Tag: Caroline Lucas

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-06-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to publish guidance on the Dublin III regulation.

James Brokenshire

The Dublin III Regulation clearly sets out the criteria and process for determining responsibility for asylum cases. Caseworkers refer to the detail of the Regulation when determining cases, along with the relevant case law. We are aiming to update and publish some additional guidance shortly. Caseworkers have access to policy and legal advisers on a regular basis.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-06-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has investigated, in his Department’s work assessing the reasons for delays and cancellations on the Brighton Mainline, whether or not GTR are preventing staff who took part in recent strike action from working overtime; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry

GTR are providing the Department with information on the current disruption in line with their franchise agreement. Management of staff is a matter between GTR and its employees, however I have been assured by GTR that it is not the case that they are preventing staff who participated in industrial action from working overtime.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-07-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s costings for nuclear power of the findings of the National Audit Office in its report published in July 2016 on Nuclear power in the UK, HC 511, paragraph 2.11, on the effect on running costs of nuclear power facilities of increased terrorist threats.

Jesse Norman

The Government considers safety and security at nuclear power plants to be of paramount importance. The operator bears most of the security costs for nuclear power plants. The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy seeks independent costs estimates for new nuclear power, which incorporate security costs – the Department’s most recent cost estimates are available in the Electricity Generation Costs report, available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/269888/131217_Electricity_Generation_costs_report_December_2013_Final.pdf

“

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 25 July 2016 to Question 42908, for what reasons he does not plan to release the Planning Inspector’s report before issuing his decision on those appeals; and if he will make it his policy to publish that report in advance of the decision being issued.

Gavin Barwell

As is normal practice, the Inspector’s report on the Cuadrilla Appeals for sites around Preston and Roseacre and Wharles in Lancashire, will be published alongside the decision.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what his policy is on the use of citizens’ juries to define the UK’s future relationship with the EU.

Mr David Jones

There are currently no plans to use citizens’ juries to define the UK’s future relationship with the EU.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-10-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will assess whether (a) Govia Thameslink Railway and (b) his Department have met their public sector equality duty in relation to the extension of Driver Only Operation.

Paul Maynard

The Government is determined for everyone to have the same access to public transport and all train companies must comply with their legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and their Disabled People’s Protection Policy (which is a Passenger Operator Licence Condition) in respect of all aspects of their operation, including where Driver Only Operation is in effect. The Disabled People’s Protection Policy is approved and monitored by the ORR.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-11-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timetable is for the review of the Code of Practice for Privately Kept Non-Human Primates; and whether that review will include consultation with (a) members of the public and (b) animal welfare organisations.

George Eustice

Defra plans to review the Code of Practice for the Welfare of Privately Kept Non-human Primates next year. The review will include a consultation with industry, keepers, veterinarians and animal welfare organisations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-12-01.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the Government’s policy is on the appropriate percentage rate of return on investment for (a) schools and community groups investing in on-site solar power and (b) foreign state owned companies investing in new nuclear power in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Hands

We want to attract cost-effective investment in infrastructure. Investors rightly expect a market rate of return and value for money is achieved through competition and careful negotiation. Individual project rates of return will differ to reflect, among other things, the risk profiles involved.

The Feed-in-Tariff scheme, for which schools and community groups are eligible to apply, aims to offer rates of return for solar installations between 4% and 8%. Returns for each installation will vary according to their individual costs and the amount of electricity generated and used on site. The Government’s recently closed consultation on the scheme includes a review to ensure that tariffs are within this range, given the fall in costs of solar panels in recent years. It will detail its response to the consultation shortly.

We are unable to disclose the anticipated rate of return for new nuclear transactions as these are commercially sensitive.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-12-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many of her officials are engaged in preparing the Government’s next Climate Change Risk Assessment.

Rory Stewart

Defra’s core climate change adaptation team of eight officials is coordinating and inputting to the preparation of the second Climate Change Risk Assessment, to be laid in Parliament in January 2017. Many other officials from across Defra, wider Government and its agencies are also contributing to the assessment. The underlying evidence report that will make up the bulk of the assessment is being prepared by the Adaptation Sub-Committee of the Committee on Climate Change, with extensive input from around 100 other experts.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-01-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph 7.3 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, whether she plans to maintain international language requirements for both universities and pre-university students.

James Brokenshire

It is important to ensure that students who come to study in the UK under the Tier 4 route of the points-based system can speak English, in order that they can truly benefit from their British education and will be able to properly integrate with their peers. We will continue to have English language requirements for these students.

We have an excellent offer for international students who wish to study at our world-leading institutions and there remains no limit on the number who can do so. As a result, the UK remains the second most popular destination in the world for international higher education students. Annual visa applications from international students to study at British universities are now 17 per cent higher than they were in 2010, with visa applications to our elite Russell Group universities up by 39 per cent since 2010.