Category: Speeches

  • Douglas Carswell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Douglas Carswell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what the outcome has been of its programme to improve the effect of public expenditure on the quality of service delivery and poverty reduction in Uganda.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    Supporting public financial management is essential in promoting accountability and ensuring the efficient use of public resources to drive poverty reduction, as well as being fundamental in the fight against corruption.

    The Financial Management and Accountability Programme (FINMAP) works across the public financial management system. The programme has registered a number of achievements. The Public Finance Act was passed by Parliament in November 2014 thanks to technical support provided by FINMAP. A new Government of Uganda Public Financial Management reform strategy for 2014–2018 was launched in August 2014. The programme has also strengthened the Office of the Auditor General.

  • Norman Lamb – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Norman Lamb – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Norman Lamb on 2016-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will place in the Library copies of internal communications, meeting notes and memoranda relating to the resignations of the National Guardian and interim deputy National Guardian for whistleblowers.

    Ben Gummer

    To obtain and collate copies of internal communications, meeting notes and memoranda relating to the resignations of the National Guardian and the interim deputy National Guardian for whistleblowers would incur disproportionate cost.

    The National Guardian for whistleblowers, Dame Eileen Sills, left her post on 3 March 2016. She had concluded she did not have the capacity to undertake both the role of the National Guardian and that of Chief Nurse at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

    The Interim Deputy National Guardian, David Bell, who was seconded to the role, has returned to his substantive post. This was thought to be advisable as until a new appointment to the position of National Guardian is made, it is not clear what level of support will be required from a deputy, or indeed if one is required.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-06-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which services have been sold for profit by (a) her Department and (b) the College of Policing to the Saudi criminal justice system in the last five years.

    Mike Penning

    We are rightly proud of the British model of policing by consent and of the high level of skill and expertise across policing in this country. The College of Policing, which is independent of Government, ensures that respect for human rights and dignity is integral to each programme it delivers.

    Course developers and trainers are required to include a bespoke human rights and ethical decision-making element in each course. Before undertaking any international work, the College refers to the International Policing Assistance Board (IPAB), which assesses all requests against British values and interests. IPAB comprises policing representatives and those from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Home Office, Ministry of Defence, Department for International Development and devolved administrations.

    The College always acts in accordance with HM Treasury’s guidelines on ‘Managing Public Money’, which includes guidance on commercial charging rates. The Home Office do not keep records on the travel of College of Policing officials.

  • Deidre  Brock – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Deidre Brock – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether those parts of the Schengen Agreement which currently apply to the UK will continue to apply after the UK leaves the EU.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The future arrangements between the UK and the EU will be decided as part of the negotiations around our exit. Officials are exploring options for future cooperation arrangements, and we will do what is necessary to keep people safe. It would, however, be wrong to set out unilateral positions in advance of the negotiations.

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what measures his Department uses to assess the effectiveness of security at (a) airports and (b) ports of other countries offering connections to the UK.

    Mr John Hayes

    A) Airports

    Under international treaties administered by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), all contracting states are responsible for the implementation of aviation security regimes in their own airports, to be applied according to a number of standards and recommended practices set out by ICAO.

    However, implementation of these aviation security standards around the world does vary and can be less effective when compared to those in the UK. The Department for Transport therefore works closely with a wide range of overseas governments to first assess their implementation and then assist them where necessary, to build their capacity and strengthen their aviation security, governance and procedures. We also work closely with airlines to implement additional security measures, where judged appropriate.

    B) Ports

    Under the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code it is the responsibility of the host state to implement effective security measures at their ports in accordance with the ISPS Code and based on that state’s assessment of the maritime security risks. The UK takes maritime security extremely seriously, and the Department has recently established an International Maritime Security Engagement programme to assess security standards at key foreign ports and to provide training in UK best practice to help raise standards.

  • Alistair Carmichael – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Alistair Carmichael – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alistair Carmichael on 2015-11-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reason the publicly available version of Chapter 28 of the Enforcement and Instructions Guidance refers to EC No 343/2003 and not EC No 604/2013.

    James Brokenshire

    The publicly available guidance on Third Country cases and the Enforcement and Instructions Guidance that refer to the Dublin Regulation are both under review and will be published shortly. Training on the Dublin Regulation in EU No. 604/2013 has been provided to Home Office officials dealing with Third Country cases.

  • Lord Bradley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Bradley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradley on 2015-11-30.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish a National Framework for the care of (1) children, and (2) adults, who have suffered a severe brain injury and are cared for at home.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The Department has no plans to publish a specific National Framework for the care of children or adults who have suffered a severe brain injury.

    However, there are National Frameworks for continuing care for children and young people (under the age of 18), and for NHS Continuing Healthcare (for individuals aged 18 or over), which support the provision of packages of care for those assessed as eligible to meet needs that have arisen as a result of a disability, accident or illness including severe brain injury. Copies are attached. The diagnosis of a particular disease or condition is not in itself a determinant of eligibility.

  • Lord Norton of Louth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the The Lord Chairman of Committees

    Lord Norton of Louth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the The Lord Chairman of Committees

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Norton of Louth on 2016-01-12.

    To ask the Chairman of Committees how many items of correspondence were received in the Palace of Westminster in 2015; and of those, what proportion was received in the House of Lords.

    Lord Laming

    In total, 2,000,504 items of mail were received in the Palace of Westminster in 2015. The Administration does not count which House each item goes to but estimates that approximately 25 per cent of these items were destined for the House of Lords. These figures do not include parcels, courier items or internal mail.

  • Jonathan Lord – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jonathan Lord – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Lord on 2016-02-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of students are taught in schools rated by Ofsted as good or outstanding in (a) Woking constituency, (b) Surrey and (c) the South East.

    Nick Gibb

    In the South East, 81% of pupils were taught in good or outstanding school as of 31 August 2015.

    Within the Local Authority area of Surrey, 89% of pupils were taught in good or outstanding schools.

    In the Woking constituency, 87% of pupils were taught in good or outstanding schools.

    This data is based on the most recent section five Ofsted inspection of all open schools as at 31 August 2015. The data includes the most recent judgements for predecessor schools of academy converters which have not yet been inspected as an academy. The data can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exploring-ofsted-inspection-data-with-data-view

  • Lord Campbell of Pittenweem – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord Campbell of Pittenweem – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem on 2016-02-24.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the contract with Affinity Flying Services Limited to provide fixed-wing flying training will be fully operational.

    Earl Howe

    Full course capability for the fixed-wing flying training service will be achieved by the end of 2019.