Tag: Martyn Day

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-02-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the returns to the public purse of British Business Bank investments in Funding Circle.

Anna Soubry

British Business Bank’s investment in Funding Circle is one of a portfolio of investments managed by the commercial arm of the bank – British Business Bank Investments Ltd. To date, £60m has been committed to Funding Circle, an amount which has supported over 7,000 businesses. The investment contributes a financial return in line with the performance of the wider portfolio.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-02-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Turkish counterpart on military action in the south east of Turkey and the consequences of that action for Kurdish civilians.

Mr David Lidington

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 16 February 2016 (PQ 26321) to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Catherine West).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will take steps to ensure that Salva Kiir and Riek Machar are included in UN Security Council-authorised sanctions imposed on generals obstructing the peace efforts in South Sudan.

James Duddridge

Our efforts are focussed on ensuring President Kiir and Riek Machar implement the peace agreement, starting with the formation of the transitional government. We will continue to assess the need for targeted sanctions against South Sudan’s political and military leaders. We strongly support a UN arms embargo for South Sudan and are actively pursuing this with our UN Security Council partners.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-09-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government is making to the governments of India and Pakistan on finding a peaceful solution to the situation in Kashmir which fully involves the people of Kashmir in the process.

Alok Sharma

The longstanding position of the United Kingdom is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution to the situation in Kashmir, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people. It is not for the United Kingdom to prescribe a solution or to act as a mediator. We encourage both sides to maintain positive dialogue, but the pace and scope of this is for them to determine.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-09-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will assess the potential merits of introducing more incentives to encourage motorists to use cleaner fuels and public transport.

Mr John Hayes

The Department for Transport assesses a number of different fuels in terms of a range of environmental impacts including air quality and greenhouse gas emissions. A number of initiatives are underway to encourage cleaner, lower carbon fuels.

This Government is investing over £600 million in this Parliament in addition, to a more favorable tax regime towards less polluting vehicles to ensure that almost all cars and vans are zero emission vehicles by 2050.

The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) has supported a market for low carbon fuels and delivered significant greenhouse gas emissions savings. In 2014/15 these savings were equivalent to taking 1.3 million cars off the road. We have been working with industry and others on proposals to increase the supply of low carbon fuels in line with our UK carbon budget targets. We plan to consult on proposed changes to the RTFO scheme later this year.

The Government will continue to promote public transport choices, supporting the market for innovative forms of transport and encourage a move to cleaner and lower carbon vehicles.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-01-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential role of technology in reducing aseptic pharmaceutical medication error.

George Freeman

Where appropriate, automation has a role to play in ensuring consistent output from aseptic compounding and increased production capacity. It may also provide additional protection against microbiological contamination by use of ‘closed systems’ of manufacture.

Licensed specials manufacturers may consider automation as an appropriate solution for their product range and capacity. In these cases, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency inspections assess whether the process design, validation, personnel, training and procedures relating to the automated system comply with the requirements of Good Manufacturing Practice.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-02-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Chinese government on the human rights situation in Hong Kong and the alleged abduction of Lee Bo.

Mr Hugo Swire

I refer the honourable member to the answer I gave on 4 February 2016 to question number 24423.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-02-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the implications of a decision to leave the EU on the higher education fees status of EU students becoming classed in the same way as that for non-EU overseas students; and whether his Department plans to assess the potential effect of any such change in classification on the number of students coming from EU member states to study in the UK.

Joseph Johnson

At the February European Council, the Government negotiated a new settlement, giving the United Kingdom a special status in a reformed European Union. The Government’s position, as set out by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the House on 22 February, is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-03-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will press for an amendment of the current indicator for health within the Sustainable Development Goals, to ensure it accurately measures coverage of health services and financial risk protection.

Mr Desmond Swayne

There are 25 proposed indicators for the health goal; the coverage of health services is included within these as is a measure relating to health financing. The United Nations Statistical Commission has asked the Inter-Agency Expert Group on Sustainable Development Goal Indicators to take forward further work on the indicator framework, including a review of the indicator on health financing due to the concerns over its ability to measure financial risk protection in its current form. The UK supported the request for review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of making compulsory the accessibility standards outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework.

Gavin Barwell

National planning policy is clear that in developing their local plans, planning authorities should consider the needs of a wide range of households, including older and disabled households.

The role of higher accessibility standards for new housing was considered during the Housing Standards Review undertaken by the Coalition Government. As a result, Optional Requirements for higher levels of accessibility were introduced into the Building Regulations and came into force on 1 October 2015. It was decided at that time that the application of these standards should remain a matter for Local Planning Authorities taking into account local needs and viability.

Details of relevant consultations and impact assessments can be found at the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2010-to-2015-government-policy-building-regulation/2010-to-2015-government-policy-building-regulation#appendix-5-technical-housing-standards-review