Category: Speeches

  • Harriet Harman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Harriet Harman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harriet Harman on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent estimate he has made of the amount of philanthropic giving to arts and heritage organisations in each region and constituent part of the UK; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    In 2011/12, according to Arts & Business, overall philanthropic giving to the cultural sector grew by 7.6% on the previous year to £660.5 million. The breakdown of this total shows £536 million of private investment in culture in London and £125 million in the non-London English regions. Although London is always likely to attract a greater proportion of philanthropic giving, there are many examples of arts organisations successfully encouraging philanthropy and private investment across the country. DCMS has been working closely with Arts Council England, Heritage Lottery Fund and the cultural sector, through the £100 million Catalyst scheme, to help improve fundraising capacity and ensure organisations have the skills required to cultivate philanthropy.

  • Harriet Harman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Harriet Harman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harriet Harman on 2014-04-08.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many children were aged under five in (a) London and (b) each London borough in each of the last five years.

    Mr Nick Hurd

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

  • Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for reviewing the conduct of and representation on Local Liaison Committees for defence nuclear sites.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    There are no plans for the Ministry of Defence to review the conduct of, nor representation at, Local Liaison Committees relating to Defence nuclear sites. The operation of such committees is a matter for agreement between the individual site operator (the Licensee and/or Authorisee) and the appropriate local authorities.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Dan Jarvis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2014-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will take steps to encourage Betfair to recommence making payments to the voluntary British Greyhound Racing Fund.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    The Government would like to see greyhound racing remain a successful sport and encourages the greyhound and betting industries to continue to work constructively together, not least because they have a mutual interest in promoting effective welfare and integrity measures. However, the Government will not intervene in voluntary funding arrangements which are a matter for the Greyhound industry and its funders.

  • Madeleine Moon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Madeleine Moon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) male and (b) female recruits who completed phase two training at Catterick Infantry Training Centre in each year since 2006 went on to join the trained strength; how many such recruits in those categories were aged under 18 years when they enlisted; how many had undertaken phase one training at Harrogate Army Foundation College; and if he will make a statement.

    Anna Soubry

    On 8 May 2014 my right hon. on Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence (Philip Hammond) announced that a review of the exclusion of women in ground close combat roles, including the Infantry, Royal Armoured Corps and Household Cavalry would begin immediately, and report by the end of this year.

    No female recruits currently undergo infantry training and therefore figures shown for the Infantry Training Centre relate to males only.

    The information requested is shown in the table. Completion of phase 2 training is the point at which recruits are deemed to have joined the trained strength:

    Year

    Phase 2 Completions (Male)

    Under 18 on entry (Male)

    Army Foundation College Starts (Male)

    2006-07

    2,300

    950

    230

    2007-08

    2,210

    890

    260

    2008-09

    2,610

    860

    270

    2009-10

    3,370

    980

    310

    2010-11

    1,920

    540

    300

    2011-12

    2,790

    620

    390

    2012-13

    2,760

    740

    520

    2013-14

    2,450

    560

    320

    Figures have been rounded to 10; numbers ending in ‘5′ are rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

  • Madeleine Moon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Madeleine Moon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2014-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department first became aware that they had been wrongly allowing armed forces personnel to be subjected to a double punishment under (a) AGA167 and (b) summary hearings; and if he will make a statement.

    Anna Soubry

    The Department first recognised the implications of changes to rehabilitation legislation relating to police cautions in September 2011, since when no administrative action has been taken against Service personnel who receive a police caution. Officials brought the issue to the attention of Ministers in early December 2011 and have provided further advice at intervals since then.

    It would be inappropriate to disclose the options that officials have presented for consideration. This is a complex matter, and I will update the House when I have reached a judgement.

  • Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 12 September 2013, Official Report, column 798W, on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, whether changes to the Reaper Agreement pertaining to the UK Reaper Force Squadron have been finalised; and whether this Agreement will remain in force following the cessation of NATO International Security Force missions in Afghanistan.

    Mr Mark Francois

    The Memorandum of Understanding is still undergoing the review process. However, it will cover both the ISAF mission and any future wider NATO missions.

  • Julie Elliott – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Julie Elliott – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Elliott on 2014-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 81W, on solar power, whether he plans to make changes to the 250-5MW FiT band for the purpose of encouraging greater deployment of mid-size rooftop solar PV.

    Gregory Barker

    We are working to clear the way for the widespread use of mid-scale solar on top of factories, supermarkets, warehouses, car parks and other commercial and industrial buildings. We are currently considering a range of options to achieve this as set out in the solar strategy.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/302049/uk_solar_pv_strategy_part_2.pdf.

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  • Lord Stoddart of Swindon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Stoddart of Swindon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2014-06-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the event of Jean-Claude Juncker being appointed President of the European Commission, they plan to review their policy concerning continuing membership of the European Union.

    Baroness Warsi

    This Government is clear that membership of a reformed EU is in the UK’s interest. The EU must reform to become more competitive, flexible and democratically accountable, and work fairly for those in and outside the Eurozone.

  • Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the value to the economy of venison production and sales in each of the last three years; and what steps he is taking to increase production and sale of venison.

    George Eustice

    The available data on the UK deer farming industry in each of the last three years is shown in the table below :-

    UK Farmed Deer Industry

    2011

    2012

    2013

    Value of output of deer (£ million)

    3.5

    3.5

    3.6

    Volume of venison produced (tonnes)

    2,400

    2,400

    2,500

    Farmed deer populations (thousand head)

    33

    31

    32

    Defra co-funded a research project in partnership with industry to determine the effects of packaging and slaughter conditions on venison meat quality, and gain an improved understanding of consumer perceptions of venison to help focus future venison marketing campaigns. More information can be found here:

    http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Menu=Menu&Module=More&Location=None&Completed=0&ProjectID=13973

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