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Tag: 2016

  • Rushanara Ali – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Rushanara Ali – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rushanara Ali on 2016-06-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the UK’s trade relationship with (a) Bangladesh and (b) other Commonwealth countries of BHS going into administration.

    Anna Soubry

    We have made no specific assessments.

    Bangladesh is the second largest manufacturer of garments around the world after China, at $26 billion per annum and ready-made garments make up around 81% of total merchandise exports from Bangladesh. If business is lost to Bangladesh from BHS, it is unlikely to have a significant impact at the national level.

  • Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent steps she has taken to raise the profile of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

    Rory Stewart

    Despite being one of the most serious and complex humanitarian crises in the world, Yemen is the world’s most serious forgotten crisis. The Secretary of State is co-hosting an international event on the Yemen crisis at the UN General Assembly on 21 September to shine a spotlight on the crisis and call for a step change in humanitarian delivery on the ground.

  • Yvonne Fovargue – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Yvonne Fovargue – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Yvonne Fovargue on 2016-01-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many meetings Ministers have had with representatives of Keep me Posted since May 2015.

    George Freeman

    Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published quarterly on the Gov.uk website:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=department-for-business-innovation-skills&publication_type=transparency-data

    “

  • David Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    David Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Jones on 2016-02-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to reform the police complaints process.

    Mike Penning

    Complaints made against the police must be responded to in a way that builds public confidence, and allows lessons to be learned.

    The Policing and Crime Bill will reform the complaints system so that the handling of police complaints is customer focused and that cases are dealt with quickly and effectively, not just for the benefits of the public, but also for officers who have done nothing wrong.

  • Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2016-03-02.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the conditions faced by Pakistani refugees who have been incarcerated in detention centres in Thailand, and (2) the allegations contained in the BBC World documentary Our World, broadcast on 27 February, that women and children are being held there, despite being UN-registered asylum seekers; and when they last discussed that situation with the UNHCR and the government of Thailand.

    Earl of Courtown

    We are concerned about the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in Thailand. Thailand is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees. Once any form of legal immigration status expires, refugees and asylum claimants can be deemed illegally in the country even if they have registered with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Nonetheless, we have pressed the Thai authorities to apply international humanitarian norms and standards when handling these vulnerable groups. We are also working with the Thai authorities to improve conditions of detention.

  • Douglas Carswell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Douglas Carswell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2016-04-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the Government’s policy is on the prosecution of husbands of child brides resident in the UK, who married that bride outside of the UK.

    Karen Bradley

    We made forced marriage a criminal offence in 2014 to better protect victims and send a clear message that this abhorrent practice is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the UK. The offence relates to where a UK resident or national forces a child into marriage overseas as well as in the UK.

    Our dedicated Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) leads efforts to combat forced marriage both at home and abroad. Where cases involve a minor in the UK, the FMU work with the relevant statutory agencies to provide advice and expertise to ensure that appropriate safeguarding measures are taken. Where a case involves a minor overseas, the FMU work with consular officers overseas and statutory agencies in the UK to ensure safeguarding obligations are fulfilled and appropriate action is taken where necessary.

  • Nicholas Soames – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Nicholas Soames – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the Order of Battle is of the Royal Military Police.

    Mark Lancaster

    The Order of Battle for the Royal Military Police at unit and specialist unit levels is as follows:

    1st Regiment Royal Military Police

    3rd Regiment Royal Military Police

    4th Regiment Royal Military Police

    Special Investigation Branch Regiment

    Military Provost Service

    Special Operations Regiment (made up of the Close Protection Unit and Service Police Crime Bureau)

  • John Redwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    John Redwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Redwood on 2016-06-20.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to respond to the EU Action Plan on VAT.

    Mr David Gauke

    At the Economic and Financial Affairs Council in May 2016 Ministers adopted Council Conclusions on the EU VAT Action Plan.

  • Hugo Swire – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Hugo Swire – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hugo Swire on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what evidence his Department has received which shows that using a hands-free kit while driving is any less dangerous than using a hand-held phone.

    Andrew Jones

    The Highway Code makes it clear that drivers need to be in control of their vehicles at all times. That means that drivers need to ensure that they use any device in their vehicles in a safe way when driving.

    Driving while using a hands-free kit is legal and previously published research estimated that whilst a hands-free kit is distracting, it is safer than using a hand-held device.

    Many cars now have built in hands-free kits and we are working with the industry to ensure that safety and legislation keeps pace with new technology as it develops.

  • Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Jamie Reed – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2016-01-19.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure a reduction in the use of paper in departments.

    Matthew Hancock

    Individual Departments are responsible for making their own reductions to their use of paper, including as part of the Greening Government Commitments. The Cabinet Office’s own use of paper in 2015/16 to date has reduced by around 60% against the 2009/10 baseline. This reduction has been achieved including through the use of more flexible laptop-based IT and electronic records systems which means that printing requirements have reduced considerably.