UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: 2016

  • Paul Scully – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Paul Scully – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Scully on 2016-03-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent reports he has received of rocket fire into Israel from Gaza.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    Our Embassy in Tel Aviv and our Consulate General in Jerusalem give us regular updates on the current situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. These updates include reports on rockets being fired from the Gaza Strip into the sea; any rocket fire from Gaza into Israel; and any retaliatory Israeli air strikes on Gaza. However they do not keep a record of the numbers, but according to UN figures, in January 2016 a total of three rockets were fired into Israel by Gazan militant groups.

  • Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno on 2016-04-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action is being taken by the Crown Prosecution Service following the publication of the Panama Papers.

    Lord Keen of Elie

    The Government has announced plans to create a cross-agency taskforce to investigate all evidence of illegality that has emerged from the so called “Panama Papers” revelations. The Government will take whatever action is necessary after the work of the taskforce has been completed.

    The Crown Prosecution Service will advise on any criminal investigations commenced by HMRC, the police or the National Crime Agency and will bring criminal proceedings if cases pass the evidential and public interest stages of the Code for Crown Prosecutors.

  • Hilary Benn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Hilary Benn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the Egyptian government on the death penalty imposed on Ibrahim Mohammed Helal and other journalists in that country.

    Mr Philip Hammond

    We regularly raise our concerns over press freedoms with the Egyptian authorities both in London and in Cairo. The Prime Minister, the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) raised the detention of journalists with President Sisi during his visit to the UK in November 2015. I raised press freedoms and freedom of expression with the Egyptian Ambassador in April, and these concerns are expanded upon in the Human Rights Priority Country report on Egypt which was published on 21 April. It is a long term policy of the UK Government to oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle and we have raised this with the Egyptian Government. There are further stages in the legal process and we will continue to monitor the case.

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-07-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2016 to Question 41943, how many people have (a) claimed and (b) received payment under the vaccine damages payment scheme in respect of a vaccine used for whooping cough.

    Justin Tomlinson

    I refer the honourable gentleman to my response to his question dated 31 May 2016. Information regarding claims and awards in respect of a particular disease or vaccine is unavailable.

  • Lord Stoddart of Swindon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Stoddart of Swindon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2016-09-13.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the widening of the M4 motorway between junctions 3 and 12 will commence, when it is likely to be completed, and what measures they will put in place to avoid delays to traffic during the construction period.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    Highways England’s latest Delivery Plan states that the start of works for the M4 Junction 3-12 scheme is the fourth quarter of 2016/2017 and it will open to traffic in 2021/22.

    Measures to avoid delays to traffic during the construction period include:

    • Maintaining three lanes of traffic in each direction during peak periods
    • Using average speed camera equipment to smooth flows and improve safety and journey time reliability
    • Installing a CCTV system to identify vehicles in need of recovery and other incidents, with free recovery of broken down vehicles to remove obstructions and keep traffic flowing
    • Minimising traffic management during Bank Holiday periods and working with major events to coordinate traffic management
    • Timing overnight lane closures and full carriageway closures at less sensitive times.
  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-01-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of food labelling on reducing the (a) calorie intake and (b) weight of people.

    Jane Ellison

    Feedback from consumers consistently indicates that clear food labelling helps people to make healthier choices. For example, the United Kingdom voluntary front of pack nutrition labelling scheme, recommended by UK Health Ministers in June 2013, incorporates percentage Reference Intakes information, together with the levels of energy kcal/kJ and four colour-coded nutrients: fat, saturates, sugars and salt. This helps consumers judge how much energy and nutrients a portion of the labelled food will contribute to their overall diet, and also enable them to compare products.

    The scheme is based on extensive consumer research and is the result of a full written public consultation, followed by collaboration with the food industry and groups representing consumers and public health interests to develop it.

  • Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many qualified PE teachers entered the teaching profession in each year since 2010.

    Nick Gibb

    In the academic year 2013 to 2014 (the latest available), there were 1,443 initial teacher trainees on physical education courses in their final year. Further information is detailed in the table below.

    Physical education ITT trainees in their final year:

    Academic year

    Total

    Awarded QTS

    2010/11

    1,557

    1,487

    2011/12

    1,385

    1,321

    2012/13

    1,366

    1,243

    2013/14

    1,443

    1,368

    (Excludes Teach first)

  • 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 2016-03-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department plans to publish its childhood obesity strategy.

    Jane Ellison

    The Childhood Obesity Strategy will be launched in the summer.

  • Baroness Tonge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Baroness Tonge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-04-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding reports that a 12-year-old Palestinian girl from Hebron, imprisoned in Israel, has been interrogated without the presence of her parents or an attorney.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    We have not raised this specific incident with the Israeli government but understand from media reports that the girl involved has now been released. Israeli law grants all suspects the right to consult a lawyer but does not insist that a suspect is interrogated in the presence of a lawyer. Military law also does not allow for parents of minors held on security charges to be present during the interrogation. We have repeatedly urged the Israeli authorities to improve their handling of Palestinian children in custody and remain committed to working with Israel to address this issue.

  • Ben Bradshaw – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Ben Bradshaw – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ben Bradshaw on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for what reasons the Government permits the 35 people named under the US Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012 to (a) hold assets in the UK and (b) be issued with UK visas.

    Richard Harrington

    As we have previously made clear, the Magnitsky case remains of serious concern to the UK Government.

    The UK Government has powers in relation to assets that are very similar to those available to the United States under the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012. These powers are under regular review and the Government will consider further legislation if and when the evidence suggests it is necessary.

    Wherever we have evidence that individuals were involved in the Magnitsky case, that evidence is taken very carefully into account in considering visa applications.

    For reasons of data protection the Government does not routinely comment on individuals’ asset holdings or immigration cases.