Blog

  • Liz Saville Roberts – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Liz Saville Roberts – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz Saville Roberts on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps have been taken by Air Command in response to the UK Airprox Board’s recommendation that flying procedures be reviewed in the Machynlleth loop following a near-miss incident involving five aircraft on 27 August 2015.

    Penny Mordaunt

    I believe the hon. Member is referring to an incident that took place on 27 August 2014, in response to which the UK Airprox Board assessed no risk of collision existed.

    Following the UK Airprox Board’s recommendation, a review of entry and exit procedures has been completed. No changes have been made as the RAF considered that changing the procedures would adversely affect flight safety. However, the UK Military Low Flying Handbook was updated to highlight to military aircrews that they should exercise caution when entering and exiting the Machynlleth Loop.

  • Angus Brendan MacNeil – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Brendan MacNeil – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Brendan MacNeil on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the area of North Uist was last used for military exercise prior to the North Uist Development Company applying for planning permission in 2013.

    Mark Lancaster

    The Ministry of Defence holds no records of a training area in North Uist in the past 10 years.

  • Angus Brendan MacNeil – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Brendan MacNeil – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Brendan MacNeil on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how often his Department has made use of its agreement with Storas Uibhist to turn off the turbines when the range has been used for training purposes or has been otherwise active.

    Mark Lancaster

    It has not been necessary for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to exercise its rights under the agreement with Storas Uibhist to turn off the turbines. However, the MOD retains its rights, under the agreement, to do so in the interests of air safety should this be deemed necessary.

  • 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 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which military units are based at Baker Barracks on Thorney Island.

    Mark Lancaster

    12 Regiment Royal Artillery, 16 Regiment Royal Artillery and 49 Battery Royal Artillery (an independent sub-unit of the Joint Ground Based Air Defence Regiment) are based at Baker Barracks.

  • Douglas Chapman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Douglas Chapman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his Canadian counterpart on that country’s procurement of F35 aircraft.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence had regular discussions with the then Canadian Defence Minister, Jason Kenney, on a range of issues including procurement of F35 Aircraft. We look forward to engaging with the new Canadian Defence Ministers once appointed.

  • Margaret Ritchie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Margaret Ritchie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many applications have been submitted for the voucher broadband scheme; how many such applications came from Northern Ireland; how many of these have been approved; and if he will make available new programmes of broadband funding.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Scheme has been a great success with SMEs right across the UK benefitting from broadband speeds on average 10 times faster than existing connections. My department collects routine data from participating cities, who are responsible for administering broadband connection vouchers in accordance with scheme terms and conditions showing vouchers issued rather than applications made.

    As of 30 September 2015 there were over 40,000 vouchers issued in over 50 cities across the UK, of which around 2,000 were issued in Northern Ireland. All decisions regarding new funding are subject to the Spending Review.

  • 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 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance his Department gives on (a) informing customers of data breaches and (b) how compensation for a data breach should be calculated.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    Compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 is regulated and enforced by the Information Commissioner’s Office which maintains guidance relating to the Act. Guidance on the consequences to customers of a data breach and the steps to take when informing customers about a data breach can be found at the ICO’s website https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/principle-7-security/.

    It would be for the courts to decide how much compensation should be awarded to an individual who has suffered damage as a result of a data breach. The ICO’s website sets out guidance on compensation: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/principle-6-rights/compensation/

    “

  • 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 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance his Department gives on the consequences to consumers of a data breach.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    Compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998 is regulated and enforced by the Information Commissioner’s Office which maintains guidance relating to the Act. Guidance on the consequences to customers of a data breach and the steps to take when informing customers about a data breach can be found at the ICO’s website https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/principle-7-security/.

    It would be for the courts to decide how much compensation should be awarded to an individual who has suffered damage as a result of a data breach. The ICO’s website sets out guidance on compensation: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/principle-6-rights/compensation/

    “

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to address the rise in behavioural scamming.

    Mike Penning

    Fraudsters use a variety of methods to extract personal data from the public. This includes calling or emailing individuals, claiming to be from a trusted authority figure or organisation. Any person who believes they have been affected by telephone or email scams should report to Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. Action Fraud is operated by the City of London Police.

    Through our Cyber Streetwise campaign we are helping the public understand how to protect themselves from fraud and cybercrime. This includes notifying them of the key threats and highlighting simple security measures to take.

    Ofcom, the communications regulator in the UK, has worked closely with the Metropolitan Police Service, Action Fraud and landline providers to prevent criminals exploiting phone lines to trick and defraud members of the public. All landline providers have now reduced the time a call remains open after one party hangs up down to two seconds. This makes it much more difficult for criminals to exploit phone lines in this way.

  • Carolyn Harris – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Carolyn Harris – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will take steps to reduce the maximum stake on fixed odds betting terminals from £100.

    Tracey Crouch

    Following the last review, new measures were introduced in April 2015 to help players of fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) stay in control. Players of FOBTs who want to stake more than £50 in one play are now required to interact with staff over the counter or register a customer account card. My department are in the process of conducting an evaluation of thesemeasuresand I will publish the results in due course.