Tag: David Amess

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department (a) spent in each of the last 10 years and (b) plans to spend in each of the next three years on maintaining national memorials; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Helen Grant

DCMS has spent the following amounts in each of the last 10 years maintaining national memorials:

Year	Spend (£)
2013/14	529,000
2012/13	269,000
2011/12	334,000
2010/11	229,000
2009/10	230,000
2008/09	391,000
2007/08	854,000
2006/07	714,000
2005/06	130,000
2004/05	N/A

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.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2015-09-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to tackle abuse of the immigration system.

James Brokenshire

The Immigration Act 2014 has expedited the removal of over 1,400 foreign national offenders from this country and stopped illegal migrants having access to services such as, bank accounts, driving licences and rented accommodation.

The Immigration Bill will go further, enabling the seizure of earnings from illegal workers, further penalising rogue employers, and extend the deport first, appeal later principle to more cases.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how much his Department gave to the Memorials Grant Scheme in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs Helen Grant

DCMS has given the amounts set out from the Memorial Grant Scheme in each of the last 10 years:

Year	Funding MGS (£)
2013/14	529,000
2012/13	269,000
2011/12	334,000
2010/11	229,000
2009/10	230,000
2008/09	391,000
2007/08	854,000
2006/07	714,000
2005/06	130,000
2004/05	N/A

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide funding to refurbish war graves and war memorials (a) in the UK and (b) overseas as part of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry

Following the very successful commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day we will now be focusing in more detail across Government on how the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 2015 might be marked in an appropriate manner. I expect an announcement to be made later in the year.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with which countries his Department has (a) held discussions and (b) plans to hold discussions on (i) joint events and (ii) a UK presence at overseas events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the ending of the Second World War; when any such discussions (A) took place and (B) are due to take place; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry

Following the very successful commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day we will now be focusing in more detail across Government on how the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 2015 might be marked in an appropriate manner. I expect an announcement to be made later in the year.

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 recent representations he has received on the establishment of a national cemetery; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey

None. DCMS has no responsibility for cemeteries.

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.