Tag: 2014

  • Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the value is of duplicate supplier payments identified by his Department since 2010; and what proportion of such payments have since been recovered in each of the last two financial years.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    The value of duplicate supplier payments detected by the Department in each financial year since 2010 was:

    Financial Year £

    2010-11 £38,815.22

    2011-12 £17,976.00

    2012-13 NIL

    2013-14 £26,481.10

    All of these duplicate payments were detected by the Departments own financial control processes and recovered in full in the same financial year at no cost to the Department.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Andrew Rosindell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he intends to lay before the House a Statutory Instrument to reflect the establishment of the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees; and if he will make statement.

    Anna Soubry

    It is our intention to change legislation to reflect the establishment of the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees. The Armed Forces Bill 2015 represents the most likely opportunity to make the change through primary legislation.

  • Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, for what reason a Renewable Obligation Certificate banding review for cuts to the large-scale PV Renewable Obligation band in 2015 and 2016 was ruled out as an option in the recent Renewables Obligation consultation.

    Amber Rudd

    The Government may carry out a banding review of RO support in England and Wales for any technology at any time if certain legislative conditions are met. As indicated in our consultation document and impact assessment, it is not clear that any of the conditions are met to trigger a banding review of solar support at this time. These are available on DECC’s web page:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-changes-to-financial-support-for-solar-pv.

    “

  • Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment he has made of National Audit Office analysis indicating that £29 million will be available for Contracts for Difference contracts in 2015-16; and if he will make a statement.

    Matthew Hancock

    Indicative CfD budgets, including for Contracts for Difference contracts in 2015-16, will be published later this month.

  • Huw Irranca-Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Huw Irranca-Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Huw Irranca-Davies on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of whether measures to achieve regulatory convergence under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership may lead to a lower standard of food production in the UK in respect of (a) food safety, (b) food labelling and transparency, (c) animal welfare, (d) worker protections and (e) consumer protections; and if she will make a statement.

    George Eustice

    Regulatory coherence offers greater compatibility of EU and US systems and helps to reduce the costs of complying with duplicate procedures at our borders. Leaders on both sides of the Atlantic have been clear that this is not about reducing regulatory standards. Any agreement will need to take into account EU and US rules on food safety, food labelling, animal welfare, worker protection and consumer protection. Regulatory coherence between the EU and US is not therefore expected to lead to lower standards of food production in the UK.

  • Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage freedom of religion in Burma and other South-East Asian countries.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    I made very clear during my visit to Burma in January that respect for freedom of religion and belief must be guaranteed. Our Ambassador and officials regularly discuss the importance of freedom of religion, which is guaranteed in the constitution, with the Burmese government, and also regularly meet representatives of all faith communities. The UK is also providing funding to train journalists on responsible coverage of religious freedom and conflict, and supporting a project to enhance the capacity of civil society groups to advocate freedom of religion. We have previously provided funding for interfaith dialogue and peace building amongst young people.

    Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials across South-East Asia regularly discuss these issues with local governments and faith communities, and Ministers also raise specific issues and concerns as they arise. Recently, for example, I raised our concerns about the introduction of a sharia criminal code in Brunei with Deputy Foreign Minister Pehin Lim; our Ambassador in Jakarta has discussed the protection of religious minority groups in Indonesia; and my noble Friend, the right hon. Baroness Warsi, has stressed the importance of tolerance and mutual respect with senior ministers in Malaysia. We will also continue to support projects across South-East Asia designed to bolster and protect freedom of religion and belief.

  • Mark Pritchard – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Mark Pritchard – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will bring forward legislation to outlaw the sale of stolen conflict antiquities in the UK.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    I have no current plans to hold discussions with the major auction houses, nor has the Government recently discussed the sale of conflict antiquities with them. The Government believes that regulating trade in antiquities is primarily the responsibility of the art and antiquities trade itself. The established trade associations possess codes of ethics by which they expect their members to abide and we expect the associations to strictly enforce those codes. The DCMS has produced advice and guidance to help UK dealers and auction houses consider the relevant issues such as ensuring the secure provenance of cultural objects in which they deal.

    The UK takes the issue of illicit trade in cultural goods very seriously and is continuously working to combat this type of trafficking.

    The UK has legislation in place, the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, which makes it an offence to import or export objects if that is prohibited under any enactment. Once an EU Regulation prohibiting such import or export comes into force, the act becomes a UK offence. Accordingly, prohibitions on export and import of certain Syrian cultural property under Council Regulation (EU) 1332/2013 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria, have been backed up by UK offences since December 2013. These are complemented by a statutory instrument (The Export Control (Syria Sanctions) (Amendment) Order 2014) which was laid before Parliament on 18 July 2014. The prohibitions relate to the trade in certain Syrian cultural goods where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the goods were removed from Syria on or after 9 May 2011 without consent of the legitimate owner or in breach of Syrian or international law.

