Tag: Fiona Bruce

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects to publish the results of the Government’s review of alcohol consumption.

Jane Ellison

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) is overseeing a United Kingdom-wide review of lower-risk alcohol guidelines so that people can make informed choices about their drinking at all stages of their lives.

The Guidelines Development Group, a group of independent experts, was tasked with developing the lower-risk drinking guidelines for the UK CMOs to consider. The group have researched and developed a proposal on the guidelines, including a UK wide approach for guidance on alcohol and pregnancy. We will be consulting on these shortly.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2016-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the most recent Code of Social Conduct was issued for the armed forces; if he will place in the Library a copy of that code: what restrictions that code contains on sexual activity by service personnel; and whether adultery continues to be a ground for discharge from the armed forces.

Mark Lancaster

The Armed Forces Code of Social Conduct (AF CSC) is contained in Part 1 of Joint Service Publication (JSP) 887 entitled ‘Diversity Inclusion and Social Conduct’; this publication was most recently updated in December 2014. A copy of JSP 887 has been placed in the Library of the House.

Adultery, per se, does not constitute grounds for dismissal from the Armed Forces. However, if the actions or behaviour of an individual adversely impact, or are likely to impact, on the efficiency or operational effectiveness of the Service then a range of sanctions may be applied, up to and including dismissal.

The AF CSC does not provide a prescriptive list of restrictions on sexual activity; it provides examples of the kinds of conduct or relationship that may constitute social misbehaviour. This includes unwelcome sexual attention; over-familiarity with the spouses or partners of other Service personnel; behaviour which damages or hazards the marriage or personal relationships of Service personnel or civilian colleagues within the wider Defence community; and taking sexual advantage of subordinates.

The seriousness with which misconduct will be regarded by a Commanding Officer will depend on the individual circumstances that prevail at that time and the potential for adversely affecting operational effectiveness. Nevertheless, misconduct involving abuse of position, trust or rank, or taking advantage of an individual’s separation will be viewed as being particularly serious.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2016-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications of the reference to a number of protected characteristics in paragraph seven of the Government’s Counter-Extremism Strategy, Cm 9148, for the effect of the Equality Act 2010 on all the protected characteristics it includes.

Karen Bradley

The Government is required to impact assess its policies against the protected characteristics as set out in the Equality Act 2010. I am satisfied that the Counter-Extremism Strategy demonstrates compliance, where relevant, with Section 149 of the Equality Act and that due regard has been made to the need to eliminate unlawful discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations.

The Counter-Extremism Strategy aims to tackle extremism in all its forms and reduce the harm it causes, iIncluding harms such as discrimination, harassment and victimisation. To tackle these harms the strategy focuses on four areas:

• Countering extremist ideology;

• Building partnerships;

• Disrupting extremists; and

• Building more cohesive communities.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2016-05-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to the People’s Republic of China on that government’s proposed new law on control of foreign non-governmental organisations.

Mr Hugo Swire

We have longstanding concerns about the new law, which we made clear to the Chinese authorities through an EU letter on 4 June 2015. We have also fully supported the EU’s other actions in expressing concern about the law, including various written representations and its Item 4 statement at the Human Rights Council in March. I set out our views to the Chinese Ambassador in June last year and we raised the matter at Ministerial level during the UK-China People-to-People Dialogue in September 2015. We fully support the recent EU statement of 4 May.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2016-06-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how the provisions of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 have been used to (a) protect victims of slavery and (b) target traffickers.

Karen Bradley

The Act is already having a significant impact. All victims of modern slavery can now access the support they need. In 2015 alone, the police and CPS prosecuted 12 defendants using the new modern slavery offences and used Slavery and Trafficking Prevention and Risk Orders on at least 12 occasions. Over 100 businesses have published slavery and human trafficking statements. And the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner is spreading best practice and helped to secure the UN’s first ever Goal to end modern slavery.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2016-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received of Turkish members of parliament being verbally abused, physically assaulted and threatened with murder within the parliament of that country; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Lidington

The Government is aware of disturbances in the Turkish parliament which took place in the context of its decision to lift parliamentary immunities for MPs. We continue to stress that, as a modern democracy, we would expect Turkey, following the lifting of immunity, to undertake any subsequent legal processes transparently and fully respect the rule of law.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2015-11-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions his Department has had with health bodies on ensuring timely treatment for people with alcohol-related illnesses.

Jane Ellison

Departmental officials have regular meetings with various stakeholders, including health bodies, in which a wide range of topics are discussed. Ministers are involved at appropriate points. There have been no recent discussions on timely treatment for people with alcohol-related illnesses.

Local communities, services and businesses are best placed to tackle alcohol-related issues in their area and enforce the behaviour and develop the cultures that they want.

Local authorities and the Health and Wellbeing Board partners have responsibility for planning the full range of alcohol services, from early intervention and prevention, through to commissioning alcohol treatment services to meet the need in their areas. They are supported to deliver their public health priorities by Public Health England.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the report, Four Nations: How evidence based are alcohol policies across the UK, published by the Alliance for Useful Evidence in November 2015, if the Government will provide a single, clear, easy-to-access, up-to-date source of information on the full range of alcohol policies and programmes in each area of the UK.

Mike Penning

We will build on the 2012 Alcohol Strategy to tackle alcohol as a driver of crime and support people to stay healthy, whilst working with partners at a local and national level to reduce the impact of alcohol misuse. Alcohol licensing and policy is devolved to Scotland and Northern Ireland. We have no plans to provide the requested information on a UK wide basis.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2016-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many responses her Department has received (a) through its online response form and (b) by email to its Out-of-school education settings: registration and inspection consultation.

Nick Gibb

The Government wants children to be educated in a safe environment without exposure to hateful and extremist views that undermine British values. The call for evidence on out-of-school education settings was launched on 26 November 2015 and ran for six and a half weeks closing on 11 January 2016.

Around 3,000 people completed the published response form, either online or manually. The Department for Education received a significant number of further representations to the consultation by email and post. All responses and representations are being logged, analysed and verified.

In line with Cabinet Office guidance, we will be publishing a response to the consultation in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2016-02-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of Sunday trading devolution on the premium pay of shop workers in Scotland.

Anna Soubry

The levels of premium pay in Scotland will be a result of a range of factors and businesses will ultimately be constrained by the need to hire the quality and quantity of shop workers they need in local markets.