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Tag: 2016

  • Mary Robinson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Mary Robinson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Robinson on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to promote trade and diplomatic connections between the UK and other Commonwealth countries.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    We are committed to strengthening our Commonwealth engagement and ties with Commonwealth allies. We continue to engage with organisations like the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council to boost trade and increase prosperity within the Commonwealth. As part of these efforts, the UK and Malta will be co-hosting the first Commonwealth Trade Ministers meeting in March 2017.

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

    Lord Marlesford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Marlesford on 2016-04-28.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many bat bridges over roads (1) have been completed in each of the last five years, (2) are under construction, and (3) are planned; and what is the (a) location, and (b) actual or budgeted cost of each.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    One Highways England scheme has provided bat crossings as part of its construction during the last five years, and that is the A11 Fiveways to Thetford improvement scheme. Six crossings have been completed at a cost of £354,000.

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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Balfe on 2016-06-13.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the security implications arising from the reported leak of telegrams from the British Embassy in Ankara, whether they will conduct a review of security vetting of Foreign and Commonwealth office staff.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) regularly reviews its policy on security clearance and did this most recently in October 2015. Our policy is to vet our UK-based staff to ‘Developed Vetting’, the highest level of security clearance, which provides a high level of security assurance. We are satisfied that this is appropriate. Locally Engaged staff are vetted to the level required by their job and the Post.

  • Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-09-02.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effects of performance bonuses on short-termism in the financial sector.

    Simon Kirby

    The UK is at the forefront of global efforts to tackle unacceptable pay practices in the banking sector and has the toughest regime on pay of any major financial centre.

    Firms are now required to have policies in place to defer, reduce, cancel or clawback bonuses in the event that poor performance or misconduct comes to light and the Government expects firms to be proactive in their application of these policies.

    The Government’s efforts have resulted in a restructuring of pay including a significant reduction in cash bonuses, and a better alignment of risk and reward in the financial sector.

  • Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the cost to the public purse was of refunds to businesses which successfully appealed the amount they were asked to pay in business rates in (a) each English local authority area and (b) in total by region of England in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    Refunds to businesses as a result of successful appeals are made by the relevant billing authority. The Department does not hold data on the total cost of refunds resulting from appeals.

  • Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno on 2016-01-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider using airdrops to carry food to relieve the hunger of Syrian communities.

    Earl of Courtown

    The UK has pledged over £1.1 billion in response to the crisis in Syria and the region, making us the second largest bilateral donor after the US. By the end of June 2015, UK support inside Syria and in the surrounding region had, for example, delivered almost 20 million food rations that feed one person for a month; over 2.5 million medical consultations; and relief items for 4.6 million people. We have provided ongoing support to the UN and international NGOs (INGOs) since the start of the conflict to deliver aid in hard to reach and besieged areas of Syria.

    The UK will consider any option compliant with international law that might save lives in Syria. We rule nothing out. However, the use of air drops is high risk and should only be considered as a last resort when all other means have failed.

    Attempting air drops without the consent of the parties to the conflict may risk undermining ongoing negotiations on humanitarian access to the 4.5 million people in hard to reach areas across Syria. Even in uncontested space air drops poise significant challenges. There is a requirement to identify clear drop zones, ensure safe access for the intended recipients and to co-ordinate with authorities on the ground. Instead, the UN, the Red Cross Movement and NGO partners are best placed to deliver aid to vulnerable people in besieged and hard to reach areas.

    The desperate situation in besieged and hard to reach areas shows why we need the international community to come together at the London Conference for Syria and the Region on 4 February to support immediate needs and identify longer-term solutions to address the needs of those affected by the crisis.

  • Steven Paterson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Steven Paterson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steven Paterson on 2016-02-03.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many cyber assessments have been undertaken by the Centre for Cyber Assessment in each year since that centre was established.

    Matthew Hancock

    The CCA was avowed in June 2015. We do not comment on security matters.

  • Jonathan Ashworth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Jonathan Ashworth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2016-02-24.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much public money has been spent on repairs to Dorneywood in the last 12 months.

    Harriett Baldwin

    The Dorneywood estate is the responsibility of the Dorneywood Trust. As such the Government does not hold details of redecoration or repairs to the estate.

  • The Lord Bishop of Leeds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The Lord Bishop of Leeds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Leeds on 2016-03-23.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to establishing new consular premises in Iraqi Kurdistan.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The Government is committed to delivering a permanent, fit-for-purpose Consulate General platform in Erbil at the earliest opportunity.

    Significant changes to the security situation in Iraq have necessitated that we review our requirements and plans for the Consulate General platform in order to ensure that we are able to meet our political, security, prosperity and humanitarian objectives, both now and in the future. We continue to offer an uninterrupted service from our current Consulate General platform and continue to explore options for the acquisition of appropriate office accommodation for the future.

  • Gordon Marsden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Gordon Marsden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gordon Marsden on 2016-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what role he plans that further education providers and colleges will have in the governance and delivery of the Institute of Apprenticeships.

    Nick Boles

    The Board of the Institute will be comprised primarily of employers, business leaders and their representatives to ensure that employers continue to drive apprenticeship quality at the highest level. The Institute will also be able to draw on the expertise of education providers, colleges and others in the exercise of its functions.