Category: Speeches

  • Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many apprentices aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) 19 to 24 and (c) 25 years or over are employed in (i) his Department and (ii) each of his Department’s executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

    Brandon Lewis

    My Department currently has six apprentices. Two are aged 16 to 18, and four are aged 19 to 24. We are due to get a further 4 apprentices in September 2014.

    Of our Arms Length Bodies, the Planning Inspectorate currently has seven apprentices. Six are aged 19 to 24, and one is aged 25 or over. Homes and Communities Agency currently has three apprentices, all of whom are aged 19 to 24.

    6 apprentices were appointed to permanent roles in the Department of the 10 employed last year. The Department is committed to bringing in apprentices and promoting fresh perspectives and ideas. They are enthusiastic in their approach to work and committed to learning and developing the skills needed to make a positive contribution, both within and outside the Department.

  • Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the level of corruption in the Seychelles and the consequent effect on the UK’s and International Monetary Fund’s financial commitments to that country.

    Mark Simmonds

    Transparency International ranked Seychelles as the 47th least corrupt country globally in their 2013 Corruption Perceptions Index. This was an improvement of four places from 2012. The UK does not provide direct financial assistance to Seychelles but contributes to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) whose support has enabled the country to enact a comprehensive program of economic reforms since 2008. The IMF has robust systems in place to ensure the proper use of assistance given to the Government of Seychelles.

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

    Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what amount has been spent on building the psychiatric facility at Whyndyke Farm to date; and when that facility will become fully operational.

    Jane Ellison

    This is a matter for the National Health Service locally.

    We have written to Derek Brown, Chair of the Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust informing him of the hon. Member’s enquiry. He will reply shortly and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library.

  • Graham Evans – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Graham Evans – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Evans on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to her Answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 441W, on human trafficking: Albania, how many female victims of trafficking have returned from England using the International Organisation for Migration voluntary return package and taken up the facilities made available by the government in Albania; and if she will make a statement.

    Karen Bradley

    In November 2013, the UK Government and the Albanian Government, working with
    the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), established a voluntary
    return package for female victims of trafficking who wished to return to
    Albania. This comprehensive package includes the provision of secure
    accommodation in Albania (with guards and social services on site), child care
    assistance where required, and training or support to establish a business or
    enter the labour market. This provides the high level of support and assistance
    required for victims who wish to return to Albania to rebuild their lives.
    Although no victims have yet availed themselves of the package, a number of
    potential cases have been identified and the Home Office is actively working
    with the Albanian Government, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and IOM to
    improve the promotion of the scheme amongst those who may qualify and identify
    and address any perceived barriers to return.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, under what criteria a decision will be made to place a child into a secure college.

    Jeremy Wright

    The Youth Justice Board, with proper consideration of the individual needs of young people and advice from Youth Offending Teams, currently decides the most appropriate establishment in which to place individual young people remanded or sentenced to custody. This will remain the case when there is the option of placement in a Secure College.

  • Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place in the Library a copy of the risk register for the universal credit programme.

    Esther McVey

    In line with standard practice, as the Universal Credit risk register includes details of a sensitive nature the Department will not be putting the risk register into the public domain.

  • Baroness Doocey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Baroness Doocey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Doocey on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many times the Crown Prosecution Service has made a charging decision not to proceed on the use of sections 4(1), 4(2), and 4(3) of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004 in each of the past five years.

    Lord Wallace of Tankerness

    The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not hold figures centrally for the number of cases where a decision was made not to proceed under sections 4(1), 4(2), and 4(3) of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.), including cases where the victim was under 18 at the time of commission of the offence. To obtain such information would require a manual examination of records which would incur a disproportionate cost.

  • Lord Laird – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Lord Laird – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many paramilitary prisoners were released on licence after the Belfast Agreement of 1998.

    Baroness Randerson

    Northern Ireland Office officials are currently undertaking a consolidation exercise with officials in the Northern Ireland Prison Service to confirm the answer to this question. I will write to the Noble Lord once this exercise has been completed.

  • Nick de Bois – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Nick de Bois – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick de Bois on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Attorney General, how many creditors remained unpaid by his Department as at 1 June 2014; and of those how many have been waiting for (a) 45, (b) 60, (c) 75 and (d) more than 75 days.

    Oliver Heald

    The table below shows the number of Treasury Solicitor’s Department (TSol) invoices that were potentially outstanding to suppliers from the date that an invoice was received on the 1 June. This table includes all invoices including those that cannot yet be authorised as the invoice was disputed or where further information was requested from the supplier.

    The majority of TSol supplier invoices relate to disbursement spending on cases and in particular work undertaken by counsel.

    TSol*

    46-60 days

    61-75 days

    76 days or more

    Number of suppliers

    138

    31

    34

    * Tsol data also includes Attorney General’s Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.

    The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) records a creditor when a valid invoice is received by the CPS’ payment centre and the following table shows the total number of creditors for any amount that remained unpaid on 1 June 2014.

    CPS

    46-60 days

    61-75 days

    76 days or more

    Number of creditors

    6

    3

    12

    The table below shows the number of creditors that remained unpaid by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) on 1 June 2014 for (a) 45, (b) 60, (c) 76 days and over.

    SFO

    46-60 days

    61-75 days

    76 days or more

    Number of creditors

    6

    1

    6

  • Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which arts organisations and events in the North West he has visited since his appointment.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport has visited the following organisations and attended following events in the North West since his appointment:

    • Mellor Mill, Stockport

    • Lady Lever Art Gallery, the Wirral

    • Tate Liverpool

    • Merseyside Maritime Museum

    • International Festival of Business, Liverpool