Category: Speeches

  • Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many foreign nationals who have served their sentence but are awaiting deportation there are in each prison.

    James Brokenshire

    The number of Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) detained in prison beyond the
    end of their sentence pending deportation (as of 31 December 2013) is shown in
    the table below:

    Prison Name

    Total

    HMP & YOI Isis

    10

    HMP Addiewell

    *

    HMP Altcourse

    *

    HMP Aylesbury

    5

    HMP Barlinnie

    5

    HMP Bedford

    5

    HMP Belmarsh

    10

    HMP Birmingham (Winson Green)

    15

    HMP Brinsford

    5

    HMP Bristol

    5

    HMP Brixton

    10

    HMP Bronzefield

    10

    HMP Bullingdon

    25

    HMP Bure

    5

    HMP Cardiff

    5

    HMP Channings Wood

    *

    HMP Chelmsford

    15

    HMP Coldingley

    *

    HMP Dartmoor

    *

    HMP Deerbolt

    5

    HMP Doncaster

    10

    HMP Dorchester

    *

    HMP Dovegate

    *

    HMP Drake Hall

    5

    HMP Dumfries

    *

    HMP Durham

    *

    HMP Eastwood Park

    *

    HMP Edinburgh

    5

    HMP Elmley

    5

    HMP Elmley (Sheppey Cluster)

    30

    HMP Erlestoke House

    *

    HMP Everthorpe

    *

    HMP Exeter

    *

    HMP Featherstone

    5

    HMP Feltham

    15

    HMP Forest Bank

    15

    HMP Garth

    *

    HMP Glen Parva

    10

    HMP Guys Marsh

    5

    HMP Haverrigg

    *

    HMP Hewell

    15

    HMP High Down

    15

    HMP Highpoint North

    20

    HMP Highpoint South

    10

    HMP Holloway

    15

    HMP Holme House

    5

    HMP Hull

    *

    HMP Huntercombe and Finnamore

    35

    HMP Lancaster Farms

    *

    HMP Leeds (Armley)

    15

    HMP Leicester

    10

    HMP Lewes

    5

    HMP Lincoln

    20

    HMP Lindholme

    5

    HMP Littlehey

    15

    HMP Liverpool

    10

    HMP Long Lartin

    *

    HMP Low Newton

    *

    HMP Maidstone

    45

    HMP Manchester

    10

    HMP Moorland

    20

    HMP New Hall

    *

    HMP Northumberland

    *

    HMP Norwich

    10

    HMP Nottingham

    15

    HMP Oakwood

    5

    HMP Parc

    5

    HMP Pentonville

    45

    HMP Peterborough

    15

    HMP Portland

    5

    HMP Preston

    *

    HMP Ranby

    15

    HMP Risley

    15

    HMP Rochester

    *

    HMP Send

    *

    HMP Shotts

    *

    HMP Stafford

    5

    HMP Standford Hill (Sheppey Cluster)

    *

    HMP Stoke Heath

    5

    HMP Styal

    *

    HMP Swinfen Hall

    *

    HMP Thameside

    35

    HMP The Mount

    10

    HMP Wakefield

    *

    HMP Wandsworth

    45

    HMP Wayland

    *

    HMP Whatton

    *

    HMP Winchester

    *

    HMP Wolds

    *

    HMP Woodhill

    15

    HMP Wormwood Scrubs

    60

    HMP Wymott

    5

    Grand Total

    850

    1. All figures quoted have been derived from management information and are
    therefore provisional and subject to change. This information has not been
    quality assured under National Statistics protocols.
    2. Figures relate to main applicants only.
    3. Figures relate to criteria FNO cases only.
    4. Figures rounded to the nearest 5 ( – = 0, * = 1 or 2) and may not sum to the
    totals shown because of independent rounding.
    5. Data is a snapshot of individuals detained in prison on 31 December 2013.

    We make every effort to ensure that a person’s removal by deportation
    coincides, as far as possible, with his/her release from prison on completion
    of sentence. Where a detainee refuses to cooperate with the removal or
    deportation process, detention may be prolonged.

    The Immigration Bill will have a significant impact on the ability of FNOs to
    delay removal by mounting legal challenges whilst in the UK. The current
    appeals system means that 17 different types of decision can be appealed. The
    Immigration Bill will simplify the appeals system and mean that appeals can
    only be brought where the Home Office has refused a protection (asylum or
    humanitarian protection) claim, a human rights claim or a claim based on EU
    free movement rights. It will also give us the power to certify that where
    deportation will not cause serious irreversible harm, the appeal will be heard
    after the offender has left the country.

  • Paul Flynn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Paul Flynn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the cost has been of the visit of his Department’s officials ahead of the completion of the agreements on energy collaboration with China signed on 17 June 2014; and if he will publish the dates and purpose of each such visit.

    Michael Fallon

    From April 12th-15th, three officials from the Office for Nuclear Development visited Beijing to discuss the Joint Statement on Civil Nuclear Energy Co-operation and Memorandum of Understanding on Enhanced Co-operation on Civil Nuclear Industry Fuel Cycle Supply Chain with the Chinese Government. Officials also attended various other meetings to understand Chinese civil nuclear capability and to explain UK regulatory requirements. The cost of this visit was £11, 787.38.

