Tag: Alex Chalk

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Chalk on 2016-04-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when his Department expects that all of Cheltenham will have access to superfast broadband of over 24 megabits per second.

Mr Edward Vaizey

Superfast broadband of at least 24 Mbps is available to 90 per cent of homes and businesses in the UK – up from 45 per cent in 2010. We currently estimate that 94% of homes and businesses in the Cheltenham constituency will have access to superfast broadband by December 2017. Government is also working with major broadband suppliers to encourage them to further extend commercial coverage, particularly in urban areas.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Chalk on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps are being taken to tackle selective breeding of dogs for aesthetic reasons which cause health defects.

George Eustice

We have consulted on proposals to modernise dog breeding licensing legislation, including helping promote schemes which are accredited by the UK Accreditation Service. One scheme is the Kennel Club’s Assured Breeder Scheme which involves the Kennel Club working with breed societies in the development and application of tests to identify dogs that have genetic defects that can cause health problems.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Chalk on 2016-10-24.

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps the Government is taking to tackle the rise in online misogyny.

Caroline Dinenage

Abusive or threatening behaviour – whoever the target – is totally unacceptable. As set out in the Violence Against Women and Girls prevention strategy, my department, with the Home Office, has established a cross-government working group to develop proactive responses to online misogyny. We have also provided new funding for the Revenge Porn Helpline.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Chalk on 2016-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what support her Department is providing for the development of (a) technologies for the improved storage of electricity and (b) locally-based smart grids.

Andrea Leadsom

More than £80m UK public sector support (including Ofgem innovation funding) has been committed to energy storage research, development and demonstration activities since 2012, which is helping to drive down the costs of storage and bring new technologies closer to market. The Department has provided more than £18m of innovation funding for development and demonstration storage technologies; including funding for four technology demonstration projects.

We are facilitating the deployment of a smart grid through:

• Rolling out smart meters which are an integral part of a smart grid;
• The DECC-Ofgem Smart Grid Forum with a range of active workstreams to remove barriers to smart grid deployment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Chalk on 2016-04-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what support the Government is providing to GPs to help them with the cost of insuring work carried out outside normal hours.

Ben Gummer

The Department and NHS England are working on proposals for discussion with the profession, medical defence organisations, the commercial insurance industry and the NHS Litigation Authority.

This will consider:

― how personal costs of indemnity and clinical insurance can be contained – provided certain clinical governance standards are met, with the objective of reducing the overall costs to the individual;

― the funding routes for indemnity in different models of care; and

― with a specific focus on new models of care such as Primary and Acute Community Services and Multi-Speciality Community Providers and the scope for corporate indemnity, freeing up individuals working in those new models from the burden of personal indemnity costs.

NHS England created the Winter Indemnity Scheme which ran from December 2015 until March 2016, making £2 million available to cover the cost of additional indemnity premiums for doctors to undertake additional out of hours sessions. This was in response to increased demand for appointments during the winter period.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Chalk on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to grant local authorities greater powers to resolve neighbour disputes arising from the reservation of parking spaces using traffic cones, refuse bins or other items.

Andrew Jones

It is an offence under Section 148(c) of the Highways Act 1980 for a person to deposit anything on the highway to interrupt the use of a highway. Local authorities have powers under Section 149 of the Highways Act 1980 to notify the person who deposited the item or items to remove them, or refer the matter to a Magistrates’ Court if he or she fails to comply. The Government believes that the current powers are adequate to deal with such matters.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Chalk on 2016-03-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support his Department is providing for the development of a cyber innovation centre in Cheltenham.

Mr Edward Vaizey

Following the Chancellor’s announcement last November, my department has been working with GCHQ and the Office for Cyber Security and Information Assurance to take forward development of the innovation centres. We will ensure that you are kept regularly apprised of progress.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Chalk on 2016-04-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many road traffic accidents have been recorded over the last five years on the area of the A417 in Gloucestershire for which an upgrade is planned in 2020.

Andrew Jones

Highways England is starting full-scale options work on the A417 Missing Link ‘Air Balloon’ roundabout scheme this financial year (2016/17), with the intention that the scheme will be ready to start construction as early as possible in the next Road Investment Strategy period which starts on 1 April 2020.

A total of 65 personal injury road accidents were reported to the police between 2010 and 2014 in the vicinity of the A417 scheme.

The number of reported personal injury road accidents per year by severity are as follows:

	Fatal	Serious	Slight	Total
2010	1	1	14	16
2011	1	0	9	10
2012	0	2	13	15
2013	2	2	4	8
2014	2	3	11	16
5yr total	6	8	51	65

Figures for 2015 will be published on 30^th June 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Chalk on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential effect of removing the protected status of seagulls in urban areas on local authorities’ ability to manage seagull populations more effectively.

Dr Thérèse Coffey

Defra has not undertaken such an assessment. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 already allows for the control of gulls, under licence from Natural England, in the interest of public health and safety or to prevent disease. Local authorities, businesses and individuals are also able to take action to manage urban gull populations e.g. using bins with secured lids, ensuring domestic animals are not fed outside and that streets are clear of litter.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Chalk on 2016-04-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to protect and support victims of stalking.

Karen Bradley

Stalking is a deeply disturbing crime which can leave its victims living in fear for years. That is why we introduced new legislation in 2012 which made stalking an offence in its own right.

The latest published figures on stalking show that this legislation is taking effect. In 2014-15, over 1,100 prosecutions were commenced under the new offences, a nearly 50% rise from the previous year. The number of referrals by the police to the CPS, the number of convictions and the number of custodial sentences have also risen.

However, legislation alone is not enough and we are determined to provide all victims of stalking with the protection and support that they need. As part of the dedicated funding to tackle violence against women and girls we provide support to the Suzy Lamplugh Trust for its National Stalking Helpline to provide support and advice to victims.

The Home Office is currently considering the results of a public consultation on the possible introduction of a Stalking Protection Order aimed at providing immediate and earlier protection for victims. Through the Police Innovation Fund, we are supporting the police to identify ways to manage the significant volume of online material in abuse, harassment and stalking cases, so that evidence can be collected more easily and a strong case built to bring a prosecution.