Category: Speeches

Justin Tomlinson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the benefits of teaching emergency life-saving skills in schools.

Matthew Hancock

Emergency life-saving skills (ELS) can be taught as part of personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education.

PSHE can help children develop essential social skills that evidence shows are important for children’s achievement across all subjects, and for their preparation for a healthy and active life.

Schools are encouraged to work with expert organisations to teach ELS, for example St John Ambulance who visited approximately 2000 schools in 2013. Their ‘Teach the Difference‘ website has over 7000 registered users, most of whom are teachers, and users downloaded over 16,000 first aid lesson plans in 2013.

01/11/2022
Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when she last held a meeting with the Northern Ireland Minister for Social Development.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

I was due to meet the Northern Ireland Social Development Minister in March but unfortunately the meeting had to be postponed. My private office has suggested further dates to his and is waiting to hear back.

01/11/2022

Huw Irranca-Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Huw Irranca-Davies on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which countries possess comparative levels of fruit fly infestation in exported mangoes and are not subject to an EU ban on importation.

Dan Rogerson

The ban was imposed following persistent interceptions of plant pestson imports of Indian produce into the European Union (EU) and critical reports from the European Commission’s Food and Veterinary Office audits in 2010 and 2013. Despite assurances from India in response to these reports the level of interceptions remained high. The EU’s decision to introduce a ban was therefore fully justified and supported by all Member States including the UK, in line with our policy of strengthening plant health controls. Therefore, no alternatives to a ban were considered by Defra.

Protecting plant health is a key Defra objective. Plant pests and diseases such as those intercepted from India in recent years can cause serious damage to the UK glasshouse industry which is worth over £300 million per annum. However, I am aware of the importance of the mango trade and Defra officials are liaising with the Indian High Commission on what support the UK can offer to India to help it ensure compliance with EU import requirements.

The following table shows the number of consignments of mangoes imported into the UK in the last five years which were infested with Tephriditae (and therefore rejected) by country of origin. The European Commission is considering similar measures to those taken against India for other countries with high levels of interceptions of plant pests. Such consideration takes account of findings from all Member States, and covers all plant commodities and all pests identified.

Year	Country of origin	No. of consignments imported into the UK	No. of consignments infected with Tephritidae
2010	Dominican Republic	351	1
	India	1977	1
	Jamaica	228	3
	Pakistan	3302	6

2011	Dominican Republic	417	2
	India	1836	11
	Jamaica	262	3
	Pakistan	3690	19
	Puerto Rico	1	1
	Sri Lanka	144	1
	Uganda	138	1

2012	Bangladesh	146	1
	Brazil	445	1
	Costa Rica	70	2
	Dominican Republic	606	18
	Ghana	628	15
	India	3448	23
	Jamaica	332	24
	Kenya	2044	4
	Pakistan	5128	81
	Philippines	12	2
	Sri Lanka	189	10
	St Lucia	50	1
	Thailand	1050	3
	Uganda	104	2

2013	Brazil	316	3
	Dominican Republic	756	16
	Ghana	357	4
	Guinea	7	1
	India	3563	13
	Jamaica	516	17
	Kenya	1654	17
	Pakistan	5910	47
	Puerto Rico	104	1
	Sri Lanka	111	3
	U A E	1	1
	Vietnam	77	1

2014 (to 18/06/14)
	Brazil	106	1
	Dominican Republic	420	3
	Ghana	271	1
	India	401	1
	Jamaica	464	9
	Kenya	698	7
	Mexico	61	1
	Senegal	4	1
	Sri Lanka	69	3

Source: Fera and Europhyt

01/11/2022

Richard Burden – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2014-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the HGV User Levy on UK businesses reliant on foreign hauliers for imports and exports.

Mr Robert Goodwill

International road haulage is a competitive market, so it is unlikely that there are UK businesses reliant on foreign hauliers for imports and exports. In most cases, UK hauliers can compete for this business.

The levy is paid by both UK and foreign hauliers. However whilst this means some increase in costs for foreign hauliers, costs for around nine out of ten UK HGVs have not increased, as Vehicle Excise Duty was reduced when the levy was introduced.

A Tax Information and Impact Note was published on the Department for Transport website in October 2012.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/232294/hgv-charging-tax-information.pdf

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01/11/2022
Katy Clark – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Katy Clark on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the government of Bahrain about the death of Syed Mahmood.

Hugh Robertson

We are concerned about the death of Syed Mahmood on 21 May. The Ministry of Interior has launched an investigation and we await their findings. We urge the government of Bahrain to ensure the investigation is thorough, transparent and timely.

