The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian C. Lucas on 2016-06-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether he met the Minister for the Cabinet Office to examine the options for extracting greater public value from Channel 4 between 4 September 2015 and 24 September 2015.
Mr Edward Vaizey
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport did not meet with the Minister for the Cabinet Office to discuss Channel 4 between 4 September 2015 and 24 September 2015.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rushanara Ali on 2016-09-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to bring forward legislative proposals to replace existing clean air EU directives with equivalent UK legislation.
Dr Thérèse Coffey
I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Edinburgh North and Leith on 8 September 2016 to Question 44855.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Greaves on 2015-10-29.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of, and what conclusions they have drawn from, the report by JMP Consultants Ltd for the Passenger Transport Executive Group Destination Growth: the Case for Britain’s Regional Railways.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Passenger Transport Executive Group’s Destination Growth report is a useful contribution to the research that underpins the case for Britain’s Regional Railways.
The Government is investing record amounts in building a world-class rail network across Great Britain, helping to create jobs, boost businesses, and secure long-term economic growth in every part of the country.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Ansell on 2015-11-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what training her Department has provided to staff on the family test; what other steps she has taken to raise awareness of the family test among staff of her Department; and if she will make a statement.
George Eustice
Defra has a team leading on the Family Test who collaborate with the Department for Work and Pensions. The team work closely with staff across the Department to raise awareness, following the guidance on the family test issued by DWP.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-12-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team has made on prosecuting and eliminating corruption in the Turks and Caicos Islands in the last 12 months.
James Duddridge
The Special Investigation and Prosecution Team has completed its investigations following the findings of Sir Robin Auld’s Commission of Inquiry that there was a high probability of systemic corruption in government and the legislature and among public officers in the Turks and Caicos Islands. As a result of those investigations, the trial of a number of individuals, including former Premier Michael Misick and several of his Cabinet Ministers, is expected to start this week.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-01-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the security situation in Burkina Faso since the recent terrorist attacks in that country.
James Duddridge
The Government is concerned about the security situation in Burkina Faso and the wider Sahel region. We condemn the shocking attack that took place in Ouagadougou on 15-16 January, and offer our heartfelt sympathies to the families affected by this terrible act of terrorism. This is the first ever terrorist incident in Ouagadougou, though there have been incidents near the Malian border over the past year. We will continue working with our international partners to support stability and development in the Sahel region.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2016-02-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the security situation in Somalia since the attack on AMISOM forces in January 2016.
Mr Philip Hammond
The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has made significant territorial gains in Somalia since 2007, regaining all major cities and much of the territory formerly controlled by Al-Shabaab. The overall improvement in the security situation has created the space for progress towards a permanent political settlement and the recently accepted model for the 2016 electoral process is an important step forward. Recent events however, are a reminder, that although it no longer poses an existential threat to Somalia, Al-Shabaab continues to pose a significant terrorist threat in Somalia and the region.
2016 is a critical year for security and political progress in Somalia. It is therefore crucial that the Somali National Army (SNA) and AMISOM work together to renew offensive operations against Al-Shabaab and secure the electoral process. The upcoming High Level Partnership Forum in Istanbul and AMISOM Troop Contributing Country (TCC) Summit in Djibouti, are important opportunities to ensure sustained progress. As announced by the Prime Minister, my right hon. friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) at the UN General Assembly in September, the UK will bolster support to the SNA and AMISOM through a deployment of up to 70 UK troops to the UN Support Office in Somalia. The UK will also continue to provide SNA troop stipends and UK advisory teams.
We therefore stand shoulder to shoulder with Kenya, as her longest-standing defence partner, and particularly at this difficult time following the losses at El Adde. We greatly value the contribution made by Kenya and the other TCCs to AMISOM. The Prime Minister has written to President Kenyatta to offer condolences and express appreciation for the sacrifices that Kenyan Defence Forces are making in Somalia.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-03-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that equipment is properly tested before purchase or procurement.
Mr Philip Dunne
The Department uses Test and Evaluation to support decision making throughout the acquisition cycle to understand the performance of the equipment that we procure.
Test and Evaluation activities are used to demonstrate that equipment is fit for purpose, safe and compliant with contract requirements. The suitability of these activities is an integral part of our normal acquisition management processes and decision points.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anne-Marie Trevelyan on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the costs of administering the English Rural Development Programme in each of the (a) last and (b) next five years.
George Eustice
The Common Agricultural Policy is a devolved policy and Defra is responsible for its delivery in England. Decisions relating to the implementation of the CAP are integrated into numerous policy areas within the department and the delivery of the CAP is carried out primarily by the Rural Payments Agency, Natural England, and the Forestry Commission, alongside other business. This arrangement allows the various objectives of the CAP to be delivered effectively. However, this integrated approach to delivery also makes it difficult to calculate the total annual cost of the CAP in isolation. This is something that was identified by the National Audit Office in its recent report ‘Early Development of the CAP Delivery Programme’, and Defra is currently considering how to respond to this recommendation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2016-05-09.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 25 April (HL7391), whether the single stem cell line from the research project R0152 that was in preparation for depositing with the UK Stem Cell bank was derived following any form of nuclear transfer or pronuclear transfer.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that the single stem cell line from the research project R0152, that was in preparation for depositing with the UK Stem Cell bank, was not derived following any form of nuclear transfer or pronuclear transfer.