The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thornton on 2014-03-31.
To ask Her Majesty’s Governmentwhat is the national averageweekly income in the United Kingdom for (1) men, and (2) women.
Lord Wallace of Saltaire
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Zac Goldsmith on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of reports that scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have created a life-threatening virus that closely resembles the 1918 Spanish flu strain; whether he has made an assessment of the potential threat to the UK population arising from that experiment; and whether the Government has made any representations to the US administration on this matter.
Jane Ellison
Public Health England (PHE) was advised that the work undertaken at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been reviewed by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the National Institutes of Health, in keeping with the institute’s implementation of the United States Government Policy for Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern.
As part of this, PHE understand that the research was carried out in secure facilities with high levels of containment. A key finding of the research was that people vaccinated with the current seasonal influenza vaccine (which protects against 2009 H1N1 influenza, a related virus) had some evidence of protection against the novel virus that had been created. In addition, the team showed that the novel transmissible virus is expected to be sensitive to the antiviral medication oseltamivir. Effective counter measures to this novel virus are therefore available.
This research provides information on the mechanisms responsible for adaptation of avian influenza viruses to mammals. Knowing what genes are associated with a potentially severe pandemic strain can help predict the likelihood of a strain emerging and help devise appropriate counter measures.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by FALSE on 2014-03-31.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government who first contacted (1) the Metropolitan Police Service, and (2) the Crown Prosecution Service, with the suggestion that it was unlawful for the supporters of Tottenham Hotspur to chant yids”
Lord Taylor of Holbeach
The Home Office does not hold the information requested. The Crown Prosecution Service has no specific policy relating to the chanting of the word "yids" by Tottenham Hotspur supporters and incurred no legal advice costs on this specific issue. The case against the three Tottenham Hotspur supporters was discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service prior to the adjourned date of the hearing, without parties having to attend court, and without the associated costs being incurred.
The Crown Prosecution Service National Football lead has been consulted on a number of occasions regarding whether the use of the word "yid" could amount to a criminal act. The general advice given on each occasion was that each case depends on its specific facts. In relation to the case that was dropped against the three Tottenham Hotspur supporters, the police contacted the Crown Prosecution Service prior to charge. Advice was given that there was a realistic prospect of conviction. It subsequently transpired that the further evidence was not available and the case was therefore discontinued. Prior to the discontinuance a meeting took place between senior police officers and the Crown Prosecution Service officials.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gerald Kaufman on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she intends to reply to the letter to her dated 6 May 2014 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mrs Bernioe Cssai Ogunribido.
James Brokenshire
I wrote to the Rt. Hon. Member on 12 June 2014.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2014-03-31.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to A UK Strategy for Agricultural Technologies, if he will list the activities undertaken by the UK Trade and Investment Business Ambassador to champion UK agri-tech; and which early stage markets have been identified for future growth.
Mr David Willetts
James Townshend, the UK Business Ambassador for agri-tech, has undertaken the following activities to raise the UK’s reputation in agri tech; to support inward investment and exports:
2013
London – 18 April. Met Hamish Renton, UK dairy specialist, in advance of visit to Qatar in May 2013.
London – 29 April. Met my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Owen Paterson), to discuss HMG Agri-Tech Industrial Strategy.
London – 30 April. Attended and delivered the keynote speech at the UK Dairy Export Forum.
London – 8 May. Met the Ambassador of Belarus to the UK to discuss potential business opportunities in Belarus for UK agricultural companies.
Qatar – 20 – 23 May. Led a scoping mission aimed at positioning UK companies to win potential contracts. .
Turkey – 1 September. Visited the Agroexpo/Animal Expo, Eurasia.
Angola 8 – 9 October. Led, with my noble Friend Lord Marland, a multi-sector trade mission to Luanda, which included calls on the Angolan Ministers for Finance, Petroleum, Agriculture, Defence, Energy, Trade & Industry and Education.
2014
Burma 19 – 23 January. A scoping visit and meetings with key decision makers and practitioners.
Early stage markets already identified are Angola and Qatar and we continue to keep our activity under review.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Seabeck on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many parliamentary questions tabled to her Department in the last parliamentary Session did not receive a substantive answer by the time of the 2014 prorogation; and when each such question was first tabled.
Mr Alan Duncan
According to departmental records DFID answered all parliamentary questions that required a substantive answer before the 2014 prorogation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Seabeck on 2014-03-31.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which bidders and consortia have passed the pre-qualification stage to purchase the land-focused business of the Defence Support Group.
Mr Philip Dunne
The Ministry of Defence issued an Invitation To Negotiate on 28 March 2014 to a number of bidders, including individual companies and consortia, for the sale of the Defence Support Group Land Business. The identity of those bidders is commercially sensitive information.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Prime Minister, what his objectives are for discussions on human rights with the Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang during his visit to the UK this month.
Mr David Cameron
I plan to hold wide-ranging discussions with Premier Li. We have a foreign policy that is based on our values, and we consistently raise them with the Chinese government, including during high level dialogues.
I am very supportive of the business and human rights agenda, and action against climate change is a priority for the government.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-03-31.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much electricity is consumed by a Queen Elizabeth class carrier when it is alongside with no internal power generation taking place.
Mr Philip Dunne
It is estimated that when connected to a shore power supply a Queen Elizabeth class carrier will continuously draw up to 8MW of electricity.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kelvin Hopkins on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proposals he has to further devolve responsibility for railways to the Scottish and Welsh governments and the English regions.
Stephen Hammond
The Government confirmed its support for the principle of further decentralisation of rail franchises in its July 2013 response to the Brown Review of rail franchising. Two propositions from English regions are currently being developed (West Midland Rail) or taken forward (with the Rail North consortium). We are examining the scope for further devolution of rail responsibilities in Wales. The Scottish Ministers already have substantial executive devolved powers in relation to the railways in Scotland.