Category: Speeches

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-09-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the introduction of a graduated licence system for young drivers.

    Andrew Jones

    None. It is important that we strike the right balance between the safety and the freedom of young drivers. Many rely on their cars to get to work and education; so licensing restrictions could affect their ability to access these opportunities.

    We’re focussing our efforts on encouraging learner drivers to be better prepared for the wonderful freedoms a driving licence offers, but without compromising on safety, which is at the heart of what we do.

  • Daniel Zeichner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Daniel Zeichner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-11-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what guidance he provides to local authorities on the enforcement of the prohibition on private hire vehicles plying for hire; and if he will make a statement.

    Andrew Jones

    The Department for Transport’s Best Practice Guidance for taxi and private hire licensing advises local authorities that the safety of the public depends on authorities having effective enforcement mechanisms in place.

    The Guidance adds that it is desirable to ensure that taxi and PHV enforcement is at least partially directed to the late night period when problems such as touting and illegal plying for hire are most prevalent.

    It is for local licensing authorities to determine how they allocate resources for enforcement, which will vary according to local circumstances. Licensing authorities are also advised to liaise closely with the police when undertaking enforcement activity.

  • Virendra Sharma – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Virendra Sharma – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2015-12-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what effect Sustainable Development Goal 3 has had on her Department’s aid strategy for UK; and what account she plans to take of that goal in forming the new UK aid strategy.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    DFID will continue to play a leading role in health globally supporting developing countries to meet the Global Goal 3. DFID’s work on health is also guided by the Government’s International Development manifesto commitments and the new UK Aid Strategy. This work will benefit millions of people, which will avoid needless deaths; and encourage healthier populations who are better able to contribute to their nation’s prosperity; and increase the ability of these countries to develop, which is in the UK’s national interest. We will also help build strong health systems that can sustain the gains.

    For example, the new Ross Fund announced in the UK Aid Strategy is a commitment to global public health that will fund work to tackle diseases of epidemic potential, such as Ebola, neglected tropical diseases, drug resistant infections, and malaria. This will directly contribute to the achievement of a number of the global goal health targets.

  • Paula Sherriff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Paula Sherriff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2016-01-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions his Department has had with the Department for Energy and Climate Change on sharing data on households in receipt of welfare benefits; and what privacy safeguards apply to sharing individuals’ data with other Departments.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The Warm Home Discount Scheme was introduced in 2011 as a joint initiative between the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department of Energy and Climate Change, and energy suppliers for which we need data sharing arrangements which are reviewed annually. The initiative exists to help vulnerable and low income households with their energy costs.

    By using an automated system, vulnerable pensioners do not have to go through a clerical claim process. Primary legislation removed the need for informed consent to the data-share for this purpose and a memorandum of understanding exists between DWP and DECC to ensure the successful delivery of the scheme. Legal gateway is provided by the Warm Home Discount Regulations 2011 and the Disclosure of State Pension Credit Information (Warm Home Discount) Regulations 2011 made in exercise of the powers conferred by the Energy Act 2010 and the Pension Act 2008.

  • Nick Clegg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Nick Clegg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Clegg on 2016-02-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many GP surgeries have closed in (a) Sheffield, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) England in the last three years.

    Alistair Burt

    Comprehensive data is not held centrally. Practices may close for a variety of reasons, including mergers with neighbouring practices or the retirement of general practitioners from single-handed practices.

  • Julie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Julie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Cooper on 2016-03-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many cancer patients in Lancashire started treatment within 62 days of an urgent referral from a GP in 2015.

    Jane Ellison

    Data on the number of patients that started first treatment for all cancers within 62 days of an urgent general practitioner referral in Lancashire clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in 2015 is published by NHS England on a monthly basis and is available at the following link:

    https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2015/02/Cancer-Waiting-Times-Provider-Time-Series-Q4-2008-09-to-Q3-2015-16-Provider-based-XLSX-1.6MB.xlsx

    The relevant CCGs are as follows:

    – NHS Blackburn with Darwen CCG

    – NHS Blackpool CCG

    – NHS Chorley And South Ribble CCG

    – NHS East Lancashire CCG

    – NHS Fylde & Wyre CCG

    – NHS Greater Preston CCG

    – NHS Lancashire North CCG

    – NHS West Lancashire CCG

  • Douglas Chapman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Douglas Chapman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-04-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to test the suitability of the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey for operation aboard the Queen Elizabeth Class ships.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The Royal Navy has previous experience operating the V-22 Osprey from HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and HMS OCEAN. It is therefore possible that the Department will engage in due course with our close Ally the United States to explore mutual opportunities to clear US Navy and US Marine Corps V-22 aircraft on Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-05-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how the planned further opening of the BBC archive will be funded at the stage of (a) capture, (b) preservation, (c) cataloguing, (d) digitisation, (e) storage, (f) licensed use and (g) non-licensed use.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The BBC receives over £3.7 billion of public money each year through the licence fee. As set out in the Government’s White Paper, ‘A BBC for the future​: a Broadcaster of Distinction’, we encourage the BBC to do more to open up its archive and ensure that it can be used by the public and as wide a range of institutions and organisations as possible​. ​How the BBC uses the public money it receives to achieve this is matter for the BBC.

  • Ian Lavery – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Ian Lavery – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lavery on 2016-07-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to include a fully-resourced in-house option in value for money tests on potential outsourcing of Defence Business Services.

    Mark Lancaster

    In the event that the Ministry of Defence decided to outsource elements of Defence Business Services it would, in line with normal practice, ensure that a rigorous in-house benchmark was developed against which the value for money of any commercial bids could be judged.

  • Gloria De Piero – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Gloria De Piero – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gloria De Piero on 2016-09-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many adults in Ashfield constituency have received carer’s allowance for caring for children under the age of 16 in each of the last three financial years.

    Penny Mordaunt

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