Tag: 2015

Alex Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2015-11-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support his Department has provided to local authorities to improve air quality using liquid petroleum gas; and what further such support his Department has planned.

Andrew Jones

As part of a consultation in 2014 on amendments to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) the department considered the potential benefits of biopropane in delivering GHG savings. In recognition of this, the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation was subsequently amended to increase rewards for suppliers of that fuel from April 2015.

The department, working with the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, have evaluated a range of options for tackling poor air quality; this formed the basis of the Government’s draft air quality plans that recently went to public consultation. Switching to LPG can provide air quality benefits but may not be easily deployed in all vehicle types.

As part of the department’s 2014 Clean Vehicle Technology Fund (CVTF) grant scheme, Birmingham City Council were awarded £500,000 to enable the conversion of 80 older black cabs from diesel to LPG which will help improve air quality on some of the most polluted roads. There is a possibility of funding through the current CVTF grant scheme being used to support further LPG conversions in other areas.

We are considering many competing priorities across Government as part of the Spending Review, including measures to tackle air quality pollutants and reduce other harmful emissions. The outcome of the Spending Review will be announced later in the autumn.

The department regularly meets with motor manufacturers and their representative body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Discussions on how manufacturers can act to tackle poor air quality cover a range of measures.

January 1, 2023
Lord Rennard – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rennard on 2015-12-03.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have, if any, to reduce the costs of government special advisers.

Lord Bridges of Headley

I refer the Noble Lord to the Written Statement made on 17 December 2015, HLWS417, which I have attached for each of reference.

The attached list of Special Advisers sets out the names of the Special Advisers in post as of December 2015, each special adviser’s pay band, and actual salary (where this is higher than the Senior Civil Service entry-level salary), together with details of the total pay bill for 2014-15 and the estimate for 2015-16. The cost has fallen from last year, and the cost represents just 0.08 per cent of the Civil Service pay bill.

January 1, 2023
Kate Hoey – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2015-11-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when Jonathan Dart commenced his duties as head of the Libyan Reconciliation Unit; when lawyers representing victims of terrorist attacks committed using Semtex supplied by Libya were advised of his appointment; on what dates Mr Dart met those lawyers (a) first and (b) subsequently; and what other contact Mr Dart has had with those lawyers.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Jonathan Dart commenced his duties in December 2014. There was no official announcement or notification. Mr. Dart continues to engage widely with victims and victims’ representatives.

January 1, 2023
Lord Storey – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Storey on 2015-12-03.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Tier 4 licences for non-EU students are audited annually.

Lord Bates

The number of Tier 4 licensed sponsors audited from 1 January to 30 September 2015 was 286. In the calendar year 2014 there were 383 .

January 1, 2023
David Burrowes – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Burrowes on 2015-11-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will support the establishment of a full, international, independent investigation by the UN into claims of genocide against the Rohingya in Burma.

Mr Hugo Swire

The UK deplores the treatment of the Rohingya community in Rakhine State, who are subject to persecution and denied the most basic rights. We welcome the work of the highly effective UN Special Rapporteur on Burma, who has shone a spotlight on violations against the Rohingya in Rakhine. She has not characterised the treatment of the Rohingya as genocide, and neither did the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide in his 4 November statement on Burma’s elections. However, any judgement on whether genocide has occurred is a matter for international judicial decision, rather than for governments or non-judicial bodies. A UN investigation would require high level international support for which, we assess, there is little prospect of agreement at this stage. Our approach is to seek an end to all violations, irrespective of whether or not they fit the definition of specific international crimes. I and other British Government Ministers take every appropriate opportunity, both publicly and in private, to press the Burmese authorities to take urgent steps to address the situation of the Rohingya. I did this with senior Burmese Ministers during my visit to Burma in July, when I travelled to Rakhine State for the second time. Most recently, I raised the issue with the Burmese Foreign Minister, Wunna Maung Lwin, in September in New York. After the 8 November elections, the UK will continue our efforts to address the serious ongoing human rights violations against the Rohingya in Rakhine State.

January 1, 2023
Lord Beecham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2015-12-02.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 1 December (HL3877), whether they plan to compile data relevant to the assessment of whether Work Capability Assessment tests are connected to the incidence of suicide or mental health problems in disability benefit claimants, and to make that data publicly available; and if not, why not.

Lord Freud

The Department does not hold the relevant information required and we have no plans to collect such information.

January 1, 2023
George Kerevan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Kerevan on 2015-11-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress he has made on and what the timescale is for implementation of a Horserace Betting Right as a replacement for the Horserace Betting Levy.

Tracey Crouch

Work is continuing on the detailed policy design of the Horserace Betting Right.

January 1, 2023
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb on 2015-12-02.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the scientific evidence regarding the incidence of cancer in those living near nuclear reactors and large spikes in radioactive gaseous emissions during the refuelling of those reactors.

Lord Prior of Brampton

The Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) are reviewing the scientific evidence of certain cancer incidences around specific nuclear sites based on the recommendations from the 4th and 11th COMARE reports. This report will review all recent evidence that has been published since the previous reports, as judged relevant by COMARE. COMARE is a Departmental expert advisory committee that provides independent advice to government on the health effects of natural and man-made radiation.

January 1, 2023

Natalie McGarry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Natalie McGarry on 2015-11-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he he has made of the proportion of Government expenditure on pension credit which falls within the carer addition element of that credit in (a) the UK, (b) Scotland, (c) Glasgow and (d) Glasgow East constituency in the 2015-16 financial year.

Justin Tomlinson

Forecasts of expenditure as a result of the carer addition element of Pension Credit for 2015/16 are not available. However, estimates of the outturn expenditure (as a result of the carer addition element of Pension Credit) in 2014/15 are shown in the table below.

Tables show expenditure for Great Britain, not the UK, as expenditure in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of Northern Ireland Executive.

Pension Credit expenditure as a result of the carer addition, 2014/15	£, million	…as a percentage of total pension credit expenditure in that area
Great Britain	£364.7	5.5%
Scotland	£39.6	6.7%
Glasgow (City)	£6.4	5.9%
Glasgow East (constituency)	£1.8	9.4%

January 1, 2023

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

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rana on 2015-12-02.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action the new Commonwealth counter-extremism unit will take to tackle extremism.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We are committed to tackling extremism and radicalisation. A number of Commonwealth countries face significant challenges. The Commonwealth Secretariat has done some work in this area but additional capacity is required to coordinate the sharing of expertise and support efforts to counter the causes of radicalisation. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), announced UK funding of £5m over 5 years to establish a Counter-Extremism and Counter Radicalisation Unit in the Commonwealth Secretariat. Setting up a new unit recognises that Commonwealth countries must work together to counter extremist ideologies and build their counter extremism capabilities. The unit will:

•Provide technical assistance to governments developing counter-extremism strategies.

•Mobilise Commonwealth civil society networks to counter radicalisation through targeted counter-narratives and strategic communication training.

•Enable Commonwealth members to meet their international counter extremism obligations. There is a demand from Commonwealth countries for support in implementing international counter extremism obligations (e.g. in relation to UNSCR 2178.).

We will work closely with the Commonwealth Secretariat, Commonwealth members and key stakeholders to ensure that UK funding supports the work of countries across the Commonwealth to tackle the threat of extremism.

January 1, 2023