Category: Speeches

  • Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil on 2014-03-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of air passengers showing passports to UK Border agents are from Schengen area countries.

    James Brokenshire

    This information is not available from Border Force systems.

    Additionally, it is not in the interests of border and national security to disclose either the specific information held on Home Office Systems, or details relating to the volumes of data.

  • Dr Julian Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Dr Julian Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Julian Lewis on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, in which countries in receipt of her Department’s funds in each of the last two financial years women are known to have been murdered (a) for apostasy and (b) in honour killings with impunity; and if she will make a statement.

    Lynne Featherstone

    Given that globally 1 in 3 women will experience violence in her lifetime, preventing violence against girls and women in all its forms is a priority for DFID. While DFID does not collect or hold the information in the form requested, the UK has prioritised addressing violence against women and girls around the world. We are also committed to help 10 million women access justice through the courts, police, and legal assistance by 2015.

  • 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 2014-03-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average cost was of an either way office case dealt with at the Crown Court where (a) a guilty plea was entered at the magistrates’ court and (b) a guilty plea was entered on the day of trial at the Crown Court in the latest period for which figures are available.

    Shailesh Vara

    There are a number of different ways costs of cases can be estimated, depending on how indirect costs are apportioned, resulting in a range of cost estimates for these cases. The latest period for which data is available is 2012/13 (up-rated to 2013/14 prices).

    a) The cost of an either way guilty plea entered at the Magistrates Court is estimated to be between £210 and £270 (to the nearest £10).

    b) A guilty plea entered on the day of a trial at the Crown court would result in a cracked trial. The cost of a cracked trial in the Crown court is estimated to be between £1,200 and £2,000 (to the nearest £100).

    These figures do not include legal aid costs.

    Sentencing Council Guidelines to the judiciary encourage early guilty pleas by setting out a scale of ‘credit’ for a guilty plea to be applied that varies from a reduction of one third in any sentence for an early plea, to 10% for a guilty plea entered at the point of trial.

  • George Howarth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    George Howarth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Howarth on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on allegations that some Turkish Cypriots were denied the right to vote in the recent European elections in the Republic of Cyprus.

    Mr David Lidington

    We are aware of difficulties experienced by some eligible Turkish Cypriots in the recent European elections in the Republic of Cyprus.

    The enfranchisement of eligible Turkish Cypriots in those elections was a positive step towards building confidence between the two communities. It is unfortunate that some Turkish Cypriots then found that they could not vote on the day due to problems in the registration procedure.

    Although these problems led to understandable frustrations on polling day, we do not believe that they were due to a deliberate obstruction by the Republic of Cyprus authorities. Indeed, some 58,000 Turkish Cypriots were registered and able to vote.

    Ultimately, Turkish Cypriots’ access to the full rights of EU membership, including participation in European elections, will best be achieved through a comprehensive settlement. We continue to fully support the leaders of the Cypriot communities in their goal of achieving this.

  • Caroline Flint – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electorial Commission

    Caroline Flint – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electorial Commission

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Flint on 2014-03-10.

    To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what the electoral registration figures were in each ward in the recent confirmation dry run conducted in (a) Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council and (b) Don Valley constituency.

    Gary Streeter

    The Electoral Commission informs me that the confirmation dry run involved matching all entries on the electoral registers against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Customer Information System database. Entries would be marked as green if they matched with DWP, amber if they were a partial match or red if there was no match.

    The ward results for Doncaster Metropolitan borough Council are shown in the following table:

    The ward results for the Don Valley constituency are shown in the following table:

    Results for all wards are available on the Commission’s website here: http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/excel_doc/0003/163146/Confirmation-dry-run-2013-Results-Wards.xls

    “

  • Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that patients discharged from hospital following a severe asthma attack receive appropriate care and support in the community; and if he will make a statement.

    Jane Ellison

    Information on the number of asthma patients with a care plan is not collected. However, the Government’s mandate to NHS England says that by 2015, everyone with a long term condition should be offered a personalised care plan.

