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Tag: 2015

  • Cat Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Cat Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on amending the immigration system to increase the supply of non-domiciled shore-based workers to the UK maritime sector.

    James Brokenshire

    The Government is committed to reducing net migration and employers’ dependence on overseas workers.

    We have no plans to amend the immigration system specifically to increase the supply of non-EEA seamen and shore-based workers to the maritime sector. The immigration system does not interfere with the ability of UK-owned shipping businesses to employ non-EEA crew where they are engaged on international journeys. Non-EEA seamen who arrive in UK waters on board a vessel and are engaged to depart on that vessel, or who seek entry to the UK to join a vessel that is due to leave UK waters, do not require a work permit.

    Shore-based employment in the sector is, however, subject to the same controls as employment in any other sector, and non-EEA workers will normally require authorisation under the Tier 2 (General) category of the Points Based System. The Government has commissioned the independent Migration Advisory Committee to provide advice on restricting Tier 2 work visas to genuine skills shortages and highly specialist experts, with sufficient flexibility to include high value roles and key public service workers.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Andrew Rosindell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress she has made in resolving the political situation in Northern Ireland.

    Mr Ben Wallace

    It is essential that the cross-party talks deliver a way to implement the Stormont House Agreement and also a means to address the continuing impact of paramilitary organisations.

    The Northern Ireland parties are engaging intensively on these issues but time is short and a resolution is needed urgently.

  • Zac Goldsmith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Zac Goldsmith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Zac Goldsmith on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to the National Atmospheric Emission Inventory results for the nitrogen dioxide levels at Pippins Primary School, Colnbrook, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the health of pupils and staff at that school of the proposals by the Davies Commission to expand Heathrow Airport.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Government is currently considering the very detailed analysis contained in the Airports Commission’s final report.

    Any decision regarding future airport capacity will take into account the Government’s overall plan to improve air quality and its commitment to comply with EU air quality standards.

  • Owen Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Owen Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners will lose money as a result of changing the Support for Mortgage Interest scheme from a benefit to an interest-bearing loan; and what the average annual loss will be for such pensioners.

    Justin Tomlinson

    All SMI claimants, including pensioners, will continue to receive the same level of support as now towards their mortgage interest when it becomes a loan. As a result no claimants, including pensioners, will receive less in SMI payments than they would now.

  • Alan Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Alan Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time was for a decision to be made on a claim for pneumoconiosis between 2010 and 2015.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The information requested is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  • Luciana Berger – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Luciana Berger – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) submitted a local transformation plan for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing before the first-wave deadline of 18 September 2015; and how many CCGs have still to submit such a plan.

    Alistair Burt

    31 local transformation plans, representing 54 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) were submitted by the first wave deadline of 18 September. A total of 102 plans are expected to be submitted by 16 October representing the remaining 155 CCGs.

    CCGs were given two opportunities to submit plans – on the 18 September and 16 October 2015. The first submission date is in recognition that some CCGs were advanced in their plans for local improvement and already had a Children and Adult Mental Health strategy and plan in place. It is expected that the vast majority of submissions will have been received by 16 October 2015.

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions (a) illegal and (b) fake alcohol have been found by police in each of the last five years.

    Mike Penning

    The Home Office does not hold data centrally on the number of occasions when illegal and fake alcohol have been found by the police.

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent discussions the Government has had with the Afghan government on relieving poverty in Afghanistan.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    The UK government played a leading role in the Senior Officials Meeting in Kabul in September 2015 at which a new Mutual Accountability Framework for development and poverty reduction was agreed between the Afghan government and the international community. Several UK Government Ministers have had conversations with their Afghan counterparts recently to discuss issues of mutual interest including poverty reduction.

    The UK also holds quarterly development cooperation meetings with the Afghan government to discuss its bilateral aid programme, as well as regular thematic discussions with Afghan ministers and officials.

  • Calum Kerr – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Calum Kerr – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Calum Kerr on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will work with the Office of Rail and Road to ensure that the proposed new Edinburgh to Berwick train service via Reston and East Linton stations will not be impeded by pathways being allocated to long distance train operating companies.

    Claire Perry

    Decisions on access to the railway are a matter for the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). When considering applications for new or additional access to the network by a railway operator the ORR will consult interested parties, including other users of the network and funders, such as the Secretary of State, and take into account their views. In reaching a decision ORR must exercise its functions in a way that it considers best achieves its statutory duties.

  • Debbie Abrahams – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Debbie Abrahams – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Debbie Abrahams on 2015-10-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what progress the Government has made on developing proposals for reform of the Human Rights Act 1998.

    Dominic Raab

    This Government will fully consult on our proposals, this session, before introducing legislation for a British Bill of Rights. Further details will be announced in due course.