Tag: Ian Murray

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-05-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what arrangements have been made to guarantee access to legal representation for an asylum claim for asylum seekers dispersed to (a) current dispersal areas, (b) new dispersal areas and (c) Scotland.

James Brokenshire

The Home Office maintains an active partnership with local governments across the UK, including those in Scotland, and funds Strategic Migration Partnerships to plan for the most appropriate dispersal of asylum seekers. The partnerships consider the impact on communities and local services so that adjustments to dispersal patterns can be made where appropriate.

Free access to NHS healthcare is provided to asylum seekers. Asylum Health Teams are commissioned by NHS England and Scotland to provide healthcare and screening. Strategic Migration Partnerships work with Care Commissioning Groups to plan for the health care needs of asylum seekers in their regions.

All children are entitled to free primary and secondary education. To enable access to education, internal checks are in place to triage applications involving children of school age for priority dispersal into permanent accommodation. Strategic Migration Partnerships discuss education provision as part of their local authority engagement. Asylum seekers are able to access legal advice via the Legal Aid system and are provided details of local solicitors as part of their induction into their dispersal region.

Local authorities are consulted before asylum seekers are placed in their area, so that the potential impact on communities and local services is fully considered. During discussions on widening dispersal in Scotland we are and will continue to ensure that Local Authority leads and partners on health and education, as well as the Scottish Government and the Scottish Law Society, are involved to address any concerns and to ensure the close and successful partnership working in Glasgow is replicated elsewhere.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to the timetable for work to commence on building the new Type 26 Frigate on the recruitment and retention of workers in the affected shipyards.

Mr Philip Dunne

I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave during Defence questions in the House on 27 June 2016 to the hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West (Margaret Ferrier).

The Government have already invested £1.6 billion in the Type 26 programme. We will only enter into a contract once we are confident of the delivery schedule and the ability of the contractors to meet that schedule on a cost effective basis.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions the Government has had with Ministers in the Scottish Government on future access for Scottish students to the Erasmus Plus Scheme after the UK leaves the EU.

Mr Robin Walker

There is no change to those currently participating in, or about to start, Erasmus+ exchanges. The Prime Minister has made it very clear that it will take time for the UK government to agree its position for the negotiations. As part of this, the government will of course want to engage fully with the devolved administrations and listen to their views.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2015-11-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he had with women’s organisations in Scotland prior to his proposal to devolve responsibility for abortion legislation to the Scottish Parliament.

David Mundell

The Smith Commission considered the issue of the devolution of abortion carefully and was ‘strongly of the view to recommend the devolution of abortion’ and regarded it as an ‘anomalous health reservation.’ The Smith Agreement said that ‘further serious consideration should be given to its devolution and a process should be established immediately to consider the matter further.’ That process took place between the UK and Scottish Governments and resulted in an amendment to the Scotland Bill to devolve responsibility for abortion law to the Scottish Parliament. Since laying that amendment the Government has been engaging with interested parties about how the process of devolution will work and it will be for the Scottish Government to set out what approach it will take once responsibility for abortion law rests with the Scottish Parliament. The 1967 Act will continue to apply in Scotland unless and until the Scottish Parliament chooses to legislate in this area, and the First Minister recently confirmed that the Scottish Government have no plans to do so.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-03-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what recent discussions he has had with Ministers in the Scottish Government on the recent report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Uneven Growth: Tackling City Decline and its ranking of Dundee as seventh highest on its index of relative decline.

David Mundell

I am aware of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report and the issues it raises. The Government is committed to growing the economy across the UK and empowering Cities to realise their potential.

Last week my Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Lord Dunlop, participated in a Jobs Summit in Dundee along with the Scottish Government, Dundee City Council and others aimed at boosting employment in the area and regenerating one of our finest Scottish cities. Following the summit we have committed to work with interested parties to drive forward investment in Dundee.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people in Scotland who reach state pension age in 2016-17 will receive less than the full flat rate of the new state pension.

Justin Tomlinson

The Department cannot model the impact of the new State Pension at a regional or country specific level. Results for the whole of Great Britain can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/491845/impact-of-new-state-pension-longer-term-reserach.pdf

“

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-05-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what measures are in place to ensure that local communities are involved and considered in discussions on the dispersal of asylum seekers to (a) current dispersal areas, (b) new dispersal areas and (c) Scotland.

James Brokenshire

The Home Office maintains an active partnership with local governments across the UK, including those in Scotland, and funds Strategic Migration Partnerships to plan for the most appropriate dispersal of asylum seekers. The partnerships consider the impact on communities and local services so that adjustments to dispersal patterns can be made where appropriate.

Free access to NHS healthcare is provided to asylum seekers. Asylum Health Teams are commissioned by NHS England and Scotland to provide healthcare and screening. Strategic Migration Partnerships work with Care Commissioning Groups to plan for the health care needs of asylum seekers in their regions.

All children are entitled to free primary and secondary education. To enable access to education, internal checks are in place to triage applications involving children of school age for priority dispersal into permanent accommodation. Strategic Migration Partnerships discuss education provision as part of their local authority engagement. Asylum seekers are able to access legal advice via the Legal Aid system and are provided details of local solicitors as part of their induction into their dispersal region.

Local authorities are consulted before asylum seekers are placed in their area, so that the potential impact on communities and local services is fully considered. During discussions on widening dispersal in Scotland we are and will continue to ensure that Local Authority leads and partners on health and education, as well as the Scottish Government and the Scottish Law Society, are involved to address any concerns and to ensure the close and successful partnership working in Glasgow is replicated elsewhere.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to the timetable for work to commence on building the new Type 26 Frigate on the recruitment and training of apprentices in the affected shipyards.

Mr Philip Dunne

I refer the hon. Member to the oral answer I gave during Defence questions in the House on 27 June 2016 to the hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West (Margaret Ferrier).

The Government have already invested £1.6 billion in the Type 26 programme. We will only enter into a contract once we are confident of the delivery schedule and the ability of the contractors to meet that schedule on a cost effective basis.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the implications for its policies of the decision by the Department of Health to remove electrical socket inserts from all premises where NHS care is delivered; and whether her Department plans to issue similar guidance.

Edward Timpson

The Department for Education has never required the use of socket covers in schools. All socket outlets in teaching areas of schools are designed to BS1363 and have built in safety shutters.

The Department of Health guidance followed recent advice from electrical engineers that in some circumstances socket covers can compromise the safe operation of socket outlets and advises against their use.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2016-01-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Statement of 11 January 2016 on the Smith Commission Agreement, HCWS458, what the (a) dates, (b) minutes and (c) outcomes was of any discussions or meeting held since 28 November 2014 on issues relating to asylum seekers with (i) Home Office Ministers and (ii) Ministers or Officials of the Scottish Government.

David Mundell

In the period since the Smith Commission, the UK and Scottish Governments have had regular meetings to discuss issues relating to asylum seekers. These have included discussions on the non-legislative proposals from the Commission, and a demonstration for Scottish Government officials of the asylum process at the Home Office in Glasgow. This cross-government work with the Scottish Government on asylum issues is on-going.