    NHS England is supporting clinical commissioning groups to improve out of hospital treatment for those with asthma by giving doctors more control over the commissioning of asthma services and improving information links between general practitioners and hospitals. The implementation of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence asthma quality standard, that sets out what good quality care looks like, will also raise the standard of care people with asthma receive.

    NHS England, through its National Clinical Director for Respiratory Disease, will continue to work with Asthma UK and professional groups in both primary and secondary care to improve outcomes for all those with asthma.

  • Stephen Doughty – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electorial Commission

    Stephen Doughty – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Speaker’s Committee on the Electorial Commission

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2014-03-07.

    To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what the electoral registration figures were in each ward in the recent confirmation dry run conducted in (a) Cardiff County Council and (b) Vale of Glamorgan Council.

    Gary Streeter

    The Electoral Commission informs me that the confirmation dry run involved matching all entries on the electoral registers against the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Customer Information System database. Entries would be marked as green if they matched with DWP, amber if they were a partial match or red if there was no match.

    Results for all wards are available on the Commission’s website here: http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/__data/assets/excel_doc/0003/163146/Confirmation-dry-run-2013-Results-Wards.xls

    The ward results for Cardiff Council are as follows:

    Ward

    Green matches

    Amber matches

    Red matches

    Adamsdown

    55.0%

    7.2%

    37.8%

    Butetown

    55.3%

    3.8%

    41.0%

    Caerau

    84.1%

    2.0%

    13.9%

    Canton

    75.0%

    3.5%

    21.5%

    Cathays

    24.1%

    3.8%

    72.2%

    Creigiau/st. Fagans

    84.8%

    1.6%

    13.6%

    Cyncoed

    78.6%

    1.7%

    19.7%

    Ely

    84.9%

    1.6%

    13.6%

    Fairwater

    84.0%

    1.6%

    14.4%

    Gabalfa

    38.0%

    3.1%

    58.9%

    Grangetown

    65.8%

    4.7%

    29.5%

    Heath

    81.7%

    1.4%

    16.9%

    Lisvane

    87.2%

    1.2%

    11.6%

    Llandaff

    78.8%

    1.9%

    19.2%

    Llandaff North

    82.4%

    1.7%

    15.9%

    Llanishen

    81.7%

    1.4%

    16.9%

    Llanrumney

    85.1%

    1.7%

    13.3%

    Pentwyn

    82.6%

    1.5%

    15.9%

    Pentyrch

    86.1%

    1.8%

    12.1%

    Penylan

    71.3%

    3.5%

    25.2%

    Plasnewydd

    42.5%

    8.3%

    49.2%

    Pontprennau/old St. Mellons

    78.6%

    1.4%

    20.0%

    Radyr

    82.8%

    1.5%

    15.7%

    Rhiwbina

    87.2%

    1.3%

    11.5%

    Riverside

    62.0%

    8.1%

    29.9%

    Rumney

    84.0%

    2.4%

    13.7%

    Splott

    75.3%

    2.8%

    21.9%

    Trowbridge

    80.5%

    2.0%

    17.5%

    Whitchurch & Tongwynlais

    83.6%

    1.2%

    15.1%

    The ward results for The Vale of Glamorgan Council are as follows:

