Category: Speeches

  • Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer on 2014-05-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what briefings they have received from the United Kingdom Ambassador to Nigeria with regard to the incitement by certain individuals to treat some children as witches; and what reports they have received about the physical and mental effects on children subjected to such accusations.

    Baroness Warsi

    Our High Commission in Abuja have previously reported on children being accused of witchcraft in Nigeria. We are aware of various reports detailing the physical and mental damage caused by such accusations. Our officials in Nigeria, and in London, regularly meet with individuals and non-governmental organisations to discuss this.

    Child abuse is appalling and unacceptable wherever it occurs and in whatever form it takes. Abuse linked to faith is an abhorrent crime, which should be condemned by people of all cultures, communities and faiths.

  • Keith Vaz – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Keith Vaz – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations she has received about the use of water cannon in London.

    Damian Green

    A number of representations have been received recently about the use of water
    cannon in London.

    The Home Secretary has also now received the formal request to authorise water
    cannon for use by the police in England and Wales. She is considering this
    request and will announce her decision in due course and lay the relevant
    information in the House Library.

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Deputy Prime Minister

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Deputy Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-12.

    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what recent discussions he has had with (a) church and community leaders from black and minority ethnic communities and (b) Operation Black Vote on increasing registration levels for voters in those communities.

    Greg Clark

    It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

  • Mr Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Mr Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Nigel Dodds on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of the effect on Northern Ireland of recent changes to immigration rules in respect of Romania and Bulgaria.

    James Brokenshire

    Statistics will be published in the normal way by the Office for National
    Statistics and the Department for Work and Pensions. The first statistics
    covering the period after the expiry of transitional controls will be published
    in May 2014.

  • Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff will be employed in the specialist housing teams that will be established in univesral credit centres.

    Esther McVey

    A team exists to support current live service. This will expand as the rollout continues.

  • Dr William McCrea – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Dr William McCrea – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr William McCrea on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department and the Highways Agency are taking to reduce the risk of death or serious injury to road workers on the motorway network.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    As part of its Aiming for Zero safety programme, the Highways Agency established a Road Worker Safety programme designed to reduce risk exposure to road workers, a particular focus of which is to reduce the incidences of carriageway crossing by road workers. Within this programme, a number of projects have been commissioned to test simplifications and other changes to temporary traffic management arrangements to reduce road worker exposure to live traffic whilst maintaining standards of safety for road users. Some of these projects have been completed already; for example Signs Simplification, implemented December 2011, and Offside Signs Removal techniques, implemented November 2012.

    The introduction of these innovative changes has already enabled a very substantial reduction in the number of carriageway crossings, leading to a proportionate reduction in road worker risk exposure. In March 2014 the Highways Agency published further guidance on the Offside Signs Removal technique, allowing it to be used to close a four lane carriageway. The Highways Agency is continuing to work with its supply chain to take forward further projects within this programme with the aim of further reducing road worker risk.

  • Mark Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Mark Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential effect of a Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived on deprived communities in the UK.

    Esther McVey

    The Government is currently considering the best use of the money. It is therefore too early to assess what impact it might have.

  • Dr Eilidh Whiteford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Dr Eilidh Whiteford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Eilidh Whiteford on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of sanctions imposed on jobseeker’s allowance claimants in Scotland resulted from the recommendations of Work Programme providers between March 2013 and March 2014.

    Esther McVey

    The specific information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  • David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prevent modern slavery.

    Karen Bradley

    The Government is determined to lead the global fight against modern slavery,
    and have introduced the Modern Slavery Bill to help us do so. The Bill aims to
    give law enforcement the tools to stamp out modern slavery and to enhance protection for
    victims. The Bill was published on 10th June 2014.

  • Dr William McCrea – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Dr William McCrea – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr William McCrea on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Health and Safety Executive has taken to recommend or mandate the use of automated traffic management technology to lift and lay cones on the motorway network in the last 10 years for which information is available.

    Mike Penning

    The Health and Safety Executive has not taken any action to mandate or recommend the use of automated traffic management equipment to lift and lay cones.

    The highway maintenance industry has trialled cone laying machines and the decision to use such machines rests with them on a commercial operational basis