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  • Douglas Alexander – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Douglas Alexander – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Alexander on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on progress on the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement.

    Mr William Hague

    The March European Council held an in depth discussion on the situation in Ukraine, and the political chapters of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement were signed on 21 March. At the March European Council the EU and Member States also restated their commitment to signing the remainder of the Association Agreement with Ukraine.

    The 14 April and 15 May Foreign Affairs Committees agreed Conclusions which reiterated the EU’s commitment to sign the remaining provisions of the Association Agreement, including the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, as soon as possible after the presidential elections which took place on 25 May.

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when HMS Illustrious will return from its current deployment.

    Mr Mark Francois

    HMS ILLUSTRIOUS is currently participating in Exercise Deep Blue, an anti-submarine exercise in the Western Approaches. I am withholding details of its future programme and dates as their disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

  • Andrew Stephenson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Andrew Stephenson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Stephenson on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many men in (a) Pendle constituency and (b) Lancashire died from advanced prostate cancer in 2012.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

  • Peter Luff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Peter Luff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Luff on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of progress 8 performance measures since their introduction in secondary schools.

    Mr David Laws

    Progress 8 will be the headline secondary school performance measure from 2016. This will be based on qualifications which schools will begin teaching in the autumn term of 2014. The new performance measures aim to encourage schools to offer a broad and balanced curriculum that meets the needs of all pupils.

    More schools than ever are entering pupils for the English Baccalaureate, which encourages the study of science, a language and a humanities subject alongside maths and English.

  • Jim Dobbin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Jim Dobbin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Dobbin on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that the provisions of EU law in relation to the freedom to provide services apply to the provision of services from Gibraltar to any part of the EU.

    Mr David Lidington

    Gibraltar is in the EU and is covered by EU treaty provisions on the freedom to provide services. We vigorously support all of Gibraltar’s rights under the EU Treaties.

  • Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance his Department has provided to local authorities (a) to help the understand the threat from extremism and (b) relating to statutory powers available to them to challenge extremist speakers.

    Karen Bradley

    The Home Office provides ongoing support for local authority Prevent
    coordinators funded by the Home Office in priority areas (currently thirty
    local authorities, based on assessment of risk), to ensure that they understand
    the threat of extremism and are equipped to deal with it effectively. This is
    done through regular regional events, issuing briefings on specific issues, and
    sharing best practice across different authorities. The police, including
    police Prevent co-ordinators, also work closely with local authorities and
    share appropriate information with them.

    The Home Office issued advice in 2013 to help local authority Prevent
    Coordinators manage the challenges posed by extremist speakers. This included
    an overview of the duties placed upon public bodies under the Equalities Act
    2010 and the regulations that events must comply with.

    Additionally, the Department for Communities and Local Government gave
    Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Luton Borough Council funding to lead
    a national Special Interest Group of local authorities across England affected
    by the activities of the English Defence League and similar groups, which has
    supported them in sharing knowledge about what works best in tackling extremist
    groups.

  • Gareth Thomas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Gareth Thomas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will place in the Library the terms of reference of the independent medal review by Sir John Holmes; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Francis Maude

    I refer the hon. Member to the my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister’s statements on 30 April 2012, (Official Report), Column Ref: 55WS and 17 July 2012 (Official Report) Column Ref 132WS.

    An announcement will be made once the full set of reviews is complete and has been approvedin the usual way.

  • Jim Murphy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Jim Murphy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Murphy on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make it her policy to support the proposed target to end HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases by 2030 in the upcoming Open Working Group negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Justine Greening

    The UK supports a target to reduce the burden of disease from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases. Language on this is included in the most recent draft goals and targets list released by the co-chairs of the Open Working Group (OWG) on 2 June.

    The final targets in the post-2015 development framework will however be subject to international negotiations in the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active role.

  • Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the drug pembrolizumab will be available on the NHS for treatment of skin cancer.

    Norman Lamb

    The manufacturer of pembrolizumab, Merck, has not yet filed an application for a marketing authorisation for use in the European Union.

    Hospital doctors can arrange for the supply of any drug or other substance, even one not normally available on National Health Service prescription, provided the patient’s commissioner agrees to supply it at NHS expense. The doctor would, in those circumstances, have to retain clinical responsibility for the patient while prescribing the drug in question.

  • Nigel Evans – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Nigel Evans – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2014-06-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what proportion of local authorities have had their core strategy approved to date; and how many such strategies were approved on the first submission.

    Nick Boles

    Our streamlined National Planning Policy Framework strongly encourages areas to get up-to-date Local Plans in place, and we have been actively supporting councils in doing so. Local Plans set the framework for planning decisions, whether locally or at appeal, and put councils in the best place to decide development in their area.

    As of 30 May 2014, 54% of local authorities have adopted a core strategy. 77% have at least reached publication stage. In May 2010, only 17% of local authorities had adopted a core strategy.

    The examination process tests the submitted plan to ensure that it is sound. Following the Localism Act 2011, independent Planning Inspectors report to the local authority and identify any conflicts between the submitted plan and national policy and regulatory process. Councils are able to suggest their own modifications for assessment by the Inspector during the examination, as well as making minor non-material changes themselves. They can also ask the Inspector to recommend changes. The council is then free to choose to accept the Inspector’s recommendations and adopt the plan, or resubmit a new plan.

    This approach is aimed at encouraging a more collaborative process as the public examination proceeds. We have encouraged Inspectors to be pragmatic in making recommendations that will allow early adoption of sound plans which meet national policy requirements.