Category: Speeches

  • Roger Godsiff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Trade

    Roger Godsiff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Trade

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2016-10-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what policies UK Export Finance has developed for investigating transactions involving foreign bribery which cannot be investigated by law enforcement authorities.

    Greg Hands

    UK Export Finance takes issues of bribery extremely seriously. It takes precautions, including by making reasonable enquiries, to avoid financial loss by becoming involved in transactions that may be tainted by corruption.

    Before providing support, it carries out anti-bribery due diligence in line with the 2006 OECD Bribery Recommendation. This informs how export credit agencies such as UK Export Finance should undertake anti-bribery due diligence.

    UK Export Finance does not have investigatory powers, but will not grant its support until it has satisfied itself from the information it has available that exports are not tainted by bribery or corruption. Where UK Export Finance suspects foreign bribery it reports it to the Serious Fraud Office.

  • Steven Paterson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Steven Paterson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steven Paterson on 2015-10-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what arrangements are in place to monitor Babcock’s performance and safety record.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    Babcock is a key supplier to the Ministry of Defenceand the company’s relationship with the Department is managed at a strategic level through a key supplier representative. This role is currently undertaken by the Chief of Materiel (Fleet) within Defence Equipment and Support, who engages with Babcock on a regular basis. Project and safety performance reviews form a significant element of these discussions.

    With regards to safety, appropriate measures are in place to reduce risk and these are rigorously monitored to ensure that any emerging issues are identified and addressed.

  • Liz Kendall – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    Liz Kendall – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz Kendall on 2015-11-25.

    To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many people of each gender work in the Government Equalities Office.

    Caroline Dinenage

    There are currently 35 female and 20 male members of staff in the Government Equalities Office.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2015-12-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2015 to Question 19495, what the (a) names, (b) job titles and (c) salary bands were of the staff who worked on Just Solutions International.

    Andrew Selous

    As was stated in the Answer to questions HL2604 and 19495, 3.5 full time equivalent staff (FTE) worked under the Just Solutions International (JSi) brand. These staff also worked on other, core business within the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). As none of these staff were members of the Senior Civil Service, it would not be appropriate to name them in a Parliamentary answer.

  • Stephen Tim – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Stephen Tim – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Tim on 2016-01-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) kilometres of duct and (b) poles have been installed with financial support from BDUK.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    Openreach predominately uses existing duct and pole infrastructure in BDUK project areas, but where state funded infrastructure has been used, they report it on their website at: https://www.openreach.co.uk/orpg/home/products/ductandpolesharing/contracts/contracts/downloads/State_Aided_Infrastruture_One_Truth.xlsx“

  • Alex Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Alex Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2016-02-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the cost to the public purse has been of his Department reimbursing local authorities for payments to households in flood compensation payments.

    James Wharton

    To date over £48 million has been paid out to local authorities through the Community and Business Recovery Fund and Council Tax and Business Rates discounts to assist households and businesses affected by the floods caused by Storms Desmond and Eva.

    Local authorities have not notified the Department of any allowable costs not covered by the sums transferred. It is expected that further payments will be made shortly as flooded property numbers are confirmed and further funds requested.

  • Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-03-15.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy that three per cent of GDP annually be invested in infrastructure; and if he will make a statement.

    Greg Hands

    The government prioritises long-term investment over day-to-day expenditure, and is on course to exceed its commitment to invest £100 billion in infrastructure by 2020-21. This includes the largest programme of rail investment since Victorian times, the biggest investment in roads since the 1970s, and doubling the affordable housing budget. The Spending Review 2015 set out the government’s decision to invest £12 billion more through departmental capital budgets than was planned at Summer Budget 2015.

  • The Marquess of Lothian – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The Marquess of Lothian – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2016-04-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking in response to the Taliban’s recent announcement of a spring offensive and warnings of large-scale attacks in Afghanistan.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The Taliban’s announcement of a spring offensive is consistent with the insurgency’s pattern of activity and was anticipated by the Afghan authorities. The UK is an integral part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s Resolute Support Mission (RSM), which is working to train, assist and advise the Afghan National Security and Defence Forces to meet the challenge posed by an enduring insurgency. Working in close cooperation with the Afghan authorities and RSM, the UK keeps its security under constant review.

  • Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2016-05-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average length is of nursing, midwifery and allied healthcare students’ clinical placements taken in each year of their degree.

    Ben Gummer

    The information about the average length of clinical placements for nursing, midwifery and allied healthcare students taken in each year of their degree is not collected by the Department.

  • Judith Cummins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Judith Cummins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Judith Cummins on 2016-07-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the trends in the number of applications to Early Years Teacher training courses over the last five years.

    Caroline Dinenage

    The Head of Profession for Statistics for the Department is currently reviewing the data collected on Early Years initial teacher training. We are unable to provide any data or assessment of trends while this review is ongoing. It is intended that the first data will be published in November 2016.