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  • Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consultation he undertook on the content of his Department’s publication, Guidance to the Civil Aviation Authority on Environmental Objectives Relating to the Exercise of its Air Navigation Functions, published in January 2014, with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    During the public consultation period a meeting was held between officials from the Department of Transport and the Department for Regional Development Northern Ireland where the content of the Guidance was discussed. There was no specific consultation with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive.

  • Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graeme Morrice on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has any plans to end the employee trade union membership dues check-off system.

    Stephen Hammond

    The Department has undertaken a review into the removal of check off arrangements and is considering the next steps following this review.

  • Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graeme Morrice on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether his Department has any plans to end the employee trade union membership dues check-off system.

    David Mundell

    The Scotland Office does not employ staff directly; all staff that join do so on an assignment, loan or secondment from other government bodies who remain responsible for all employment matters including payroll deductions for Trade Union subscriptions.

  • John Mann – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    John Mann – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2014-04-25.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many letters were sent to businesses on the employment allowance; how many such letters have been returned undelivered; and what the total cost has been of production and postage of such letters.

    Mr David Gauke

    For the total number and costs of letters sent, I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. and Rt. hon. Members for Streatham, Blackburn, and Islington South and Finsbury on 10 April 2014 Column 365W.

    Letters returned undelivered are handled externally as part of a contracted service.

  • John Mann – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    John Mann – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Prime Minister, with reference to his letter of April 2014 sent to small businesses on employment allowance, if he will clarify who was meant by the use of we in the third paragraph; and whether he has discussed the neutrality of such a phase with the Electoral Commission.

    Mr David Cameron

    As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government has a long-term plan to a build a new economy, which supports sustainable growth and enterprise. The Employment Allowance was introduced to promote both growth and employment, particularly among small businesses. I have had no discussion with the Electoral Commission on the letter.

  • Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Prime Minister, what meetings he has had with (a) the First Minister of Northern Ireland, (b) the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and (c) both the First and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

    Mr David Cameron

    I regularly meet the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to discuss a range of issues and will continue to do so.

    I visit all parts of the United Kingdom regularly, including Northern Ireland. I last visited Northern Ireland on Thursday 10 – Friday 11 October 2013.

  • Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graeme Morrice on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether her Department has any plans to end the employee trade union membership dues check-off system.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    My Department’s payroll services are provided by the Ministry of Justice. My understanding is that they have no current plans to end the employee trade union membership dues check-off system.

  • Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what meetings she has had with (a) the First Minister of Northern Ireland, (b) the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and (c) both the First and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    I meet regularly with the First Minister and deputy First Minister to discuss a range of issues and will continue to do so.

  • Khalid Mahmood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Khalid Mahmood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Khalid Mahmood on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether the families of all victims of crimes for which the beneficiaries of so-called comfort letters were convicted have yet been informed that such letters were issued.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    The administrative scheme established by the previous government operated as follows; the police (and in some cases the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland) checked whether sufficient evidence existed in each case at that time for named individuals to be questioned, arrested or prosecuted if they returned to Northern Ireland or any other part of the United Kingdom.

    If it was concluded that there was no prospect of any prosecution based on the evidence then available, the individuals were informed that they were not wanted by the police – the letters were only ever a statement of fact regarding an individual’s status with the police and prosecuting authorities at a particular point in time i.e. whether they were sought for arrest or not. Lady Justice Hallett has been appointed to investigate the administrative scheme and to provide a full public account of how it operated.

  • Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent meetings she has had on First World War centenary commemorations in Northern Ireland.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    The Northern Ireland Office plays a co-ordination role with the aim of ensuring that First World War commemorations are implemented in Northern Ireland in a manner which promotes reconciliation and enhances prospects for a peaceful, shared future.

    Officials from my Department sit on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Programme Board for First World War Centenary Commemorations. They also have regular contact with officials in the British Embassy Dublin, the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, and sit on the Northern Ireland First World War Centenary Committee chaired by Jeffrey Donaldson MP.

    I receive regular updates on this work and will attend a number of events being planned to mark this important centenary over the course of the coming months. These events will take place in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and France.