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Tag: 2016

  • The Marquess of Lothian – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The Marquess of Lothian – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2016-05-10.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the current political crisis in Brazil on the country’s stability and security ahead of the 2016 Olympic Games

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The ongoing impeachment process in Brazil is a domestic issue for the people of Brazil and their elected representatives. We continue to follow developments closely. Preparations for the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games are being led by the State and City of Rio de Janeiro. Experts from the London 2012 team have been working closely with the Rio 2016 authorities and we are confident they will deliver a successful Games.

  • Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-06-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2016 to Question 37443, what guidance her Department provides to school admission authorities on engaging with those people that the Schools Admissions Code requires them to consult.

    Nick Gibb

    It is for admission authorities to decide, in light of their local circumstances, how best to fulfil the duty set out in the School Admissions Code to consult on their admission arrangements.

  • Keith Vaz – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Keith Vaz – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-09-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many diabetes specialist nurses are employed by the NHS.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    NHS Digital provides information on the number of nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff employed in the National Health Service in England but it does not separately identify diabetes specialist nurses.

    It is for local NHS organisations with their knowledge of the healthcare needs of their local population to invest in training for specialist skills such as diabetes nursing and to deploy specialist nurses.

  • Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-01-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what changes she plans to make to advice on her Department’s website relating to (a) goods for which an origin is indicated on their labelling, (b) goods from Golan and (c) other goods in response to the European Commission’s Interpretative Notice on indication of origin of goods from the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967, published on 11 November 2015.

    George Eustice

    The Commission’s Notice recommends that goods imported into the EU which originate from Israeli settlements in the occupied territories should bear an indication which makes that provenance clear. That recommendation is already included in the current technical advice to UK retailers and importers concerning the labelling of agricultural produce from the West Bank which was issued by Defra in 2009. There is therefore no need for changes at this stage.

  • Hilary Benn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Hilary Benn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2016-02-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the security situation in Somalia since the attack on AMISOM forces in January 2016.

    Mr Philip Hammond

    The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) has made significant territorial gains in Somalia since 2007, regaining all major cities and much of the territory formerly controlled by Al-Shabaab. The overall improvement in the security situation has created the space for progress towards a permanent political settlement and the recently accepted model for the 2016 electoral process is an important step forward. Recent events however, are a reminder, that although it no longer poses an existential threat to Somalia, Al-Shabaab continues to pose a significant terrorist threat in Somalia and the region.

    2016 is a critical year for security and political progress in Somalia. It is therefore crucial that the Somali National Army (SNA) and AMISOM work together to renew offensive operations against Al-Shabaab and secure the electoral process. The upcoming High Level Partnership Forum in Istanbul and AMISOM Troop Contributing Country (TCC) Summit in Djibouti, are important opportunities to ensure sustained progress. As announced by the Prime Minister, my right hon. friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) at the UN General Assembly in September, the UK will bolster support to the SNA and AMISOM through a deployment of up to 70 UK troops to the UN Support Office in Somalia. The UK will also continue to provide SNA troop stipends and UK advisory teams.

    We therefore stand shoulder to shoulder with Kenya, as her longest-standing defence partner, and particularly at this difficult time following the losses at El Adde. We greatly value the contribution made by Kenya and the other TCCs to AMISOM. The Prime Minister has written to President Kenyatta to offer condolences and express appreciation for the sacrifices that Kenyan Defence Forces are making in Somalia.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that equipment is properly tested before purchase or procurement.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The Department uses Test and Evaluation to support decision making throughout the acquisition cycle to understand the performance of the equipment that we procure.

    Test and Evaluation activities are used to demonstrate that equipment is fit for purpose, safe and compliant with contract requirements. The suitability of these activities is an integral part of our normal acquisition management processes and decision points.

  • Daniel Kawczynski – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Daniel Kawczynski – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Kawczynski on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking through its membership of the UN Security Council to achieve (a) democratic sustainability, (b) economic viability and (c) physical security in Libya.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The UK continues to play an active role in the UN Security Council in supporting the Government of National Accord (GNA) as the only legitimate government in Libya, endorsed unanimously by the UN Security Council Resolution 2259 (2015). That resolution, drafted by the UK, highlighted the importance of the Libyan State financial institutions, including the National Oil Corporation, the Central Bank of Libya, and the Libyan Investment Authority, continuing to function for the benefit of all Libyans, and stressed the need for the GNA to exercise sole and effective oversight over them as a matter of urgency.

    The UK also worked in the UN Security Council for the adoption of Resolution 2278 (2016) on 31 March, which renewed measures against illicit oil exports from Libya, extended the mandate of the Expert Panel assisting the UN Libya Sanctions Committee, and affirmed the Security Council’s readiness to consider changes, when appropriate, to the UN asset freeze at the request of the GNA.

  • Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-05-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the NHS of the predicted loss of 35 per cent of current clinical pharmacologist consultant posts through retirements in the next decade and the reduction in the number of training grade clinical pharmacologist posts, as set out in the report by the British Pharmacological Society, A Prescription for the NHS: Recognising the value of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    Figures published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre show that there has not been a reduction in the number of consultant clinical pharmacologists employed in the National Health Service in England.

    As part of its workforce planning, Health Education England (HEE) take account of a range of factors including forecast rates of retirement. HEE has recently undertaken a review of the clinical pharmacology and therapeutics workforce, the findings of which will contribute to future workforce planning for this specialty in England.

    It is for the respective Governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to consider workforce planning for their health system.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-06-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2016 to Question 39933, how much funding has been allocated to anti-beaching initiatives; and which countries have been identified as containing beaching hotspots.

    George Eustice

    The UK Government does not fund ‘anti-beaching’ initiatives. However, it does fund the Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme, the work of which is crucial in providing us with a better understanding of the general health of cetaceans in UK waters and the issues that affect them.

    We are not aware of any countries identified as having ‘beaching hotspots’.

  • Kevin Foster – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Kevin Foster – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Foster on 2016-09-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much basic pay will increase for each grade under the proposed new junior doctors’ contract.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    Pay for Foundation 1 doctors will be 15% higher than the current basic starting salary.

    Pay for Foundation 2 doctors will be 8% higher than the current basic starting salary.

    The new basic starting salary for Specialty Registrars at ST1 will be 19% higher than the current basic starting salary.

    The salary for those at ST3 will be 32% higher than the current pay point for those progressing through training without delay.

    The overall increase for all juniors is over 10%.