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  • Greg Mulholland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Greg Mulholland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 1 July 2015 to Question 4425, when he expects Network Rail to publish an update to its industry electrification strategy.

    Claire Perry

    The Department expects that the industry electrification strategy will be published by Network Rail as a draft for consultation in early 2016, taking into account the outcome of the review by Sir Peter Hendy of Network Rail’s programme of rail investment.

  • Stephen Hammond – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Stephen Hammond – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Hammond on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to prepare for the implementation of the proposed General Data Protection Regulation; which non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and agencies overseen by his Department will be affected by that Regulation; and what estimate he has made of the potential liability of his Department, its agencies and NDPBs in connection with that proposed Regulation.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Negotiations on the proposed General Data Protection Regulation are still continuing and our negotiating position has taken into account the likely impact on Government Departments, NDPBs and agencies. Once the outcome of tripartite negotiations between the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament and the Commission are complete, and the Regulation has been adopted, the liabilities will be further assessed. There will then follow a maximum implementation period of two years. Between now and then, Government departments who will be affected by the Regulation are closely involved in work led by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport to consider the implications of the text as it develops through the negotiating process.

  • Stephen Hammond – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Stephen Hammond – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Hammond on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps his Department has taken to prepare for the implementation of the proposed General Data Protection Regulation; and what estimate he has made of the potential liability of his Department in connection with that proposed Regulation.

    David Mundell

    Negotiations on the proposed General Data Protection Regulation are still continuing and our negotiating position has taken into account the likely impact on Government Departments, NDPBs and agencies. Once the outcome of trilogue negotiations between the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament and the Commission are complete, and the Regulation has been adopted, the liabilities will be further assessed. There will then follow a maximum implementation period of two years. Between now and then, Government departments who will be affected by the Regulation are closely involved in work led by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport to consider the implications of the text as it develops through the negotiating process.

  • Sharon Hodgson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Sharon Hodgson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Wilson Doctrine has been consistently applied to the communications of the hon. Member for Washington and Sunderland West; and whether that hon. Member has been subject to surveillance.

    Mr John Hayes

    The Government’s position on the Wilson Doctrine was set out by the Prime Minister in a written ministerial statement made on 4 November 2015.

    As the Prime Minister made clear, the Wilson Doctrine has never been an absolute bar to the targeted interception of the communications of Members of Parliament or an exemption from the legal regime governing interception. The Doctrine recognised that there could be instances where interception might be necessary.

    The Prime Minister announced that as matter of policy the PM will be consulted should there ever be a proposal to target any UK Parliamentarian’s communications under a warrant issued by a Secretary of State. This applies to Members of Parliament, members of the House of Lords, the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Welsh Assembly and UK members of the European Parliament. It applies to all activity authorised by a warrant issued by a Secretary of State: any instance of targeted interception and, electronic surveillance and equipment interference, when undertaken by the Security and Intelligence Agencies. This is in addition to the rigorous safeguards already in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and the Code of Practice issued under it which set out a series of robust safeguards for any instance of interception.

    It is long standing policy of successive Governments neither to confirm nor deny any specific activity by the Security and Intelligence Agencies. Under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 it is an offence for anyone to identify an individual interception warrant or an individual interception that takes place.

  • Karl McCartney – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Karl McCartney – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl McCartney on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Wilson Doctrine has been consistently applied to the communications of the hon. Member for Lincoln since his election; and whether that hon. Member has been subject to surveillance.

    Mr John Hayes

    The Government’s position on the Wilson Doctrine was set out by the Prime Minister in a written ministerial statement made on 4 November 2015.

    As the Prime Minister made clear, the Wilson Doctrine has never been an absolute bar to the targeted interception of the communications of Members of Parliament or an exemption from the legal regime governing interception. The Doctrine recognised that there could be instances where interception might be necessary.

    The Prime Minister announced that as matter of policy the PM will be consulted should there ever be a proposal to target any UK Parliamentarian’s communications under a warrant issued by a Secretary of State. This applies to Members of Parliament, members of the House of Lords, the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Welsh Assembly and UK members of the European Parliament. It applies to all activity authorised by a warrant issued by a Secretary of State: any instance of targeted interception and, electronic surveillance and equipment interference, when undertaken by the Security and Intelligence Agencies. This is in addition to the rigorous safeguards already in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and the Code of Practice issued under it which set out a series of robust safeguards for any instance of interception.

    It is long standing policy of successive Governments neither to confirm nor deny any specific activity by the Security and Intelligence Agencies. Under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 it is an offence for anyone to identify an individual interception warrant or an individual interception that takes place.

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if she will make extra funding available for digital technology so that full monitoring of dissident Republicans can be maintained.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    This Government has put considerable effort into ensuring the Police Service of Northern Ireland is properly resourced to tackle the terrorist threat. We have provided £231million between 2011 and 2016, and this support has been crucial in helping to ensure that the PSNI’s investigative and operational capacity is effective.

    As the Government’s Northern Ireland Manifesto at the election stated, we will always give the fullest possible backing to the PSNI.

  • Stephen Hammond – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Stephen Hammond – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Hammond on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps her Department has taken to prepare for the implementation of the proposed General Data Protection Regulation; which non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) overseen by her Department will be affected by that Regulation; and what estimate she has made of the potential liability of her Department and its NDPBs in connection with that proposed Regulation.

    Mr Ben Wallace

    Negotiations on the proposed General Data Protection Regulation are still continuing and our negotiating position has taken into account the likely impact on Government Departments, NDPBs and agencies. Once the outcome of trilogue negotiations between the Council of the European Union, the European Parliament and the Commission are complete, and the Regulation has been adopted, the liabilities will be further assessed. There will then follow a maximum implementation period of two years. Between now and then, Government departments who will be affected by the Regulation are closely involved in work led by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport to consider the implications of the text as it develops through the negotiating process.

  • Peter Bone – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    Peter Bone – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Leader of the House

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Bone on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Leader of the House, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of the Leader of the House being elected by the whole House.

    Chris Grayling

    None.

  • Jess Phillips – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Jess Phillips – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance or direction his Department has given on the amount of time that inmates at Foston Hall Prison, Derbyshire, should spend outside their cells; and what monitoring of such time his Department carries out.

    Caroline Dinenage

    At Foston Hall, prisoners are expected to spend 6.25 hours a day out of their cells in order to take part in work, training or education opportunities thatsupport their rehabilitation. This daily activity structure was implemented on 31 August 2015 andis monitored at local, regional and national levels.

    In addition to the activity structure, as with all prisons in England and Wales, there is a statutory requirement to give prisoners 30 minutes in the open air on a daily basis. There is also an agreement with National Offender Management Commissioners which applies to all prisons in their Service Level Agreements, that prisoners should receive 2.5 hours per week PE. These national requirements are also in place at Foston Hall

  • Jess Phillips – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Jess Phillips – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2015-10-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the expected staffing rate at Foston Hall Prison, Derbyshire, is; and how often his Department assesses compliance with that rate.

    Caroline Dinenage

    The target staffing figure for Prison Officers at Foston Hall is 90.50. The actual Staff in Post as at 30 September 2015 is 85.03. There are currently six prison officers going through the vetting process and one with a start date to add to this figure so this will provide a total of 92.03 against a target of 90.50. The excess number of staff will cover any staff who are leaving due to internal promotions that are currently in process.

    In order to monitor compliance with the staffing rate, the data is captured locally and fed in to a national planning tool that provides information to a regional workforce planning meeting where the situation is assessed monthly. This then feeds into the central National Offender Management Service planning figures.