Tag: 2016

  • Jonathan Edwards – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    Jonathan Edwards – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Edwards on 2016-04-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government about the possibility of Wales hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

    Alun Cairns

    The Wales Office continues to show its support for Wales to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games. I recently met with the Commonwealth Games Council for Wales and would welcome an opportunity to explore the details of a possible bid further with the new Welsh Government after the National Assembly Elections have taken place.

  • Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-05-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to encourage more UK nationals to take up traineeships in the European Parliament and European Commission.

    Mr David Lidington

    The EU staffing unit, established in April 2013, promotes EU careers across the UK and supports candidates through the application process. It has increased secondments in positions of strategic importance to the UK. The European Fast Stream within the Civil Service has also been re-launched.

  • Craig Whittaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Craig Whittaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2016-07-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of trends in home ownership in Calderdale since 2005.

    Gavin Barwell

    The department collects information on home ownership via the English Housing Survey (EHS). The size of the EHS sample does not permit us to produce local authority estimates. England figures going back to 1980 can be found in AT1.1 here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/501068/2014-15_Section_1_Households_tables_and_figures_FINAL.xlsx

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  • Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-10-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to negotiate with the Chinese government to seek concessions for UK companies affected by the recent decision of the Chinese General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine to delay an update to the UK Health Certificate to allow UK exports of goat milk products.

    George Eustice

    The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs and the British Embassy in Beijing are working closely with the Chinese Authorities to take forward these negotiations and review options for accelerating progress on an ongoing basis.

  • Mrs Anne Main – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Mrs Anne Main – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mrs Anne Main on 2015-12-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of (a) the efficacy of the third badger pilot cull in Somerset and (b) the humaneness of the badger pilot culls to date.

    George Eustice

    The UK Chief Veterinary Officer has advised that (a) the outcome of this year’s culls indicates that industry-led culling can deliver the level of effectiveness required to be confident of achieving disease control benefits; and (b) that the humaneness of controlled shooting is comparable with the range of outcomes reported when other culling activities, currently accepted by society, have been assessed, such as deer shooting.

  • Heather Wheeler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Heather Wheeler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Heather Wheeler on 2016-01-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the relative competitiveness of the UK automotive industry.

    Anna Soubry

    In November last year the Automotive Council published a comprehensive report called The International Competitiveness of the UK Automotive Industry.

    The report is intended to illustrate where the UK has a competitive advantage over other countries, and to identify where additional attention from government and industry is needed. It will assist the Automotive Council in ensuring it focuses its resources on the areas that will offer the greatest return for the UK automotive sector, and in ensuring that the UK remains one of the most attractive places for investment.

  • Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-02-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether she has made an assessment of the potential effect on UK GDP of the National Grid using its demand side balancing reserve powers; and if she will make a statement.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Demand Side Balancing Response (DSBR) is part of National Grid’s Contingency Balancing Reserve. Under the DSBR, firms bid for contracts to reduce their demand from the grid when instructed by National Grid in return for an agreed utilisation fee.

    DECC has not made an assessment of the impact of DSBR on GDP; DSBR is small (133 MW in 15/16), runs infrequently and is entirely voluntary.

    Since the service commenced in winter 14/15, National Grid has only instructed on one occasion, instructing a total of 42.9MW, for which participants were paid a pre-contracted utilisation fee.

  • Baroness Randerson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Baroness Randerson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-03-16.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the risk of civilian drones being used to carry out terrorist attacks and of accidental collisions, whether they are considering (1) introducing a mandatory registration system for civilian drones, and (2) introducing mandatory geo-fencing technology to prevent drones from flying over high-risk areas.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    I refer my Noble Baroness to my answer of the 16 March, UIN HL6659.

  • Martin Docherty-Hughes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Martin Docherty-Hughes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martin Docherty-Hughes on 2016-04-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the Government’s policy is on the UK remaining a party to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

    Dominic Raab

    The Charter is part of the EU Treaties and has the same status. It only applies when the UK is acting within the scope of EU law.

  • John Redwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    John Redwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Redwood on 2016-05-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the EU budget is for assistance to Turkey for strengthening its external border with Syria, Iran and Iraq in (a) 2016-17 and (b) 2017-18.

    Mr David Lidington

    The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance is used in Turkey to promote cooperation on a range of issues that matter to the UK, such as migration management and organised crime. The Department does not hold figures for the funds used for strengthening Turkey’s external border.