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Tag: 2016

  • Chris Law – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Chris Law – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Law on 2016-02-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the City Deal for Dundee and neighbouring authorities; and when the Government plans to make a decision on that deal.

    David Mundell

    I have met separately with local authorities in Dundee, Angus and Perth and I was able to confirm that the UK Government is interested to hear from any local authority or group of local authorities interested in pursuing a City Deal. To date, we have not received formal proposals from any of those Councils.

  • David Anderson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    David Anderson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 February 2016 to Question 26409, what squadrons or elements other than Reaper Squadrons 39 and 13 make up the Reaper force as a whole.

    Penny Mordaunt

    No other squadrons or elements make up the Reaper Force. However, individuals in Reaper Force posts who are to be embedded with other countries’ armed forces are usually allocated to 54(Reserve) Squadron, for administrative reasons.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many new recruits joined (a) 22 Special Air Service Regiment, (b) Special Boat Service, (c) Special Reconnaissance Regiment, (d) 18 Signal Regiment, (e) Special Forces Support Group and (f) Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing in each of the last 10 years; and how many personnel left each of those units in each such year.

    Penny Mordaunt

    This Government has demonstrated its commitment to our Special Forces by announcing a £2 billion programme of investment over the course of this Parliament. All military operations, including the activities of the Special Forces, are discussed and scrutinised at the highest levels of Government, including at the National Security Council. However, as it is the longstanding policy of the Government not to comment on our Special Forces, or to release information relating to them, I cannot comment on specific questions about personnel, equipment, discussions or activities in relation to these units.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on peace and stability in Europe and around the world of the UK leaving the EU.

    Mr Philip Hammond

    As a leading member of the EU, the UK is a major influence on EU external policy and is able to shape the use of the EU’s available policy tools to enhance our security: for example, sanctions policy in respect of Russia and Iran and capacity building support to the states of the Western Balkans. I am in no doubt that Britain’s leading role in this process greatly contributes to the effectiveness of EU policy initiatives and thus maintaining peace and stability in Europe and beyond. All of that would be lost if Britain were to leave the European Union. I am clear that Britain is stronger, safer more prosperous inside the EU than it would be outside.

  • Martin Docherty-Hughes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Martin Docherty-Hughes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martin Docherty-Hughes on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many incidents involving unmanned drones and aircraft in the proximity of UK airports have been reported in each month in each of the last five years.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The following table show the number of incidents involving unmanned drones that have been reported by pilots, air traffic control and the general public for each month since 2015. There is no specific data relating to incidents in the proximity of UK airports and very low levels of reporting prior to 2015. These figures should be viewed with the following caveats:

    • The numbers also include possible drone events in the UK where there is insufficient time to positively identify if an ‘object’ was definitely a drone.
    • Lag in process reporting could result in re-categorisation of incidents, which could have an impact on the numbers.

    2015

    Jan

    2

    Feb

    3

    Mar

    2

    Apr

    9

    May

    5

    Jun

    6

    Jul

    11

    Aug

    10

    Sep

    12

    Oct

    9

    Nov

    6

    Dec

    2

    2016

    Jan

    4

    Feb

    9

    Mar

    31

    Apr

    27

    May

    25

    “

  • Rob Marris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Rob Marris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to increase the number of accessible taxis.

    Andrew Jones

    Government is committed to giving disabled people the same access to transport services as other members of society. It also recognises the particularly significant role played by taxis and private hire vehicle (PHV) operators for many disabled people, in helping them to remain active and independent.

    It is for local authorities to specify a number of accessible vehicles to be within their licensed taxi and private hire vehicle fleet, and to take account of their public sector equality duties when doing so.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-01-18.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish an estimate of how many people in each region and parliamentary constituency will benefit from the rise in the income tax personal allowance to £11,000 on 6 April 2016.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government estimates that the increase in the personal allowance to £11,000 in 2016/17 will reduce the income tax liability for 29.2 million individuals in the UK.

  • Gavin Newlands – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Gavin Newlands – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Newlands on 2016-02-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the new Enterprise Allowance scheme.

    Priti Patel

    Latest statistics show that 76,960 new businesses have been set up with the support of the New Enterprise Allowance (NEA).

    A cohort study of the initial participants in the scheme showed that 78% of the first 2,960 NEA participants who started to trade remained off benefits for 52 weeks.

    In January 2016 we published an evaluation report which showed that business established with the support of NEA had a sustainability rate of 80%, with over 90% of these trading for over 12 months. Around half of the respondents to the survey reported an expansion in their customer base or an increase in turnover. The majority of respondents were planning to expand their business in the future.

  • Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 2 February 2015 to Question 222253, what estimate he has made of the number of service personnel who have suffered mental illness in the current year.

    Mark Lancaster

    The Ministry of Defence (MOD) compiles records of UK Armed Forces personnel who have been assessed as having a mental health condition at either of the military Departments of Community Mental Health (DCMHs) or one of the facilities contracted by the MOD to provide in-patient treatment.

    During the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015, the most recent full year for which verified records are available, 4,858 personnel were assessed as having a mental health disorder.

    Verified figures are also available for the period of 7 April to 30 September 2015. During this six month period, 2,576 personnel were assessed as having a mental health disorder.

  • John Woodcock – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    John Woodcock – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Woodcock on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) flying hours and (b) air shows were flown by the Nimrod MRA4 aircraft prior to their decommissioning.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    As the Nimrod MRA4 aircraft was never in RAF service, the Ministry of Defence does not hold information regarding the aircraft’s flying hours or appearance at air shows when operated by BAE Systems.