Category: Speeches

  • Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Freedom of Information request made by Frank Zola to his Department on 28 April 2014, on community work placements, when his Department plans to publish the names of the 70 placement providers under the Help to Work scheme; how many current placement providers there are; if he will publish the names of all such organisations providing such placements under the Help to Work scheme in (a) Brighton and Hove local authority area and (b) in the UK; and if he will publish job descriptions for those placements (i) provided to date and (ii) planned to be provided.

    Esther McVey

    The department can confirm that it holds the names of the 70 sub-contractors under the Help to Work scheme as referenced in the Freedom of Information request made by Frank Zola. However, the department cannot disclose their names as the information is intended for publication at a future date.

    In terms of names of organisations that are work placement hosts, the department wishes not to disclose the information as we believe that the public balance weighs in favour of witholding the information.

  • Miss Anne McIntosh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Miss Anne McIntosh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Miss Anne McIntosh on 2014-03-06.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will review his Department’s civil contingencies response.

    Oliver Letwin

    As part of the UK’s integrated approach to emergency management, the Cabinet Office works with other government departments, devolved administrations, emergency responders and other organisations to enhance the UK’s ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies. The effectiveness of these arrangements are regularly reviewed.

  • Graham Evans – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Graham Evans – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Evans on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, from what region of Albania the women referred to the victim support scheme operated by the Salvation Army in (a) February 2014 and (b) April 2014 came from; what evidence from cluster data she has to explain why most of them were pregnant when they were discovered in the UK; what steps she is taking to prevent access to the UK without the necessary visas by such Albanian nationals; and if she will make a statement.

    James Brokenshire

    The Home Office and Ministry of Justice jointly fund a national support service for adult victims of human trafficking in England and Wales. This contract is delivered
    by The Salvation Army. The service is open to potential adult victims of human trafficking (including those from Albania), identified through referral to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). The Salvation Army and its sub-contractors work with victims of human trafficking from the moment they are placed in support accommodation to help them consider their support needs and their plans to move on from the service.

    The Home Office does not hold data on the regions that Albanian women referred to the Salvation Army are from. This information is only held within individual
    case records and can only be accessed through manual search. Similarly, we do not hold data on the reasons for pregnancy of women referred to the NRM. The Government recognises that effective reintegration support for victims is vital to help them move on with their lives and to prevent them from being exploited in the future. In addition, the Government is looking at what more that can be done to support victims, including supporting them to return to their home country where appropriate.

    The Government is working closely with the Albanian Government to combat trafficking and support victims. In November 2013, the UK Government and the Albanian Government, working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), established a voluntary return package for female victims of trafficking who wished to return to Albania. This package includes the provision of secure accommodation in Albania (with guards and social services on site), childcare assistance where required, and training or support to establish a business or enter the labour market. This provides the support and assistance required for victims who wish to return to Albania to rebuild their lives. The Albanian Government is also putting in place comprehensive measures to tackle trafficking, such as the establishment of a National Referral Mechanism and a dedicated police unit to tackle trafficking.

    Albanians are visa nationals and as such they require a visa to enter the UK for any purpose. We have Risk and Airline Liaison Overseas Network staff posted around the world to assist carriers in identifying passengers that do not have the correct documents to enter the UK. We also have Border Force staff operating UK immigration controls in France and Belgium who will refuse entry to those seeking to enter the UK without the correct documentation.

  • – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by on 2014-03-27.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Randerson on 26 March (WA 124), whether the review by Lady Justice Hallett is to be purely an internal government exercise without anyone else whom the judge may summon being under any statutory legal compulsion to appear; and whether any compulsion to co-operate extends to members of Sinn Fein, the police, the recipients of the on-the-run” letters

    Baroness Randerson

    The inquiry led by Lady Justice Hallett has no powers of compulsion. As recorded in my earlier Written Answer, Official Report, Column WA124, officials who are requested to appear will be expected to do so.

  • Steve Rotheram – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Steve Rotheram – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Rotheram on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will undertake an assessment of the effectiveness and progress of the Anfield regeneration project.

    Kris Hopkins

    [Holding Reply: Monday 9 June 2014]

    This local regeneration project is being overseen by Liverpool City Council, and is not the responsibility of my Department.

    This Government cancelled the last Administration’s controversial Pathfinder programme and its top down targets.

    Given my Department’s quasi-judicial role in the planning process, it would not be appropriate to comment at this stage on any current or pending planning application.

  • Baroness Tonge – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Baroness Tonge – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2014-03-27.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with their European partners concerning whether Israeli security personnel convicted of violating human rights law in the West Bank should be refused free visas in line with the policy of the United States State Department.

    Lord Taylor of Holbeach

    We have had no such discussions with EU partners. Israeli nationals coming to the UK as a visitor for less than six months do not require a visa. All other routes, will need a visa before travelling, where the usual rules, including fees and checks will be applied.

  • John Stanley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    John Stanley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Stanley on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many standard individual export licences were finalised in 2013; and what proportion of those licences were finalised within (a) 20 and (b) 60 working days.

    Michael Fallon

    13,578 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) were granted in 2013 and 148 applications for SIELs were refused. 77.8 per cent of these licences were finalised in 20 working days and 97.8 per cent were finalised in 60 working days.

  • Julian Sturdy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Julian Sturdy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Sturdy on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of wind turbine developers using the Community Right to Build scheme to circumvent the local planning process.

    Kris Hopkins

    The Community Right to Build allows local communities to undertake small-scale, site-specific, community-led developments. It may only be used by community organisations in which local people in the relevant neighbourhood area have a majority of the voting rights and have the majority on the board of directors or governing body of the organisation, and, include different people from at least 10 different addresses within the area. This means the Community Right to Build cannot be used by property developers, including wind turbine developers, to gain planning permission for their development proposal – unless that development is something that the community wishes to see and which the community initiates.

    Proposals that require an Environmental Impact Assessment or are likely to have significant effects on a site protected under the Habitats Regulations are not eligible to use the Community Right to Build. Where proposals are eligible they will be tested by an independent examiner to see that they are appropriate in the light of national planning policy and generally conform with the strategic policies of the Local Plan for the area and any neighbourhood plans that are in force.

    The National Planning Policy Framework is very clear that local councils should design their policies to ensure the adverse impacts of renewable energy developments are addressed satisfactorily. To help implement the environmental balance expected by the Framework, we issued new planning practice guidance for renewable and low carbon energy last July. The guidance makes clear that the need for renewable energy does not automatically override environmental protections and the planning concerns of local communities.

  • Mike Kane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Mike Kane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Kane on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent estimate he has made of the number of patients visiting A&E departments after having been unable to make an appointment with their GP.

    Jane Ellison

    There are over 300 million consultations in general practice each year. The latest general practitioner (GP) patient survey results show that less than 2% of patients attended a walk-in centre or accident and emergency department because they were unable to get a convenient appointment with their GP at their practice.

  • 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 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 24 January 2013, Official Report, column 392W, on the Electoral Register if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidelines for the issuing of fixed penalty notices for non-registration.

    Greg Clark

    Guidance from the Electoral Commission on the use of civil penalties for failure to respond to a notice of requirement to register was published in September 2013.

    I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.