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Tag: 2015

  • Sarah Champion – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Sarah Champion – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sarah Champion on 2015-10-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Wilson Doctrine has been consistently applied to the communications of the hon. Member for Rotherham; 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.

  • Jamie Reed – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Jamie Reed – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2015-10-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many requests he has received for an inquiry into benefit sanctions.

    Priti Patel

    We have interpreted this question to mean how many requests the Secretary of State has received for an inquiry into benefit sanctions since taking post.

    The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

  • Philip Davies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Philip Davies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2015-10-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons officials in his Department had discussions with Action on Smoking and Health on its grant application in June 2011; if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes and notes from those discussions; and what action was taken as a result of those discussions.

    Jane Ellison

    The 2011/12 Grant Award letter to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) set out the agreed objectives for the grant. The 2011/12 Grant Award letter has already been placed in the Library. Earlier drafts of applications for grant funding and additional supporting material are not published.

    It is normal practice for Departmental officials to discuss grant applications with the applicant. The application process is iterative to ensure the final objectives are in line with Departmental aims. A record of these discussions in 2011 is not available.

  • Tim Farron – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Tim Farron – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2015-10-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of Police and Crime Commissioners.

    Mike Penning

    Elected Police and Crime Commissioners are providing accountable, visible leadership, and making a real difference to policing locally. They are taking a lead role in driving collaboration between forces and with other emergency services to deliver more effective services and better value for money for the taxpayer.

  • Tim Farron – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Tim Farron – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2015-10-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that there are sufficient appropriately trained reserve forces to support regular service men and women to meet Force 2020 commitments.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    We have made a number of improvements to ensure we reach our target strength of 35,000 trained volunteer reservists by 31 March 2019. Central to this is an improved offer, which includes better training, better equipment, improved remuneration and an improved experience for reservists.

    We have also widened the opportunity for reservists to contribute on operations and established a new relationship with employers as well as improving the support available to employers when a reservist employee is mobilised.

    These actions are in addition to improving capacity and flow in the recruiting process and our marketing campaigns.

    As a result, more reservists are joining either as new entrants to the military or with prior experience either in the Regulars or in the Reserves. 8,370 joined in the 12 months to 1 September, a 70% rise on the equivalent period a year earlier and the trained strength has reached 25,720, ahead of target.

  • Margaret Ferrier – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Margaret Ferrier – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2015-10-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the efficacy of her Department’s procedures and adequacy of the end-to-end timescale in relation to applications for no time limit and biometric immigration documentation by someone who already has indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

    James Brokenshire

    There are no plans for a specific review of the administrative handling of immigration applications. UK Visas and Immigration is, however, committed to the principles of continuous improvement and to applying these to ensure processes are efficient and effective.

    The administrative requirements, and service standards, to which applicants for indefinite leave to remain are subject, are set out at www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/settle-in-the-uk. This information is reviewed regularly, with a view to ensuring it is as clear as possible.

  • Bill Esterson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Bill Esterson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bill Esterson on 2015-10-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs at risk in the supply chain and wider economy of Redcar as a result of the closure of the SSI steelworks.

    Anna Soubry

    There will undoubtedly be a significant impact on SSI’s supply chain and the local economy following its closure. That is why the Government has announced a package, worth up to £80m, to support the individuals affected and invest in the future of the Tees Valley economy.

    We are working with the local Task Force that Government established to understand the impacts of SSI’s closure, including on its supply chain and the Tees Valley economy, and develop tailored proposals to mitigate this.

    For example, a specific supply chain event has been organised by the Teesside Engineering Network (TEN) is being held on Friday 23rd October at Redcar and Cleveland Leisure and Community Heart.

  • Ben Howlett – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Ben Howlett – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ben Howlett on 2015-10-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to prevent price-fixing in service charges by providers of retirement homes.

    Brandon Lewis

    The law provides a framework of rights and protections for residential leaseholders where service charges and the management of their property are concerned.

    These rights allow leaseholders to hold their freeholder and managing agent to account. They include the right to be consulted about proposed major works and long term agreements, to challenge the reasonableness of service charge demands at an independent tribunal, to seek the appointment of a new manager and, in some cases. to take over the management of the block of flats where they live.

    Price-fixing is a serious matter and any evidence of this should be reported to the Competition and Markets Authority for consideration.

  • Alison McGovern – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Alison McGovern – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison McGovern on 2015-10-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether her Department took into account the global growth potential of solar energy in making its decision to end Government support for the UK solar sector.

    Andrea Leadsom

    We are currently consulting on revised rates under the Feed-in Tariff scheme, and our proposal includes tariffs that would continue to provide a reasonable rate of return for the best sited solar PV projects.

    We have additionally recently consulted on closing the Renewables Obligation to new solar PV projects of 5MW and below.

    In both cases, the tariffs under consultation and the Impact Assessments have been conducted including analysis of the global cost trajectory of solar panels, and other materials in the solar supply chain.

    The Impact Assessments for the FIT Review and RO Closure consultation can be found at:

    FIT Review Consultation: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-a-review-of-the-feed-in-tariff-scheme;

    RO Consultation: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-financial-support-for-solar-pv.

    “

  • Caroline Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Caroline Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-10-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 29 June 2015 to Question 4073, on what date the planned visit of President Sisi of Egypt to the UK will take place; and whether he plans to discuss the supply of military, security and police equipment with President Sisi during his visit.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) has invited President Sisi to the UK and the visit will take before the end of this year. Discussions will take place with President Sisi on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including trade and security.