    Ward

    Green matches

    Amber matches

    Red matches

    BARUC

    81.8%

    2.6%

    15.7%

    BUTTRILLS

    83.0%

    2.0%

    15.0%

    CADOC

    82.9%

    2.0%

    15.1%

    CASTLELAND

    76.9%

    2.8%

    20.3%

    CORNERSWELL

    86.3%

    1.0%

    12.6%

    COURT

    82.5%

    2.4%

    15.1%

    COWBRIDGE

    81.9%

    4.0%

    14.1%

    DINAS POWYS

    86.6%

    2.0%

    11.4%

    DYFAN

    86.3%

    1.3%

    12.4%

    GIBBONSDOWN

    85.4%

    1.4%

    13.2%

    ILLTYD

    85.8%

    1.6%

    12.7%

    LLANDOUGH

    84.5%

    1.7%

    13.8%

    LLANDOW/EWENNY

    82.0%

    5.2%

    12.8%

    LLANTWIT MAJOR

    82.8%

    1.9%

    15.3%

    PETERSTON-SUPER-ELY

    81.3%

    5.0%

    13.7%

    PLYMOUTH

    82.9%

    3.9%

    13.3%

    RHOOSE

    84.3%

    2.3%

    13.4%

    ST. ATHAN

    82.2%

    2.3%

    15.5%

    ST. AUGUSTINE’S

    73.8%

    3.8%

    22.4%

    ST. BRIDE’S MAJOR

    82.0%

    3.8%

    14.1%

    STANWELL

    82.7%

    2.5%

    14.8%

    SULLY

    82.1%

    2.3%

    15.6%

    WENVOE

    82.6%

    4.9%

    12.5%

    “

  • Kate Green – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Kate Green – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what Government funding has been provided for tackling teenage knife crime in each year since publication of the Kinsella Review in February 2011.

    Norman Baker

    On 2 February 2011, Official Report, column 46WS, the Home Secretary announced
    £18 million funding to tackle knife, gun and gang crime. The funding was given
    to police, local agencies and the voluntary sector to tackle serious youth
    violence and prevent young people
    entering a cycle of crime. This funding addressed issues of gang and youth
    violence including knife crime.
    The two year funding supported enforcement and prevention work by police in
    three knife crime hotspot areas, alongside positive activities for young people
    and local work to bring about long-term changes in attitudes and behaviours.
    The money included up to:
    • £3.75 million (£2 million in 2011-12 and £1.75 million in 2012-13) for the
    three police forces areas where more than half of the country’s knife crime occurs –
    the Metropolitan Police Service, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands.
    • £4 million (£2 million in 2011-12 and £1.75 million in 2012-13 ) for a
    ‘communities against gangs, guns and knives’ fund – for local voluntary organisations across
    England and Wales working with young people to stop involvement in knife and
    gang violence.
    • £10 million for prevention and diversionary activities and engagement with
    young people at risk of becoming involved in crime, including knife related violence
    • £1million to support the development of anti-knife, gun and gang crime
    materials for schools and a good practice website to enable local projects to share
    knowledge and expertise. About 280 practitioners are now sharing information
    through the Knowledge Hub set up in the Local Government Association website.
    • £250,000 for 2011-12 of the Ben Kinsella Fund (in addition to the £250,000
    provided for 2010-11) for young people to run anti-knife crime projects in their local
    area.

  • Jeremy Corbyn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Jeremy Corbyn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Corbyn on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the costs to local authorities of proposals to extend fines on letting agents who fail to publish their fees tariff in full.

    Kris Hopkins

    Requiring letting agents to be transparent about their fees will prevent the small minority of rogue agents from imposing unreasonable, hidden charges. This common sense approach avoids excessive state regulation which would just push up rents for tenants. This and mandatory membership of redress schemes will give local authorities the tools they need to weed out the cowboys that give agents a bad name; and drive up standards.

    We have not received particular representations from local authorities on this issue. We will undertake a New Burdens assessment in due course in the usual way.

  • Lord Jopling – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lord Jopling – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jopling on 2014-03-27.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Nash on 26 March (WA 121), whether other Departments hold the data requested in the question; and whether they will now answer the question originally put.

    Lord Nash

    Local authorities are required to report annually on the numbers of children in need who have a disability (as defined by section 6 of the Equality Act 2010) as part of the Children in Need Census data collection. These data are collected under section 83 of the Children Act 1989 by the Department for Education. As part of this collection, local authorities report on the number of children with disabilities who are subject to child protection investigations under section 47 of the Children Act 1989. However, it is not possible to separately identify those with chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis.

    The number of children in need with a disability is published in ‘Characteristics of Children in Need’, and can be found at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/characteristics-of-children-in-need-in-england-2012-to-2013

    “