Category: Speeches

  • 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 2016-02-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the cost to the public purse was of the rationalisation of his Department’s offices in London.

    Jane Ellison

    The Department has undertaken a number of refurbishments of its existing buildings, including Richmond House, Wellington House, and Skipton House, to support the rationalisation of its offices in London. In 2015-16 the Department spent £1,786,794 on refurbishment activity.

    Refurbishment costs relate to the general fit out, improvement and provision of furniture and equipment.

  • Douglas Chapman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Douglas Chapman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-03-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has made an assessment of the Russian government’s position on the UK leaving the EU.

    Mr David Lidington

    A strong, unified European Union has a critical role to play in responding to Russian aggression in Ukraine, which has challenged stability and security on the continent. The UK has played a leading role in pressing for tough EU sanctions, delivering a cost to Russia for its actions and supporting the full implementation of the Minsk agreements. It is likely that Russia would seek to exploit the UK leaving the EU in order to sow disunity amongst Member States and weaken their resolve. This reinforces the Government’s view that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.

  • Douglas Carswell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Douglas Carswell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2016-03-23.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what advice he has received from the Office for Budget Responsibility on the effect on the economy in the event of the UK leaving the EU.

    Mr David Gauke

    A vote to leave the EU is identified as an economic risk in the OBR’s March 2016 Economic and Fiscal Outlook, which states that it “could usher in an extended period of uncertainty regarding the precise terms of the UK’s future relationship with the EU. This could have negative implications for activity via business and consumer confidence and might result in greater volatility in financial and other asset markets”.

  • Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2016-05-04.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the legal advice given by the Attorney General in Northern Ireland that genocide is being committed against Christian and other minorities in Iraq and Syria.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    This Government condemns Daesh atrocities against Christians, other minorities, and the majority Muslim populations of Iraq and Syria. As the Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), has said, the Government’s position remains that although there is a very strong case to answer, ultimately it should be a matter for judicial authorities.

    We are supporting the gathering and preservation of evidence that could in future be used in a court to hold Daesh to account. And we continue to deliver our comprehensive strategy to defeat Daesh, and thereby stop them from preventing more atrocities.

  • Michael Tomlinson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Michael Tomlinson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michael Tomlinson on 2016-06-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to increase cycling provision in Poole.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Poole Borough Council received funding for the LSTF 2011-15 programme as a partner authority which was led by Dorset County Council for the ‘School Travel Health Check’ project; they also received funding for the ‘Be SMArT’ project led by Bournemouth Borough Council. Both projects aimed to facilitate sustainable travel and included improvements for cycling.

    The Department is also preparing to launch the Access Fund for revenue only funding, which will be open to all local authorities in England (excluding London) regardless of previous bidding success. This will include an objective to actively promote increased levels of physical activity through walking and cycling.

    The Access Fund is being aligned with the third Local Growth Deal which presents opportunities for all authorities to seek capital funding for their sustainable transport schemes. All local authorities have been notified to engage with their Local Enterprise Partnerships and the Department on both these opportunities.

  • Lord Freyberg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Freyberg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Freyberg on 2016-09-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 25 July (HL1340), what date has been agreed by NICE for a full technology appraisal of lenvatinib.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    Ministers asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to develop technology appraisal guidance on the use of lenvatinb for the treatment of thyroid cancer on 22 July 2016. NICE plans to develop guidance on lenvatinib and sorafenib through the same technology appraisal and currently expects to publish draft guidance in October 2017.

    In the absence of NICE guidance, it is for commissioners to make funding decisions based on the available evidence and on the patient’s individual clinical circumstances.

  • Alistair Burt – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Alistair Burt – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alistair Burt on 2016-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what BT’s commercial investment was in broadband rollout in North East Bedfordshire.

    Matt Hancock

    The Department does not hold information on BT’s commercial investment in broadband roll-out.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-11-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the recent increase in migrants from Haiti to the Turks and Caicos Islands on local resources on those islands.

    James Duddridge

    While the number of arrivals of illegal migrants to the Turks and Caicos Islands has decreased over the last two years, each occurrence continues to place a strain on local government resources and increases the risk for loss of life particularly for those arriving in overcrowded boats. Our Embassy in Haiti is pressing the Haitian government to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding to establish agreed arrangements for repatriations and better communication on migration issues.

  • Kirsten Oswald – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Kirsten Oswald – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2015-12-08.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which designated professional bodies have professional indemnity insurance requirements compliant with clause 2.3 of the Financial Conduct Authority handbook PRU-INV sch13.

    Harriett Baldwin

    This is a matter for the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is operationally independent from Government.

    This question has been passed on to the FCA. They will reply directly to the Honourable Member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  • Robert Flello – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Robert Flello – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Flello on 2016-01-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of its methods of alleviating road congestion on motorways after an incident; and what plans his Department has to improve those methods.

    Andrew Jones

    Highways England Traffic Officers play an important role in keeping traffic moving by helping road users in the event of a breakdown or collision, clearing debris from the motorways and returning the road back to normal.

    To assess how well Highways England are performing in clearing incidents, a target has been set to clear 85% of all lane impact incidents on the motorway network with one hour, as set out in the Roads Investment Strategy (RIS) and reported on annually. Highways England works closely with the other emergency responders including police forces, ambulance authorities, and fire and rescue services to improve its incident response.