Tag: 2016

  • Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-10-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his Nigerian counterpart on the return of some of the Chibok schoolgirls; and what steps his Department is taking to help secure the safe return of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    ​I welcome the recent release of 21 of the Chibok girls. It is vital that they and their families now receive appropriate help and support.

    We regularly raise the issue of abducted women and girls with the Nigerian Government at the highest levels. Most recently, I discussed the Chibok girls with the Nigerian Vice President during my visit to Nigeria in September.

    Since the abduction of the Chibok girls in 2014 the UK has significantly increased its support to Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram. This includes training and advice for Nigerian armed forces deploying against Boko Haram, a substantial package of intelligence, military and development support and £5 million to support the Multinational Joint Task Force.

    We are resolute in our support for Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram, and continue to call for the release of all who have been abducted by this barbaric group.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her policy is on proposals by the European Commission to establish a EU border guard.

    James Brokenshire

    The proposal for a European Border and Coast Guard builds on provisions of the Schengen aquis in which the UK does not participate; the UK will not therefore be bound by the new regulation. The new proposal will however allow the UK to continue the same arrangements as those we have currently with Frontex, whereby we are able to support operations and other activities with the agreement of the Frontex Management Board on a case by case basis.

    The UK is supportive of steps to increase the security of the external Schengen border – we have a strong interest in effective management of the EU’s external border, not just in combating illegal migration, and cross-border crime but also as part of the EU-wide counter-terrorism effort.

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-02-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what meetings (a) he, (b) the Minister for Public Health and (c) his special advisers had with representatives of the People Against Sugar Tax campaign in the last six months.

    Jane Ellison

    Details of all Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are published quarterly in arrears on the GOV.UK website. The latest publication which covers meetings between July and September 2015 is available at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-external-meetings-2015

    Information for October to December 2015 will be published at the end of March.

  • Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dawn Butler on 2016-02-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2015 to Question 14463, what the timetable for the equality impact assessment referred to will be.

    Ben Gummer

    The Government and NHS Employers have made clear that an Equality Impact Assessment will be published alongside the new national contract, 90% of which was agreed with the British Medical Association in talks up to 10 February 2016.

  • Kevin Brennan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Kevin Brennan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2016-03-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much the Student Loans Company and HM Revenue and Customs spent on maintaining and collecting student loan repayments in each year for which data is available.

    Joseph Johnson

    The Student Loans Company (SLC) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have spent the following on maintaining and collecting income contingent repayments since the financial year 2011-12:

    Student Loans Company

    HM Revenue and Customs

    FY 2011-12

    £15.7m

    £5.6m

    FY 2012-13

    £15.6m

    £6.4m

    FY 2013-14

    £18.6m

    £5.5m

    FY 2014-15

    £18.5m

    £5.8m

    FY 2015-16

    £20.9m (forecast)

    £6.3m (forecast)

    The figures in the table above include both the direct costs and associated ICT and back office overheads incurred by SLC and HMRC in maintaining and collecting income contingent repayments.

  • Paula Sherriff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Paula Sherriff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2016-04-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the advertisement on the Hays recruitment website by NHS England for a temporary Senior Deputy Head of Media Planning and Strategy on a daily rate of pay, whether the successful candidate for that post will be paid through (a) the NHS England payroll, (b) that agency or (c) a limited company.

    George Freeman

    A decision has been taken by NHS England to remove the position of temporary Senior Deputy Head of Media Planning and Strategy from advertisement. The temporary position will be covered from NHS England’s existing, internal resources.

  • Michelle  Thomson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Michelle Thomson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Thomson on 2016-06-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for funding of broadband provision in Scotland of the UK voting to leave the EU.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Phase 1 superfast broadband delivery in Scotland has benefited from up to £20 million of European funding. Currently no significant levels of European funding are expected to be used for the Phase 2 programme in Scotland. The Rest of Scotland broadband project remains on track to achieve 96% superfast broadband coverage by end of 2017.

  • Lisa Nandy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lisa Nandy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lisa Nandy on 2016-09-02.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much revenue the Government has collected from VAT on household energy bills in 2015-16.

    Jane Ellison

    The information requested is not available. HM Revenue and Customs does not collect data on VAT revenue from particular goods and services.

  • Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-10-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that patients with ankylosing spondylitis receive a prompt diagnosis and receive high-quality healthcare.

    David Mowat

    Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a long-term condition in which the spine and other areas of the body become inflamed. Treatment can involve painkillers, biologic drugs and exercise, if appropriate. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced a clinical knowledge summary on AS, and the British Society of Rheumatology has also published advice on this condition.

    To bring greater consistency and clarity in this area, NICE is currently developing a best practice guideline concerning diagnosis and management of spondyloarthritis, which is an umbrella term for a set of inflammatory diseases including ankylosing spondylitis. The guideline is open to consultation until 25 October 2016 and the expected publication date is March 2017.

  • Vernon Coaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Vernon Coaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2016-01-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent progress has been made on the remaining legacy issues in Northern Ireland.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    During the talks last autumn, significant progress was made on how to implement the legacy bodies set out in the Stormont House Agreement. It was regrettable that agreement on all the legacy issues could not be reached during the talks process. I have, however, commenced a round of engagement with victims and others as we seek to achieve the consensus needed to bring forward legislation to address the outstanding legacy issues.