Tag: 2016

  • Baroness Goudie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Baroness Goudie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Goudie on 2016-09-06.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (HL783), whether they have now considered the judge’s remarks made during Taiwo v Olaigbe and another [2016] UKSC 31; if so, what is their assessment of them; and if not, when they plan to do so.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    The Government has provided strong protections for overseas domestic workers, including giving them the right to change employers during the six-month period for which they are admitted. There are no current plans to amend the Modern Slavery Act, but we keep the measures in the Act under review.

  • Cheryl Gillan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Cheryl Gillan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cheryl Gillan on 2016-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the National College for High Speed Rail will be operational.

    Andrew Jones

    The college is due to open to students in September 2017.

  • Teresa Pearce – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Teresa Pearce – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Teresa Pearce on 2016-01-13.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on the commercial provision of consumer debt advice services.

    Harriett Baldwin

    The Government is very concerned about evidence of consumer detriment in the debt management market. That is why we have given the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) robust powers to protect borrowers using debt management firms.

    For profit debt management plan providers, operating with consumers’ interest at heart and in full compliance with regulatory requirements, can help provide a wider supply of solutions and products for consumers, and help them get in control of problem debts. The Government’s focus has therefore been on comprehensively reforming regulation of this sector, and ensuring firms act in customers’ best interests.

    The FCA is currently scrutinising debt management firms as part of its authorisation process. Firms which do not meet the required standards will not be able to continue to provide debt management services.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-02-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect on the advancement of democracy in Colombia of ongoing killings by paramilitaries there; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    The Government of Colombia has made significant progress on peace process negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Both sides have committed to sign a final agreement by the end of March 2016. This agreement has significant potential to advance democracy for all Colombians.

    However, I am concerned about the continued influence of organised criminal gangs and resulting violence in Colombia, which challenges the implementation of the peace process. I am pleased to see that, on 1 February, President Santos launched a committee to tackle organised criminal groups.

    Our Embassy officials regularly discuss the challenges posed by armed criminal groups (so called ‘Bandas Criminales’ or BACRIM) in their meetings with the Colombian government. Our Ambassador to Colombia met with the Minister of Interior on 1 February when they discussed security challenges, including those posed by the BACRIM. In forthcoming meetings with the Minister of Defence and Minister of Post-Conflict, our Ambassador will seek to raise these issues again. The UK is also contributing £1m to the Organisation of American States’ Peace mission (also known as MAPP-OAS) which is monitoring demobilisation.

    A peaceful Colombia, where authorities effectively tackle organised crime and promote democratic practices nationwide, will bring about real change for all Colombians.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-02-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 22 February 2016 to Question 26579, what estimate he has made of the total cost of the Troubled Families Programme in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

    Greg Clark

    £448 million was made available for the original Troubled Families Programme, which ran from 2012-2015 and successfully helped over 116,000 families.

    The programme was expanded and rolled out nationally in April 2015, to support a further 400,000 families by 2020. The programme secured £200 million for 2015/16, the first year of its expansion; it secured a further £720 million at the Spending Review 2015 to run it until 2020.

  • Bernard Jenkin – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Bernard Jenkin – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bernard Jenkin on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take in response to the rejection by the European Parliament of the competitive market exemption condition agreed by the Council of Ministers in 2014 as part of the Council’s General Approach to the Ports Regulation to ensure that the UK ports industry is fully protected from the effects of that regulation.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The European Parliament did not replicate the competitive market exemption (CME) provisions in the Council’s General Approach but negotiations on the EU port services Regulation are ongoing. I am committed to defending the UK’s ports and ensuring during the negotiations that the efficiency and competitiveness of our successful ports sector are safeguarded.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-05-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what her policy is on the role of solar thermal technologies in meeting the UK’s renewable heat targets.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Under the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive the UK has a target to deliver 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. The government recognises that solar thermal can contribute towards the attainment of the renewable energy target. In 2014, renewable heat provided 2730 tonnes of oil equivalent, around 20% of total renewable energy. Around 2% of renewable heat came from solar thermal.

    Source:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/renewable-sources-of-energy-chapter-6-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes

    “

  • Baroness Kramer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Baroness Kramer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kramer on 2016-06-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many UK companies are subsidiaries of another company that is registered (1) within the EU, or (2) in the rest of the world; and what estimate they have made of the total value of those UK companies.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    Companies House’s role is to hold the register of UK companies and make the information available to the public. Its role is not to provide detailed analysis on companies. Providing an accurate figure on the number and value of UK companies that are subsidiaries of other non-UK companies would breach the disproportionate cost threshold given the volume and complexity of the information within the dataset.

  • Lord Stone of Blackheath – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Stone of Blackheath – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stone of Blackheath on 2016-09-06.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to strengthen ties, and build a partnership, with Egypt to fight terrorism and promote peace and British interests in the region.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The UK is building ties with Egypt both at the political level and through cooperation and assistance in a number of areas including through work on security, the economy, governance and education. The former Prime Minister (The Right Hon. David Cameron), invited President Sisi to London in November 2015 and the Prime Minister spoke to President Sisi on 3rd of August to discuss future cooperation.

    The UK plans to spend £50m from 2016 to 2020 inclusive to support the country’s continued stability, protect ordinary Egyptians, tackle radicalisation and safeguard tourists and British nationals. UK cooperation includes supporting scientific innovation through the seven year £25m Newton Mosharafa fund, funding which will be matched by the Egyptian government. We are also fostering interfaith understanding through the UK – Al Azhar Religious Studies Scholarship which provides opportunities for future religious leaders to undertake doctoral studies in the UK. And we are working closely with the Egyptian authorities to provide technical assistance on financial reform.

    The UK and Egypt have a shared interest in the fight against terrorism, and we are committed to working together in a number of areas to combat the terrorist threat. These include aviation security and the protection of tourist resorts. The UK armed forces have also provided their Egyptian counterparts with counter-IED and close protection training. The former Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) and Foreign Minister Shoukry signed a Memorandum of Understanding during President Sisi’s visit to the UK in November 2015. This committed the Home Office and Egyptian Ministry of Interior to a regular high-level dialogue to increase cooperation across a wide range of areas, including counter-terrorism, illegal migration and organised crime.

  • Lord Harris of Haringey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lord Harris of Haringey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Harris of Haringey on 2016-10-21.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 12 October (HL Deb, col 1889–90), what steps they have taken to inform parents that the provision of information about their child’s nationality for inclusion in the school censure is optional and that they can decline to provide that information without any adverse consequences.

    Lord Nash

    The Department for Education publishes guidance for schools on administering the school census. It is up to schools to then work with parents and guardians to collect this data. As stated in the guidance (section 5.3.5) the requested information on nationality is as declared by the parent or guardian. The parent or guardian may decline to provide this information to the school without consequences. In such a case, the school would record this as ‘refused’ to meet its statutory duty to make a return.

    However, the Department is aware that a number of schools have not implemented the collection in accordance with the guidance. We will, therefore, work with the sector to consider how it can better support schools in collecting school census data for future rounds.

    To address any uncertainties, I have placed an information note in the House Libraries. This note has also been published on the Department’s public website.

    The guidance is available on the Government’s website, www.gov.uk, by searching for ‘School census 2016 to 2017: guide for schools and LAs’.