UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: 2015

  • The Marquess of Lothian – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The Marquess of Lothian – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they made representations to the UN Human Rights Council in September for the establishment of an international investigation into the conduct of the conflict in Yemen, in the light of the recommendation for such an investigation by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    A resolution on Yemen was adopted by consensus at the last session of the UN Human Rights Council on 2 October. The Human Rights Council has no mandate to call for investigations into breaches of International Humanitarian Law, but the resolution does contain mechanisms for monitoring the human rights situation in Yemen. It calls on the UN to provide technical assistance to the Government of Yemen, assist the Yemeni National Independent Commission of Inquiry, and report back to the next session of the Human Rights Council. We remain deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Yemen and continue to work with all parties to find a political solution to the conflict. This will help create the conditions for the legitimate government to improve its capacity to protect human rights. The UK welcomes Yemen’s commitment to cooperate with the UN on protection of human rights.

  • Lord Ouseley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lord Ouseley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

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

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Prime Minister’s party conference speech, when and how they will provide details of policies and programmes aimed at achieving the elimination of inequalities in the United Kingdom.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    This government is determined to extend opportunity to everyone. We have announced a number of new initiatives that will help achieve equality of opportunity in the UK.

    On 25th October, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Women and Equalities announced new measures to eradicate gender pay inequality. The government now requires larger employers to publish information about their bonuses for men and women. We are also extending our plans for gender pay gap reporting to the public sector.

    On 26th October, the Prime Minister launched a public and private sector initiative to tackle discrimination in recruitment. A number of organisations, including KPMG, HSBC and Deloitte, together with the Civil Service and local government, have committed to using name-blind applications for all graduate and apprenticeship level roles.

    In addition, on 22nd October, the Home Secretary published diversity profiles on all police forces in England and Wales. These profiles showed that no force had a black and minority ethnic (BME) contingent equivalent to that of the local demographic. She has asked chief constables to use this information to help improve their recruitment, retention, and promotion of police officers from BME backgrounds.

  • Tulip Siddiq – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Tulip Siddiq – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether it is his policy that the Right to Buy extension for housing associations will apply to tenants whose properties were built exclusively with private finance.

    Brandon Lewis

    Under the agreement with the National Housing Federation, there will be a presumption that housing association tenants will have the right to purchase their home at Right to Buy level discounts.

    The agreement states that housing associations may exercise discretion over sales of properties provided through charitable or public-benefit resources or bequeathed for charitable or public-benefit purposes, and in the possession of the housing association before it became registered under the Housing Act 1974 (or later equivalent legislation).

  • Vernon Coaker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Vernon Coaker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress his Department has made on resolving the dispute between the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and its employees on that body’s pension scheme; and if he will make a statement.

    Mark Lancaster

    The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is a Royal Charter body and while we were consulted and in agreement with the Commission’s approach, its pension arrangements are ultimately a matter for the Commission’s senior management and the Trustees of the scheme.

    I understand the Commission has proposed the closure of its defined benefit pension scheme to future accrual in the face of rising costs. Following a period of consultation, the Commission is now considering the range of responses received but no decision has yet been taken.

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Andrew Gwynne – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much was paid in (a) year end and (b) in-year bonuses to officials of her Department in each of the last three years.

    George Eustice

    The table below sets out how much was paid to officials in the core-Department in end-year and in-year non-consolidated performance payments in each of the last three financial years.

    Financial Year

    End-year Payments

    In-Year Payments

    2012-13

    £898,447

    £167,490

    2013-14

    £1,359,640

    £250,423

    2014-15

    £1,002,359

    £298,028

    The amounts include end-year payments made to Senior Civil Servants and staff at Grade 6 and below and in-year payments made to staff at Grade 6 and below.

  • Sharon Hodgson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Sharon Hodgson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to address the availability of healthy and nutritious food for children during school holidays as part of its new obesity strategy.

    Jane Ellison

    Tackling obesity including improving diet and healthy food choices, particularly in children, is one of our major priorities. We will put forward our plans for action in this area in our childhood obesity strategy in the new year.

  • Chris Green – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chris Green – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Green on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many individual requests for cancer medicines have been made to the Cancer Drugs Fund in Bolton West constituency; how many patients received funding as a result of those requests; and how much the Cancer Drugs Fund allocated in respect of those patients.

    George Freeman

    This information is not collected centrally.

  • Gareth Thomas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Gareth Thomas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-10-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the safety of civilian flights at RAF Northolt; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    All commercial air transport operators are required to satisfy themselves that the aerodromes they use are adequate. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) regulates compliance with this requirement through its oversight of such operators.

    The CAA is reviewing certain aspects of the safety of operations at RAF Northolt. This review will conclude shortly and, if necessary, appropriate action could be taken in respect of civil operations.

    The CAA and the Ministry of Defence are also working on a memorandum of understanding which will allow the CAA to discharge its functions in respect of military aerodromes open to civil use. In particular, this will ensure that operators continue to have access to all necessary information to make an assessment of adequacy of a military aerodrome for the proposed flight.

    My officials have discussed RAF Northolt with the CAA on a number of occasions. I am satisfied that the CAA is taking appropriate steps to discharge its functions in respect of the safety of commercial air transport operations at the aerodrome.

  • Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2015-10-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they discussed with President Xi Jinping, during his visit to the United Kingdom, the selective relaxation of the one child policy in China, and the impact of that revised policy on families who have more than two children.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    China’s ‘one child’ policy was not raised during the recent State Visit, though the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), was very clear during his wide-ranging discussions with President Xi Jinping of the importance that the UK attaches to human rights as part of our wider relationship with China. Reforms announced by the Chinese Government on 29 October which should allow every Chinese family to have a second child, are a significant step.

  • Baroness Crawley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Baroness Crawley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Crawley on 2015-10-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether HM Revenue and Customs are undertaking any pilot programmes for tobacco control other than with the tobacco industry’s Codentify trading and tracing system.

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    HM Revenue and Customs are not piloting any tracking and tracing systems for tobacco control.

    HM Revenue and Customs are currently trialling Codentify as a product authentication system only.