Tag: 2015

  • Nicholas Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Nicholas Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what governance and accountability arrangements are proposed for the North East Investment Fund.

    Greg Hands

    On 23 October the Government signed a historic devolution deal with the North East Combined Authority. As part of the deal, and subject to the passage of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill through parliament, a new directly-elected Mayor for the North East will be created. The Mayor will chair the existing North East Combined Authority. Powers and responsibilities will be devolved from central government to the Mayor and Combined Authority.

    Full details of the deal are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/north-east-devolution-deal

    A detailed implementation plan will be agreed over the coming months between central government and the North East Combined Authority.

  • Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Stephen Timms – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance he has issued to public bodies on the provision of social and affordable housing within any developments on land such bodies have sold for residential development.

    Brandon Lewis

    The National Planning Policy Framework requires local authorities to plan to meet the market and affordable housing needs in their area. Local authorities are expected to work closely with key partners and their local communities in deciding what type of housing is needed and where housing development should take place. Irrespective of the landowner, planning permissions must be determined in accordance with the Local Plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Central departments are committed to releasing surplus land they own to help meet local housing needs, with a goal of delivering 150,000 homes by 2020 and my Department will be playing a full part in this.

  • Douglas Chapman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Douglas Chapman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with his Canadian counterpart on that country’s procurement of F35 aircraft.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence had regular discussions with the then Canadian Defence Minister, Jason Kenney, on a range of issues including procurement of F35 Aircraft. We look forward to engaging with the new Canadian Defence Ministers once appointed.

  • Ian Austin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Ian Austin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the estimated cost to the public purse is of her Department’s comparative studies on reception baseline assessments.

    Nick Gibb

    Costs are not yet finalised and we cannot provide the information until the study is complete.

  • Alan Whitehead – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Alan Whitehead – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Whitehead on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the (a) fuel source and (b) capacity is of each of the new energy plants that obtained long term capacity contracts in the last capacity auction.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The information requested can be found in the following table. This includes new build Capacity Market Units (CMUs) who have obtained 14 or 15 year capacity agreements.

    Plant Type

    Number of CMUs

    Capacity MW (de-rated)

    Fuel Source

    CCGT

    2

    1,656

    Gas

    CHP

    1

    3

    Gas

    Energy from waste

    2

    31

    Waste

    Small generation – gas / diesel reciprocating engines consisting of:

    59

    733

    Gas (estimated)

    615

    Gas (est)

    Diesel (estimated)

    118

    Diesel (est)

    64

    2,423

  • 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.