Category: Speeches

  • Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-01-19.

    To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to tackle prejudice and discrimination towards the transsexual community.

    Caroline Dinenage

    For the fifth year in a row, the UK has been recognised as the leading country in Europe for LGB&T equality.

    I am proud of our achievements but we are not complacent; there is more work to be done. Achieving transgender equality is a priority for this Government. We will continue to tackle this prejudice, taking action such as issuing guidance for employers and service providers on how best to support transgender people. We will soon be able to evaluate the impact of the £2 million fund provided to tackle transphobic, homophobic and biphobic bullying in schools and we have sought to strengthen the voices of trans people through funding of the LGB&T Partnership to support the Transgender Organisations Network. The review will engage with relevant stakeholders, including from the transgender community, combined with professional and operational expertise.

    The GEO is continuously exploring relevant policies with other Departments and officials are currently doing so in the context of the recommendations made by the Women and Equalities select committee.

    For the fifth year in a row, the UK has been recognised as the leading country in Europe for LGB&T equality.

    I am proud of our achievements but we are not complacent; there is more work to be done. Achieving transgender equality is a priority for this Government. We will continue to tackle this prejudice, taking action such as issuing guidance for employers and service providers on how best to support transgender people. We will soon be able to evaluate the impact of the £2 million fund provided to tackle transphobic, homophobic and biphobic bullying in schools and we have sought to strengthen the voices of trans people through funding of the LGB&T Partnership to support the Transgender Organisations Network. The review will engage with relevant stakeholders, including from the transgender community, combined with professional and operational expertise.

    The GEO is continuously exploring relevant policies with other Departments and officials are currently doing so in the context of the recommendations made by the Women and Equalities select committee.

  • Ian C. Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Ian C. Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian C. Lucas on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when a final decision was made to close 15 HM Passport Office interview offices; and what discussions her Department has had with staff representatives on those closures.

    Karen Bradley

    The decision regarding the changes to the passport application interview estate was taken on 21 December 2015.

    Affected staff, and their trade union representatives, were informed of this decision on 28 January 2016. This launched a formal period of consultation about the impact upon staff following the changes to the passport application interview estate. This consultation is ongoing.

  • Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-03-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has received from airlines on alcohol misuse on commercial flights.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    I and my officials have met and corresponded with industry representatives to discuss the issue of disruptive passengers on a number of occasions over the last year. In particular we have been working closely with airlines, airports, the police and duty free retailers to understand the challenges posed by disruptive behaviour on aircraft and to explore practical steps that can be taken to both reduce the frequency of these instances and to ensure that they are dealt with appropriately when they do occur. We are very supportive of industry’s efforts, including to collating and disseminating best practice and guidance; we will continue to provide assistance where appropriate.

  • Lord Bradshaw – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Bradshaw – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2016-04-13.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have yet considered the remainder of the Law Commission’s recommendations on the reform of level-crossing legislation.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    The Department for Transport is continuing to develop its response to the Law Commission’s recommendations on the reform of level crossing legislation in conjunction with stakeholders.

    We expect to finalise our deliberations shortly with a view to a consultation on preferred options later this year.

  • Oliver Colvile – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Oliver Colvile – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Oliver Colvile on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to consult on levels of bursaries and salary support for trainee clinical psychologists for the 2017-18 cohort.

    Ben Gummer

    Health Education England (HEE) funding for trainees in clinical psychology is currently determined at a local level based on local need and is subject to annual workforce planning. For 2016-17, HEE will fund those commissions set out in the HEE Commissioning and Investment Plan for 2016-17. HEE’s plans for training clinical psychologists remain unchanged from 2015-16 with 526 commissions proposed for 2016-17. HEE will set out its plans for 2017-18 training commissions in its next annual Commissioning and Investment Plan or Workforce Plan for England which is expected to be published in December 2016 prior to the start of the financial year.

    The Government is currently consulting on the implementation of the education funding reforms for pre-registration undergraduate and postgraduate nursing, midwifery and allied health courses which are currently funded through both HEE funded tuition, a National Health Service bursary and reduced rate loan for maintenance. Respondents to the consultation may wish to raise issues relating to the funding for courses operating outside of this model, such as clinical psychology training programmes. The Government will consider these in the context of its consultation response.

  • Judith Cummins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Judith Cummins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he plans to take to reduce disparities in spending on culture and the arts between London and cities in the North of England.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    Arts and culture has a hugely positive impact on people’s lives and we are committed to broadening access to the arts across the whole country.

    Arts Council England are increasing the percentage of Lottery funding distributed outside London from 70 per cent to 75 per cent including over £30 million from their Ambition for Excellence fund that will be spent outside of the capital.

    Our Culture White Paper – the first strategy for the sector in more than 50 years – sets out how we will increase access across the country and ensure arts and culture are open to all.

  • Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will reform the Mineworkers’ Pension Scheme to ensure that the surplus is used to benefit former mineworkers.

    Jesse Norman

    The Department cannot unilaterally amend the terms of the scheme, though we would be willing to consider proposals put forward by the Scheme Trustees. Scheme members have already benefitted from surpluses through increases in benefits.

  • David Davis – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    David Davis – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Davis on 2015-11-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times action has been taken against a service provider for non-compliance with a warrant served under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 since 2001.

    Mr John Hayes

    The Government works closely with communication service providers to ensure they can give effect to warrants which help our security and intelligence and law enforcement agencies to disrupt, investigate and prosecute terrorists and criminals.

    It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on relationships with companies regarding interception warrants or whether specific companies had failed to give effect to an interception warrant.

  • Mike Kane – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Mike Kane – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Kane on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the reasons for trends in the levels of extremism in Pakistan.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The UK and Pakistan share a commitment to defeating extremism. As the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) has said, this is one of the greatest threats that we face. Extremist narratives underpin all acts of terrorism, whether the tragic events that took place in Paris last month, or the murder of 132 innocent children in Peshawar in 2014. That is why we strongly support Pakistan’s efforts to tackle terrorism and the extremism that sustains it. As in the UK, this requires effort in a number of areas, including investment in education, tackling poverty and confronting the extremist narrative.

    The Government’s Counter-Extremism Strategy sets out our approach to tackling all forms of extremism in the UK. It recognises that the problem is a global one. We are therefore working with international partners, including Pakistan, to reinforce our efforts at home and to build a more robust international response to extremism. As part of this, we continuously assess the threat to the UK and our partners to inform our efforts to combat extremism wherever it emerges. We are also working with Pakistan to deepen our shared understanding of the issue and to develop and implement effective responses.

    Extremism is a complex and multi-faceted issue. In assessing the nature of extremism, Her Majesty’s Government captures a broad spectrum of internal and external source material, including working closely with academics, civil society groups and other governments.

  • Seema Malhotra – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Seema Malhotra – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-01-22.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has met with representatives from the Bank of England on the current account deficit; and if he will make a statement.

    Harriett Baldwin

    The Chancellor and the Governor of the Bank of England are statutorily required to meet to discuss the Financial Stability Report (FSR), and any other matters relating to the stability of the UK financial system, as soon as is reasonably practicable after the publication of the report.

    At the most recent of these meetings—following the July 2015 FSR—the current account was discussed and the details of the meeting are published online by the Treasury at www.gov.uk.