Tag: Margaret Ferrier

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he plans to raise the national living wage to the same rate as the living wage set by the Living Wage Foundation.

Nick Boles

The Government’s ambition is for the National Living Wage to reach 60% of median earnings by 2020 – which would currently be around £9 per hour. The Government has asked the Low Pay Commission to recommend the National Living Wage rate going forward.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the reliability of the vehicles involved in the transportation of nuclear warheads; and if he will make a statement.

Harriett Baldwin

All vehicles involved in the transportation of nuclear warheads are subject to a rigorous maintenance and inspection regime, carried out by highly skilled and experienced technicians. Inspections are made prior to each use, as well as six monthly safety and annual mandatory inspections.

The costs of the transportation of nuclear warheads between RNAD Coulport and AWE Burghfield are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The security of the nuclear warhead convoy was assessed by Ministry of Defence Security Advisors in September 2016 as overall ‘satisfactory’, demonstrating that ‘performance meets the required policy standard’.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2015-11-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answers of 21 October 2015 to Questions 12114 and 12115, on what date Defence Equipment and Support made the decision that the High Security Vehicle should be withdrawn from service on 31 July 2015.

Mr Philip Dunne

The decision to withdraw the High Security Vehicle from service on 31 July 2015 was made in February 2015.

Decisions and timings on the routes to be used for the transportation of Defence Nuclear Material are part of the operational planning process. I am withholding further information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2015-12-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, on what dates since 19 October 2015 Scotland Office Ministers and officials and their counterparts at UK Trade and Investment have met to discuss the Scottish steel industry; what issues affecting that industry were discussed on each occasion; and if he will make a statement.

David Mundell

The Government has created three working groups to respond to the issues affecting the steel industry; on competitiveness and productivity, procurement and international comparisons. Each group meets regularly and updates have been provided by the Scotland Office or Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) at each meeting of the Scottish Steel Task Force. Officials from the Scottish Government are invited to attend all working group meetings.

The working group on competitiveness and productivity includes representatives from UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and has been considering, amongst other things, issues relating to exports and foreign and direct investment. It has met three times since 19 October (28 October, 11 November and 8 December). In addition, a workshop was held on 18 November.

As a consequence of these deliberations, work is being done by BIS and UKTI that will result in increased visibility of UK Export Finance (UKEF) with the UK steel sector. Improvements will also be made to the identification of forthcoming international projects requiring a high steel content with better mechanisms to share these opportunities with the UK steel sector. UKTI have also been working closely with Scottish Development International to support them in trying to identify potential international investors that may be interested in the Tata Steel plate mills at Dalzell and Clydebridge.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-01-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2016 to Question 20675, how much of the £300 million provided to eradicate polio was spent in each of the last three years; and how much will be spent in each of the next four years.

Mr Nick Hurd

The UK is a top three donor to polio eradication, with a £300 million commitment over six years from 2013/14 to 2018/19. Of this, £100 million was disbursed in the financial year of 2013/2014, £50 million in 2014/15, and £65 million in 2015/16. The UK will provide £39 million in 2016/17, £29 million in 2017/18 and £17 million in 2018/19.

UK support has been critical in bringing us one step closer to the finish line of a world free from polio, something people across the country can be immensely proud of.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-01-28.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2015 to Question 902477, when he expects the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information to publish its review of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Matthew Hancock

It is for the independent Commission to determine the timing for submitting its response to Government.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Prime Minister, what recent representations he has made to officials working on the Chilcot Inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Cameron

I refer the hon. Member to Sir John Chilcot’s letter to me of 28 October 2015, and my reply of 29 October, copies of which can be found on the Iraq Inquiry website.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-06-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Europe of 8 June 2016, Official Report, column 136WH, when his Department last made representations to Saudi Arabia to encourage abolition of the death penalty in that country; and at what level those representations were made.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country. We regularly raise human rights issues, including in relation to the death penalty with the Saudi Arabian authorities. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) visited Saudi Arabia on 29 May as part of a regional tour of Gulf Cooperation Council countries and raised our human rights concerns, including the death penalty.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-06-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how much his Department spent on (a) online advertising and promotion, (b) animation, (c) design and (d) in total on its recent #GetInOntheAct campaign.

David Mundell

The Scotland Office spend on (a) online advertising and promotion, (b) animation, (c) design and (d) in total on its recent #GetInOntheAct campaign is shown below.

online advertising and promotion	animation	design	‘GetInOntheAct’ campaign
£757	£2,500	£0	£0

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much his Department has spent on the transportation of nuclear warheads between RNAD Coulport and AWE Burghfield in each of the last three years.

Harriett Baldwin

All vehicles involved in the transportation of nuclear warheads are subject to a rigorous maintenance and inspection regime, carried out by highly skilled and experienced technicians. Inspections are made prior to each use, as well as six monthly safety and annual mandatory inspections.

The costs of the transportation of nuclear warheads between RNAD Coulport and AWE Burghfield are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The security of the nuclear warhead convoy was assessed by Ministry of Defence Security Advisors in September 2016 as overall ‘satisfactory’, demonstrating that ‘performance meets the required policy standard’.