Category: Speeches

  • Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of 2014DIN05-011 Claims and insurance provisions for the use of Ministry of Defence vehicles in the UK and overseas and the process for ordering new motor insurance certificates or green cards.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    A copy of Defence Instruction Notice 2014DIN05-011 regarding claims and insurance provisions for the use of Ministry of Defence vehicles in the UK and overseas and the process for ordering new motor insurance certificates or green cards will be placed in the Library of the House.

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what his Department’s policy is on allowing officials to appear before all-party parliamentary groups.

    David Mundell

    I refer the hon Gentleman to the answer given by my Rt hon Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General on 26 March, Official Report, Column 300W.

  • Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Storey on 2014-06-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 14 May (WA512), where all past public duty cost allowance audit reports compiled by the National Audit Office, including all (1) submitted receipts, and (2) supporting documentation provided in support of former Prime Ministers’ claims, may be accessed; and whether they will place copies of all such audit reports, regarding each former Prime Minister’s spending in the last 20 years, in the Library of the House.

    Lord Wallace of Saltaire

    The Public Duty Cost Allowance (PDCA) is subject to audit, both by Internal Audit and the National Audit Office. Relevant supporting documentation is provided in support of claims. The Certificate and Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General to the House of Commons is published as part of the Cabinet Office Annual Report. Copies of the Annual Report can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cabinet-office-annual-reports-and-accounts.

    “

  • 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 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department’s policy is on allowing officials to appear before all-party parliamentary groups.

    Esther McVey

    I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to question number 193382 by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude. Official Report 26 Mar 2014Col. 300W

    Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what his Department’s policy is on allowing officials to appear before all-party parliamentary groups. [193382]

    Mr Maude: Guidance on officials appearing before all-party parliamentary groups is set out in Volume 2 of the Directory of Civil Service Guidance, copies of which are available in the Library of the House and online at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/60997/guide-civil-service-guidance-volume-2_0.pdf

    “

  • Lord Berkeley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Berkeley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2014-06-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kramer on 13 May (WA 492), what is the annual charge used to calculate the net present value of £2.7 billion for the contract with Agility Trains East covering the provision of Intercity Express trains for the East Coast Main Line; and how many diagrammed trains and diagrammed vehicles are to be provided under the contract.

    Baroness Kramer

    The net present value of the East Coast Main Line fleet is £2.7bn in 2009 prices. This is for a fleet of 414 diagrammed vehicles over 54 diagrammed trains. The total Set Availability Payment for the full East Coast fleet in 1 April 2020 – 31 March 2021 (the first year of full fleet operation) is £324.6m in nominal 2020 prices.

  • Andrew Selous – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Andrew Selous – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Selous on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on economic development in Northern Ireland.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    I regularly hold discussions with Executive ministers on a range of economic issues.

    Last week, I chaired a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Task Force on Banking and Access to Finance which was established to help Northern Ireland businesses access finance.

  • Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2014-06-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any United Kingdom Government Departments have discussed the OPL 245 Nigerian oil deal case with the Attorney General of Nigeria, or any other senior Nigerian government official.

    Baroness Warsi

    The Metropolitan Police Proceeds of Corruption Unit are investigating complaints made about the case of oil block OPL-245 in Nigeria. As this is an on-going investigation, it would not be appropriate to comment any further.

  • Lord Harris of Haringey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Harris of Haringey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Harris of Haringey on 2014-03-24.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish the boundaries of the Rural Support Zone for HS2 and list the local authorities within which the Zone falls.

    Baroness Kramer

    The Government is not yet able to confirm the outcome of the recent consultation on property compensation for Phase One of HS2, but expects to make an announcement soon.

  • Lord Trefgarne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord Trefgarne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Trefgarne on 2014-06-04.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the average time taken by general practitioners to complete the medical forms required by candidates for the Territorial Army and Army Reserve; and what is the number presently outstanding.

    Lord Astor of Hever

    The average time taken by General Practitioners to complete medical forms for Army Reserve applicants is 29 days. This includes the time taken by the candidate to provide the documents to their General Practitioner as well as the time taken by General Practitioners to process the forms. This has reduced from 37 days which was the average prior to the implementation of the improved medical process for recruits in February 2014.

    As at 6 June 2014, 1,315 sets of Army Reserve medical declaration documents were outstanding.

  • Lord Harrison – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Lord Harrison – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Harrison on 2014-03-24.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for large occupational defined contribution pension schemes to be active owners or stewards of their assets, in line with the definition of stewardship as outlined in the Financial Reporting Council’s Stewardship Code.

    Lord Freud

    The Government supports the principles set out in the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) UK Stewardship Code including schemes becoming active stewards of their investments and reporting on that stewardship. The Code sets out a number of areas of good practice to which the FRC believes institutional investors should aspire, and operates on a ‘comply or explain’ basis. It includes guidance for pension schemes and other asset owners on steps they can take to protect and enhance the value that accrues to the ultimate beneficiary. The FCA requires UK authorised asset managers to report on whether or not they apply the Code.

    The UK stewardship code is voluntary, however we would encourage workplace pensions schemes to comply with the principles set out in the code. In addition we are developing governance standards of workplace defined contribution schemes, and have asked the Law Commission to investigate how fiduciary duties currently apply in the investment chain. The Pensions Regulator’s defined contribution Code of Practice also sets out the legal requirements and standards they expect trustees of defined contribution schemes to attain. This includes a section on investment which also references the FRC Stewardship code. These initiatives are part of our on-going work to ensure schemes are governed and administered to deliver in members’ interests.