Tag: 2016

  • Angela Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Angela Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Smith on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Burmese counterpart on prisoners of conscience in that country.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    The release of political prisoners has been an early priority for the new NLD-led government, with over 100 having been released since Friday.

    The UK Government has long campaigned on the issue of political prisoners in Burma and we welcome this quick action.

  • Lord Marlesford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Lord Marlesford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Marlesford on 2016-04-28.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many publicly owned or charity owned houses have been sold to their tenants in each of the last five years.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    Statistics on the number of social dwellings sold by local authorities and private registered providers can be found in Live Table 678, which is too large to be included here but has been attached and can also be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-social-housing-sales

  • Lord Allen of Kensington – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Lord Allen of Kensington – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Allen of Kensington on 2016-06-13.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the minimum broadband speeds required to help British businesses remain competitive in a global economy.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    The Government recognises the importance of broadband access throughout the UK for businesses in remaining globally competitive. That is why the Review into Business Broadband, jointly led by BIS and DCMS, was announced on 24 February to explore the barriers faced by businesses in accessing the affordable, high-speed broadband they need. That Review is ongoing and will report later this year.

  • Tom Blenkinsop – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Tom Blenkinsop – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2016-09-02.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to amend the Lifetime ISA proposal so that the 25 per cent government bonus can be used towards a deposit on a first home.

    Jane Ellison

    As is usual with new financial products, the Government continues to work closely with industry on the finer details of the policy, including on the operation of withdrawals for first house purchase. Ministers will provide a statement on the position in due course.

  • Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on how many businesses appealed against the amount demanded from them in business rates (a) in each English local authority area and (b) by region of England in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    Information on the number of appeals in relation to business rates is held by the Valuation Office Agency. Data on appeals, including a breakdown by local authority area, are published online and are available at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/valuation-office-agency/about/statistics.

  • Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno on 2016-01-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support they give to voluntary organisations engaged in the refugee crisis.

    Earl of Courtown

    The UK has pledged over £1.1 billion to date to help alleviate the Syria Crisis, our largest ever humanitarian response. The UK is supporting a range of implementing partners working in Syria and neighbouring countries, including United Nations agencies, international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the Red Cross/Crescent and other international organisations.

    In relation to the Mediterranean migration crisis, the UK is supporting host government capacity and organisations such as the Red Cross, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Children’s fund (UNICEF), the International Organisation for Migration, and NGOs to provide basic care, assistance, protection, and informationto vulnerable people.

  • Ian C. Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Ian C. Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian C. Lucas on 2016-02-03.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what contracts for delivery of IT services have been concluded between the Government and Google in the last five years.

    Matthew Hancock

    Since January 2011, as part of the Government’s transparency programme, details of central government contracts above the value of £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder. Since 1 April 2015, wider public sector bodies, including local authorities, have also been required to publish details of contracts above the value of £25,000 on Contracts Finder.

    Contracts published prior to 26 February 2015 can be viewed at: http://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive

    Those published after 26 February 2015 can be viewed at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search

    “

  • Jonathan Ashworth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Jonathan Ashworth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2016-02-24.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many times Dorneywood has been redecorated in each of the last five years.

    Harriett Baldwin

    The Dorneywood estate is the responsibility of the Dorneywood Trust. As such the Government does not hold details of redecoration or repairs to the estate.

  • The Lord Bishop of Leeds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The Lord Bishop of Leeds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Leeds on 2016-03-23.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports of the use of chemical weapons by Daesh in Iraq.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    There are credible reports that Daesh has used chemical weapons in Iraq. The Government of Iraq, with support from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), investigated allegations of chemical weapons use in Iraq last year and has concluded that sulphur mustard was used against Peshmerga fighters on 11 August 2015.

    Allegations that Daesh attacked the village of Taza on 8 March 2016, possibly with sulphur mustard, are being investigated by the Government of Iraq, along with two other recent allegations of Daesh use of chemical weapons. Such behaviour would be consistent with Daesh’s record of complete disregard for human rights and international norms and values. We welcome the OPCW Director General’s press statement of 23 March offering assistance to the Government of Iraq.

    We continue to monitor all allegations of chemical weapon use very closely, and condemn all such attacks by anyone, anywhere.

  • Gordon Marsden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Gordon Marsden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gordon Marsden on 2016-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the Further Education Act 1992 gives HEFCE current statutory responsibility for degree standards.

    Joseph Johnson

    The Further and Higher Education Act 1992 enables the Privy Council to bestow degree awarding powers on institutions which provide higher education, and foundation degree awarding powers on institutions within the further education sector. The Privy Council bestows these powers upon the advice of the Secretary of State who, in turn, obtains information and advice from HEFCE and the Quality Assurance Agency. HEFCE’s role in this process is explained in government guidance. Guidance for foundation degrees is available at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/foundation-degree-awarding-powers.

    Guidance for other degrees can be found at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/taught-and-research-degree-awarding-powers

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