Category: Speeches

  • Callum McCaig – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Callum McCaig – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Callum McCaig on 2015-11-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment her Department has made of the probability of the UK not being able to rely on electricity interconnectors to the continent as in previous years because of French and Belgian supply being limited until 2020 due to the closure of old fossil fuel plant and nuclear reactors in those countries.

    Andrea Leadsom

    National Grid makes an assessment of the extent to which all GB interconnectors can be relied upon at times of system stress. This is based on an assessment of European markets. In recent years we have, in fact, observed increased efficiency of the interconnectors and imports to the UK system at times of peak demand. As market coupling is further implemented, we expect this to continue. This is assessed on an annual basis to take into account any changing market dynamics. For this winter, forward power prices suggest net imports to GB over interconnectors with continental Europe.

    Beyond these market arrangements, should GB need additional support, it is also possible for National Grid as the System Operator to call upon interconnectors at a time of system stress.

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department takes to ensure that people divorced from serving officers are not evicted from serviced housing before they have found alternative accommodation.

    Mark Lancaster

    The Ministry of Defence is as flexible as possible in allowing the maximum time to secure alternative accommodation.

    However, only serving personnel are eligible to be housed. In the event of a marriage breakdown, entitlement for a non-serving partner to stay in the property is lost and it may become necessary to free up housing for entitled Service families.

  • Kevin Hollinrake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Kevin Hollinrake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Hollinrake on 2016-01-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2016 to Question 20185, on what date his Department plans to publish the consultation and make an announcement on payment schemes for people affected by contaminated blood products.

    Jane Ellison

    The consultation on payment schemes for people given infected blood products was launched on 21 January 2016, on the same day I made an oral statement to the House, Official Report, columns 1583-85. The consultation is available at gov.uk.

  • Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many qualified PE teachers entered the teaching profession in each year since 2010.

    Nick Gibb

    In the academic year 2013 to 2014 (the latest available), there were 1,443 initial teacher trainees on physical education courses in their final year. Further information is detailed in the table below.

    Physical education ITT trainees in their final year:

    Academic year

    Total

    Awarded QTS

    2010/11

    1,557

    1,487

    2011/12

    1,385

    1,321

    2012/13

    1,366

    1,243

    2013/14

    1,443

    1,368

    (Excludes Teach first)

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-03-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department plans to publish its childhood obesity strategy.

    Jane Ellison

    The Childhood Obesity Strategy will be launched in the summer.

  • Lord Steel of Aikwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Steel of Aikwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Steel of Aikwood on 2016-04-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they plan to take to address the delays in dealing with applications for clearance under section 1044 of the Company Tax Act 2010 by HMRC in Newcastle due to a shortage of resources, in the light of the urgency of some of the outstanding cases.

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    HMRC must notify its decision on an application under section 1044 Corporation Tax Act 2010 within 30 days of its receipt.

    During the six months from October 2015 to March 2016, HMRC received 1105 clearance applications under section 1044. The average time taken to reply to these applications was 15 days. Decisions on over 95% of the applications were notified within the statutory time limit.

    HMRC monitors the number of clearance applications it receives in this area and the time taken to reply to them to ensure a consistent service.

  • Gavin Shuker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Gavin Shuker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Shuker on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of violations of freedom of religion or belief on women; and what his Department is doing to tackle such violations.

    Mr David Lidington

    There are clear examples where the impact of violations of freedom of religion or belief falls particularly heavily on women – such as treatment of women by Daesh. Under the Magna Carta Fund for Human Rights and Democracy, FCO funds projects to defend freedom of religion or belief, including the protection of the rights of women. For example, the FCO recently agreed to fund a project this financial year that tackles gender- based violence and discrimination in Egypt, Jordan and Tunisia.

  • Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-07-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to ensure that UK researchers have the same level of funding as before the EU referendum.

    Joseph Johnson

    The UK economy is fundamentally strong and our research and innovation are world leading. We have a long established system that supports, and therefore attracts, the brightest minds, at all stages of their careers. We fund excellent science wherever it is found, and ensure there is the freedom to tackle important scientific questions. While the UK remains a member of the EU, current EU arrangements continue unchanged, including those that apply to students, researchers, and businesses. We remain fully open to scientists and researchers from across the EU. We hugely value the contribution of EU and international staff and there are no immediate changes to their rights to live and work in the UK. The Government intends to maintain and enhance the strength of our research base, which is why we have protected the science resource budget in real terms from its 2015/16 level of £4.7 billion for the rest of the parliament.

  • Baroness Altmann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Baroness Altmann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-09-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government  how many non-associated multi-employer defined benefit pension schemes in the UK are covered by the Pension Protection Fund, and what estimate they have made of the total number of employers in those schemes.

    Lord Freud

    As at 31 March 2016, there were 26 non-associated multi-employer schemes, with a total of 5,060 participating employers between them which are covered by the Pension Protection Fund.

  • Kerry McCarthy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Kerry McCarthy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2015-11-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the recording of food crime as an identifiable category of crime in police databases.

    Jane Ellison

    I regularly attend the Inter Ministerial Group on food crime, which includes representation from the Home Office.