Category: Speeches

  • Dr Phillip Lee – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Dr Phillip Lee – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Phillip Lee on 2014-04-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that the allocation of sites for Gypsies and Travellers is fair; and if he will take steps to ensure that land is granted to such groups only when there is demonstrable need and a lack of current provision.

    Mr Eric Pickles

    Our policy is clear that councils are responsible for assessing local needs, and identifying appropriate sites for travellers to meet those needs. We will consult shortly on proposals to amend the definition of travellers used for planning purposes to those who actually travel, and strengthen protection for the Green Belt.

  • Jamie Reed – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Jamie Reed – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many applications for free schools have been made in (a) Copeland constituency and (b) Cumbria in each of the last two years.

    Mr Edward Timpson

    The Department has not received any applications for free schools in Copeland. We have received one application from Cumbria within the last two years, which was successful.

  • Liam Byrne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Liam Byrne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liam Byrne on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will publish regular information on the level of his Department’s target impairment for student loans.

    Mr David Willetts

    This Department does not set a target for impairment of student loans. Our reforms were designed to put higher education on a sustainable footing. Universities are now well-funded and this is driving up the quality of the student experience and helping to stimulate economic growth, while keeping access to higher education free at the point of entry.

  • Robert Syms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Robert Syms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Syms on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what fraction of mean rated output will be achieved on average throughout the lifetime of Navitus Bay.

    Gregory Barker

    The Department does not undertake analysis or hold information of this nature relating to specific developments. The average load factor for offshore wind farms using five year historical data from 2008 to 2012 inclusive is 33.1%.

  • Maria Eagle – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Maria Eagle – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 31W, on the Environment Agency, whether the review of existing workloads against enforcement priorities and available budgets each area of the Environment Agency is conducting has a minimum percentage cut of workload and expenditure against which it is being assessed.

    Dan Rogerson

    The Environment Agency was reviewing its baseline total enforcement and legal casework to match them to its budget. The planning assumption had been that baseline funding would reduce from £24m in 2013/14 to £20.5m in 2014/15. As part of this, the Environment Agency was reviewing the current portfolio of enforcement cases to understand the implications of a potential 25% reduction.

    However, the announcement in the budget statement of an additional £5m for tackling waste crime means that the Environment Agency is reviewing its planning assumption and associated workload.

  • Ian Swales – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Ian Swales – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Swales on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much his Department has spent on redundancy payments for special advisers since May 2010.

    Hugh Robertson

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, my right hon. Friend the Member for Horsham (Mr Maude), to today’s Parliamentary Question 200473.

  • Philip Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Philip Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will publish his Department’s equality impact assessment of its policy on uniforms for male and female prisoners.

    Jeremy Wright

    The requirement for prisoners to wear uniform is set out in the Incentives and Earned Privileges national policy framework, Prison Service Instruction 30/2013. During the review of this policy in 2013 an Equality Impact Assessment was completed and I have placed a copy in the Libraries of both Houses.

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the benefits of nurse-led patient health checks immediately before GP consultations.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    We understand from NHS England that, to date, no assessment has been made of the benefits of nurse-led patient health checks immediately before general practitioner appointments.

    However, practice nurses play an invaluable role as part of the multidisciplinary practice team. For example, in some areas nurses will deliver the NHS Health Check Programme, which aims to prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease.

    NHE England will also shortly be employing a practice nurse advisor who will be working at national level to help inform and disseminate best practice in relation to health checks and the Chief Nursing Officer will work closely with the Medical Director to support further work on the Health Check Programme.

  • Ian Mearns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Ian Mearns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Mearns on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which books are available to be bought from the shop in prisons in England.

    Jeremy Wright

    Prisoners are able to purchase any book through prison retail, other than where there are reasons to believe the book is not suitable. It is for Governors locally to determine when a particular book is not suitable, based on the prisoner’s risk profile and the nature of the book itself. There is no centrally approved list of books.

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the total cost of GP visits was in each year since 1984 in which information is available.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    Data on the total cost of general practitioner visits is not available. The Health and Social Care Information Centre collects data on the total expenditure on general practice, both including and excluding the cost of dispensed drugs. The latest available data is from 2012-13, and the earliest available data is 2003-04.

    Total Spend on general practice, 2003-04 to 2012-13 (£ million)

    Year

    Total Spend

    Total Net of Dispensing

    2003-04

    5,811

    5,006

    2004-05

    6,914

    6,061

    2005-06

    7,747

    6,864

    2006-07

    7,757

    6,943

    2007-08

    7,867

    7,053

    2008-09

    7,961

    7,145

    2009-10

    8,321

    7,514

    2010-11

    8,350

    7,543

    2011-12

    8,397

    7,607

    2012-13

    8,459

    7,690