Category: Speeches

  • Kelvin Hopkins – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Kelvin Hopkins – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kelvin Hopkins on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 16 January 2014, Official Report, column 656W, what change there has been in the proportion of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 achieving five or more GCSEs or equivalent at grades A*-C including English and maths in those (a) schools and (b) academies that have established a sixth form since September 2011.

    Mr David Laws

    Key stage 4 results for individual schools, including academies, are published online in Performance Tables[1]. A copy of the list of schools and academies that established a sixth form since 2011, with their current details, has been placed in the House Library.

    [1]http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/

    “

  • Lord Avebury – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Avebury – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Avebury on 2014-03-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government by how much they expect overall alcohol consumption to rise or fall across the United Kingdom as a result of the changes in alcohol duty announced in the Budget.

    Lord Newby

    The Government expects that there will be a small increase in alcohol consumption as a result of the changes to alcohol duty announced at Budget 2014. The tables below provide estimates of changes in consumption in both percentage and volume terms for each type of alcohol consumed, relative to the previous alcohol duty rates policy.

    Estimated increase in consumption (%):

    2014-15

    2015-16

    2016-17

    2017-18

    2018-19

    Beer

    1.5%

    1.5%

    1.6%

    1.7%

    1.8%

    Spirits

    1.1%

    1.2%

    1.2%

    1.3%

    1.4%

    Alcopops

    0.1%

    0.1%

    0.1%

    0.1%

    0.2%

    Cider

    0.9%

    0.9%

    1.0%

    1.0%

    1.1%

    Wine

    0.0%

    0.0%

    0.0%

    0.0%

    0.0%

    Total

    0.8%

    0.9%

    0.9%

    0.9%

    0.9%

    Estimated increase in consumption (thousand hectolitres of alcohol):

    2014-15

    2015-16

    2016-17

    2017-18

    2018-19

    Beer

    25

    25

    26

    28

    29

    Spirits

    12

    12

    13

    14

    15

    Alcopops

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    Cider

    4

    4

    4

    5

    5

    Wine

    0

    0

    0

    0

    0

    Total

    40

    42

    44

    46

    48
  • Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effects of lethal targeting by remotely-piloted air systems on security in Afghanistan.

    Mr Mark Francois

    UK forces, and the wider ISAF mission, have materially improved the security of Afghanistan since 2001. This allowed the developed Afghan National Security Forces to assume lead security responsibility for their own country from June 2013. As an integral capability of UK forces, Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) are assessed to have made a valuable contribution, both in their surveillance and strike roles, to the improved security situation.

    All UK forces operate in accordance with International Humanitarian Law, following the principles of distinction, humanity, proportionality and military necessity. The UK’s clearly defined Rules of Engagement, which cover the use of RPAS, are formulated on this basis.

  • Mr Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Mr Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Adrian Sanders on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he held with schools and local authorities for the purposes of drafting departmental advice on universal infant free school meals.

    Mr David Laws

    Since the announcement of universal infant free school meals (UIFSM), Departmental officials have engaged in a number of discussions with primary school head teachers and their representatives, local authorities and other interested parties, to explore how this policy can be implemented so that the benefits of universal free school meal provision for children and families are maximised.

    The content of the departmental advice document on universal infant free school meals, which was published on 6 March, was based on feedback gathered through these discussions. Before it was published, the document was commented on by the Department’s UIFSM external reference group, which includes representatives from schools and local authorities.

  • Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many students received disabled students’ allowance in Brighton and Hove local authority area in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.

    Mr David Willetts

    Information on students awarded and paid Disabled Students’ Allowance is published annually by Student Loans Company (SLC) in the Statistical First Release ‘Student Support for Higher Education England‘. The latest statistics are available at the following link:

    http://www.slc.co.uk/media/694170/slcsfr052013.pdf

    A further breakdown for Brighton and Hove local authority has been provided in the table. Equivalent figures for the academic year 2013/14 will be available from November 2014.

    Students in receipt of Disabled Students Allowance from Brighton and Hove Local Authority

    Academic Year 2012/13

    Effective date: 13/11/2013

    Academic Year

    2012/13

    Application Type

    Number Paid DSA

    Full-Time Application

    450

    Part-Time Application

    10

    Post Graduate DSA

    80

    Total

    530

    Notes:

    [1] Disabled Student Allowance may be paid to the Student or to a Supplier on the student’s behalf.

    [2] Figures are derived from the Post Code of the applicant’s home address.

    [3] The effective date is that of the November 2013 Awards Statistical First Release. The figures are therefore provisional and do not include students who were awarded DSA after November 2013.

    [4] DSA Payments may be made at any point during the Academic Year or after the end of the Academic Year.

    [5] Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. Totals may not add to the sum of the components due to rounding.

    “

  • 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, how many old oil and gas wells there are in the UK for which no firm or company is responsible; and how such wells are monitored for leaks.

    Michael Fallon

    A recently published paper by the ReFINE research consortium estimates that there are between fifty and a hundred historic wells in the UK for which no responsible person can be identified.

    Oil and gas wells in the UK which have no further usefulness are treated to ensure the retention of any fluids within the well. The bore is sealed with concrete plugs, while the well head it cut off below ground level and a steel cap welded to the top. The abandonment operations are subject to scrutiny by the HSE and the independent well examiner, and must comply with relevant industry standards. The site will then be restored to the appropriate standard prescribed by planning conditions.

    Wells are not monitored after the completion of the abandonment and site restoration operations. The ReFINE paper confirms that there are no pollution issues associated with historic oil and gas wells in the UK.

  • Mary Creagh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Mary Creagh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Creagh on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will publish a breakdown by firm of expenditure by his Department on (a) consultants and (b) consultancy firms in each of the last four years.

    Stephen Hammond

    Information requested will be deposited in the library and provides the spend details per financial year for the period 2010 to 2014.

  • 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, what steps she plans to take to ensure that the temperature of water within a water cannon tank is retained at five degrees celsius.

    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.

  • Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Bridget Phillipson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will place in the Library a copy of 2014DIN05-011 Claims and insurance provisions for the use of Ministry of Defence vehicles in the UK and overseas and the process for ordering new motor insurance certificates or green cards.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    A copy of Defence Instruction Notice 2014DIN05-011 regarding claims and insurance provisions for the use of Ministry of Defence vehicles in the UK and overseas and the process for ordering new motor insurance certificates or green cards will be placed in the Library of the House.

  • Mr David Blunkett – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Mr David Blunkett – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what restrictions, by category of prisoner, are placed on access to (a) a prisoner’s own books and (b) books from the prison library in the first four weeks of a prison sentence.

    Jeremy Wright

    Up to 12 books may be held by prisoners in their cell at any one time. Prisoners may have additional books stored locally at the prison. Every prison has a library, to which every prisoner has access.

    Access to books is not determined by category of prisoner and nor does it differ for those in the first four weeks of their sentence.