Category: Speeches

  • George Howarth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    George Howarth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Howarth on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on allegations that some Turkish Cypriots were denied the right to vote in the recent European elections in the Republic of Cyprus.

    Mr David Lidington

    We are aware of difficulties experienced by some eligible Turkish Cypriots in the recent European elections in the Republic of Cyprus.

    The enfranchisement of eligible Turkish Cypriots in those elections was a positive step towards building confidence between the two communities. It is unfortunate that some Turkish Cypriots then found that they could not vote on the day due to problems in the registration procedure.

    Although these problems led to understandable frustrations on polling day, we do not believe that they were due to a deliberate obstruction by the Republic of Cyprus authorities. Indeed, some 58,000 Turkish Cypriots were registered and able to vote.

    Ultimately, Turkish Cypriots’ access to the full rights of EU membership, including participation in European elections, will best be achieved through a comprehensive settlement. We continue to fully support the leaders of the Cypriot communities in their goal of achieving this.

  • Mr Dave Watts – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electorial Commission

    Mr Dave Watts – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electorial Commission

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Dave Watts on 2014-03-10.

    To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what the electoral registration figures were in each ward in the recent confirmation dry run conducted in (a) St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council area and (b) St Helens North constituency.

    Gary Streeter

    The Electoral Commission informs me that the confirmation dry run involved matching all entries on the electoral registers against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Customer Information System database. Entries would be marked as green if they matched with DWP, amber if they were a partial match or red if there was no match.

    The ward results for St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council were as follows:

    Ward

    Green matches

    Amber matches

    Red matches

    Billinge & Seneley Green

    87.5%

    1.3%

    11.1%

    Blackbrook

    87.6%

    0.8%

    11.6%

    Bold

    82.8%

    1.6%

    15.6%

    Earlestown

    82.0%

    1.4%

    16.6%

    Eccleston

    87.9%

    1.1%

    11.0%

    Haydock

    86.2%

    1.1%

    12.6%

    Moss Bank

    86.5%

    0.9%

    12.7%

    Newton

    81.9%

    1.2%

    16.9%

    Parr

    80.7%

    1.3%

    18.0%

    Rainford

    86.7%

    1.9%

    11.4%

    Rainhill

    87.3%

    1.0%

    11.6%

    Sutton

    85.0%

    1.1%

    13.9%

    Thatto Heath

    82.1%

    1.5%

    16.4%

    Town Centre

    76.8%

    1.5%

    21.7%

    West Park

    82.1%

    1.0%

    16.9%

    Windle

    84.0%

    0.9%

    15.1%

    The ward results for the St Helens North constituency were as follows:

    Ward

    Green matches

    Amber matches

    Red matches

    Billinge & Seneley Green

    87.5%

    1.3%

    11.1%

    Blackbrook

    87.6%

    0.8%

    11.6%

    Earlestown

    82.0%

    1.4%

    16.6%

    Haydock

    86.2%

    1.1%

    12.6%

    Moss Bank

    86.5%

    0.9%

    12.7%

    Newton

    81.9%

    1.2%

    16.9%

    Parr

    80.7%

    1.3%

    18.0%

    Rainford

    86.7%

    1.9%

    11.4%

    Windle

    84.0%

    0.9%

    15.1%

    Results for all wards are available on the Commission’s website here: http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/excel_doc/0003/163146/Confirmation-dry-run-2013-Results-Wards.xls

    “

  • Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that patients discharged from hospital following a severe asthma attack receive appropriate care and support in the community; and if he will make a statement.

    Jane Ellison

    Information on the number of asthma patients with a care plan is not collected. However, the Government’s mandate to NHS England says that by 2015, everyone with a long term condition should be offered a personalised care plan.

    NHS England is supporting clinical commissioning groups to improve out of hospital treatment for those with asthma by giving doctors more control over the commissioning of asthma services and improving information links between general practitioners and hospitals. The implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence asthma quality standard, that sets out what good quality care looks like, will also raise the standard of care people with asthma receive.

    NHS England, through its National Clinical Director for Respiratory Disease, will continue to work with Asthma UK and professional groups in both primary and secondary care to improve outcomes for all those with asthma.

  • Sir Peter Bottomley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Sir Peter Bottomley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sir Peter Bottomley on 2014-03-07.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how the Office of National Statistics (ONS) can best estimate the number and trends of the stock in the leasehold domestic premises in (a) Worthing West constituency, (b) Worthing borough, (c) Arun district, (d) West Sussex county, (e) South East England region, (f) England and (g) England and Wales; what data collection the ONS makes on housing tenure types; and if he will make a statement.

    Nick Hurd

    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

  • Kate Green – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Kate Green – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what Government funding has been provided for tackling teenage knife crime in each year since publication of the Kinsella Review in February 2011.

    Norman Baker

    On 2 February 2011, Official Report, column 46WS, the Home Secretary announced
    £18 million funding to tackle knife, gun and gang crime. The funding was given
    to police, local agencies and the voluntary sector to tackle serious youth
    violence and prevent young people
    entering a cycle of crime. This funding addressed issues of gang and youth
    violence including knife crime.
    The two year funding supported enforcement and prevention work by police in
    three knife crime hotspot areas, alongside positive activities for young people
    and local work to bring about long-term changes in attitudes and behaviours.
    The money included up to:
    • £3.75 million (£2 million in 2011-12 and £1.75 million in 2012-13) for the
    three police forces areas where more than half of the country’s knife crime occurs –
    the Metropolitan Police Service, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands.
    • £4 million (£2 million in 2011-12 and £1.75 million in 2012-13 ) for a
    ‘communities against gangs, guns and knives’ fund – for local voluntary organisations across
    England and Wales working with young people to stop involvement in knife and
    gang violence.
    • £10 million for prevention and diversionary activities and engagement with
    young people at risk of becoming involved in crime, including knife related violence
    • £1million to support the development of anti-knife, gun and gang crime
    materials for schools and a good practice website to enable local projects to share
    knowledge and expertise. About 280 practitioners are now sharing information
    through the Knowledge Hub set up in the Local Government Association website.
    • £250,000 for 2011-12 of the Ben Kinsella Fund (in addition to the £250,000
    provided for 2010-11) for young people to run anti-knife crime projects in their local
    area.

  • Stuart Andrew – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Stuart Andrew – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stuart Andrew on 2014-03-06.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Autumn Statement of 5 December 2013, Official Report, column 1106, which police service-related charities will receive funds from LIBOR fines in 2014; and what criteria are used to determine which organisations receive such funds.

    Nick Hurd

    In the Autumn Statement the Chancellor announced that LIBOR fines will be invested in providing support for emergency services personnel and their dependents who are injured, suffering ill-health, or bereaved, during or as a result of active service for the public. £10 million will be sustainably invested through Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise organisations across the UK.

  • Jeremy Corbyn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Jeremy Corbyn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Corbyn on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the costs to local authorities of proposals to extend fines on letting agents who fail to publish their fees tariff in full.

    Kris Hopkins

    Requiring letting agents to be transparent about their fees will prevent the small minority of rogue agents from imposing unreasonable, hidden charges. This common sense approach avoids excessive state regulation which would just push up rents for tenants. This and mandatory membership of redress schemes will give local authorities the tools they need to weed out the cowboys that give agents a bad name; and drive up standards.

    We have not received particular representations from local authorities on this issue. We will undertake a New Burdens assessment in due course in the usual way.

  • Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 2014-03-27.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that 40 per cent of two-year-olds will be able to receive free childcare by September 2014 as announced by the Deputy Prime Minister on 2 September 2013.

    Lord Nash

    The Government is investing £525 million this year, rising to £755 million in 2014-15, in the new entitlement to early learning for two-year-olds. In February 2014 local authorities reported that over 100,000 two-year-olds were already benefitting from funded early learning places. Local authorities have received £100 million capital funding, and we are reducing bureaucracy and red tape to help support the expansion of successful providers and the creation of new places. We are encouraging more schools to provide early education places and to open from 8-6pm and are also establishing childminder agencies. These measures are part of the Government’s wider childcare reform programme which will improve the affordability and accessibility of childcare by increasing the supply of places across the country.

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

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

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many new houses have been built in Bassetlaw district in each of the last five years.

    Kris Hopkins

    Statistics on house building completions in Bassetlaw District are published in the Department’s live table 253, which is available at the following link:

    http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building

    “

  • Yasmin Qureshi – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Yasmin Qureshi – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Yasmin Qureshi on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what Red, Amber, Green ratings the Major Projects Authority has given to the Emergency Services Communications Programme.

    Mr Francis Maude

    The Major Projects Authority (MPA) has been applying MPA assurance processes to the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) including a Project Assessment Review and Gateway Reviews. Further information on the ESMCP Programme is available at the link below:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-emergency-services-mobile-communications-programme

    Delivery Confidence Assessment ratings are supplied according to the MPA’s Transparency Policy which is on the Cabinet Office website. The policy allows for non-disclosure of information which should properly remain confidential, for example where it is market sensitive or necessary to safeguard national security.

    This will be in line with the principles of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/major-projects-transparency-policy-and-exemptions-guidance

    The DCA for ESMCP was not revealed in MPA’s first annual report last year in line with the above policy. The next annual report of the MPA is due to be published in May.