Category: Speeches

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, with which (a) mobile telephone companies, (b) voluntary groups and (c) travel card providers the Electoral Commission is working to improve registration rates of young people.

    Mr Gary Streeter

    The Electoral Commission informs me that it continues to work to identify partners for its work on IER. As agreements are put in place, it will make these available on its website and will inform the honourable member when the first batch is published.

  • Tracey Crouch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Tracey Crouch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tracey Crouch on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Department is taking to improve healthcare outcomes by improving the awareness of gambling addiction on the part of healthcare professionals; and what guidance NHS England provides to local health authorities on the commissioning of services for gambling addiction.

    Norman Lamb

    The Department does not hold information on what specific training is provided to alcohol and drug treatment staff. Ensuring competent staff is the responsibility of local commissioners and providers.

    Public Health England (PHE) is working with the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the national gambling treatment service to identify how it can strengthen training, and are promoting the work of the Royal College of General Practitioners who have developed an online gambling diagnosis and treatment training resource that is available free to all health professionals.

    PHE promotes the Royal College of General Practitioners’ online training resource among all health professionals. PHE has developed guidance for local authorities on gambling and is exploring what the local needs are and where evidence allows it to intervene. However, PHE does not wish to undermine the treatment available through the national provider GamCare until evidence emerges that this is not meeting current need.

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with PHE and NHS England on a range of health issues. PHE is also working with NHS England and the Local Government Association to explore what the current need is locally so it can get a better picture; and decide whether PHE needs to act through prevention and restrictions on gambling shops; or through changes to the current GamCare treatment network.

  • Lord Morrow – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Lord Morrow – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Morrow on 2014-03-31.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 24 March (WA 63), and in the light of recent developments, what were the circumstances leading to the withdrawal of Atos Healthcare from its contract, including all relevant dates of notifications.

    Lord Freud

    Following detailed negotiations with Atos Healthcare, the Government has reached a settlement for Atos to exit the contract to deliver Work Capability Assessments before it is due to end in August 2015. Atos did not receive any compensation from the taxpayer for this early termination but made a substantial financial settlement to the Department for Work and Pensions.

  • Jessica Morden – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Jessica Morden – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jessica Morden on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much overtime has been paid to passport office staff at the Newport Passport Office since 2011.

    James Brokenshire

    Overtime costs relating to the Newport Passport Office from January 2011
    to 2014 amount to £298,965.

  • Lord Willis of Knaresborough – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Willis of Knaresborough – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough on 2014-03-31.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether consideration is being given to proposals to separate the testing and repair functions following the periodic roadworthiness testing of motor vehicles and their trailers.

    Baroness Kramer

    As a result of the effectiveness of our negotiations, the new periodic testing Directive contains no requirement to separate testing and repair functions. The proposal to force separation was successfully opposed, including by the UK Government and UK MEPs. Systems are in place to support testing integrity within the current system and this will continue.

  • Keith Vaz – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Keith Vaz – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people employed by HM Passport Office were specifically tasked with processing passport applications on 1 January, (a) 2011, (b) 2012, (c) 2013 and (d) 2014.

    James Brokenshire

    The table below shows the number of Her Majesty’s Passport Office full-time
    equivalents working within the passport operational Directorates.

    The formal record for workforce data is made on the last day of each calendar
    month. We have therefore provided the data as of 31 December of each year.

    (a) 2011: 2,360
    (b) 2012: 2,265
    (c) 2013: 2,457

    Due to the limitations of the HR management system used prior to December 2010,
    it is not possible to provide reliable management information below top level
    for any periods prior to that date.

  • David Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    David Morris – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Morris on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what reports he has received of levels of council tax set by Lancaster District Council for 2014-15.

    Brandon Lewis

    [Holding Reply: Thursday 3 April 2014]

    I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of Monday 7 April 2014, Official Report, Column 66W.

  • Alison Seabeck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Alison Seabeck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Seabeck on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many parliamentary questions tabled to his 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.

    Jeremy Wright

    The Ministry of Justice received3,087 questions tabled in the Commons during the 2013-14 session. Of these,26 parliamentary questions did not receive a substantive answer by the end of the last session. In these cases the relevant Minister committed to write providing a substantive answer and the written responses. We have now answered 16 of the outstanding questions and are in the process of responding to the remaining 10. The following table sets out the month in which each of the questions was tabled.

    February 2014

    4

    March 2014

    8

    April 2014

    6

    May 2014

    8

    The Justice Secretary and his Ministerial team take their obligations to Parliament seriously and want to ensure that MPs receive answers of a high standard which set out the relevant context. More complex questions can involve compiling and analysing large volumes of material. We respond to such questions as promptly as we can.

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-03-31.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any other aircraft were operating in the area at the time of the collision between the two Tornado aircraft above the Moray Firth on 3 July 2012.

    Dr Andrew Murrison

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right Hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces (Mark Francois) on 3 December 2013, (Official Report, column 639W). It would be inappropriate to comment on any details relating to this incident prior to the publication of the Service Inquiry.

  • Alison Seabeck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Alison Seabeck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Seabeck on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many parliamentary questions tabled to his 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.

    Stephen Hammond

    The Department for Transport gave a substantive answer to all parliamentary questions by the time of the 2014 prorogation.