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Tag: 2015

  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what new departmental resources have been committed to support the UK-China joint research and innovation centre; which UK personnel have been appointed to this work to date; what process was followed in making those appointments; and where each such post was advertised.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Joint Research and Innovation Centre (JRIC) is envisaged to be the subject of a commercial agreement between the National Nuclear Laboratory and the Chinese National Nuclear Corporation.

    These two organisations are still in the process of negotiating such an agreement and will need to consider details on the structures, funding, governance and accountability of the JRIC. As such, it is too early for Government to be able to comment on the outcomes of such a negotiation.

    We continue to maintain an interest in developments of these discussions and will work, where appropriate, with our counterparts in the Chinese government to ensure that outcomes are mutually beneficial to the research landscape of both nations.

  • 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 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Australian counterpart on the effect of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull coming into office on Australian-UK relations.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    The UK and Australia continue to enjoy a close and productive partnership. At the heart of this are regular dialogues between Ministers on important policy issues. Our shared values and interests mean that dialogues continue even as counterparts change. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) most recently spoke to Malcolm Turnbull on 8 October. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) is also in regular contact with his Australian counterpart.

  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Saudi Arabian counterpart against that country’s policy of judicially-sanctioned capital punishment.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances, especially in cases which do not meet the minimum standards defined by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We believe it undermines human dignity and there is no evidence that it works as a deterrent. Ministers, our Ambassador in Riyadh and the Embassy team raise the issue of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities, both bilaterally and through the European Union.

    We recognise that total abolition of the death penalty is unlikely in Saudi Arabia in the near future. Our focus is therefore on encouraging the introduction of EU minimum standards for the death penalty as a first step, and on supporting access to justice and rule of law.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received from groups representing junior doctors on their current working conditions; and if he will make a statement.

    Ben Gummer

    Junior doctors play a vital role in our National Health Service and deserve a professional and fair contract that supports patient care. We also want to work with NHS staff to better support a seven day NHS. This is why the Government wants to reduce the number of hours worked by juniors and has guaranteed that average earnings will be maintained.

    The best deal for junior doctors will be achieved by the British Medical Association (BMA) coming to the table to negotiate on their behalf. This is a view shared by the medical Royal Colleges, NHS Providers and others. To this end, the Government has provided the BMA and junior doctors with cast iron reassurances about its approach to a new contract and sincerely hopes that the BMA will return to the table.

    Ministers receive regular representations from groups representing junior doctors.

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State met Mark Porter, BMA Council Chair and Dr Johann Malawana as part of an introductory meeting following Dr Malawana’s election as Chair of the BMA Junior Doctors Committee (JDC). Ministers also meet regularly with representatives of medical Royal Colleges on a range of issues. At a recent meeting junior doctors working conditions were raised and the junior doctor training experience discussed.

    Recent written representations on junior doctors working conditions have been received by Ministers from:

    Dr Mark Porter, BMA Council chair and Dr Johann Malawana, BMA JDC chair.

    Professor Maureen Baker, Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners Council.

    Dr Clifford Mann, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, on behalf of ten royal college presidents.

    Professor Sir Simon Wessely, President of the Royal college of Psychiatrists.

    A related e-petition with created by M J Peluso has been published at the following link: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/108782

    “

  • Fiona Bruce – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Fiona Bruce – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of how widespread sex-selective abortion would have to be before it was detectable in nationally-compiled birth ratios.

    Jane Ellison

    The Department is committed to publishing an analysis of birth ratios annually; the latest report was published in August 2015.

    Assessments were carried out to inform this analysis and Annex C of the latest publication ‘Assessment of termination of pregnancy on grounds of the sex of the foetus’ summarises the findings with further technical detail in Annex B of the publication; a copy is attached.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in the arbitration dispute between the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Trusts and Care UK, over which institution will deliver services from the King George Elective Care Centre, Redbridge, on behalf of the Barking/Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Groups; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure that both parties receive a prompt decision by the arbitration tribunal.

    Jane Ellison

    We understand that Monitor is responding to a complaint made by Care UK about the procurement of elective care services at The North East London NHS Treatment Centre located at King George Hospital, Goodmayes.

    We are advised that the investigation is on-going. Monitor published a statement of issues on 21 August and will publish its findings in due course.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 15 September 2015 to Question 8380, how many burglaries were reported in each ward in Preston City Council in each of the first six months of 2015.

    Mike Penning

    The Home Office does not hold the information requested centrally. Data is held on burglaries recorded by the police at Police Force Area and Community Safety Partnership level, but not at geographic levels below that, such as ward level.

  • Thangam Debbonaire – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Thangam Debbonaire – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thangam Debbonaire on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons her Department did not renew the Choices contract in detention centres; and what assessment the Government has made of the effect of that decision on the number of people in detention taking up voluntary return and being removed from the UK.

    James Brokenshire

    Additional packages of assistance for those detained pending removal to depart the UK were stopped in March 2014. This reflects the need for those who are here illegally to make a voluntary return at the earliest stage. This should occur before enforcement action and detention is required. Since this change, the overall number of illegal migrants whose voluntary departure is facilitated by the Home Office and its partners has continued to increase.

  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will raise with (a) his ministerial colleagues and (b) the International Labour Organisation the extent of non-compliance amongst open registers with the minimum standards for seafarers’ rights established in the Maritime Labour Convention 2006.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) carry out Port State Control inspections on board foreign vessels in UK waters. The Port State Control regime has a requirement of no more favourable treatment to other vessels many of which are registered in these so called “open registers”.

  • Ruth Smeeth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Ruth Smeeth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ruth Smeeth on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many lawyers are employed by Network Rail to deal with contractual interface issues.

    Claire Perry

    Network Rail has 26 lawyers in the company. None are employed full time to deal specifically with these types of contractual interface issues. Those in the Routes Legal Team (c 12 lawyers) will spend a percentage of their time on these issues and to a lesser extent those in the Corporate Legal Team (c 3 lawyers).Input from the team will vary considerably depending on the nature and size of the issue that has arisen.