Tag: 2016

  • Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2016-02-10.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government under what circumstances embryonic stem cell lines that have been derived from human embryos subjected to genome editing by means of CRISPR-Cas9 would be considered to conform to good manufacturing practice and classed as clinical grade by either the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority or the UK Stem Cell Bank.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that it has licensed one human embryo research project involving the use of genome editing CRISPR-Cas9. One objective of this project is to derive human embryonic stem cells. As outlined in the HFEA Inspection Report, there is no intention for these stem cells to be used in human application. In these circumstances, there is no need to assess whether they conform to good manufacturing practice and are classed as clinical grade.

  • Lord MacKenzie of Culkein – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Lord MacKenzie of Culkein – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord MacKenzie of Culkein on 2016-03-08.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government which institutions and authorities have been served with improvement notices since the introduction of the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013.

    Baroness Altmann

    Since the introduction of the Health and Safety (Sharp Instruments in Healthcare) Regulations 2013, twenty-six institutions across England, Scotland and Wales have received improvement notices up to December 2015. Before an improvement notice is served the inspector will discuss the breaches of law with the duty holder and explain why a notice is being served. The inspector will also ensure that the duty holder understands what they need to do to comply, and has the opportunity to explore alternatives. A timescale for compliance will also be agreed. The institutions are:

    1

    Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board

    2

    Akari Care Limited

    3

    Birmingham Women’s NHS Foundation Trust

    4

    BUPA Care Homes (CFG) PLC

    5

    Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    6

    Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

    7

    Cwm Taf Health Board (2 notices served)

    8

    HC-One Limited (2 notices served)

    9

    Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust

    10

    Luton & Dunstable University Hospital

    11

    Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust

    12

    Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    13

    North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust

    14

    North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust

    15

    North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust

    16

    Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust

    17

    Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    18

    Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust

    19

    Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust

    20

    South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust

    21

    Tayside Health Board (3 notices served)

    22

    The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust

    23

    University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

    24

    University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

    25

    University Hospitals Of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust ( 2 notices served)

    26

    Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (2 notices served)

  • Anne Main – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Anne Main – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anne Main on 2016-04-13.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many meetings have taken place between officials of his Department and the European Commission Directorate-General for Communication in each of the last 12 months.

    Matthew Hancock

    There have been no meetings between Cabinet Office officials and the European Commission Directorate-General for Communication in the last 12 months.

  • Andy McDonald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Andy McDonald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy McDonald on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding the Government provides to Rail North.

    Andrew Jones

    The Rail North Partnership brings together activities that were previously undertaken by DfT and Local Transport Authorities in the North. Accordingly the Government has agreed that £500,000 p.a. of existing annual grant funding provided by the Department to the North of England Passenger Transport Executives (PTEs) and Combined Authorities can be used to fund Rail North. In addition, the Department funds staffing costs that it would have otherwise incurred itself.

  • 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 2016-07-07.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports of the use of torture by Israeli Security Forces and Israeli authorities in the West Bank and Gaza; and whether they plan to prosecute alleged torturers who reach the UK.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    Whilst we have not made any assessment on this issue, the UK is firmly committed to the promotion and protection of human rights in Israel and in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, as well as compliance with international humanitarian law. We regularly discuss implementation of those obligations with the Israeli authorities. We have confirmed with the Israeli authorities that Israel is in the process of incorporating the crime of torture into national legislation. The appropriate authorities in the UK for the investigation and prosecution of crimes are the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service, which function independently of Government in these matters.

  • Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb on 2016-10-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to enact primary legislation ensuring that UK World Heritage Sites receive statutory protection from inappropriate planning consents.

    Lord Ashton of Hyde

    Where appropriate UK World Heritage sites are afforded statutory protection through designation of specific assets through existing legislation. Other aspects of World Heritage Sites are key material considerations in the determination of planning applications.

  • Baroness Corston – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the The Lord Chairman of Committees

    Baroness Corston – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the The Lord Chairman of Committees

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Corston on 2016-01-21.

    To ask the Chairman of Committees how much has been spent by the House of Lords on floristry services on the Parliamentary estate for each of the last five years for which figures are available.

    Lord Laming

    The cost of flowers for the House of Lords is set out in the table below. These costs relate primarily to flowers in catering and retail outlets, and ceremonial events, such as state visits. The cost of flowers in the House of Commons portion of the Parliamentary estate is a matter for the House of Commons Commission.

    Financial year

    Amount (£)

    2011/12

    23,185

    2012/13

    13,956

    2013/14

    11,656

    2014/15

    13,459

    2015/16 (to December 2015)

    9,276

    These figures do not include flowers for banqueting functions and other income generating business as these costs are paid for by the customer or revenue from the event.

    Catering and Retail Services keeps its expenditure on flowers under review, to ensure that it is delivering best value to the taxpayer.

  • Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2016-02-10.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consulted the Charity Commission prior to their announcement on 6 February that charities would no longer be able to use any government grant to influence policy, and if so, what advice the Charity Commission gave.

    Lord Bridges of Headley

    The announcement on 6 February was on a new clause for all government grant agreements. It is not specific to Charities.

  • Lord Berkeley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Lord Berkeley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Berkeley on 2016-03-07.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 3 March (HL6235), what destinations are currently licensed to accept spoil from the Thames Tideway Tunnel, and what commitments have been given about whether such spoil may be sent to landfill permit sites.

    Lord Gardiner of Kimble

    There are many sites across the country licensed to accept the type of excavated material and waste from the Thames Tideway Tunnel (TTT). Tideway, the Infrastructure Provider set up to finance, build, maintain and operate the TTT, is assessing several sites that were identified as part of the information submitted for the Development Consent Order consent to receive the TTT excavated material. In order to meet Tideway’s commitment to transport by river, it is focussing on sites in the Thames Estuary. The type of permit these sites require is being assessed in line with current statutory guidance. A number of applications have been made and are being determined by the Environment Agency.

  • Christopher Chope – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Christopher Chope – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2016-04-13.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information his Department holds on the reasons why the EU Action Plan on VAT consultation document issued by the European Commission on 7 April 2016 omits any reference to the decision of EU Leads of Government that the UK can remove VAT from women’s sanitary products; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr David Gauke

    The content of the EU VAT Action Plan is a matter for the European Commission.

    European Council Conclusions welcomed “the intention of the Commission to include proposals for increased flexibility for Member States with respect to reduced rates of VAT, which would provide the option to Member States of VAT zero rating‎ for sanitary products”.