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Tag: 2015

  • Baroness Tonge – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Baroness Tonge – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2015-10-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what mechanisms are in place to ensure that Department for International Development policy and funding streams support integrated population, health and environment programmes.

    Baroness Verma

    Taking the new Global Goals as our starting point, a number of reviews are underway across DFID to ensure that DFID maintains a high quality and high impact development programme. We will report findings and programming recommendations over the coming months.

  • Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2015-09-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the report commissioned by the British Pakistan Christian Association, entitled Education, Human Rights Violations in Pakistan and the Scandal Involving UNHRC and Asylum Seekers in Thailand; and whether, in the light of this report, they plan to review the risk of the persecution of Christians in Pakistan and update their guidance document Pakistan: Christians and Christian Converts.

    Lord Bates

    The Home Office will be considering the report commissioned by the British Pakistani Christian Association alongside a range of other material to make a full assessment of the situation of Christians in Pakistan, and will revise its country information and guidance if necessary.

    The Home Office considers that the treatment of asylum seekers in Thailand is primarily a matter for the Thai authorities.

  • engineering and chemical sectors”; how many wells would be required to achieve such levels of investment and employment; and over what time period such levels would be achieved.” – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    engineering and chemical sectors”; how many wells would be required to achieve such levels of investment and employment; and over what time period such levels would be achieved.” – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by engineering and chemical sectors”; how many wells would be required to achieve such levels of investment and employment; and over what time period such levels would be achieved.” on 2015-09-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Prime Minister on 11 September (HC9076), on what evidence they base the statement that investment in shale could reach £33 billion and support 64

    Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

    EY’s 2014 report, ‘Getting Ready for UK Shale Gas: Supply chain and skills requirements and opportunities’ identifies that over the period of 2016–32 c.£33bn of spend could be required to bring up to 4,000 wells into production. At peak this equates to around £3.3bn of spend and some 64,500 jobs (6,100 of which are direct roles).

    The full report can be viewed at:

    http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/Getting_ready_for_UK_shale_gas/$FILE/EY-Getting-ready-for-UK-shale-gas-April-2014.pdf

    “

  • Lord Laird – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Lord Laird – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2015-09-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the amount of each year’s budget for the Northern Ireland Parades Commission since its establishment.

    Lord Dunlop

    The Parades Commission is responsible for the management of its own budget and, in line with the Public Processions Act (NI) 1998, it is also responsible for the publication of its Annual Report and Accounts. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is responsible for ensuring that the annual report is laid in Parliament. The total expenditure for the Parades Commission for each year since its establishment in 1998 is listed below:

    Financial Year (£000s)

    2015/16 810 (projected)

    2014/15 969

    2013/14 916

    2012/13 1,373

    2011/12 958

    2010/11 1,023

    2009/10 1,032

    2008/09 1,130

    2007/08 1,062

    2006/07 1,740

    2005/06 1,460

    2004/05 1,166

    2003/04 1,292

    2002/03 1,296

    2001/02 1,308

    2000/01 1,138

    1999/2000 1,055

    1998/99 1,147

  • Lord Scriven – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Lord Scriven – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Scriven on 2015-09-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to change the rules for public servants so that senior public officers who work during strikes do not get extra payments, as was the case with three senior officers of the South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service during strikes in 2014–15.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    Pay policy for members of staff is the responsibility of individual fire and rescue authorities.

    The Government is grateful to those members of staff who worked to ensure the safety of their communities during periods of strike action by members of the Fire Brigades Union.

  • Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb on 2015-09-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have sought, or intend to seek, funding outside their own resources (1) in Europe, and (2) globally, for a road-widening solution for the A303 that avoids the entire surface area of the Stonehenge part of the World Heritage Site by the use of a tunnel.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    The Road Investment Strategy is clear that the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down scheme involves a tunnel of at least 1.8 miles (2.9 kilometres). Highways England is in the early stage of scheme development, looking at options, including the length of tunnel. Consultation on options will take place in 2017 and will involve stakeholders, local residents, businesses, road users and interested parties.

    Highways England does not yet have reliable cost estimates for a 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometres), or 4.3 miles (7 kilometres) tunnel. This information would become available during the consideration of options. The A303/A30/A358 Corridor Feasibility Study indicated that the cost estimate for a 1.8 miles (2.9 kilometres) tunnel is in the range of £864m to £1321m.

    To date, Highways England has not sought funding outside of their own resources to fund a solution for the A303 past Stonehenge although this does not preclude them from considering other funding sources in the future.

  • Alan Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Alan Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2015-09-17.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of (a) the merits and (b) compatibility with European requirements of a carbon price support exemption scheme in Scotland; and by what process evaluation of that scheme was conducted.

    Damian Hinds

    Environmental protection is a devolved matter, and outstanding land restoration liabilities lie with the relevant local authorities and ultimately with the Scottish Government. The Treasury has fully considered the two proposals put to them for addressing the shortfall of land restoration on abandoned Scottish coal mines: an exemption from the Carbon Price Support (CPS) tax and a direct grant from the Exchequer. Following discussions with Hargreaves, the UK Coal Authority, the Scotland Office, the Scottish Government and DECC, the Treasury has had to decline both proposals after thorough consideration. The reasons for this include: – Addressing the shortfall in land restoration is not the responsibility of the UK Government. Environmental protection is a devolved matter, and outstanding land restoration liabilities lie with the relevant local authorities. – The proposals are unaffordable in the current fiscal climate. They would also set a precedent that would risk discouraging companies and local authorities from making proper financial provision for the cost of site restoration and future environmental liabilities. – A CPS exemption would be an inefficient means of addressing the shortfall of land restoration, as the money would not go directly towards this aim and it would incur significant administration costs. – A CPS exemption would distort the market by making non-exempt coal less competitive, and by discouraging investment in low carbon power generation. I have written to the Scottish Government’s Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism informing him of this decision and I would be happy to consider any other options put forward.

  • Gavin Newlands – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Gavin Newlands – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Newlands on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of how many people will benefit directly from the implementation of the national living wage.

    Nick Boles

    The Office for Budget Responsibility estimate that the National Living Wage will benefit 2.7 million low wage workers by 2020 – http://cdn.budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/July-2015-EFO-234224.pdf

    “

  • John Spellar – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    John Spellar – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Spellar on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department is making of the location to be chosen for the manufacture of the Army’s multi-terrain pattern uniforms.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has a number of contracts to supply Multi-Terrain Pattern clothing for the UK Armed Forces. The MOD is required to comply with all legislation and relevant Government policy. Subject to these conditions the MOD does not restrict the geographical location of manufacture, however, it does expect contractors to carry out regular and appropriate inspections to provide assurance that sub-contractors’ facilities and ways of working meet the MOD’s contracted terms.

  • Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Smith on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what representations her Department has received on amendments to the Hunting Act 2004.

    Rory Stewart

    The Government has received representations from a wide range of interested parties both for and against any repeal or amendment to the Hunting Act 2004.

    The measures proposed in the draft Hunting Act 2004 (Amendment) Order 2015 would not remove the ban on hunting. Given this we judged that more consultation would not have been likely to add to the information available to us.