Tag: Jim Cunningham

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-07-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to ensure that water safe for drinking is available in countries which receive aid from her Department; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Nick Hurd

The UK government is committed to supporting the achievement of the Global Goals in countries which receive UK Aid and is prioritising programmes to ensure that everyone has access to sustainable drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). From 2010 to 2015 DFID supported 60 million people to gain access to sustainable WASH. We are committed to supporting a further 60 million people gain access to sustainable WASH up to the end of 2020. Providing a safe and reliable drinking water and sanitation is a key element of our work across all our country programmes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-07-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on the long-term ability of universities to maintain current levels of educational provision; and if she will make a statement.

Joseph Johnson

The UK has some of the best universities and researchers in the world, and international students, academics and researchers play a significant part in that success. The impacts of the decision to leave the EU on universities will depend on a number of factors including the timing of the UK’s exit from the EU and the details of our future relationship with the EU. Those are decisions for the new Prime Minister. The UK remains a member of the EU, and we continue to meet our obligations and receive relevant funding.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-07-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review the powers of UK pensions schemes to indirectly invest in companies linked with the manufacture of cluster-munitions.

Richard Harrington

Trustees and managers are responsible for acting in the best interests of beneficiaries, including the investment of members’ funds. They must, under existing obligations, prepare a statement of investment principles. This must set out the extent to which social, environmental, or ethical considerations are taken into account in the selection, retention, and realisation of investments.

We have no immediate plans to change these existing obligations, but will keep them under review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-09-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many officials in his Department are working on climate change policy; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Nick Hurd

The Department leads on the Government’s clear commitment to tackle climate change. Many teams deliver against multiple cross cutting objectives

Consequently, it is not possible to give an exact figure of the number of staff involved in this work. However, the Government has been clear in the need to meet our remission reduction targets while keeping our energy supply secure and low cost.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-09-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2016 to Question 45147, what his Department’s total spend has been to date.

Mr David Jones

The Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) is properly resourced. Detailed work is underway to establish the final budget required and this will be voted on and published as part of the Supplementary Estimate process. Total expenditure by the Department will be set out in the Annual Report and Accounts in the usual way.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-10-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many civil servants work for his Department in EU member states excluding the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Hands

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Selly Oak on 13 October, UIN 47419 and 47396.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether UK-based research institutions will be able to access the EU’s Horizon 2020 programme until 2020; and if he will make a statement.

Joseph Johnson

UK-based researchers can continue to apply for competitive EU research funding through the Horizon 2020 programme while we remain a member of the EU. We will work with the Commission to ensure payment when funds are awarded. The Treasury will underwrite the payment of such awards, even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU. Access to apply to Horizon 2020 after we leave the EU will be a matter for the negotiations that will follow the triggering of Article 50.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if he will make it his policy only to begin the formal negotiation process on trade deals with non-EU countries once the UK has left the EU; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Hands

We are taking advantage of all the opportunities available to us to ensure that Britain becomes the global leader in free trade once we leave the EU, including discussing our future trade relationships with third countries. While we remain a member of the EU, the UK will continue to support the EU’s free trade negotiations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-10-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the productivity of UK farmland; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice

Defra produces a number of statistics on UK agricultural productivity and these are published on the GOV.UK website.

The land productivity index (calculated as total agricultural output divided by the amount of land in agricultural production) shows:

	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
Productivity by land	98.1	100.0	103.8	99.2	100.7	107.7

Index base year = 2010

Care needs to be taken in interpreting this measure, as agricultural output is determined by a number of inputs, both within farmers’ control (eg. labour) and outside their control (eg. weather).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-11-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the amount spent on advertising campaigns aimed at teacher recruitment in each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Gibb

The estimated amount spent on advertising campaigns aimed at teacher recruitment in each of the last five years is:

	2010-11	2011-12	2012-13	2013-14	2014-15
Total spend	£4,210,000	£4,630,000	£6,020,000	£1,800,000	£4,770,000

These estimates include advertising campaign costs, such as production and purchased media space in TV, newspapers, online and social media.