Tag: 2016

  • Helen Hayes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Helen Hayes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Hayes on 2016-10-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government has access to radar data covering Aleppo on 17 August 2016 that might identify the type, origin and identity of aircraft present for the air attack on the Qaterji neighbourhood on that day.

    Mike Penning

    I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

    However, indiscriminate attacks which fail to distinguish between civilians and legitimate military targets would be a violation of International Humanitarian Law and we welcome the UN’s recent decision to establish an Internal Board of Inquiry into the attack on a UN aid convoy on 19 September.

  • Huw Irranca-Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Huw Irranca-Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Huw Irranca-Davies on 2016-01-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to reduce (a) carbon emissions and (b) air pollution from maritime transport and air transport.

    Andrew Jones

    Given the international nature of the maritime and aviation sectors, the UK works primarily through UN’s International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and International Maritime Organization (IMO) to ensure strong action on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at a global level is taken.

    We are working with other states in ICAO to agree a global CO2 standard for aircraft and a global market-based measure to tackle aviation emissions growth, both of which will be subject to important decisions in 2016. We also continue to support the use of regional emissions measures, such as the Aviation EU Emissions Trading Scheme in the absence of a global measure. On air pollution from aviation, we are also working in ICAO to reduce particulate matter emissions, following the organisation’s introduction of a standard to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.

    With maritime emissions, the UK is working in the IMO towards developing global data collection systems on ships’ CO2 energy efficiency. Moreover, following the introduction of a new 0.1 per cent sulphur limit on 1 January 2015, there has been a significant reduction in sulphur pollutants emitted by ships operating in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea emission control areas.

  • Jim McMahon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jim McMahon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim McMahon on 2016-01-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will meet the hon. Member for Oldham West and Royton and local authority officials to discuss the proposal for an Ashton Loop Line and Middleton Spur extension to Greater Manchester’s Metrolink tram system.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    If the hon Member contacts my departmental office I would of course be happy to consider his request in the normal way.

  • 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 2016-02-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what (a) funding the Government will provide to the Joint Security Fund, (b) funding his Department will receive from that fund, (c) funding Defence Intelligence will receive from that fund and (d) proportion of the funding his Department will so receive will be passed onto the armed forces.

    Michael Fallon

    The Treasury has allocated £3.5 billion to departments over this Parliament to provide joint security funding across government: the Ministry of Defence will benefit from £2.1 billion of that funding to deliver the investment for our Armed Forces set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review.

  • Jeffrey M. Donaldson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Jeffrey M. Donaldson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeffrey M. Donaldson on 2016-03-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to maintain the Royal Irish Aftercare Service in support of veterans of Operation Banner in Northern Ireland.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    The Ulster Defence Regiment and The Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) Aftercare Service provides a vital service to support all veterans and dependants of those Regiments as well as sick and wounded personnel who leave the Armed Forces and wish to settle in Northern Ireland. Around £900,000 has been allocated to deliver this service in financial year 2016-17. Looking ahead as part of our commitment to deliver the most effective and efficient services to our veterans the Ministry of Defence is considering integrating the Aftercare Service into the MOD’s broader veterans welfare organisation, Veterans UK.

  • Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-04-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2016 to Question 33300, for what reason the objectives for walking contained in the draft Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy are not measurable.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The objectives for walking are measureable using the total number of walking stages per person per year and increasing the percentage of children aged 5 to 10 that usually walk to school as mentioned on page 6 of the draft Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy.

  • Chris Law – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Chris Law – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Law on 2016-06-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to his Department’s press release of 27 March 2015, Government revs up motorcycle market, if he will implement grants for the purchase of electronic motorcycles.

    Andrew Jones

    The Government remains committed to supporting the UK’s zero emission motorcycle industry. We have been working with stakeholders on the details of the most suitable scheme and will make a further announcement shortly.

  • Eilidh Whiteford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Eilidh Whiteford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Eilidh Whiteford on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on claimants of having no timescale within which his Department must return a mandatory reconsideration decision to the claimant.

    Penny Mordaunt

    There has been no statutory requirement to make a benefit decision within a specified time since 1998. This applies equally to a claim for benefit, an application for review and, since it was introduced in April 2013, an application for Mandatory Reconsideration. Decisions are made without delay – whilst giving claimants every opportunity to provide new and additional evidence to support their application.

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

    Stephen Gethins – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on UK universities’ ability to attract high-quality students and researchers from across Europe.

    Joseph Johnson

    The UK has a long-established system that supports, and therefore attracts, the brightest minds, at all stages of their careers. We fund excellent research wherever it is found and ensure there is the freedom to tackle important scientific questions. HM Treasury’s announcement on underwriting EU research funding awarded while we remain EU members, even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU, underlines our commitment to maintain the UK as an attractive place to conduct research and innovation.

    The Government has also announced that EU students applying for a place at an English university or further education institution in the 2017/2018 academic year will continue to be eligible for student loans and grants, and will be for the duration of their course.

  • Thangam Debbonaire – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Thangam Debbonaire – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thangam Debbonaire on 2016-01-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department plans to close HM Prison Bristol.

    Andrew Selous

    On 9 November 2015, the Chancellor and Secretary of State announced their intention to build a prison estate which allows prisoners to be rehabilitated, thereby enabling them to turn away from a life of crime. This will involve building nine new prisons and closing old and inefficient prisons.

    No decisions have yet been made on which prisons will be closed.