Category: Speeches

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what satellites currently use facilities at West Freugh for data transmission.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The satellite reception capability at the West Freugh site is currently used to receive satellite observed environmental data (meteorological, oceanographic and observed weather) from several different satellite sources. I am withholding details of specific satellites as disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

  • Ian Lavery – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Ian Lavery – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lavery on 2014-04-29.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if HM Revenue and Customs will share the evaluation of the Tax Credit Error and Fraud Adding Capacity trial with recognised trade unions.

    Nicky Morgan

    From April to July 2013, HMRC carried out a trial to test whether it would be feasible to increase the number of compliance checks on tax credits claims, through the use of private sector resource. HMRC will publish the evaluation of the trial and the customer research report in due course.

    It is not appropriate to place the business case in the public domain given the commercial sensitivities and the risk of prejudice to HMRC’s ability to tackle tax credits error and fraud.

    In terms of the external costs of the trial, I refer the Hon Member to the Thirty-Fourth Report of the Committee of Public Accounts [2013/14] into HMRC Tax Collection: Annual Report & Accounts 2012–13, which may be found at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmpubacc/666/66602.htm. All internal HMRC operating costs are published annually in the HMRC Annual Report and Accounts.

  • Meg Munn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Meg Munn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Meg Munn on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2014, Official Report, columns 568-9W, on Pacific Islands, to Question 196375, how much support and under what categories her Department gave directly to Pacific Island countries in 2013-14.

    Mr Alan Duncan

    I refer the Hon. Member to the Oral answer given to her by the Secretary of State for International Development, my Rt. Hon Friend the member for Putney (Justine Greening) on 5 March 2014 (Official Report, column 871).

  • Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what shortfalls in staffing (a) including and (b) excluding temporary cover against Target B3 staffing levels there were at the time of the disturbance of HM Prison Northumberland on Saturday 29 March 2014.

    Jeremy Wright

    The information requested could not be obtained within the timescale. I will write to the Member in due course.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, at what time the disturbance at HM Prison Northumberland on 29 March 2014 began; when it ceased; how many prisoners were involved in that disturbance; what injuries were sustained by prisoners and officers; how many prison officers were used to quell the disturbance; and what resources external to the prison were called on to assist in quelling the disturbance.

    Jeremy Wright

    A disturbance took place in part of one wing at HM Prison Northumberland on 29 March 2014. It began at approximately 4.45pm and the affected wing was secured at 00.35am on 30 March 2014 with no resistance from prisoners. Fifty-seven prisoners were involved with one reporting that he had been assaulted during the incident. No staff injuries were reported and minimal damage was caused.

    In response to the incident, Gold Command based at National Offender Management Service (NOMS) headquarters, was opened in support of management locally. In line with normal procedure, mutual aid arrangements involved 84 prison officers, together with local staff, were deployed. The National Tactical Response Group and National Dogs and Technical Support Group, as routine in such incidents, were also activated.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what change in full time equivalent staff of each grade there has been at HM Prison Northumberland since the running of the prison was transferred to Sodexo.

    Jeremy Wright

    The information requested could not be obtained within the timescale. I will write to the Member in due course.

  • Bob Ainsworth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Bob Ainsworth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Ainsworth on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions (a) he and (b) Ministers in his Department have had with their NATO counterparts on the establishment of a NATO-wide cyber capability.

    Dr Andrew Murrison

    NATO-wide Cyber Defence is provided by NATO’s Computer Incident Response Capability (NCIRC) which delivers centralised protection for many NATO sites. The NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA) has recently undertaken a major upgrade of NCIRC’s capability with enhancements delivered in monitoring of core networks on NATO sites on a 24/7 basis. NCIA will continue to manage the upgrade of NCIRC’s capability to best protect NATO owned systems from the evolving threat.

    Progress enhancing the NATO Cyber Defence was most recently discussed at Ministerial level, at the February NATO Defence Ministerial and will be discussed again at the June Defence Ministerial as the Alliance prepares for the WALES Summit in September. The UK continues to pay a central role in moving this issue forward across a whole range of activities such as incentivising national cyber defence capability development to develop Alliance-wide cyber defence capability, information sharing and exchanging best practice.

  • Caroline Flint – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Caroline Flint – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Flint on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to his oral contribution of 2 April 2014, Official Report, column 908, on energy price freeze, what the evidential basis is for the statement that there is a pipeline of £187 billion of investment in the electricity sector.

    Michael Fallon

    The latest National Infrastructure Pipeline data published by HM Treasury in December 2013, in support of the National Infrastructure Plan 2013. This shows that total combined investment for electricity generation, transmission & distribution, when aggregated from 2013/14 onwards in real terms, is £187.4bn:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/263460/national_infrastructure_pipeline__2013.xlsx.

  • John Healey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    John Healey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Healey on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the grant per property was for new affordable housing under the National Affordable Housing Programme, by region, in each year since the inception of the Programme.

    Kris Hopkins

    Average grant allocated per property for the National Affordable Housing Programme, which operated from 2008-09 to 2010-11, broken down by Homes and Communities Agency operating area, is set out below.

    Operating area

    2008/09

    2009/10

    2010/11

    East and South East

    £42,692

    £45,165

    £39,793

    London

    £83,376

    £89,381

    £72,092

    Midlands

    £40,961

    £40,005

    £41,942

    North East, Yorkshire and the Humber

    £39,392

    £37,113

    £42,744

    North West

    £44,519

    £42,060

    £44,484

    South and South West

    £45,284

    £49,430

    £47,273

    Source: Homes and Communities Agency

    Since 2011, the new Affordable Rent model allows for new affordable housing to be delivered with a lower grant cost to taxpayers.

  • Katy Clark – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Katy Clark – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Katy Clark on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effects of amending the Furniture and Furnishing (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988 on the number of house fires.

    Michael Fallon

    BIS is currently exploring options for a revised match test in the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988. It will not have a material effect on the fire safety of UK domestic upholstered furniture, but could lead to a small overall decrease in house fires as it will include currently unregulated materials in products which can contribute to the ignitability of furniture. The test will also reduce the levels of flame retardant chemicals in UK furniture. These contribute to smoke toxicity when burned and can have adverse effects on human health and the environment when they break down into constituent parts. These changes should bring savings to the industry of £30-50 million a year.