Tag: 2015

  • Lord Beecham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Lord Beecham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2015-11-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many magistrates have resigned from 1 April to 1 November, and how many resigned during the same period in 2014.

    Lord Faulks

    The information requested is provided in the tables below:

    Resignations

    1 Apr. – 1 Nov. 2015

    1 Apr. – 1 Nov. 2014

    584

    606

    Percentage breakdown of resignations since 1 April 2015

    Age

    Ethnicity

    Gender

    >30yrs

    31-40yrs

    41-50yrs

    51-60yrs

    61-70yrs

    White / BAME*

    Male / Female

    >1%

    4%

    11%

    21%

    63%

    91% / 9%

    52% / 48%

    * BAME = Black and Minority Ethnic

  • Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2015 to Question 17682, what the cost per trainee is of the Eagle training scheme at (a) Force Development Training Centre (FDTC) Bavaria, (b) FDTC Grantown-on-Spey, (c) FDTC Danesford/Weston on the Green/Halton and (e) overseas Eagles; and what the location is of the overseas Eagles training.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    The highest priority for UK based Force Development Training Centres (FDTC) is the delivery of Phase One and Phase Two formal training. The EAGLEs training scheme makes use of any irreducible spare capacity. Therefore, costs for EAGLEs training at UK based FDTCs cannot be separated out from overall training costs at those centres.

    For Financial Year 2015-16:

    EAGLEs training at FDTC Bavaria has a fixed cost per person estimated at £488.00.

    The current projection for the planned 600 places for overseas EAGLEs training is £587.00 per person.

    Overseas Eagles training is carried out in Austria, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden and Norway.

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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Naseby on 2015-11-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government which rebel groups in Syria are recognised and supported by the UK.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    We support several moderate opposition groups in Syria who we would want to see involved in a political process. We define these groups in terms of ideology and tactics: moderates are liberal, secular or Islamist in their political outlook, call for a wider pluralistic system that respects the rights of all Syrians and reject terrorism and terrorist tactics, for example by seeking to protect civilians from harm and to prevent abuses. Several moderate opposition groups refer to themselves as being part of the Free Syrian Army. The UK does not support designated terrorist organisations in Syria or groups who use terrorist tactics, such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and Jabhat al Nusra, which are designated terrorist organisations under the UN al Qaeda sanctions regime.

  • Caroline Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Caroline Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what information she holds on the number of countries calling for a commitment to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees; what the Government’s policy is on limiting the long-term global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees; and if she will make a statement.

    Andrea Leadsom

    A number of countries are calling for a commitment to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees, most notably through a new group called the Climate Vulnerables Forum. The Government supports the ‘below 2 degrees’ objective, and recognises the need to keep the temperature rise as low as possible below 2C, including the possibility of staying below 1.5 degrees. We are pushing for the highest possible mitigation ambition in the new agreement.

  • Lord Laird – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Lord Laird – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2015-11-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they believe that some parts of the UK require different human rights legislation to others; and if so, why and what are the different rights.

    Lord Faulks

    The government is committed to protecting human rights across the United Kingdom, continuing the UK’s proud tradition of respect for human rights. There is, of course, already some variation in the legal framework for human rights across the UK, as the devolved administrations have competence to legislate in respect of human rights in the policy areas which are devolved to them.

    The government was elected with a mandate to reform the UK’s human rights framework. We will consider the implications of a Bill of Rights on devolution as we develop our proposals. We will, of course, fully engage with the devolved administrations.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2015 to Question 14443, what sources of funding which are not from the Government are available for the resettlement of Chagossians in the Chagos Archipelago.

    James Duddridge

    Following the conclusion of a 12 week public consultation on the resettlement of the British Indian Ocean Territory on 27 October, the Government is now considering the responses. As part of that work we are aware of the existence of options including EU and private sector funding to reduce any potential upfront cost to the UK taxpayer of any resettlement. No decision has yet been made about whether to allow a resettlement, and because of that, no discussions have yet been had with any external funding organisations. In any decision, it is important we take into account the high cost associated with resettlement but also the open-ended liabilities it could incur and the need for the military facility on Diego Garcia to continue to operate unhindered.

  • Seema Malhotra – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Seema Malhotra – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-11-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps the Government is taking to increase the access to finance of small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to export.

    Anna Soubry

    UK Export Finance (UKEF) has established a cadre of Export Finance Advisors based around the UK so exporters can access advice locally where they are seeking finance for export transactions which they are unable to obtain from the private market.

    UKEF offers products to assist SME exporters in such circumstances where the risks are acceptable, including an Export Working Capital Scheme. It is looking to enhance its products using new Statutory powers that came into force earlier in 2015. It is also planning to improve accessibility to those products delivered through banks and simplify documentation, including application forms and associated processes, where appropriate, by digital means, that should help speed-up decision-taking and response times.

    The Government is currently consulting on simplifying the anti-bribery Declarations and Undertakings exporters are required to provide UKEF. UKEF liaises with the British Business Bank to ensure each other’s products are complementary and fill gaps in the provisions of support where this is unavailable from the private market.

  • Ian Blackford – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Ian Blackford – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Blackford on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of guidance from the General Medical Council on the personal liability taken on by medical professionals when prescribing off-label on the rate of off-label prescribing.

    George Freeman

    The Government has made no such assessment and has not had discussions with the General Medical Council (GMC) on amending their guidance related to the prescription of off-label drugs and subsequent personal liability. The GMC is responsible for the assessment of its national guidance and this is kept under review as part of GMC’s normal internal governance arrangements.

    As part of its response to the Off-Patent Drugs Bill, the Government has discussed a range of issues around off-label prescribing with a wide range of stakeholders, including the GMC. Working with the Department of Health, the GMC has recently published a Hot Topic on ‘Prescribing unlicensed medicines.’ This on-line tool explains GMC’s prescribing guidance and assures doctors of the clinical appropriateness of unlicensed and off-label prescribing. A copy of this is available at:

    http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/28349.asp

  • Mrs Cheryl Gillan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Mrs Cheryl Gillan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mrs Cheryl Gillan on 2015-11-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will publish the television advertising schedule and list the television channels being used for the Great Britain campaign; and if he will estimate the cost of (a) producing the commercials for that campaign and (b) each television advertising slot by time and date of broadcast.

    Anna Soubry

    The commercials are being shown on a wide variety of channels to reach the broadest spread of British businesses, including ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and satellite channels. Individual advertising spots are confirmed with broadcasters a few days prior to broadcast. The average cost of producing a commercial is £48,000 and to date 18 have been produced.

  • Julie Cooper – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Julie Cooper – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Cooper on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many children in (a) Burnley and (b) Lancashire have mothers who are serving prison sentences.

    Caroline Dinenage

    The specific information requested is not held. However, the Ministry of Justice has recently published statistics on child dependents of female offenders. These statistics can be located at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/female-offenders-and-child-dependents