Tag: David Amess

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department (a) has given in each of the last 10 years and (b) plans to give in the next three years to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to (i) mark and (ii) maintain the graves of those who died during the World Wars; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry

As the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War approaches, it is right that we acknowledge the important work undertaken by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) to commemorate those who gave their lives during both World Wars.

The CWGC receives financial contributions from its member nations based on the number of graves it maintains on behalf of each nation. Accordingly the UK Government contributes 78.43% to the total CWGC funding.

Financial records are retained for seven years. Information held by the Ministry of Defence indicates that over the last seven financial years the UK Government has made the following payments to CWGC for the maintenance of graves of those who died during the First and Second World Wars. The figures include UK VAT:

2007-08 – £34,799,000
2008-09 – £35,153,000
2009-10 – £46,545,000
2010-11 – £43,341,000
2011-12 – £46,288,000
2012-13 – £44,636,487
2013-14 – £47,318,041

With regard to future funding, the UK will continue to meet its obligation to pay the appropriate percentage (currently 78.43%) of the total CWGC funding.

The Department for Culture, Media & Sport is discussing with the CWGC the scope for enhancing information and interpretation at burial sites as part of the centenary commemorations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many graves are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, by (a) cemetery and (b) country.

Anna Soubry

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission ensures that the 1.7 million people who died in the two world wars will never be forgotten. The Commission cares for cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 locations, in 153 countries. It is therefore not possible to list every cemetery in this answer. Detailed and searchable information on the numbers of graves at each location in every relevant country is available on the Commission’s website: http://www.cwgc.org/

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which cemeteries are maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, by country; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission ensures that the 1.7 million people who died in the two world wars will never be forgotten. The Commission cares for cemeteries and memorials at 23,000 locations, in 153 countries. It is therefore not possible to list every cemetery in this answer. Detailed and searchable information on the numbers of graves at each location in every relevant country is available on the Commission’s website: http://www.cwgc.org/

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department has (a) taken in each of the last three years and (b) plans to take in the next two years to ensure that war memorials are properly maintained and kept in a good state of repair; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Helen Grant

DCMS has spent the following amounts maintaining national memorials in each of the last three years. The Memorials Grant Scheme is available to charities and faith groups, and can be used for works involving war memorials. The scheme will be available until 31 March 2015.

Year	Spend (£)
2013/14	529,000
2012/13	269,000
2011/12	334,000

The Government has announced this week that it will give the War Memorials Trust up to £3 million over the First World War centenary period to boost the funds available to local communities for the repair and conservation of war memorials. English Heritage, Imperial War Museums and Civic Voice will together be given £1.5 million over the same period to deliver better protection through Listing, a greater pool of specialist skills, a national register of war memorials, and a network of trained volunteers.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to respond to the letter sent to his Department by Jeena International on 27 May 2014 on the misrepresentation of its organisation in a Parliamentary debate on abortion; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison

A reply to the letter of 27 May has now been sent to Jeena International.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which 10 primary care areas in England had the (a) highest and (b) lowest abortion rates per 1,000 women aged between 15 and 44 years in 2013.

Jane Ellison

The following tables show the information requested.

Table 1: Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) with the 10 highest abortion rates, 2013

CCG Name	Rate per 1,000 resident women aged 15-44 ASR 1, 2
NHS Barking and Dagenham	31.4
NHS Croydon	26.9
NHS Greenwich	26.6
NHS Lewisham	26.6
NHS Waltham Forest	25.8
NHS Southwark	25.0
NHS Brent	25.0
NHS Hounslow	24.6
NHS Lambeth	24.0
NHS Redbridge	23.8

¹Rates for CCGs are based on mid-2013 population estimates.

²Aged Standardised Rates are calculated using the 2013 European Standard Population (ESP).

Table 2: CCGs with the 10 lowest abortion rates, 2013

CCG Name	Rate per 1,000 resident women aged 15-44 ASR 1, 2
NHS Hardwick	9.2
NHS Vale of York	9.7
NHS North Durham	9.9
NHS South Norfolk	10.1
NHS North Derbyshire	10.1
NHS North Norfolk	10.2
NHS West Suffolk	10.5
NHS Rushcliffe	10.5
NHS South Lincolnshire	10.7
NHS Bath and North East Somerset	10.8

¹Rates for CCGs are based on mid-2013 population estimates.

²Aged Standardised Rates are calculated using the 2013 ESP.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the British Medical Association’s press release of 27 May 2014 entitled Abortion guidance ignores gender complexity; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison

We have noted the views of the British Medical Association on this issue.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what information his Department holds on the (a) number and (b) location of memorials to commemorate the war dead in the (i) First World War and (ii) Second World War; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey

DCMS holds no records on the number or location of memorials to commemorate the war dead. Information about war memorials throughout the UK is held by both the Imperial War Museum and the War Memorials Trust. The Imperial War Museum is working with its partners to make this information more easily accessible to the public.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the taking of minutes in meetings conducted by his departmental officials with representatives of (a) other Government departments and (b) outside organisations; and if he will make a statement.

Dr Daniel Poulter

Where meetings of formally constituted committees or boards are held, a minute of the meeting must be produced for governance purposes. For other less formal meetings, a note or minute is produced at the discretion of the officials concerned.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what funding his Department has allocated to the maintenance of war memorials in each of the next three years; what steps it takes to ensure that war memorials are maintained to a high standard; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey

The DCMS-run Memorial Grant Scheme has a budget of £543,000 for this financial year. Grants are available to charities and faith groups, and can be used to repair and maintain war memorials. The Government has today announced that it will give the War Memorials Trust up to £3 million over the First World War centenary period to boost the funds available to local communities for the repair and conservation of war memorials. English Heritage, Imperial War Museums and Civic Voice will together be given £1.5 million over the same period to deliver better protection through Listing, a greater pool of specialist skills, a national register of war memorials, and a network of trained volunteers.