Category: Speeches

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a comparative assessment of the potential economic benefit of High Speed 2 plans and the proposals by Transport for the North.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    HS2 will dramatically improve connectivity from north to south. Northern Powerhouse Rail will do the same from east to west. These two ambitious programmes, developed side-by-side, will help to rebalance the economy by transforming rail travel to, from, and within the North.

    The Department and Transport for the North (TfN) are currently developing options for delivering the transformational rail connectivity in the north of England set out in the Northern Transport Strategy, and aim to have an understanding of the relative scale of costs and benefits of these options in autumn 2016.

    As outlined in the recent HS2 Economic Case published in November 2015, the benefits of the full HS2 Y-Network are estimated to be £72.8bn (2011 prices, PV). This analysis calculated that the benefit cost ratio (BCR) of HS2 is 2.2 for the full Y-network, including wider economic impacts. Therefore, over £2 worth of benefits are expected for every £1 spent which represents high value for money.

  • Paul Flynn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Paul Flynn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2016-01-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to promote Welsh literature in the UK.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    Arts Council England funds organisations nationwide including National Portfolio Organisations offering high quality creative and professional training to writers, particularly aimed at emerging talent and funds and supports individual writers/literature via the Grants for the Arts funding scheme.

    Literature Wales is the national company for the promotion and development of literature in Wales, and works with the support of the Arts Council of Wales and Welsh Government. Literature Wales receives an annual revenue grant from the Arts Council of Wales as well as a subsidy from the Arts Council’s Lottery Funds

  • David Rutley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    David Rutley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Rutley on 2016-02-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect on national security of the continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent.

    Michael Fallon

    Successive UK Governments have concluded that for as long as nuclear weapons exist, a nuclear deterrent, based on a continuous at sea deterrence, has a vital role to play in our security and that of our NATO allies. It provides the ultimate guarantee of our national security and way of life.

  • Tommy Sheppard – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Tommy Sheppard – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tommy Sheppard on 2016-03-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average waiting time was for immigration cases designated as complex in (a) 2015, (b) 2014 and (c) 2013.

    James Brokenshire

    Following feedback from customers and partners UKV&I introduced new service standards in January 2014. As such statistical information for 2013 is not available.

    The table below shows the number and proportion of immigration cases designated as complex in 2014 and 2015

    Complex Case

    Total Apps Received

    % of Complex Cases

    2014 (01/04/2014 – 31/12/2014)

    87,219

    412,337

    21%

    2015

    84,435

    513,475

    16%

    Following feedback from customers and partners UKV&I introduced new service standards in January 2014. As such statistical information for 2013 is not available. Our records indicate the average waiting time (days) for immigration cases that are designated as complex is as follows.

    Average Waiting Time

    2014 (01/04/2014 – 31/12/2014)

    122

    2015

    163

    Overall Average

    147
  • Tristram Hunt – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Tristram Hunt – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tristram Hunt on 2016-04-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many jobs in (a) her Department and (b) each of her Department’s non-departmental public bodies, executive agencies, non-ministerial departments, advisory bodies and other accountable statutory bodies (i) have been abolished in or relocated from East Cheshire Local Authority since 2010 and (ii) will be abolished in or relocated from East Cheshire Local Authority by 2020.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    Neither DFID nor its non-departmental public bodies have had, nor plan to have, any jobs based in East Cheshire Local Authority during the periods in question.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-05-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average hourly earnings were of her Department’s (a) BME and (b) non-BME employees in (i) 2015 and (ii) 2016.

    Karen Bradley

    Table 1 provides the median average hourly rates for all employees (Senior Civil Service and below within the Home Office) for (a) BME and (b) non-BME employees in (i) 2015 and (ii) 2016.

    The Civil Service is changing, and our recruitment seeks to reflect the make-up and composition of our nation as a whole. Historically, BME staff were under-represented across the civil service: both in terms of previous recruitment patterns and the number and proportion in higher grades, both of these factors can contribute to the differences in average salaries.

    We are making progress, the proportion of BME staff in the Civil Service has risen from 9.2% in 2010 to 10.6% in 2015, but we recognise that there is still more to do.

    In March, the Government published its 2016 Talent Action Plan for the Civil Service. It provides a progress update on initiatives to increase diversity in the Civil Service, including cross-Government talent programmes aimed at under-represented groups.

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/talent-action-plan-2016-removing-the-barriers-to-success

  • Calum Kerr – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Calum Kerr – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Calum Kerr on 2016-07-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect of UK negotiations with the EU resulting from the outcome of the referendum on the planned reorganisation of UK Science Research Councils proposed by Sir Paul Nurse.

    Joseph Johnson

    The Government will continue taking forward the important legislation that was set before Parliament in the Queen’s Speech, including the Higher Education and Research Bill. This includes the formation of the new body UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). Now, more than ever, we need a strong and unified voice to represent the interests of UK research and innovation across Europe and around the world which UKRI will provide.

  • John Mann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    John Mann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance she has issued to police forces on initiatives to stop the illegal trading of ivory.

    Brandon Lewis

    We have not issued specific guidance to the police on tackling the illegal trading of ivory. With the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, we fund the National Wildlife Crime Unit which provides intelligence and specialist assistance to assist all police forces in the United Kingdom to deal effectively with wildlife crime investigation, including cases that involve the illegal trading of ivory.

  • Philip Davies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Philip Davies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2015-11-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 6 November 2015 to Question 9384, on Reoffenders, if he will list the offences committed by those people numbered in the violence against the person category.

    Andrew Selous

    A fixed-term recall is used only in respect of offenders who are assessed as not posing a risk of serious harm to the public at the point at which they would be re-released automatically. A fixed term recall will not be given in cases where an offender has been charged with a further serious offence, such as a sexual or violent offence or where an offender’s behaviour suggests that he presents a risk of serious harm to the public. Such offenders would receive a standard recall, which means they are liable to remain in prison until the end of their sentence

    In appropriate cases, a fixed-term recall allows preventative measures to be put in place to stop the offender breaching their licence again

    The table below provides a list of the offences committed by 546 offenders who received a fixed term recall in 2014 and who were serving a sentence for violence against the person.

    Violence against the person

    Murder

    Manslaughter

    Other and attempted homicide

    Wounding

    Assaults

    Other violence against the person
  • Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what qualifications are required of case managers employed by the Fit for Work service.

    Justin Tomlinson

    Fit for Work is delivered by health professionals who have an occupational health qualification; occupational health experience; or are able to demonstrate experience and skills appropriate to working in an occupational health context. Health professionals must be registered with the relevant regulatory and/or professional body on the appropriate part(s) of its registers. Fit for Work has an accredited Specialist in Occupational Medicine to provide clinical supervision of the service and provides appropriate supervision from more experienced professionals from whom they can seek advice.