01/11/2022
Andrew Turner – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Turner on 2014-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of jobseeker’s allowance claimants were subject to sanctions in each county in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Esther McVey

The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Information on JSA sanctions, including a range of geographical breakdowns is published and available at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/

JSA claimant count data by geographical area is published and available at: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/

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01/11/2022
Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish the results of the investigation of the recent death of babies due to bacillus cereus.

Jane Ellison

Bacillus cereus is a spore forming bacterium found widely in the environment in dust, soil and vegetation. There is limited prevention as it is a naturally occurring bacterium. However, the Food Standards Agency has published advice on their website which details information on potential food poisoning caused by Bacillus cereus.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) undertake inspections of manufacturing facilities with reference to the standards of Good Manufacturing Practice to verify that companies are producing medicines that are of the correct quality and safety. The manufacture of sterile products, such as Total Parental Nutrition, is subject to special requirements in order to minimise risks of bacterial contamination.

In the case of medicines, the MHRA and Public Health England (PHE) are currently investigating what has caused the recent incident where Total Parenteral Nutrition became contaminated with Bacillus cereus . Based on the information we currently have, we believe this is an isolated incident and the appropriate immediate action has been taken to avoid a recurrence.

The devolved administrations have been informed of the current incident involving Bacillus cereus. The investigations into the cause of this incident are still ongoing. The Department will continue to discuss matters with the devolved administrations for minimising Bacillus cereus infection.

The investigations being undertaken by MHRA and PHE are in their advanced stages and preliminary findings will be published as soon as possible. While the MHRA and PHE are undertaking their own investigations, it would be normal practice for the Coroner to report on the individual case he is currently considering.

01/11/2022
John Redwood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Redwood on 2014-04-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what levels of stock his Department holds of (a) stationery, (b) printer cartridges, (c) treasury tags and other fasteners and (d) other office consumables.

Jenny Willott

The information requested is not held centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Staff are encouraged to help reduce waste in the Department by avoiding printing documents unless completely necessary and by reusing or recycling stationery where appropriate. The default setting on BIS printers is to print in black and white and to print double sided. This uses less energy and ink and cuts down on the demand for paper and reduces costs.

01/11/2022
Jim Dobbin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Dobbin on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 19 January 2012, Official Report, columns 932-3W, how many companies hold licences for the manufacture or distribution of (a) Nitrazepam, (b) Flurazepam, (c) Loprazolam, (d) Lormetazepam, (e) Temazepam, (f) Clonazepam, (g) Medazepam, (h) Midazolam, (i) Zopiclone, (j) Zaleplon, (k) Zolpiden, (l) Eszopiclone, (m) SSRI antidepressants and (n) trycyclic antidepressants; and how many of those licences were issued in the last three years.

Norman Lamb

There are currently 15 products authorised in the United Kingdom containing nitrazepam and 15 different companies authorised to manufacture and distribute them.

There are currently two products authorised in the UK containing flurazepam and one company authorised to manufacture and distribute them.

There are currently two products authorised in the UK containing loprazolam and two different companies authorised to manufacture and distribute them.

There are currently eight products authorised in the UK containing lormetazepam and four different companies authorised to manufacture and distribute them.

There are currently 10 products authorised in the UK containing temazepam and six different companies authorised to manufacture and distribute them.

There are currently six products authorised in the UK containing clonazepam and three different companies authorised to manufacture and distribute them.

There are currently no authorised products in the UK containing medazepam.

There are currently 22 products authorised in the UK containing midazolam and 10 different companies authorised to manufacture and distribute them.

There are currently 17 products authorised in the UK containing zopiclone and nine different companies authorised to manufacture and distribute them.

There are currently two products authorised in the UK containing zaleplon and one company authorised to manufacture and distribute them.

There are currently 21 products authorised in the UK containing zolpidem and 12 different companies authorised to manufacture and distribute them.

There are currently no authorised products in the UK containing eszopiclone.

There are currently 238 products authorised in the UK containing SSRI antidepressants and 57 different companies authorised to manufacture and distribute them.

There are currently 16 products authorised in the UK containing tricyclic antidepressants and 11 different companies authorised to manufacture and distribute them.

One loprazolam, four lormetazepam, two clonazepam, two midazolam, three zopiclone, four zolpidem and 75 SSRI products have been authorised in the last three years.

01/11/2022
Diana Johnson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2014-04-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he has taken to ensure that the Official Receiver’s statutory duties are completed in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire once the Hull Official Receiver’s office is closed.

Jenny Willott

The Official Receiver’s office will be based in Leeds, and in common with other Official Receivers, be responsible for insolvencies over a geographical area, which will include the East Riding of Yorkshire and Hull. An interview facility will be opened in the Hull area so that face-to-face interviews can be undertaken locally as needed and there is no reduction in the service provided to customers.

01/11/2022