Category: Speeches

  • Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has provided any advice to public communications providers on the consequences of the decision of the European Court of Justice in Digital Rights Ireland and Seitlinger and Others on data retention by those companies.

    James Brokenshire

    The Government continues to consider the judgment of the European Court, but we consider that the UK Data Retention (EC Directive) Regulations 2009 remain in
    force. Those in receipt of a notice under the Regulations have been informed that they should continue to observe their obligations as outlined in any notice.

  • Sir Greg Knight – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Sir Greg Knight – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sir Greg Knight on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he plans to take to prevent leaks and improve monitoring at existing (a) in use and (b) extinct or abandoned onshore oil and gas sites.

    Michael Fallon

    The construction and use of oil and gas wells in the UK is subject to stringent regulation by the HSE to ensure the integrity of the well in all phases of its life. Recognised industry design and construction processes must be followed, and the operator’s work and plans are subject to scrutiny by an independent well examiner as well as the HSE. Monitoring and inspections are be carried out by the Environment Agency, the HSE and the independent well examiner as appropriate. Oil and gas wells which have no further usefulness are plugged and capped to ensure the retention of any fluids in the well.

    We seek to improve this robust regulatory system further wherever practicable. Further consideration is being given to control and monitoring of methane emissions in the light of the recommendations of the report by Prof David Mackay and Dr Tim Stone on potential greenhouse gas emissions associated with shale gas production and use, published in September 2013.

  • Oliver Colvile – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Oliver Colvile – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Oliver Colvile on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what specialist one-to-one study skills support will be available for students with specific learning difficulties following the review of the disabled students allowance; and who will provide that support.

    Mr David Willetts

    Discussions are underway with stakeholders, including those who specialise in supporting students with Specific Learning Difficulties. This will help determine how specialist one-to-one support will be delivered in the future and where the responsibility for funding such support will fall.

    I will not make a final decision on this matter until I have considered the necessary Equality Analysis, which is in preparation, and will take account of any relevant evidence provided by stakeholders.

  • Dr Julian Huppert – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Dr Julian Huppert – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Julian Huppert on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will review the strategic policing requirement of water cannon based on planning assumptions around three spontaneous sets of disorder ahead of their deployment in London.

    Damian Green

    The Home Secretary has now received the request to authorise water cannon for
    use by the police in England and Wales. She is considering this request and
    will announce her decision in due course and lay the relevant information in
    the House Library.

  • Stephen O’Brien – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Stephen O’Brien – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen O’Brien on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many local authorities have signed up to become dementia friendly since the launch of the Dementia Challenge; and what other progress has been made since that date.

    Norman Lamb

    The dementia friendly communities recognition process was launched by Alzheimer’s Society in September 2013 and 55 communities have already signed up. We have therefore increased our original ambition of 20 communities committed to work to become dementia friendly, as set out in the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia, to reach 75 communities by March 2015. In addition, 59 local authorities are members of local Dementia Action Alliances.

    The Department has worked with Alzheimer’s Society to develop the recognition process for dementia friendly communities. Malpas has signed up to the recognition process and is receiving support in its work to become dementia friendly. The Department is also working with Alzheimer’s Society and the British Standards Institute to develop a code of practice for dementia friendly communities, which will help communities to continue in their work to become dementia friendly.

  • Sarah Teather – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Sarah Teather – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sarah Teather on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his plans are for HMP The Verne.

    Jeremy Wright

    HM Prison The Verne started taking immigration detainees as scheduled from 24 March 2014. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) will retain The Verne as a prison in the short term but its population will comprise immigration detainees as planned with the Home Office.

    NOMS intends to review the designation of The Verne later this year, with the intention of completing the re-designation to an immigration removal centre by the end of September 2014.

    All foreign national offenders (FNOs) sentenced to custody are referred to the Home Office for them to consider deportation at the earliest possible opportunity.

    The Ministry of Justice and the Home Office are committed to working together to expedite the removal of foreign criminals. NOMS will always supply sufficient prison places for those committed by the courts.

  • Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 2014-06-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they plan to take to tackle election malpractices.

    Lord Wallace of Saltaire

    The integrity of elections is crucial to our democracy. The Government is introducing measures to strengthen the electoral system through the introduction of Individual Electoral Registration which will make the register more accurate and secure.

    The Government will carefully consider any findings by the Electoral Commission in relation to the 22 May 2014 elections to determine whether any further measures may be needed to support electoral integrity.

  • Mr Graham Stuart – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Mr Graham Stuart – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Graham Stuart on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of average waiting times for Atos (a) personal independence payments and (b) work assessments in Beverley and Holderness constituency; and what steps he is taking to achieve a reduction in waiting times for such assessments.

    Mike Penning

    It is not possible to provide data on waiting times for Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance claimants in the Beverley and Holderness constituency. Information for this specific geographical area is not routinely reported to DWP by Atos Healthcare.

    We announced in a Written Ministerial Statement on 27 March our plans to achieve a reduction in waiting times and next steps. Atos Healthcare will be withdrawing from delivery of Work Capability Assessments in Great Britain before the end of the current contract

  • Lord Hylton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the The Lord Chairman of Committees

    Lord Hylton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the The Lord Chairman of Committees

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Chairman of Committees what proportion of the food used in the House of Lords is (1) grown in the home counties; and (2) drawn from organic and whole-food sources.

    Lord Sewel

    The House of Lords does not draw any of its food from organic sources nor is any of the food offered categorised as “whole-food”. Fruit and vegetables used by the House sourced from the home counties are set out in the table below. Free-range chicken served in the House is mostly from Gloucestershire and Essex. The Salt Marsh lamb is from the Romney Marsh in Kent.

    Produce

    Source county

    Asparagus

    Hampshire

    Beetroot

    Bedfordshire

    Bramley apple

    Cambridgeshire

    Cauliflower

    Kent

    Herbs (potted)

    Hampshire

    Jacket potatoes

    Hertfordshire

    New potatoes

    Kent

    Raspberries

    Sussex

    Red potatoes

    Kent

    Spring greens

    Cambridgeshire

    Strawberries

    Kent

    Tomatoes (gourmet)

    Sussex

    Vitelotte potatoes

    Kent
  • David Rutley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    David Rutley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Rutley on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what changes he plans to make to the ability of EU migrants to access benefits.

    Esther McVey

    We have introduced a range of measures to tighten up our EEA migration rules to ensure our welfare system is not taken advantage of.

    Since December 2013 Migrants have had to take a stronger, more robust Habitual Residence Test if they want to claim income-related benefits.

    From 1 January 2014, EEA job seekers must have been living in the UK for three months before they can claim income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

    If they satisfy HRT a new statutory presumption will mean that EEA jobseekers and retained workers will then only be able to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance for six months. After six months, only those who have compelling evidence that they have a genuine prospect of finding work will be able to continue claiming.

    Since the 1 March the Minimum Earnings Threshold is helping to determine whether an EEA national’s previous or current work can be treated as genuine and effective in deciding whether they have a right to reside in the UK as a worker or a self employed person.

    From 1 April 2014 new EEA Jobseekers will be unable to access Housing Benefits even if they are in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance.