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Tag: 2015

  • Guto Bebb – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Guto Bebb – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Guto Bebb on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on the involvement of Palestinian terror groups in the recent violence in Israel and the West Bank.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    While it appears that the majority of the attacks seen in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in recent weeks have been carried out by individuals, without direct organisation from political or terrorist groups, we have seen media reports of Palestinian terrorist groups claiming responsibility for some recent attacks, praising attacks, and appearing to incite further violence. We condemn all the terrorist attacks, as I made clear in the House on 20 October, and in my statement on 13 October.

  • Byron Davies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Byron Davies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Byron Davies on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Palestinian Authority on the recent violence in Israel and the West Bank.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    Since the start of the current violence we have spoken regularly to both the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government, urging them to use their influence to de-escalate the tensions. The most recent discussion with the Palestinian Authority was on 9 October when the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) spoke to President Abbas about the violence. On 8 October, our Consul General in Jerusalem raised our concerns in his meetings with President Abbas’ political adviser, Majdi Khaldi; Palestinian chief negotiator and Secretary-General of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, Sa’eb Erekat; and the Palestinian Chief of Police, Hazem Attallah.

  • Steve McCabe – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Steve McCabe – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department has made an assessment of the desirability of including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease on the long-term prescription list.

    George Freeman

    We have not made an assessment of the desirability of including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease on the list of medical exemptions which provide exemption from prescription charges.

    Other exemption arrangements are in place, in England, based on age and income, to support those who cannot afford to pay for their prescriptions. Additionally, for those who need multiple prescriptions and do not qualify for exemption, Prescription Prepayment Certificates (PPC) can be purchased, which allow someone to claim as many prescriptions as needed. A 12 month PPC costs £104 and benefits anyone who needs 13 or more prescriptions a year.

  • Rushanara Ali – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Rushanara Ali – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rushanara Ali on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will estimate the number of junior doctors who may leave the UK to work abroad as a result of the introduction of a new contract by the Government.

    Ben Gummer

    Many junior doctors spend a period of time working abroad before returning to complete their training in the National Health Service. This is something that can bring benefits back to the NHS. A final contract offer has not yet been made to junior doctors, but there will be no provisions designed to provide reason to increase the numbers of junior doctors working abroad.

    The proposals for contract reform are about introducing a more professional and fairer contract for junior doctors that supports patient care, and supports doctors through their training. My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State, in his letter of 8 October to Dr Johann Malawana, Chair of the junior doctors Committee of the British Medical Association (BMA), set out a series of cast iron guarantees for Junior Doctors about the reforms. The letter outlined his ambition to reduce, not increase, the number of hours junior doctors work, and committed to stronger safeguards to protect doctors and patients.

    It also guaranteed that no savings will be made from the contract and that average pay will be maintained, and outlined how the Department wants Health Education England and the Royal Colleges to work with the BMA and NHS Employers to look at how the training experience can be improved.

  • Helen Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Helen Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Wilson Doctrine has been consistently applied to the communication of the hon. Member for Warrington North since her election; and whether that hon. Member has been subject to surveillance.

    Mr John Hayes

    The Government’s position on the Wilson Doctrine was set out by the Prime Minister in a written ministerial statement made on 4 November 2015.

    As the Prime Minister made clear, the Wilson Doctrine has never been an absolute bar to the targeted interception of the communications of Members of Parliament or an exemption from the legal regime governing interception. The Doctrine recognised that there could be instances where interception might be necessary.

    The Prime Minister announced that as matter of policy the PM will be consulted should there ever be a proposal to target any UK Parliamentarian’s communications under a warrant issued by a Secretary of State. This applies to Members of Parliament, members of the House of Lords, the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Welsh Assembly and UK members of the European Parliament. It applies to all activity authorised by a warrant issued by a Secretary of State: any instance of targeted interception and, electronic surveillance and equipment interference, when undertaken by the Security and Intelligence Agencies. This is in addition to the rigorous safeguards already in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and the Code of Practice issued under it which set out a series of robust safeguards for any instance of interception.

    It is long standing policy of successive Governments neither to confirm nor deny any specific activity by the Security and Intelligence Agencies. Under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 it is an offence for anyone to identify an individual interception warrant or an individual interception that takes place.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2015 to Question 11759, if he will place a copy of the report compiled by EY in connection with changes to Network Rail in the Library.

    Claire Perry

    The work referenced in Question 11759 was commissioned in order to inform a range of policy options. This work is ongoing, and therefore we will not be placing it in the House Library.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make provision for a dedicated email address by which hon. Members can raise constituents’ concerns on tax credit claims.

    Damian Hinds

    HMRC runs three hotlines to help MPs – and their staff – deal quickly and efficiently with constituent issues and concerns. These include a dedicated hotline on Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit: 03000 135001, which is available from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. MPs can also email constituents’ queries on tax credits claims to HMRC’s Ministerial Correspondence team. It can be contacted at the following address: correspondence-team.mincom@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.

    “

  • Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2015-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will report on progress with the 100,000 Genomes Project.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    Almost 10,000 people have been involved in the 100,000 Genomes Project so far,with more joining through the NHS Genomic Medicine Centres each day.The Project will sequence 100,000 whole genomes from around 70,000 people.Cancer patients have their genome and the genome of their cancer sequenced. Rare disease patients have their genome sequenced as do two of their blood relatives.

    As at 12 October 5,234 whole genomes had been sequenced and added to the data centre.Substantial progress has been made across all aims of the project including the establishment of 11 NHS Genomics Medicine Centres who are actively recruiting participants and the first rare disease patients being diagnosed.

    Regular updates on the 100,000 Genomes Project including the total number of genomes sequenced are published on Genomics England’s website:

    www.genomicsengland.co.uk

    “

  • Lord Laird – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Laird – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2015-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in each year since 1995, how many passports have been issued by the appropriate office in Belfast.

    Lord Bates

    I refer to the attached table which provides by calendar year the volume of passport applications issued by the Belfast office from 2005 to 2014. Her Majesty’s Passport Office does not hold readily available data prior to 2005 and the cost of extracting this data would be disproportionate.

    Year

    Number of passports processed by Belfast Office

    2005

    359,224

    2006

    336,306

    2007

    364,821

    2008

    341,898

    2009

    370,622

    2010

    364,688

    2011

    408,628

    2012

    427,422

    2013

    433,530

    2014

    628,528

  • The Marquess of Lothian – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The Marquess of Lothian – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2015-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government (1) how many Syrian opposition fighters have been trained by British military personnel since January 2015, (2) what military equipment has been supplied to them and by whom, and (3) how many are actively involved in military operations at this time.

    Earl Howe

    Since January 2015, 268 Syrian opposition fighters have been trained at sites where British military personnel are training. Of these 268, 180 have completed their training and the majority of that number have returned to Syria. The 88 who left prior to completing their training were either removed for disciplinary reasons or opted out of the programme. Whilst they might not all have been specifically trained by a British trainer, it is likely that most had interaction with a member of a British training team at some point during their tenure.

    The UK has not supplied military equipment to the Syrian opposition fighters. We do not comment on the provision of equipment by other coalition partners.

    We cannot say with certainty how many of the trained Syrian opposition fighters are actively involved in military operations.