Category: Speeches

  • Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Trade

    Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Trade

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Trade in Services Agreement supports the targets set at the COP21 climate change conference.

    Greg Hands

    Negotiations of the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) are ongoing. A trade sustainability impact assessment is being conducted on the TiSA. The terms of reference of the report include analysis of the impact of the TiSA on climate change. The final inception report can be found on the European Commission’s DG Trade website.

    The Department for International Trade works closely with the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and other departments to ensure the TiSA aligns with the UK’s wider policy objectives. Irrespective of what is agreed in TiSA, all signatories to the Paris agreement will have to meet their climate change commitments under that agreement.

  • Sue Hayman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Sue Hayman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sue Hayman on 2015-11-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to abolish the feudal system of land tenure in England and Wales.

    Dominic Raab

    The government has no plans to change the basis on which land is owned in England and Wales.

  • Ian Lavery – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Ian Lavery – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lavery on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received on introducing a statutory duty on the fire and rescue service to respond to major flooding; and if he will make a statement.

    Mike Penning

    I have been asked to reply on behalf of the Home Office.

    Both the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 detail the roles and powers of fire and rescue authorities, in respect of both emergency response and rescue in a wide range of situations, including from flooding. Fire and rescue authorities are expected to undertake integrated risk management planning, dovetailed with the community risk register overseen by the Local Resilience Forum (a multi-agency grouping of which fire and rescue authorities are key members). Integrated Risk Management Plans identify the full range of risks that an authority’s service is expected to respond to and are subject to consultation. The National Fire Framework published in July 2012 and given statutory effect in August 2012 makes this clear and I believe that fire and rescue authorities are fully competent to deliver on this.

    The Government has had no recent representations on this arrangement and in light of how well fire services have responded to recent flooding suggests there is no need for review.

  • Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-01-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on the reviews into the (a) Support for Maritime Training scheme and (b) UK maritime sector’s projected requirement for seafarers as recommended in the Maritime Growth study, Keeping the UK competitive in a global market, published September 2015.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The invitation to tender for the Seafarer Projections Review was sent out by the Crown Commercial Service on Tuesday 19 January 2016.

    As the Support for Maritime Training (SMarT) Review will need to take account of the information gathered in the Seafarer Projections Review, it will follow in about four to six weeks’ time.

  • Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 24 of the Joint Ministerial Declaration on UK/French co-operation on managing migratory flows in Calais, published in August 2015, what progress has been made on the commitment to take stock of the operational effectiveness of the Dublin III Regulations.

    Karen Bradley

    The UK government supports the Dublin III principles and welcomes the swift processing of asylum claims made in Calais. For migrants to be processed under Dublin III they must first claim asylum in France. The UK government will consider any request made by the French asylum authorities under the Dublin Regulation to take responsibility for an asylum applicant in France because they have close family in the UK.

    To ensure that the provisions of the Dublin Regulation are used efficiently and effectively in both countries, a joint contact group has been established in line with the commitment in the Joint Declaration. The UK has held regular discussions with French Interior Ministry colleagues, including visits to Calais and Dunkirk to examine the processes and the information made available to migrants.

  • 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 steps he has taken to reduce dangerous drunkenness of passengers 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 West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-04-13.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the date for first entry into Portsmouth of HMS Queen Elizabeth has been decided, and if so, what it is.

    Earl Howe

    Construction of both HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HMS PRINCE OF WALES is progressing in Rosyth. The date for first entry into Portsmouth of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH will be confirmed once the current testing and commissioning has been completed in Rosyth and once contractor-led sea trials have progressed. These trials are planned to complete in 2017.

  • Rupa Huq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Rupa Huq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rupa Huq on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government plans to take to address musculoskeletal conditions in its childhood obesity strategy.

    Jane Ellison

    Our Childhood Obesity Strategy, which will be launched in the summer, will look at everything that contributes to a child becoming overweight and obese.

  • Charles Walker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Charles Walker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charles Walker on 2016-07-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department plans to publish the final Accelerated Access Review related to drug development and innovation; and if he will make a statement.

    George Freeman

    The Government expects to publish the review it commissioned on the independently chaired Accelerated Access Review shortly. The Review team are currently considering publication dates.

  • Danny Kinahan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Danny Kinahan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Danny Kinahan on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to guarantee to match any EU funding lost to universities and colleges.

    Joseph Johnson

    University researchers can continue to bid for competitive EU research funding while we remain a member of the EU. We will work with the Commission to ensure payment when funds are awarded. HM Treasury will underwrite the payment of such awards, even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU. Further details about Government safeguarding funding can be found in the statement Jo Johnson made on 13 August: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/safeguarding-funding-for-research-and-innovation


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