitments include activity to support adult and child victims, both where
    they remain in the UK or wish to return home.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-02-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to announce the direct contract awards to (a) First Great Western and (b) East Midlands Trains.

    Claire Perry

    We are currently in negotiation with both operators, in line with the published Rail Franchising Schedule.

    It is anticipated that the Direct Award for the Great Western Franchise will be for three and a half years (September 2015 to March 2019), whilst that for the East Midlands Franchise will be for two years (October 2015 to October 2017).

    Announcements regarding the conclusion of these negotiations will be made in due course.

  • Shabana Mahmood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Shabana Mahmood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Shabana Mahmood on 2014-07-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Ofsted inspections were carried out in the local education authority of Birmingham in (a) primary, (b) secondary, (c) straight-through, (d) nursery and (e) other schools in the academic years (i) 2011-12, (ii) 2012-13 and (iii) 2013-14.

    Mr David Laws

    This question is a matter for Ofsted. I have asked Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.

  • Huw Irranca-Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Huw Irranca-Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Huw Irranca-Davies on 2014-07-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on the investigation into criminal prosecutions as a result of the adulteration of beef products with horsemeat; and if she will make a statement.

    George Eustice

    The Food Standards Agency and the City of London police, working with their counterparts across Europe, are taking forward complicated and far-reaching investigations into the Europe wide horsemeat fraud. The Crown Prosecution Service has announced that criminal proceedings have been instituted for the mislabelling of goat meat and the failure to comply with traceability requirements in relation to horsemeat. It would not be appropriate to comment further on ongoing criminal investigations.

  • Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-07-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to prevent the use and development of nuclear weapons by North Korea; and what assessment he has made of the recent missile tests in the Gongwan Province.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    We remain extremely concerned by the continued development of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) nuclear and ballistic missile programme, and by its refusal to abide by UN Security Council resolutions. We continue to work closely with partners to press for implementation of the UN’s sanctions regime, to control the DPRK’s access to proliferation sensitive material and to prevent them from exporting arms and technology.

    In the last few weeks the DPRK has undertaken a series of launches of short-range ballistic missiles, mainly of the SCUD class. No prior notice was given in advance of any of these launches. While it is likely that the DPRK is conducting these launches for training and development purposes, it is without doubt also using them to demonstrate its capability, and timing them to maximise political effect. We strongly condemn these, and we urge the DPRK to comply with all of its obligations under relevant UNSCRs and to refrain from any further provocations that cannot help but destabilise the peninsula and the wider region.

  • Jim Dobbin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Dobbin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Dobbin on 2014-07-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answers of 9 July 2014, Official Report, column 313W, on ovarian cancer and 24 June 2014, Official Report, columns 156-7W, on ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, if his Department will collect data on the number of women admitted to hospital with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS); if he will take steps to ensure systematic reporting of OHSS from egg sharing and egg donation; if he will make it his policy that ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome be notifiable; and if he will take steps to ensure that women are accurately informed of the risk of hospitalisation from OHSS when considering egg donation or egg sharing procedures.

    Jane Ellison

    Collection of data relating to treatments regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, as amended, and the recording of serious adverse clinical reactions come within the statutory duties of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

    At its meeting on 9 July 2014, the HFEA agreed a new strategy for 2014-2017, which sets out its regulatory focus. Also at that meeting, the Authority members agreed to give consideration to the collection of additional data when a case of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome is reported. The HFEA will take expert scientific and medical advice on whether such data collection would be of value and on the feasibility of collecting reliable information.

    The papers for the meeting and an audio record of the discussions can be found on HFEA’s website at:

    www.hfea.gov.uk/Authority-July-2014.html

  • Mark Hoban – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Mark Hoban – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hoban on 2014-07-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the average age at which children are diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    Information is not collected centrally on the age at which children are diagnosed with cerebral palsy and therefore no estimate of the average age of diagnosis has been made.

    The age at which a diagnosis of cerebral palsy is made will depend on its severity and type. In some cases it will be diagnosed at birth other cases will be picked up through screening and monitoring.

    Under the Healthy Child Programme schedule, babies undergo screening and health checks or immunisations at birth, at 72 hours, at five to eight days, at six to eight weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, six to eight months and 12 months, 2½ years and at school entry.

  • Henry Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Henry Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2014-07-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals Great Britain 2013, what procedures are included in the direct diagnosis category.

    Norman Baker

    The Annual Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals in Great Britain 2013 report a total of 52,444 procedures were conducted on 6,725 animals with ‘Direct diagnosis’ as the primary purpose. This represents a 3% increase on the total number of procedures, in this category, in 2012 and a 1% increase on the number of animals, in this category, in 2012. Most procedures reported under the category ‘Direct diagnosis’ involve the collection of blood or blood products from either non-immunised animals or animals immunised against various antigens. The procedure of blood collection is classified as being of low severity and, with appropriate licence authority, may be repeated
    many times in the same animal. The products from these procedures, including whole blood and antisera, are used in diagnostic tests.

  • Katy Clark – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Katy Clark – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Katy Clark on 2014-07-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps the UK is taking to ensure that all Palestinian civilians made homeless during Operation Protective Edge will have their homes rebuilt as swiftly as possible.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    This conflict has taken a terrible toll. Initial damage assessments point to destruction on an unprecedented scale, with more than 100,000 Gazans left homeless. Reconstruction will require a durable ceasefire, an agreed approach on security, predictable and sustained access for people and goods in and out of Gaza, and good governance arrangements. The UK continues to work with international partners to this end.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2014-07-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have been made redundant by Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) in each year since the foundation of HMCTS; and what the cost of redundancies at HMCTS was in each of those years.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    I can confirm that there have been no compulsory redundancies in HMCTS since its foundation in April 2011. There have been voluntary departures agreed in HMCTS since April 2011, as detailed in the HMCTS Financial Statement of Accounts. The number and cost of these voluntary departures are detailed below:

    Year

    Number of Voluntary Departures Agreed

    Cost (£)

    2011 – 2012

    1,268

    £54,817,000

    2012 – 2013

    408

    £22,259,000

    2013 – 2014

    73

    £3,087,000

    Up to 31 May 2014

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