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Tag: 2016

  • Robert Neill – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Robert Neill – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Robert Neill on 2016-02-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 November 2015 to Question 15112, when he intends to bring forward amendments to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015; what provisions will apply to office premises that have been granted prior approval for conversion to residential use but which will not be completed before 30 May 2016; and if he will make a statement.

    Brandon Lewis

    We announced on 13 October 2015 that the permitted development right for the change of use from office to residential is to be made permanent, and that those with prior approval will have three years from the date of prior approval in which to change use. Further information on the detail and timing of the regulations will be provided in due course.

  • Lord Berkeley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Berkeley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2016-03-21.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 17 March (HL6898), what assessment they have made of the Mont Blanc tunnel fire of 1999 and the implications of that fire and subsequent investigations, inquiries and trials for (1) the construction of a Trans-Pennine Tunnel or other long road tunnels, (2) the safety management of such tunnels, (3) the classes of vehicles that will be permitted to operate through such tunnels, and (4) the licensing and inspection of different classes of vehicles, especially heavy goods vehicles, in using such tunnels.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    The Trans Pennine Tunnel Study will include the consideration of international best practice in tunnel design and management to learn lessons from around the world. The design and development of a Trans Pennine Tunnel will comply with the current international standards that were changed as a result of the Mont Blanc fire.

  • Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-04-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the flying of the Red Ensign on Merchant Navy Day on 3 September will be added to the list of mandatory days for flag flying in the UK.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    The designated days for flying the Union Flag on Government buildings have been specifically set to mark special occasions by command of Her Majesty the Queen and on the advice of Government. Any additions or changes must be discussed with the Lord Chamberlain’s Office. There are currently no plans to change the list.

    However, as flag flying is deregulated, any organisation may fly any flag at any time, so long as they have the necessary planning permission, therefore anyone may fly the Red Ensign on this day if they wish.

  • Helen Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Helen Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2016-05-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the threats facing the Baltic states; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    The 2014 Wales Summit, under UK leadership, delivered an effective and united response to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and its actions in Eastern Ukraine.

    NATO has agreed to strengthen its defence and deterrence posture to provide further reassurance to Allies and deter Russian aggression.

    In February 2016 Defence Ministers agreed to address specific concerns raised by the Baltic States and Poland. Ahead of the Warsaw Summit in July, work continues within the Alliance to determine the size and scale of an enhanced forward presence in the East. The proposed measures are proportionate, defensive in nature, and not a threat to Russia, but demonstrate unequivocally the unity within the Alliance and the continued commitment of all Allies to the NATO principles of collective defence and security.

    A UK contribution will ultimately be shaped by what is agreed by all Allies.

  • Caroline Flint – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Caroline Flint – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Flint on 2016-07-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to tackle access to and use of psychoactive substances in prisons.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    The Justice Secretary is clear that safety is fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system and a vital part of our reform plans. There are a number of factors, including the availability of psychoactive substances in prisons, which must be tackled in order to make our prisons safe and places of rehabilitation.

    We have introduced tough new laws which will see those who smuggle packages over prison walls, including new psychoactive substances, face up to two years in prison. Those who involve themselves in the distribution of drugs in our prisons should know that they could face prosecution and extra time behind bars. We have a comprehensive range of security measures and searching techniques in place to detect drugs, and to prevent smuggling into prisons.

  • Chris Elmore – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Chris Elmore – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Elmore on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to facilitate the learning of the Welsh language by pupils in England.

    Nick Gibb

    Primary and secondary schools can choose to teach the Welsh language to pupils if there is sufficient demand. It is possible for a pupil in England to take privately a Welsh language GCSE offered in Wales if an examination centre is willing to enter them. This will include a revised Welsh Second Language GCSE available for first teaching from September 2017.

  • Andrew Stephenson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andrew Stephenson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Stephenson on 2016-01-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much illicitly-brewed alcohol was seized in prisons in each of the last 10 years.

    Andrew Selous

    The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) has in place a comprehensive range of security measures and searching techniques to detect items of contraband including alcohol, to prevent smuggling into prisons. In addition we use specially trained dogs to detect illicit alcohol.

    The table below gives the number of alcohol finds in prisons in England and Wales in the timeframe requested

    Table 1: Finds of alcohol in prisons in England and Wales, 2005 to 2014

    Year

    Number of Incidents

    2005

    172

    2006

    306

    2007

    330

    2008

    340

    2009

    468

    2010

    386

    2011

    573

    2012

    803

    2013

    875

    2014

    1090

    (1) Figures were produced by searching for the words “alcohol”, “hooch” and “fermenting liquid”.

    (2) Includes NOMS operated Immigration Removal Centres

    (3) Data in whole years only and is not yet available for 2015

    Changes were introduced to the Incident Report System in September 2015 that improved the recording of alcohol finds. Prior to these changes, alcohol related finds are recorded as a "miscellaneous" incident and requires a text search of the data. This method of extracting data requires searching for specific words and may not always identify all the related incidents. It can also identify non-related incidents which contain the words in the search. In this case I have searched for the words "alcohol", "hooch" and "fermenting liquid" in the incident text.

    All figures in this answer have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time.Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. The data are not subject to audit.

  • Maria Eagle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Maria Eagle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2016-01-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, to provide details of each of the meetings that (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants in his Department have had with the Department for Communities and Local Government since May 2015 on the impact of the local government finance settlement on local arts and culture organisations and projects.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    DCMS and CLG Ministers and officials regularly discuss matters of shared interest including arts, culture and public libraries.

  • Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Grahame Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-02-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will ring-fence housing payments for tenants in supported accommodation.

    Justin Tomlinson

    We value the work of the supported housing sector extremely highly and are working closely with them to ensure they are supported as effectively as possible. As part of this, we have commissioned an evidence review of supported housing. The results of this research will determine any appropriate exemptions.

    In addition, the Government has agreed to put in place a year-long exception for all supported housing provided by local authorities and private registered providers from the one per cent rent reduction.

  • Lord Hylton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Hylton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2016-03-21.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the breakdown of the mediated peace progress between Israel and Palestine, what new proposals or lines of enquiry for a negotiated peace agreement have been developed by their officials in London, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The UK remains focused on steps which will secure progress towards a two-state solution. We continue to believe that the best way to achieve this is through negotiations. We are in close consultation with international partners about what kind of renewed process might lead to progress.