Tag: 2016

  • Lord Harris of Haringey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Harris of Haringey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Harris of Haringey on 2016-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the EU Commission proposal to introduce a European electronic system for travel authorisation (ESTA), and (2) the implications of the introduction of a European ESTA for UK citizens and businesses following the UK’s departure from the EU; and what representations they have made to the Commission and to EU member states regarding that proposal.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    The UK welcomes proposals to increase scrutiny of, and further secure, the EU’s external Schengen border. A brief update on the Commission’s plans to publish draft legislation for an Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System was provided at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 13 October, which was attended by the Home Secretary. We will examine the proposals in more detail once publication has taken place. The status of UK citizens under any such system will depend upon the nature of the detailed proposals and the outcome of the UK’s negotiations to exit the EU.

  • Baroness Jolly – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Baroness Jolly – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jolly on 2016-01-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many nationals of (1) Bahrain, (2) Kuwait, (3) Oman, (4) Qatar, (5) Saudi Arabia, and (6) the United Arab Emirates, received training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in each year between 2005 and 2016.

    Earl Howe

    Defence has a long and proud tradition of training overseas military and civilian personnel at its training establishments throughout the UK and this is an essential ingredient of Defence Engagement. Training establishments such as Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) offer international students prestigious courses which remain highly prized. Courses currently undertaken by foreign nationals are the Commissioning Course, the Army Reserve Commissioning Course, the Professionally Qualified Officer Course and the International Trainer Development Course.

    These courses expose international partners to UK policy, and promote concepts of accountability, human rights and transparency. They are important in building skills which enable other countries to deal appropriately with their own internal problems, thereby contributing to regional security. The courses are paid for by a combination of self and UK funding. Information on the number of foreign nations in receipt of training at RMAS is provided in the attached table.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-02-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the quality of early education and childcare available to disadvantaged children.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    The Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the standards for the provision of learning, development and care for children from birth to age five. The EYFS helps early years providers to prepare young children for school and improve their life chances by delivering high quality early education.

    The most recent EYFS Profile results show that the gap between disadvantaged children and their peers has narrowed – 51% of children eligible for free school meals (FSM) achieved a good level of development (GLD) in 2015 compared to 45% in 2014. This is the equivalent of an extra 5,800 children eligible for FSM achieving a GLD.

    We want all children, regardless of their starting point, to have access to high quality early education and childcare, as we know this is what makes the difference to outcomes. To help close the gap between disadvantaged children and their better off peers we introduced the early learning programme for two-year-olds in September 2013. Around 160,000 of our most disadvantaged two-year-olds are already benefiting.

    We have also introduced the Early Years Pupil Premium, worth £50 million a year. This provides nurseries and schools delivering the early education entitlement with an extra 53p an hour for disadvantaged three and four year olds to help them close the gap in school readiness.

  • Lord Dholakia – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Dholakia – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Dholakia on 2016-02-24.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many individuals within the total prison estate have commenced treatment for hepatitis C in 2015–16 to date, broken down by Operational Delivery Network area; and of those, how many commenced treatment while in prison but were released from prison before completion of treatment.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    People diagnosed with hepatitis C infection in prison may be treated in prison (through an ‘in-reach’ care programme) or as outpatients via specialist services in National Health Service acute trusts or via a ‘mixed model’. Data on patients treated while in prison or whose treatment is continued following release are held by specialist service providers locally within Operational Delivery Networks and are not currently available centrally.

  • Anne-Marie Trevelyan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Anne-Marie Trevelyan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anne-Marie Trevelyan on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people from other EU member states were in receipt of housing benefit in each of the last 10 years; and what the total cost to the public purse was of those people claiming that benefit in each of those years.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The information requested is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  • Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many overseas convictions of UK nationals have been recorded on the Police National Computer in the last year for which information is available.

    James Brokenshire

    The ACRO Criminal Records Office recorded on to the Police National Computer (PNC) conviction notifications of UK nationals convicted (or conviction updated) in the EU and outside the EU for the years specified, as follows:

    EU

    FY13/14 -number of notifications added to PNC – 5,797

    FY 14/15 -number of notifications added to PNC – 8,334

    FY 15/16 -number of notifications added to PNC – 5,873

    Non-EU

    FY13/14 –number of notifications added to PNC – 175

    FY 14/15 -number of notifications added to PNC – 341

    FY 15/16 -number of notifications added to PNC – 593

  • Tom Watson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Tom Watson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-06-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate the Government has made of the cost to the public purse to date of the adaptation of the Voyager aircraft for the transport of senior ministers.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    To date the Departmental spend to convert one Voyager aircraft’s cabin into an enhanced configuration is £8.9 million out of a total estimated cost of £9.6 million.

    The aircraft’s primary role will continue to be aircraft refuelling.

  • Deidre Brock – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Deidre Brock – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how her Department plans to continue to work with European partners in the areas of her portfolio that were covered by the Schengen Agreement after the UK leaves the EU.

    Sir Oliver Heald

    As the Prime Minister has said, it would not be right for the Government to give a running commentary on negotiations with the EU.

  • 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 2016-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the recent official closing in Turkey of more than 20 media outlets; and whether they will make representations to the government of Turkey about those closures.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    In the aftermath of the coup attempt we have emphasised the need for Turkey to respect human rights, including press freedom, and the rule of law. It is vital that the Turkish Government’s response to the coup attempt be demonstrably lawful and measured, and undertaken in line with Turkey’s international obligations. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Sir Alan Duncan) reiterated these messages to senior Turkish interlocutors, including President Erdogan, during his visit to Turkey on 19 October. We will continue to engage with the Turkish Government at all levels on these issues, and to monitor the situation closely.

  • Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-01-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the number of Tornado aircraft fully modified and available for operations in relation to the total air fleet.

    Earl Howe

    As of 13 January 2016, 48 Tornado aircraft are held in the Forward Available Fleet. This includes aircraft that are held at readiness for contingent operations alongside those deployed on operations

    I am withholding the exact number of Tornado aircraft that are available for operations on the grounds of safeguarding national security.