Category: Speeches

Matthew Offord – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has published for the use of local authorities in determining planning permission applications for the creation of cemeteries.

Nick Boles

In March, we published new planning guidance, which local planning authorities can use when determining planning applications. It explains that planning applications are considered on their own merits and, by law, must be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The ‘Open space, sports and recreation facilities’ section of the guidance addresses provision of open spaces of public value.

More broadly, separate to the planning system, the underlying statutory duties for local (burial) authorities are outlined in the Local Authorities Cemeteries Order 1977. The associated guidance is overseen by the Ministry for Justice, and is available at:

www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/burials-and-coroners/burial-ground-managers.pdf

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01/11/2022
Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-04-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policy of the findings of the European Commission’s Epilobee Study, published on 2 April 2014; and if he will make a statement.

Dan Rogerson

Defra has received a copy of the report on the findings of the Epilobee Study and is considering its content.

We take the issue of honeybee health seriously. We have a long-established bee health programme, which includes inspection of colonies, diagnosis of bee pests and diseases, and training for beekeepers. Bee health forms a key part of the National Pollinator Strategy, which is currently out for consultation.

01/11/2022
Bill Wiggin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bill Wiggin on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress has been made on the Mobile Infrastructure Project in Herefordshire.

Mr Edward Vaizey

Work has been ongoing in Herefordshire to search for appropriate locations for potential masts, and for each mast to: come to an agreement with a landlord, find an option to transmit signal back into the existing mobile networks, and ensure that the mast can be connected to a source of electricity

01/11/2022
Ian Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lucas on 2014-04-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many (a) male and (b) female (i) HM Ambassadors and (ii) High Commissioners there are from each region of the UK.

Hugh Robertson

We are unable to breakdown the region that each and every one of our Ambassadors and High Commissioners was born in without incurring disproportionate costs. We are able to breakdown by the constituent country within the UK as follows:

Male Female
England 80 22
Scotland 5 1
Wales 3 0
Northern Ireland 1 0
Born outside the UK or not recorded on file 29 7

There is also one post where the Ambassador’s role is shared by one male and one female, both from England.

The key principle of all FCO appointments is selection by merit through fair and open competition. Place of birth has no effect on our appointments system. All UK based members of staff have to be British citizens.

01/11/2022

Emily Thornberry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many cases of (a) rape, (b) sexual assault and (c) domestic violence were (i) reported to the Royal Military Police, (ii) referred by the Royal Military Police to prosecutors and (iii) directed for trial in each year since 2009.

Anna Soubry

The table below shows the number of cases of rape and sexual assault reported to the Royal Military Police, which of those were referred by the Royal Military Police to prosecutors and which were directed for trial since 2009.

These represent any case worldwide where the Royal Military Police has jurisdiction. Decisions to direct cases for trial are taken by the independent Service Prosecuting Authority.

Year	Number of rape cases reported to the Royal Military Police	Number of rape cases referred by the Royal Military Police to prosecutors	Number of rape cases directed for trial[1]
2009	20	15	10
2010	20	10	10
2011	20	15	5
2012	20	15	10
2013	20	5	10

Year	Number of sexual assault cases reported to the Royal Military Police	Number of sexual assault cases referred by the Royal Military Police to prosecutors	Number of sexual assault cases directed for trial1
2009	60	30	10
2010	65	45	30
2011	50	30	40
2012	35	25	25
2013	45	30	25

The figures have been rounded to the nearest five.The specific figure has not been disclosed to ensure that the alleged victim(s) cannot be identified. This is in line with the Sexual Offences (Amendments) Act 1976 and 1992.

Because of the way domestic violence statistics are recorded it is taking some time to collate the information. I will write to the hon. Member with an answer shortly.

[1] The figures relating to referrals and directions for trial use the date of referral receipt as the base line. The Service Prosecuting Authority often receive referrals in one year and the cases are directed, disposed and/or tried in the following year. As such there is no direct correlation to the number of cases brought in any one year. Over a period of time the figures may well fluctuate as additional referrals are either directed or non-instituted.

01/11/2022

Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with HM Treasury on additional financial support to implement the draft proposals put forward in the Haass agreement.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

No estimate has been made of the cost. I continue to support and encourage the Northern Ireland parties as they pursue an agreement on flags, parading and the past, but as these are mainly devolved matters funding for new structures would principally come out of the Block Grant that is paid to the Northern Ireland Executive. Requests for additional funding will be considered in the context of the current UK Government deficit that we inherited from our predecessors and would require Treasury approval.

01/11/2022
Lisa Nandy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lisa Nandy on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether Dominic Cummings has had any email contact with officials, Ministers or Special Advisers in his Department since he resigned his post as a Special Adviser.

Matthew Hancock

Mr Cummings is an ex-employee of the Department for Education. It is not uncommon for ex-employees to be in contact with Ministers and the Department. As the Secretary of State for Education explained to the House on Monday 16 June, many people seek to visit and contact the Department for Education to exchange ideas with old friends and colleagues.

01/11/2022
Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graeme Morrice on 2014-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has any plans to end the employee trade union membership dues check-off system.

Stephen Hammond

The Department has undertaken a review into the removal of check off arrangements and is considering the next steps following this review.

01/11/2022
Jim Dobbin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Dobbin on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 196584 6 May 2014, Official Report, column 41W, on drinking water, what plans his Department has to test for the levels of tranquillisers and antidepressants in drinking water; and if his Department will conduct a study into levels of psychotropic drugs in UK river and seawater.

Dan Rogerson

In 2012, the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) published research looking at pharmaceuticals likely to present the worst case scenario in drinking water. Fluoxetine was included in the study, the outcome of which was that these pharmaceuticals presented no concern for public health. The research is part of an ongoing risk assessment which is revisited in the event of new information. The DWI has also responded to the earlier PQ (0019) on this matter.

Monitoring river water and seawater is driven by requirements under the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD). As psychotropic drugshave not been identified as harmful chemicals under the WFD they are not routinely monitored, although they may be detected in less-specific investigations.

The water industry has undertaken collaborative research into chemicals in sewage effluent through the UK Water Industry Research (UKWIR) Chemicals Investigation Programme. Some medicines were included in the first Programme of 2010-13, including fluoxetine. A second Chemical Investigations Programme, beginning in 2015, will look at the psychoactive medicines fluoxetine and sertraline in sewage effluent.

01/11/2022

Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graeme Morrice on 2014-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many formal client complaints were brought against Jobcentre Plus staff in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) West Lothian local authority area and (d) Livingston constituency in each of the last five years.

Esther McVey

The information requested is not available prior to July 2010, however data is available as follows:

	July 2010 – March 2011	April 2011 – March 2012	April 2012 – March 2013	April 2013 – March 2014
Scotland	815	1,070	983	773
National (England, Scotland & Wales)	6,180	8,979	16,864	15,481

DWP completed the incremental roll-out of a new complaints process in December 2012 which encouraged the recording of complaints. The data provided spans both processes.

As complaints are not recorded by local authority area or constituency, this level of data isn’t available.

01/11/2022