    The import, export and dealing in illegally removed Iraqi cultural property is prohibited under The Iraq (United Nations Sanctions) Order 2003. While not specific to war situations, the Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act 2003 prohibits dealing in cultural objects illegally excavated or illegally removed from monuments or structures of historical, architectural or archaeological interest.

  • Tessa Munt – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Tessa Munt – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tessa Munt on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons NHS England is instructing hospitals with patients presenting as clinically urgent to treat such patients with innovative radiotherapy at the hospital’s financial risk while it decides whether to fund the patient; and how hospitals which have followed that instruction receive reimbursement for that expenditure if NHS England subsequently refuses to fund the treatment.

    Jane Ellison

    NHS England is an independent arm’s length body and since 1 April 2013, it has been responsible for commissioning all radiotherapy services, including stereotactic radiosurgery. Gamma Knife treatment has been available to all patients who meet clinical criteria, without the need for individual funding requests, under NHS England’s national clinical commissioning policies for specialised services.

    University College London Hospitals is not contracted by NHS England, nor was it contracted by former primary care trusts, to provide Gamma Knife services. It is for this reason that National Health Service patients cannot normally be treated at this facility. Instead, NHS patients requiring Gamma Knife treatment should be treated by the Gamma Knife services commissioned by the NHS, that have been shown to meet NHS England service specifications. These can be accessed by patients in London without a waiting time, fully maintaining the continuity of their care and normally with the same consultant and clinical team.

    All patients need to be treated in accordance with the prescribed clinical pathways and in line with contractual agreements with providers.

  • 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 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy that internal defibrillators be available on the NHS.

    Jane Ellison

    Implantable cardioverter defibrillators – internal defibrillators – are already available on the National Health Service.

    The decision about whether to implant a defibrillator into a patient is a clinical one which we would expect to take account of any relevant guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

  • Jonathan Evans – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Jonathan Evans – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Evans on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of regulated procedures conducted in Wales under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 2013 were carried out for (a) fundamental and applied studies other than toxicity and (b) toxicity tests or other safety and efficacy evaluation.

    Norman Baker

    During 2013 in Wales, regarding the number of regulated procedures under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA):
    (a) 36,010 involved mice, of which:
    (i) 18,886 involved genetically-modified animals
    (ii) 7,206 involved animals with a harmful genetic defect
    (b) 3,345 involved rats, of which:
    (i) 10 involved genetically-modified animals
    (ii) none involved animals with a harmful genetic defect
    (c) 24 involved guinea pigs, of which:
    (i) none involved genetically-modified animals
    (ii) none involved animals with a harmful genetic defect
    (d) none involved hamsters
    (e) 3 involved rabbits, of which:
    (i) none involved genetically-modified animals
    (ii) none involved animals with a harmful genetic defect
    (f) none involved horses and other equids
    (g) 396 involved sheep, of which:
    (i) none involved genetically-modified animals
    (ii) none involved animals with a harmful genetic defect
    (h) none involved pigs
    (i) 643 involved birds, of which
    (i) none involved genetically-modified animals
    (ii) none involved animals with a harmful genetic defect
    (j) 165 involved amphibians, of which
    (i) 9 involved genetically-modified animals
    (ii) none involved animals with a harmful genetic defect
    (k) none involved reptiles
    (l) 11,927 involved fish, of which:
    (i) none involved genetically-modified animals
    (ii) none involved animals with a harmful genetic defect
    (m) none involved cats
    (n) none involved dogs
    (o) none involved new world primates
    (p) none involved old world primates

    During 2013 in Wales, regarding the proportion of regulated procedures under ASPA in different types of designated establishment:
    (a) 2.8% (1,462) were performed in public health laboratories
    (b) 96.7% (50,826) were performed in universities and medical schools
    (c) none were performed in NHS hospitals
    (d) none were performed in Government Departments
    (e) none were performed in other public bodies
    (f) none were performed in non-profit making organisations
    (g) 0.5% (251) were performed in commercial organisations

    During 2013 in Wales, regarding the proportion of regulated procedures under ASPA:
    (a) all (52,539) were carried out for fundamental and applied studies other than toxicity.
    (b) none were carried out for toxicity tests or other safety and efficacy evaluation.

    In 2013 in Wales, regarding the number of animals used in regulated procedures under ASPA:
    (a) 18,707 genetically modified animals were used
    (b) 7,206 animals with a harmful genetic defect were used

    During 2013 in Wales, 59.3% (31,202) of regulated procedures under ASPA were undertaken without anaesthesia.

    During 2013 in Wales, 51,576 animals were used in regulated procedures under ASPA.

    During 2013 in Wales, 52,539 regulated procedures under ASPA were conducted