Tag: Margaret Ferrier

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-01-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2015 to Question 18729 and the oral contribution of the Financial Secretary to the Treasury of 6 January 2016, Official Report, columns 274-5, whether he has discussed the introduction of the new Work and Health Programme in Scotland with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

David Mundell

Further to my answer of 10 December 2015, UK and Scottish Government officials are discussing the introduction of the new Work and Health Programme and broader welfare reforms, including the implications for Scotland in the context of the devolution of welfare powers in the Scotland Bill. In due course, I would expect these issues to be discussed by the Joint Ministerial Welfare Group, which I co-chair with the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights and is attended by DWP and HM Treasury Ministers.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-02-01.

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, what recent assessment the Electoral Commission has made of the potential effect of the date of the EU referendum on mayoral, local, and devolved institutions’ elections.

Mr Gary Streeter

The Electoral Commission recently wrote to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, following that Committee’s recent evidence session, on a number of issues, including the potential impact of the date of the referendum if it were to be held in June. A copy of the letter is available on the Committee’s website.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-02-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department attended the Scottish Steel Task Force meeting on (i) 29 January 2015, (ii) 13 November 2015, (iii) 26 November 2015, (iv) 11 December 2015 and (v) 14 January 2016.

Anna Soubry

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) was not present at the first meeting of the Scottish Steel Task Force which took place on 29^th October 2015. However, BIS was represented by a Grade 6 level official at the meetings on 13 and 26 November 2015 and 14 January 2016, as well as at the most recent meeting on 4 February 2016. Officials from the Scotland Office have attended all meetings of the Task Force. There was no meeting on 29 January 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-05-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether her Department will implement the recommendations made by the Committee on Climate Change in its report of November 2015, The fifth carbon budget – The next step towards a low-carbon economy.

Andrea Leadsom

This Government remains firmly committed to meeting our climate change target of an at least 80% emissions reduction by 2050. The fifth carbon budget, which covers the period 2028-2032, is an important step on the way to 2050.

Discussions on this budget are continuing and we will make an announcement as soon as those discussions conclude.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-06-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has visited a food bank in Scotland since February 2016.

David Mundell

I have not visited a food bank in my capacity as Secretary of State for Scotland.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-10-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2016 to Question 45526, what representations he has received on the new charge brought against Nabeel Rajab by authorities in Bahrain.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Our Ambassador to Bahrain most recently raised the case of Nabeel Rajeb with the Bahraini Foreign Minister, Sheikh Khalid Bin Ahmad Al Khalifa, on 17 October. An Official from our Embassy in Bahrain has attended all of the hearings to date, including most recently on 6 October. We will continue to monitor the case closely.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2015-11-25.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the UK Guarantees scheme.

Greg Hands

The UK Guarantees Scheme is an important mechanism for facilitating private investment in infrastructure in the UK. £3.7 billion of guarantees have been approved to date, enabling projects worth £23 billion to go ahead. As announced in the Autumn Statement, availability of the UK Guarantees Scheme will be extended to March 2021 to continue to support projects to secure private investment.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, when he next plans to publish a Single Departmental Plan for his Department.

David Mundell

Single departmental plans for 17 Government Departments will be published in January 2016. The Scotland Office and other territorial offices are not required to produce single departmental plans.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-01-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether she has made an assessment of the potential effect of the legacy of the troubles on changes to the number of deaths by suicide in Northern Ireland.

Mrs Theresa Villiers

I acknowledge the sense of devastation felt by families and communities bereaved by suicide. The Stormont House Agreement set out proposals to deal with the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past, including a Mental Trauma Service to be established and to work closely with the Victims and Survivors Service. This work is currently being taken forward by the Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, in partnership with the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2016-01-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department has programmes to facilitate access to the internet in Malawi.

Mr Nick Hurd

DFID’s Digital Strategy aims to ensure that digital processes pervade all of DFID’s work, from communications to policy making and programmes. We want to ensure the poorest and most marginalised people in developing countries benefit from the added value digital can bring, including by giving citizens access to information and services quickly and affordably.

DFID does not currently directly support programmes to facilitate access to the internet in Malawi. DFID is currently developing programme plans for 2016-21 and is exploring how to support an increased uptake of Information and Communications Technology in Malawi. This will include consideration of whether and how DFID can support an increased uptake of internet-based services as well as an increase in awareness of the potential of internet and digital marketing tools for businesses.