Category: Speeches

  • Hywel Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Hywel Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hywel Williams on 2014-03-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the London to Holyhead railway service will remain an express service after the creation of High Speed 2.

    Stephen Hammond

    No such assessment has been made. The opening of High Speed 2 will release capacity for train services on existing lines, including on the West Coast Main Line. Precise details of stopping patterns will be resolved when the relevant rail franchises are let in due course.

    In the meantime, we will shortly announce a transparent and participatory process to consider long-term issues, opportunities and options for rail services on HS2 corridors.

    We are also working with the Welsh Government who are developing a business case for the electrification of the North Wales Main Line.

  • Robert Buckland – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Robert Buckland – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Buckland on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment on the potential merits of merging health and social care ombudsman services in England.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    The Government is considering reports of the Public Administration Select Committee into how complaints about public services are handled. As part of this inquiry, the Cabinet Office is undertaking work to further investigate how public services can make best use of complaints and also to take a wider look at the role and powers of the public sector Ombudsmen. The Government will respond to these reports in due course.

  • Paul Flynn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Paul Flynn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2014-03-17.

    To ask the Attorney General, what the total cost to his Department has been of challenging the decision of the Information Commissioner on the publication of letters from HRH the Prince of Wales.

    Dominic Grieve

    This case raises issues of constitutional significance, including upholding Parliament’s intentions for the Freedom of Information regime and the Government’s ability to protect information in the public interest. Litigation initiated by The Guardian newspaper has taken place over a four year period including hearings in the Upper Tribunal, the High Court, and the Court of Appeal. Eight government departments have had to work together on the Government’s response, at a total cost of £274,481.16 (exc VAT). These costs encompass all costs billed by the Treasury Solicitor, including Counsels’ fees and disbursements. If we are successful in the next stage of legal proceedings the Government would seek to recover a substantial proportion of these costs from the Guardian.

  • Iain McKenzie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Iain McKenzie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain McKenzie on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to address human rights abuses in Pakistan.

    Hugh Robertson

    Pakistan is included as a “country of concern” in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Human Rights Report. We regularly raise the subject of human rights for all Pakistan’s citizens with the Government of Pakistan in accordance with their constitution and international standards. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) and other ministers raised human rights concerns with the Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his recent visit.

  • Mr Andy Slaughter – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Mr Andy Slaughter – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Andy Slaughter on 2014-03-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of maintained schools have changed their headteacher since September 2011.

    David Laws

    The information requested is not held centrally.

  • Cathy Jamieson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Cathy Jamieson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cathy Jamieson on 2014-06-04.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had on the development of guidance on the use of social media for promotion of financial services.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is responsible for conduct supervision of regulated financial firms, including their responsible promotion of products and services.

    In 2010 the then Financial Services Authority issued some high-level guidelines on use of ‘new media’ – including social media – for such promotions. Since April 2013 the FCA has been engaging with industry, looking further at how social media interacts with FCA rules, and has committed to issue further guidelines later this summer.

  • Sheila Gilmore – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    Sheila Gilmore – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sheila Gilmore on 2014-03-17.

    To ask the Prime Minister, whether the appointment of the hon. Member for Wealden as (a) a consultant to Vitol Group and (b) a senior adviser to Atlantic Supergrid Corporation Ltd were considered by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments; and whether any conditions were imposed by the Advisory Committee on either such appointment.

    David Cameron

    In accordance with the requirements set out in the Ministerial Code, the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACoBA) provides advice direct to former Ministers about any appointments or employment they wish to take up within two years of leaving office. Details about the ACoBA’s advice is published on its website when appointments are taken up or announced.

  • Cathy Jamieson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Cathy Jamieson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cathy Jamieson on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many tenants in Scotland arranged mutually exchanges to elsewhere in the UK through Home Swap Direct in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

    David Mundell

    Details of the number of moves that have taken place under the HomeSwap Direct Scheme from Scotland to elsewhere in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years are not held centrally. This information is more likely to be held by social housing providers.

  • Keith Vaz – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Keith Vaz – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2014-03-17.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much sugar was purchased for No. 10 Downing Street in 2013.

    Francis Maude

    The Prime Minister’s Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office.

    This information is not held.

  • Frank Field – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Frank Field – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to ensure access to CT scanning is more readily available to NHS patients.

    Jane Ellison

    All acute trusts have access to computerised tomography (CT) and NHS England is not aware of any patient access problems. The NHS England standards for seven day services support seven day access to CT. CT involves ionising radiation, so is a test that has to be justified and used in appropriate patient pathways.