Tag: Margaret Ritchie

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-09-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to improve security measures at sites containing nuclear waste.

Jesse Norman

Security of nuclear waste is a high priority for the Government, and the Office for Nuclear Regulation provides independent assurance that materials are kept safely and securely. The spending review settlement for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority also supports continuing investment in security infrastructure. However the Government does not comment on security measures at nuclear sites.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2015-11-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how the Government plans to use its membership of the UN Security Council to facilitate diplomatic negotiations on the protection of civilians in Syria.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

Protection of civilians in Syria, as well as those who have been forced to flee the country, is a priority for the UK. In the Security Council we have co-sponsored a number of humanitarian resolutions that call for an end of indiscriminate attacks on civilians, including the use of barrel bombs, starvation as a method of warfare, and obstructing the flow of humanitarian aid. Specifically, the UK played a key role in negotiating Resolution 2191, which has allowed the UN and its partners to deliver aid across Syria’s borders to people who were previously denied access, including food for 2.1 million people and medical supplies for 2.5 million people. The UK is the second largest bilateral donor, providing over £1.1 billion to those most in need in Syria and neighbouring countries. This is our largest ever response to a crisis. The long term protection of civilians requires an end to the conflict in Syria and a political settlement based upon the principles of the Geneva Communiqué. We continue to pursue this objective, including through the new political process which began in Vienna on 30 October.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2015-11-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the effect of potential reforms of the Human Rights Act 1998 on the Good Friday Agreement; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Ben Wallace

The Government was elected in May with a clear mandate to implement its manifesto commitment to replace the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights.

We believe that it is entirely possible to do that in ways that are consistent with the Belfast Agreement.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-03-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the source was of the military device that washed ashore between Murlough and Newcastle in Northern Ireland on 6 March 2016.

Penny Mordaunt

The item found on Murlough Beach on 6 March 2016 was a High Explosive Anti Tank rocket, which was used by UK Armed Forces from the early 1950s through to the early 1970s. It was destroyed on site by the Explosives Ordnance Disposal team that attended the incident.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-04-28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her Department’s policy is on restrictions on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides.

George Eustice

The Government’s policy on pesticides, including neonicotinoids, is that decisions should be made on the basis of all the scientific evidence. Restrictions should be put in place if these are necessary to protect people or the environment.

EU restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids imposed in 2013 remain in force and have been fully implemented in the UK. The European Commission has asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to review the risks to pollinators from neonicotinoids. This review is due to conclude in January 2017 and the UK will contribute fully as it progresses. Following the completion of EFSA’s work, the European Commission will consider whether to propose changes to the current restrictions.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-09-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects the Marine Accident Investigation Branch’s report on the collision between the stern trawler MV Karen and a dived Royal Navy submarine in the Irish Sea on 15 April 2015 to be published.

Mr John Hayes

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch’s report of its investigation into this accident is due to be published in mid-October.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-01-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the National Council for Care Excellence on the development of a clinical guideline for pancreatic cancer; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman

NHS England has asked the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to develop a clinical guideline on the diagnosis and management of pancreatic cancer. The draft scope consultation is currently in progress and the anticipated publication date for the clinical guideline is January 2018.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2015-11-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when the meningitis B vaccine will be available for children and young people; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison

The MenB immunisation programme was introduced in September 2015, with the vaccine being offered to babies at 2, 4 and at 12 months of age. The vaccine is also available for the small number of older children who are at increased risk of infection, such as those with specific immune problems.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisatio (JCVI) carried out a comprehensive and careful review of a wide range of evidence in relation to MenB vaccine and did not recommend the use of MenB vaccine in other age groups, including older children.

The Department, in collaboration with the JCVI and Public Health England, has identified that preparatory research is needed before the effects of MenB carriage in adolescents can be addressed. This preparatory research is in the process of being contracted and it is hoped that this work will begin in early 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2015-11-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the effect of the Human Rights Act 1998 on society and communities in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Ben Wallace

The Government was elected in May with a clear mandate to implement its manifesto commitment to replace the Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights.

We believe that it is entirely possible to do that in ways that are consistent with the Belfast Agreement.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-03-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made on developing a futures market for dairy in the UK; and when she expects to implement that futures market.

George Eustice

Last November we embarked on a detailed analysis of the scope for better dairy price risk management, including dairy futures, in order to support stability and resilience in the dairy sector.

The initial evidence base concluded that futures markets offered the best potential basis for progress and it was agreed to undertake further detailed work in this area. We are now exploring the level of appetite within the industry alongside some of the key barriers which have hampered the development of futures trading in the past.

We expect to complete our analysis by the end of April. If this work leads to a genuine and practical prospect for progress, we will then move on to work with financial market and industry partners to deliver the best option for the UK dairy market.