Tag: 2015

  • Ian Murray – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Ian Murray – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2015-11-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what provisions she plans to make for onshore wind projects that have achieved everything technically, been granted planning permission, and have grid connection contract but are outside the grace period and are contracts for difference (CFD); and whether she plans a CFD for those projects.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Government was elected with a commitment to end new subsidies for onshore wind and to change the law so that local people have the final say on onshore windfarm applications. Government support is designed to help technologies stand on their own two feet, not encourage reliance on subsidies. Officials are considering how we use the tools available under the CFD to implement this commitment and will set out our plans in due course.

  • Fiona Bruce – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Fiona Bruce – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2015-12-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many victims of human trafficking have been identified and their identities subsequently forwarded to the police as a result of people calling the NSPCC human trafficking and slavery helpline between July 2014 and June 2015.

    Karen Bradley

    I refer my Hon. Friend to my response of 11 November 2015 [14823]. Between 31 July 2014 and 31 July 2015 849 contacts were made to the NSPCC-run modern slavery helpline and of these 272 referrals were made to the police. The Home Office does not maintain a record of how many victims were identified as a result of these referrals.

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-11-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions the Government with the EU on charges for quarry spaces and pest control.

    Rory Stewart

    No discussions have been held with the EU about changes to the protection of quarry and pest control species.

  • Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-12-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average waiting time is on prison visit booking lines (a) in each prison and (b) overall.

    Andrew Selous

    This information is not held centrally.

  • Alex Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Alex Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2015-11-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on the use of lead ammunition on land owned by the Government.

    Rory Stewart

    The Government is considering the independent Lead Ammunition Group’s report on the effect of lead shot on human and wildlife health and will respond as soon as possible.

    The Food Standards Agency has produced advice on the consumption of lead shot game which can be accessed at https://www.food.gov.uk/science/advice-to-frequent-eaters-of-game-shot-with-lead.

  • Jonathan Reynolds – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jonathan Reynolds – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Reynolds on 2015-12-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how Rail North will work with existing transport bodies in the area in which it operates.

    Andrew Jones

    Rail North consists of Rail North Ltd (RNL) a company limited by guarantee and the Association of Rail North Partner Authorities ("the Association").The Association consists of 29 local transport authorities (including combined authorities and PTEs, county councils and unitary district councils). Its main function is to develop and oversee the implementation of a long-term rail strategy for the North; it also acts as a forum for liaison with Transport for the North on rail issues.

    All member authorities of the Association are members of RNL, which is run by a Board of eleven elected councillors appointed by the member authorities on a geographical basis. However, important strategic and financial issues require the approval of the membership.These governance arrangements therefore provide all 29 local transport authorities a full opportunity to engage with Rail North on important rail issues affecting their area.

  • Alex Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Alex Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2015-11-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to reduce public exposure to lead in the food chain.

    Jane Ellison

    Government set up the independent Lead Ammunition Group in 2010 to provide advice on risks to wildlife and human health from lead shot game. The Government is considering the independent Lead Ammunition Group’s report on the effect of lead shot on human and wildlife health and will respond as soon as possible The Food Standards Agency (FSA) accepts the expert advice of the UK Committee on Toxicity and the European Food Safety Authority that it is not possible to set a safe level for exposure to lead from food. However, to better understand the potential risk to UK consumers the FSA produced a risk assessment in 2012 based on its survey data from 2007 of game meat samples; Veterinary Medicines Directorate data from the national surveillance scheme was also considered. The FSA risk assessment considered the potential levels of exposure to lead from lead shot game for adults, children and toddlers based on different levels of game meat consumption.

    This risk assessment led to FSA issuing targeted advice to frequent consumers of lead shot game in 2012, warning of the potential risks. The advice was promoted as especially important for vulnerable groups such as toddlers and children, pregnant women and women trying for a baby, as exposure to lead can harm the developing brain and nervous system. The FSA risk assessment was published along with this advice. The Government has not estimated the number of people who regularly consume game meat shot with lead.

    More generally, the FSA, works on behalf of the UK within the European Union to agree harmonised controls to reduce public exposure to lead in the food chain. EU maximum limits apply for lead in a range of foods and these are regularly reviewed by the EU Commission and member states. These maximum limits apply to all food produced in the EU or imported to the EU.

  • Louise Haigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Louise Haigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2015-12-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how agreement was sought on how to amend the investment regulations as recommended in the report by the Law Commission, Fiduciary Duties of Investment Intermediaries, published in June 2014.

    Justin Tomlinson

    Between February and April 2015, the Government consulted on amending the Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment) Regulations in line with the Law Commission’s recommendations. 47 responses were received, from a variety of organisations. While these responses demonstrated some support for changing the regulations, having considered the range of responses the Government concluded that there was not a compelling case to amend these regulations.

  • Mark Pritchard – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Mark Pritchard – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2015-11-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the UK’s contribution to the EU Strategy on Citizen Security in Central America and the Caribbean is for 2014-15.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    The United Kingdom supports the EU Strategy on Citizen Security in Central America and the Caribbean, which is aligned with our own bilateral efforts and priorities. The United Kingdom has been actively involved in negotiations to develop both the Strategy and subsequent delivery-focused Action Plan. The United Kingdom’s contribution to the delivery of the Strategy in 2014-15 is reflected in our contribution to the EU Annual Budget (15.7% in2015), and in ensuring that UK and EU activities in the region are complementary.

  • Lord Falconer of Thoroton – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Lord Falconer of Thoroton – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 2015-12-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many offenders who are foreign nationals are currently serving a sentence for murder or manslaughter in prisons in England and Wales.

    Lord Faulks

    Foreign criminals who break our laws should be properly punished but not at the expense of the British taxpayer.

    In the last year we have returned more than 5,000 foreign prisoners to their home country. Prisoner transfer agreements are just one way the Government can remove these criminals from the United Kingdom.

    As at 30 September 2015, there were 732 foreign nationals serving a sentence for murder or manslaughter in prisons in England and Wales.