The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Elliott on 2016-03-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the potential effect on Northern Ireland of the UK leaving the EU.
Mr Ben Wallace
The Government has published three papers which explain why the UK, including Northern Ireland, would be stronger, safer and better off remaining as a member of a reformed EU. The papers are available at www.gov.uk/publications.
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charles Walker on 2016-03-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the Fourth Money Laundering Directive on the ability in future of Members of the House of Lords to continue to serve on the board of the BBC; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Edward Vaizey
The BBC is not a relevant person under the Money Laundering Regulations and as such appointees to the BBC Board would not be affected.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Allen on 2016-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2016 to Question 35297, which officials from which departments attended the meetings of the Inter-Ministerial Group on Child Sexual Abuse; and whether the minutes from previous meetings of that group are made available to hon. Members.
Karen Bradley
Officials from the Home Office, Department for Education, Department for Communities and Local Government, Ministry of Justice, Department of Health, Department for Culture Media and Sport, and the Attorney General’s Office have attended meetings of the Inter-Ministerial Group on Child Sexual Abuse. Minutes of the meetings are made available to hon. Members who sit on the Inter-Ministerial Group.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-06-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Europe of 8 June 2016, Official Report, column 136WH, whether his Department has made representations to Saudi Arabia requesting that the death sentences issued to Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, Abdullah al-Zaher and Dawood al-Marhoon be commuted.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country. We remain concerned about the cases of Ali al-Nimr, Abdullah al-Zaher and Dawood al-Marhoon. I can assure you that we continue to raise their cases with the Saudi authorities at every opportunity, most recently during the Foreign Secretary’s visit on 29 May. Our expectation remains that they will not be executed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of alternative mechanisms to appraise the use of Orkambi in the NHS.
Nicola Blackwood
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published final technology appraisal guidance on 27 July 2016 which does not recommend Orkambi (lumacaftor-ivacaftor) for treating cystic fibrosis homozygous for the F508del mutation.
In the absence of positive NICE technology appraisal guidance, any funding decisions should be made by National Health Service commissioners, based on an assessment of the available evidence and on the basis of an individual patient’s clinical circumstances.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alistair Carmichael on 2016-10-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if she will review the effect on access to justice and protection of human rights of civil legal aid reforms introduced under the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.
Sir Oliver Heald
We are committed to reviewing Parts 1 and 2 of the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 within three to five years of its implementation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liam Fox on 2016-01-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if her Department will liaise with Ofgem in taking steps to ensure that savings accrued to suppliers are returned to consumers in lower prices.
Andrea Leadsom
The government expects suppliers to pass through to consumers any reductions in the costs of supplying energy.
Strong competition is key to ensuring that prices are kept as low as possible and reductions in the costs of supplying energy are passed through to consumers. There are now 34 companies supplying gas and electricity to households, compared to 13 in 2010.
The Government has worked with the industry to cut the time it takes to switch from 5 weeks to 17 days. We are now working with Ofgem to deliver reliable next day switching by 2018.
Smart meters will make the energy market more accessible, and energy consumers will feel more in control. This increased engagement will drive a more vibrant and competitive market.
Ofgem has referred the energy markets to the Competition and Markets Authority for investigation. The Government has committed to acting on the Competition and Market Authority’s recommendations which are due to be published by June this year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diane Abbott on 2016-02-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which projects her Department funds in South Omo and Bench Majji, Ethiopia.
Justine Greening
DFID Ethiopia’s programmes predominantly support provision of basic and other services across the whole country. This includes programmes focussing on health, climate investment, primary education and many other areas of development.
DFID holds necessary information to run effective programmes in Ethiopia.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-03-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times the police have been called to investigate offences involving a knife or other sharp instrument within school grounds in each year since 2010.
Mike Penning
The Home Office does not hold this information.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lisa Cameron on 2016-03-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) female and (b) other students are encouraged to take modules in entrepreneurship and business mentoring.
Mr Sam Gyimah
The government is committed to improving the extent and quality of the careers guidance and inspiration that all young people receive. This should begin with activities to enable children in primary school to explore the world of work. Primary Futures is an example of an initiative that helps primary age children to see a clear link and purpose between their learning and their futures.
The Department for Education has funded The Careers & Enterprise Company to take a lead role in transforming the provision of careers, enterprise and employer engagement experiences for young people aged 12 to 18 in England. This work includes ensuring that all students have access to high quality careers and enterprise provision, including interactions with employers. The Company helps employers, schools and colleges and other organisations to navigate their way through the existing landscape and find appropriate careers and enterprise organisations to partner with. An example of a successful initiative is the three-year industry-led Your Life campaign, which was launched by the Government in 2014. This aims to inspire young people, particularly girls, to study A level maths and physics as a gateway to an exciting and wide-ranging career.
Entrepreneurship education is an important component of high quality careers provision. The careers statutory guidance requires schools in England to offer pupils the opportunity to develop entrepreneurial skills and have access to advice on options available post-16 including entrepreneurship.
We are giving more young people access to a mentor to help raise aspirations, improve focus and attainment and help prepare them for the next stage in their lives. The Prime Minister announced on 14 March 2016 that the government will commit £12 million over this parliament for an investment fund to build capacity in the system to recruit and train a new generation of high-quality mentors, focussing on teenagers most at risk of under-achieving or dropping out of education. This will be supported by a national advertising campaign.