Tag: 2014

  • Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Lord Storey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Storey on 2014-03-06.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government which former Prime Ministers have been given public duty cost allowances; how much those allowances were; and which specific and itemised duties they performed.

    Lord Wallace of Saltaire

    The amounts paid in 2011-12 and 2012-13 are as follows:

    2011/12

    Gordon Brown

    £114,998.17

    Baroness Thatcher

    £109,191.00

    John Major

    £115,000.00

    Tony Blair

    £115,000.00

    2012/13

    John Major

    £114,996.00

    Gordon Brown

    £100,315.68

    Baroness Thatcher

    £74,087.76

    Tony Blair

    £115,000.00

    The current limit for the PDCA is £115,000. The limit is reviewed on an annual basis.

    Former Prime Ministers will continue to receive the PDCA if they are a sitting MP, provided they are not serving as Leader of the Opposition.

    Claims are processed by the Cabinet Office and form part of the annual audit of Cabinet Office expenditure.

    All former Prime Ministers are provided with guidance on the PDCA. A copy of this has been placed in the Library of the House.

  • Douglas Alexander – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Douglas Alexander – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Alexander on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on extending the deadline for agreeing a P5+1 comprehensive nuclear deal with Iran.

    Mr William Hague

    The UK, like the rest of the E3+3, remains strongly committed to reaching a comprehensive agreement with Iran by 20 July. The Geneva interim deal is renewable by mutual consent. It is important that Iran addresses our concerns and agrees to limit its nuclear activity without delay.

  • The Lord Bishop of Coventry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The Lord Bishop of Coventry – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry on 2014-03-27.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the independence of the judiciary in Egypt.

    Baroness Warsi

    The new Egyptian constitution, adopted in January 2014, states that the judicial system is independent, and allows the judiciary its own budget, and to appoint the Prosecutor General and members of the Supreme Constitutional Court. We do however have some concerns over recent judicial decisions, including the sentencing to death of 529 people in Minya on 24 March. Reports that many of the defendants were tried in their absence and may not have been represented properly are deeply troubling. We have been urging the Egyptian authorities to ensure that the rights of defendants are fully respected in all cases.

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Joint Strike Fighter 35-B will be equipped with a collision warning system.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The F-35 has a limited collision warning system in its early capability block which is supplemented by advanced sensors and software to provide pilots with a much higher level of situational awareness than on our existing platforms. The full ground and air collision warning system is under development and planned and funded for integration into the aircraft in line with its introduction into UK service.

  • The Earl of Dundee – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The Earl of Dundee – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Earl of Dundee on 2014-03-27.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what current plans they have to enhance stability and democracy in Bosnia Herzegovina.

    Baroness Warsi

    The United Kingdom continues to be deeply committed to enhancing stability and democracy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The UK is a strong supporter of European Union Force (EUFOR) Operation Althea’s maintenance of the safe and secure environment in BiH, and is proud of its contributions in theatre, and through a reserve company, 1 Scots. Our support for BiH’s policing has led to our contributing to establishing a trilateral Police Cooperation Centre (PCC) in Trebinje, resulting in more efficient and effective actions being taken between law enforcement agencies in the region. UK Ministers and officials have made clear to BiH’s leaders their responsibility for ensuring that their public rhetoric is not inflammatory or ethnically divisive.

    Following the recent protests, we have made clear to BiH’s leaders that they need to respond to the population’s legitimate desire for change, most recently when the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), met the BiH Presidency and Foreign Minister on 27 March. During his recent visit the Foreign Secretary met representatives of civil society and plenums and expressed our support to widen the political space in BiH so as to allow citizens to hold politicians to account.

    Part of our work to widen the political space is the recent British BiH Fellowship Programme. A one-month residential programme in the UK designed to equip BiH’s future leaders with the skills and experience to lead positive change in their country.

    The Foreign Secretary also announced continuing UK assistance for BiH’s path towards EU membership, in the form of new funding to foster democratic governance in Bosnia by strengthening the judiciary, civil society organisations, governance and supporting BiH’s EU accession process. Specific examples include political and financial support focused on strengthening the State Court and State Prosecutor’s Office, which will improve the operation of Rule of Law systems in BiH.

    In addition, the UK supports the activities of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), whose work in BiH has focused on equipping local non-governmental organisations with the skills they need to provide effective evidence for parliamentary committees. WFD has done valuable work with BiH’s Parliament to raise awareness of the value of such committees. This has influenced positively the formation of legislation, and opened up the process of law-making to public scrutiny, while promoting citizen participation in the democratic process.

  • Andrew Stephenson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Andrew Stephenson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Stephenson on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the mortality rate from cancer has been in (a) Pendle constituency, (b) East Lancashire and (c) the North West in each of the last 15 years.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

  • Mr Laurence Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Mr Laurence Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Laurence Robertson on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2014, Official Report, column 358W, on land drainage, for what reasons responsibility for maintaining balancing tanks and sustainable urban development systems is to be given to county or unitary authorities rather than to local planning authorities; and if he will make a statement.

    Dan Rogerson

    County and unitary authorities are the lead local flood authorities for their areas.

  • Peter Luff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Peter Luff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Luff on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the status and importance of design and technology at Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and post-16; and if he will make a statement.

    Elizabeth Truss

    Design and Technology (D&T) is an important subject that can inspire young people to pursue careers in engineering and manufacturing. Ofsted’s 2011 report ‘Meeting technological challenges’ found:

    “Most pupils in the primary and secondary schools visited enjoyed designing and making products and gained much satisfaction in acquiring technical skills and in seeing their ideas take shape.”

    During the review of the national curriculum, the Government consulted industry representatives, such as Dyson and Royal Academy of Engineering, teachers, subject associations and D&T specialists to ensure the new D&T curriculum is relevant to the modern world. We have strengthened the technological aspects of the subject by including new and emerging technologies, placed greater emphasis on links with STEM subjects to provide a context for their practical application and we are also reforming D&T GCSE and A levels to include more rigorous content and build on the changes made to the curriculum. The new qualifications will be more ambitious, with greater stretch for the most able and prepare young people better for the demands of employment and further study.

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Deputy Prime Minister

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Deputy Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-03-26.

    To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2014, Official Report, columns 509-10W, on the Electoral Register, with which national organisations his Department is working to encourage people to register to vote.

    Greg Clark

    Five national organisations have received funding as part of the Government’s measures to maximise voter registration.

    The Government is working with a number of other groups such as the British Youth Council and Operation Black Vote.

  • Jim Dobbin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Jim Dobbin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Dobbin on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Attorney General, what the terms of reference are for the investigation by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) into GlaxoSmithKline (GSK); whether the SFO will investigate (a) GSK’s activities within the UK, (b) allegations of bribery of UK doctors, (c) promotion of Seroxat prescribing for children and (d) the 2002 CSM Expert Working Group on the safety of SSRI antidepressants; and whether there is a point of contact for members of the public who wish to help the SFO investigation.

    Mr Dominic Grieve

    The Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) recently announced that he has opened a criminal investigation into the commercial practices of GlaxoSmithKline plc and its subsidiaries. The SFO investigation will follow the evidence and it is not appropriate to comment whilst enquiries are continuing.

    A press release regarding GlaxoSmithKline and information on how to contact the SFO can be found on its website at www.sfo.gov.uk

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