Category: Speeches

  • Fiona Bruce – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Fiona Bruce – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2016-01-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans the Government has to produce further guidance on the definition of extremism used in her Department’s Counter-Extremism Strategy, Cm 9148, published in October 2015.

    Karen Bradley

    The Government definition of extremism is ‘vocal or active opposition to our fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs.’ We have been consistent on this since 2011 and have reaffirmed this definition in the Counter-Extremism Strategy.

    Vocal or active opposition to our fundamental values, in particular mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs within the Counter-Extremism Strategy definition of extremism is consistent with the incitement provisions within the Public Order Act 1986, in particular Part 3 aimed at those who stir up racial or religious hatred.

    We are clear that Government should not restrict anyone’s freedom of speech or right to practise a faith. These are core values. But we shouldn’t allow the extremist voice to go unchallenged, causing harm to our society and promoting hatred and division.

    Government has engaged widely on the Counter-Extremism Strategy, and continues to engage with partners – including faith groups and communities on the implementation of the Strategy’s measures.

  • Gregory Campbell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Gregory Campbell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will discuss with the European Commission the need for co-operation throughout the EU on tackling the spread of bluetongue disease.

    George Eustice

    Discussions are continuing with EU Member States and the European Commission on tackling the spread of Bluetongue disease, including seeking expert opinion from the European Food Safety Agency on the most appropriate control strategy. Further information on the current control strategy for this disease can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bluetongue-gb-disease-control-strategy and https://www.dardni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/dard/bluetongue-control-strategy.pdf

    “

  • Virendra Sharma – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Virendra Sharma – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2016-02-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his Department’s wellness strategy is.

    Joseph Johnson

    The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is committed to supporting health and wellbeing by encouraging health promotion and the adoption of healthier lifestyles for all our staff.

    The Department’s wellbeing strategy is based around three key strands:

    Preventing Problems

    The Department runs ‘fit for work’ activities, promoting and supporting health lifestyles, and ‘healthy work’ activities, ensuring wellbeing is not threatened by negative working environments.

    Reacting to Problems

    As an organisation, we take action to help those experiencing poor health or wellbeing, and support them in returning to work as soon as possible.

    Measuring Wellbeing in BIS

    We monitor progress in the Department in improving health and wellbeing, for example through monitoring turnover, and the results from People Surveys.

    The Department provides a number of facilities for staff, including but not limited to childcare vouchers to support parents and guardians, a mediation service to manage stressful situations, and flexible working options.

  • Lisa Cameron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Lisa Cameron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lisa Cameron on 2016-03-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of non-combat related deaths in the UK military were given an inquiry by jury in the last five years.

    Caroline Dinenage

    This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  • Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb on 2016-04-21.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for the future of the pilot Access to Elected Office Fund.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    The Access to Elected Office Fund was a pilot established in 2012 to test this type of support for disabled candidates. We are now reviewing the findings of the assessment of the pilot and anticipate making an announcement in due course.

  • Henry Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Henry Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2016-06-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with his NATO counterparts on the target to spend two per cent of GDP on defence.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement (Mr Dunne) on 18 April 2016 to Question 904488 to the hon. Member for Mid Derbyshire (Ms Latham)

  • Margaret Hodge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Margaret Hodge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Hodge on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will publish a list of all secondees to her Department from (a) PwC, (b) Deloitte, (c) Ernst and Young, (d) KPMG and (e) other consulting firms in the last three financial years; and what the role was of each of those secondees.

    Rory Stewart

    DFID has not seconded any individuals from PWC, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG in the last 3 years. Nor have we seconded any individuals from any other consulting firm in the same period.

  • Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Trade

    Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Trade

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2016-10-10.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the effect of the United States’ North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 2016 (H.R. 757) on UK-owned businesses and UK nationals which conduct business with the government of North Korea or its state-owned companies.

    Lord Price

    The Government has made no such assessment.

  • Lord West of Spithead – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Lord West of Spithead – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-10-29.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the security implications of the various options for disposal of plutonium.

    Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

    We expect the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) to submit a report to DECC to support us in our considerations on the policy options in due course. Informed by the advice from NDA, ministers will then make an assessment of the options, and decide on the appropriate next steps. Only when the Government is confident that its preferred option could be implemented safely and securely, in way that is affordable, deliverable, and offers value for money, will it be in a position to proceed.

  • Louise Haigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Louise Haigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2015-11-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure that all UK Pension schemes are aware of (a) the findings of the Law Commission’s report on Fiduciary Duties of Investment Intermediaries, published in June 2014, HC 368, and (b) related guidance to be issued by the Pensions Regulator.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The Pensions Regulator has already taken steps to ensure that occupational pension schemes are aware of the findings of the Law Commission’s report on fiduciary duties.

    In October 2014 The Pensions Regulator emailed over 37,000 pension scheme trustees to make them aware of the Law Commission’s report, and the guidance produced by the Law Commission on pension trustees’ duties.

    The Pensions Regulator has also updated its ‘trustee toolkit’ training materials to reflect the Law Commission’s findings, and is updating its investment guidance with new material with reflects the Law Commission’s conclusions. This includes the revised Code of Practice and guidance for running defined contribution schemes, which is currently published for consultation.