Category: Speeches

  • Tom Blenkinsop – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Tom Blenkinsop – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-04-03.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what impact assessment he has made of the effect of pensioners savings bonds on the private sector investment market.

    Nicky Morgan

    The Budget set an upper limit of £10 billion for the level of inflows that National Savings and Investments (NS&I) should attract into the fixed-rate savings bonds for people aged 65 or over. This is less than 1% of the total UK retail savings market.

    The NS&I savings bonds announced at Budget should therefore not stop other institutions from attracting deposits or increasing lending. Furthermore, the introduction of New ISAs with an annual subscription limit of £15,000 will provide additional opportunities for banks and building societies to attract retail deposits.

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Deputy Prime Minister

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Deputy Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-12.

    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use in Northern Ireland of prize draws to increase voter registration.

    Greg Clark

    It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

  • Jake Berry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    Jake Berry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jake Berry on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Leader of the House, how many e-Petitions have led to debates being arranged in the House since their introduction.

    Mr Andrew Lansley

    Since the launch of the Government e-petitions site, 27 petitions have reached the 100 000 signature threshold making them eligible for consideration for debate. The topics of 22 have been the subject of debate in the House of Commons, most as a direct result of the e-petition. Seven of these debates have taken place in Westminster Hall on a Monday afternoon, in the additional time made available specifically for the consideration of e-petitions.

    Issues raised in e-petitions which have not reached the 100 000 signature threshold have also been debated regularly in the House.

  • Jeffrey M. Donaldson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Jeffrey M. Donaldson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeffrey M. Donaldson on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what plans she has to reappoint the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    In May, I reappointed William Smith to the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland for a further five year term. There is currently one remaining vacancy in the position of member and I plan to launch a competition to fill this position in the autumn. This will ensure that the Commission will have its full complement of members well in advance of when preparations need to commence for the next review of Parliamentary constituencies in Northern Ireland, which is likely to be around late 2015.

  • Jonathan Edwards – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jonathan Edwards – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Edwards on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish and place in the Library all correspondence sent in the last five years between the Welsh and UK Governments on electrification of the mainline between Swansea and London.

    Stephen Hammond

    My officials will collate the key correspondence sent in the last five years between Ministers in Welsh and UK Government on electrification of the mainline between Swansea and London and deposit this in the Libraries of the House.

  • Mark Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Mark Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to ensure accessible housing, meeting internationally recognised visitability standards, for people who become disabled in 2014-15; and if he will make a statement.

    Stephen Williams

    The Approved Document to Part M (Access to and use of buildings) of the Building Regulations already includes key criteria for visitability including requiring reasonable provision for level or gently sloping entrances, level thresholds, minimum entrance door widths and circulation in the entrance storey, and provision of an entrance level WC

  • Dr Eilidh Whiteford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Dr Eilidh Whiteford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Eilidh Whiteford on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many fixed-length sanctions of (a) high, (b) medium and (c) low level were imposed on jobseeker’s allowance claimants in Scotland in each month from March 2013 to March 2014.

    Esther McVey

    Statistics on the number of Jobseeker’s Allowance benefit claimants, who have been sanctioned in Scotland, by sanction level, from March 2013, up to September 2013 which is the latest data available, are published and can be found at:

    https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

    Guidance for users is available at:

    https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm

    “

  • Luciana Berger – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Luciana Berger – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the importance of psychological support services for patients suffering from cancer of the unknown primary.

    Jane Ellison

    The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance manual: Improving Supportive and Palliative Care for Adults with Cancer (www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/csgspmanual.pdf) provides a framework for the provision of psychological support in people with cancer – including cancer of unknown primary.

    The NICE clinical guideline for Depression with a chronic physical health problem (CG91) is also a useful resource.

    All patients should have systematic psychological assessment and have access to an appropriate psychological intervention from professionals competent to provide them.

  • Mr Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Mr Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Adrian Sanders on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the capability of the Work Programme to provide adequate support to jobseekers with long-term medical conditions.

    Esther McVey

    The Department has commissioned an independent evaluation of the Work Programme, and will publish findings once the evaluation is complete.

  • Fiona Bruce – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Fiona Bruce – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he intends to take to endure that literature distributed by abortion clinics informing women about adoption as an alternative to abortion under the new Revised Standard Operating Procedures for the Approval of Independent Places for the Termination of Pregnancy is of the highest possible quality and objectivity.

    Jane Ellison

    The updated Required Standard Operating Procedures set out that “women must be given impartial, accurate and evidence based information (verbal and written) delivered neutrally” covering a range of issues including adoption. Part of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) inspection methodology is to look for open and honest communication from a service provider about the nature of the services it provides. The CQC’s inspectors would ask to see a sample of information that would be provided to service users and use this as part of the decision making process when making a judgement.