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  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-12-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is planned that RAF pilots will rely upon information provided by personnel on the ground to identify and attack targets territory in Syria occupied by ISIS.

    Penny Mordaunt

    The information used to identify and strike targets is derived from a number of different sources and assessed rigorously for compliance with UK rules of engagement, UK law and international law. It is not our practice to comment in detail on how specific operational targets are derived, as to do so would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

  • Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2015-12-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the planned schedule of disbursements from the Joint Security Fund is for (a) his Department and (b) the security and intelligence agencies in each year from 2016-17 to 2020-21.

    Michael Fallon

    The Ministry of Defence will be able to spend £2.1 billion from the Joint Security Fund over the rest of this Parliament. The annual profile is subject to formal confirmation of the Chancellor’s settlement for defence expected later this month.

    Use of the Joint Security Fund by the Security and Intelligence Agencies is a matter for the Cabinet Office.

  • Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2015-12-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to retain or to return to the Consolidated Fund receipts from the sale of land and property assets over the Spending Review period.

    Mark Lancaster

    The Ministry of Defence plans to retain all receipts from the sale of land and property assets.

  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-12-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish on his Department’s website (a) corroborated information on deaths of (i) ISIS fighters and (ii) civilians as a result of airstrikes on Syrian locations and (b) other information in a daily battle assessment for each day from 2 December 2015.

    Penny Mordaunt

    Information on RAF airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, and their outcome, is already published on the gov.uk website and is regularly updated. We know of no civilian casualties caused by RAF airstrikes against Daesh in Iraq or Syria.

  • Toby Perkins – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Toby Perkins – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Toby Perkins on 2015-12-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many days on average each class of Royal Naval officer and rating was at sea in each year between 2005 and 2014.

    Mark Lancaster

    Time spent at sea can vary depending on the tasking of the vessel.

    The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  • Seema Malhotra – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Seema Malhotra – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-12-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the proportion of UK businesses that do not have access to broadband with speeds above 24Mbps.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    According to Ofcom’s Connected Nations Report 2015, published on 1 December 2015, superfast broadband coverageis now available to 68% of small and medium businesses (SMEs) – up from 56% last year– a very substantial increase.

    In addition, the £40 million government-funded Broadband Connection Voucher Schemehas benefitted well over 50,000 SMEs,who employ up to 1 million people across the UK; and we are on track to hit 95% superfast broadband coverage across the UK by 2017. In addition, the PM recently announced the ambition to give people the legal right to request a connection to broadband with speeds of 10 Mbps, no matter where in the country they live.

  • Andrew Percy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Andrew Percy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Percy on 2015-12-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 20 July 2015 to Question 6371, when he plans that the reforms to the Electronic Communications Code will come into effect; if he will ensure that the new Code contains powers for mobile operators to more easily upgrade and share sites; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Government remains committed to delivering a reformed Electronic Communications Code that is clear, fit for purpose, and supports improvements in network coverage which provides consumers with a choice of high quality telecommunications services. We will update Parliament on plans in due course.

  • Seema Malhotra – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Seema Malhotra – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-12-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which areas of the UK had (a) limited and (b) no mobile coverage in (i) 2010 and (ii) 2015.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    Following the Government’s landmark agreement with mobile network operators in December 2014 and the 4G licence obligation on Telefonica we expect mobile coverage to improve significantly – with coverage to nearly 98% of UK landmass by 2017.In August 2015 Ofcom published an online interactive map showing areas of mobile coverage in the UK. The map is available at:http://www.ofcom.org.uk/mobile-coverage. No such map exists for coverage in 2010.

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  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-12-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment the Government undertook of consumer needs before announcing its plan to introduce a 10Mbps universal broadband speed.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Prime Minister’s excellent announcement to give people a legal right to request a connection to broadband with speeds of 10 Mbps, no matter where in the country they live through a new broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO)followed reports of consumers’ broadband needs from a range of sources, including Ofcom’s annual infrastructure reports.

  • Seema Malhotra – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Seema Malhotra – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-12-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the publication, Towards a one nation economy: A 10-point plan for boosting rural productivity, published in August 2015, when he plans that the fast-track planning certificate process will be available.

    Brandon Lewis

    Our intention is to deliver an application route for permission in principle as soon as possible after receiving Royal Assent to the enabling powers in the Housing and Planning Bill and laying the associated secondary legislation on the detailed procedures.