Tag: 2015

  • Julian Lewis – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Julian Lewis – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Lewis on 2015-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which military facilities and administrative centres sited on the current footprint of the military port at Marchwood are not part of the sea-mounting role of the port; whether he plans to re-locate any of those facilities and administrative centres to other sites administered by his Department within the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The Marchwood transaction has been structured as a leasehold and concession to balance the Ministry of Defence (MOD)’s objectives of ensuring continued sea mounting operational capability against increased commercialisation of the port. To this end, the MOD has committed to move facilities that are not essential to these services, off the main Port area over a three to five year ‘transitional’ period, from the start of the concession.

    After this transition only MOD facilities associated with its maritime capability will remain on site: The Mexeflote Storage and Maintenance Facility and the Shipyard Workshop with 73 Training Squadron’s Maritime Store.

    By complying with the military’s storage requirements, the new Marchwood Port Operator will provide sufficient hardstanding for all military inward and outward cargo under both routine and contingent operations.

    The Sea Mounting Centre will continue to retain the ability to store and load ammunition for the military throughout the concession.

  • Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno on 2015-02-10.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many lorries registered overseas have been found to be (1) overloaded, (2) in an unsatisfactory mechanical condition, and (3) driven in breach of driver hours regulations, within the last 12 months.

    Baroness Kramer

    The information requested is in the table below:

    Overloading Weighed 2,308 Prohibited 1,415
    Mechanical Prohibitions Inspected 32,344 Prohibited 10,586
    Drivers Hours Examined 41,732 Prohibited 6,708

    On any given check it is often the case that the same vehicle is checked by a Vehicle Examiner and a Traffic Examiner and will be counted against both disciplines. Some vehicles/operators are targeted by only one discipline, for example: an older vehicle might be targeted for its condition but not to check on the driver.

  • Lord Hylton – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Hylton – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2015-02-10.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to increase the resources available to the United Kingdom Embassy in Tunis.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    Staffing resources at our Embassy in Tunis have more than doubled since the 2011 revolution. An additional staff member is due to deploy later this year. We plan to focus programme resources on areas where the UK can offer unique comparative advantage, coordinating with other partners to maximise effect. Programme Fund budgets for future Financial Years are yet to be confirmed.

  • Gerald Howarth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Gerald Howarth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gerald Howarth on 2015-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will investigate reports by parents of pupils at Grindon Hall Christian School and Durham Free School that complaints to Ofsted about age-inappropriate and religiously hostile questioning of their children by inspectors were not investigated.

    Mr David Laws

    Any complaints about the conduct of Ofsted inspectors are a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector. I understand that Ofsted is investigating matters raised by the schools and by some parents and will respond to these in due course.

  • Mark Williams – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Mark Williams – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2015-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has received an invitation to the Crans Montana Forum in Dakhla, occupied Western Sahara; and whether she plans to send a representative to that forum.

    Dan Rogerson

    An invitation to the Forum in Dakhla has not been received.

  • Douglas Carswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Douglas Carswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the long-run sustainability of the maternity unit at Clacton Hospital.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    Between May 2010 and November 2014, the number of midwives in England rose by 2,231 or 11.1% and the number of midwives in the East of England area rose by 380 or 20.5%.

    The provision of local health services is a matter for local National Health Service organisations. NHS North East Essex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), in collaboration with Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust, undertook a public consultation on the provision of maternity services locally, including the maternity unit at Clacton Hospital, from 15 October to 10 December 2014.

    The purpose of the consultation, called Right Start, is to improve upon the good care already provided and deliver services that are safe, clinically effective and provide a good patient experience. An independently chaired panel will meet on 27 February 2015 to receive the consultation analysis report and make a recommendation to the CCG and Trust boards. Whatever outcome is reached, the CCG and Trust aim to ensure women have a choice of where to have their babies.

    All NHS service changes should be led by clinicians and be in the best interests of patients, not driven from the top down. The Government has set out strengthened criteria that we expect any significant changes to NHS services to meet. Proposals should demonstrate support from clinical commissioners, strengthened public and patient engagement, clarity on the clinical evidence base and support for patient choice.

  • Kate Hoey – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Kate Hoey – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2015-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on consumer choice represented by the European Commission’s plans to bring forward the setting of maximum premitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements through the food supplements directive.

    Jane Ellison

    No discussions have yet taken place with Commissioner Andriukaitis. The new European Commission has not announced any renewed plans to implement Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive and the Government has not recently made an assessment of potential effects of maximum permitted levels of vitamins and minerals, either on consumer choice, or on British businesses. Our advice to United Kingdom manufacturers on safe daily dose levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements is based on the report of the UK’s Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals. The industry has supported the use of these levels and the report is also used by some other member states as advice for safe upper levels.

  • Laurence Robertson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Laurence Robertson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Laurence Robertson on 2015-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential cost to businesses of prohibiting the use of strong encryption; and if she will make a statement.

    James Brokenshire

    The Home Office have received a number of representations from members of the
    public on encryption. This Government supports the use of encryption, which
    helps keep personal data and intellectual property safe. It is also vital that
    the security and intelligence agencies can access unencrypted data to prevent
    threats to our national security, when it is necessary and proportionate to do
    so. We will continue to engage with industry regarding these issues.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andy Slaughter – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2015-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many incidents of use of force resulted in (a) minor and (b) serious injuries in each private prison in England and Wales in each year since 2010.

    Andrew Selous

    Unfortunately it has not been possible to fully extract the relevant data with regards to this question in the given timeframe. I will write to the Hon. Member when I am able to provide a response.

  • Alison McGovern – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Alison McGovern – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison McGovern on 2015-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the change in real terms of the cost of travelling by (a) private car, (b) bus, (c) train and (d) domestic air flight between (i) 2000 and 2010 and (ii) 2010 and 2014.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Department for Transport published statistics on travel costs, based on data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), in the Transport Statistics Great Britain compendium.

    Data from the independent ONS suggests that:

    (i) Between 2000 and 2010 the real cost of motoring, including the purchase of a vehicle, declined by 8%, bus and coach fares increased by 20% and rail fares increased by 15% in real terms.

    (ii) Between 2010 and 2014 the real cost of motoring, including the purchase of a vehicle, decreased by 5%, bus and coach fares increased by 2% and rail fares increased by 6% in real terms.

    (iii) The costs of travelling by air are not available from ONS data. However information is available based on fare data from the Civil Aviation Authority. The real cost of the average UK one-way air fare, including taxes and charges, covering domestic flights from 2000 to 2010 declined by 41% and from 2010 to 2013 declined by 4%, reflecting a range of factors including increased competition between airlines. Estimates for 2014 are not yet available.