  • Kate Green – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Kate Green – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish his Department’s risk assessment of the transfer of his Department’s contract with Atos Healthcare for provision of work capability assessments to a new provider; and what steps he is taking to mitigate the risks identified in that assessment.

    Mike Penning

    The transition from Atos Healthcare to the new provider in 2015 provides a further opportunity to improve the service the Department offers to claimants and customers. The Department will manage the transition carefully to mitigate the impact on claimants and customers and to further mitigate any risks the new provider will initially use elements of the Atos infrastructure already in place, including IT, Estate and Atos employees (subject to TUPE).

    The priority for the new provider will be to deliver the best possible service for claimants, increase the volume of assessments carried out and reduce waiting times.

  • Michael Fabricant – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Michael Fabricant – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michael Fabricant on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what works are currently being undertaken in King Charles Street, Westminster; and when the scaffolding and road and pavement equipment related to the works will be removed.

    Mr David Lidington

    The works currently being undertaken by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in King Charles Street are part of the Department’s UK Estate Reform Project. This involves the consolidation of the FCO’s London HQ presence into a single office building. The project is a major reconfiguration of the King Charles Street building and will release the Old Admiralty Building to the Department for Education. This will allow leased office space to be vacated and overall Government spending on the UK Civil Estate to be reduced.

    The gantry being installed in King Charles Street will be completed by the end of June 2014 and will remain in situ for the duration of the project, which is due to be completed in summer 2015. The scaffold is part of the Planning & Listed Building Consent granted by Westminster Council. When completed, the gantry will extend over the pavement between Clive Steps and the western side of the main entrance to the FCO building. Pedestrians will still be able to walk up King Charles St and the main entrance to the FCO will remain fully accessible.

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length of time taken was for personal independence payments to be made in Wales in each month for which data are available.

    Mike Penning

    I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to the hon Member for Liverpool, West Derby and the hon Member for Airdrie and Shotts, official report, 5 March, column 850W.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chi Onwurah – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reason callers to NHS England’s EHIC renewal line are assumed to agree to data-sharing if they do not hang up, whilst other government departments require legal data-sharing gateways.

    Jane Ellison

    The NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) administers the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) application system and telephone line.

    Applicants for EHIC cards are asked to agree to share their application details for the purpose of validating EHIC applications and claims (for which information is shared with the Department for Work and Pensions and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) and in order to prevent and detect fraud and errors (for which information may be shared with NHS Protect and the Department of Health – International Division). The agreement of customers to share their data is sufficient under the Data Protection Act. No personal medical or clinical data is shared as part of this process.

    Callers to the EHIC telephone service are assumed to agree to share their application details. We acknowledge that the current telephone message advising callers about data sharing could be clearer. The NHS BSA has undertaken that they will not share any further EHIC data which is gathered through the telephone service, until the message has been updated.

  • Kate Green – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Kate Green – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what contracts are held by his Department with Atos Healthcare for the provision of medical and health-related assessments.

    Mike Penning

    The Department holds a national contract with Atos Healthcare for the provision of Work Capability Assessments and contracts for Personal Independence Payment Assessments for PIP Lot 1 covering North West England, North East England, Scotland and Isle of Man and PIP Lot 3 covering London / Southern England.

  • Pete Wishart – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Pete Wishart – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Pete Wishart on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what account her Department took of the timing of school holidays in Scotland in formulating plans to deal with passport application delays.

    James Brokenshire

    Each year Her Majesty’s Passport Office plans its capacity, taking into account
    the likely level of demand during specific periods, including the run-up to school
    holidays.

  • Lord Singh of Wimbledon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Singh of Wimbledon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Singh of Wimbledon on 2014-04-08.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 7 April (WA 244), by what criteria they decided to promote a United Nations inquiry into events in Sri Lanka; whether they have considered the situation of the Sikh community in India against those criteria; if not, why not; and if so, with what conclusions.

    Lord Wallace of Saltaire

    We have serious human rights concerns on Sri Lanka, and concerns over lack of progress on accountability and reconciliation. In a joint statement with the UN Secretary-General in 2009, the Sri Lankan government committed to addressing accountability issues. In 2011, the UN Panel of Experts recommended that the Sri Lankan government should immediately hold ‘an effective domestic accountability process’ into alleged violations and abuses of international human rights and humanitarian law by both sides of Sri Lanka’s military conflict. The Panel of Experts also recommended that the UN Secretary-General should establish an ‘independent international mechanism’ to investigate these allegations.

    In both 2012 and 2013, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) subsequently called upon the Sri Lankan government to hold a credible domestic accountability process into the allegations. In the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay’s report to the UNHRC on Sri Lanka in March 2014, the High Commissioner assessed that domestic accountability processes were ‘limited and piecemeal’, and that none ‘had the independence or credibility required’. As a result of this, the British Government supported the High Commissioner’s call for an international investigation. On 27 March, the UNHRC passed a resolution which establishes an international investigation, in addition to calling on the Sri Lankan government to make progress on human rights and accountability.

    On the situation of the Sikh community in India, I refer the noble Lord to my answer of 7 April 2014, Official Report Column WA 244.

  • Ian Austin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Ian Austin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether (a) Serco and (b) G4S will be permitted to bid for community rehabilitation company contracts.

    Jeremy Wright

    G4S and Serco decided to withdraw from the competition to select lead providers of rehabilitation services.