UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: Nick Smith

  • Nick Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Nick Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Smith on 2014-04-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the cost to the fire services was of dealing with fires at privately-owned waste management sites in the last two years.

    Brandon Lewis

    This information is not held centrally. The cost to fire and rescue authorities in England of dealing with specific fires is a matter for each fire and rescue authorityThe cost to fire and rescue authorities in Wales of dealing with specific fires is a devolved matter.

    Fire and rescue authorities must produce regularly, and consult on, an integrated risk management plan. The plan must identify the risks facing local communities and detail how the fire and rescue authority will allocate its resources to mitigate them effectively. People have opportunities to make their voices heard on such issues.

    There is still scope for fire and rescue authorities to make sensible savings, such as through reforms to flexible staffing and crewing arrangements, better procurement; shared services, collaboration with emergency services and other organisations on service delivery and estates, sickness management; sharing of senior staff, locally led mergers and operational collaborations, new fire-fighting technology, preventative approaches and working with local businesses.

  • Nick Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Nick Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Smith on 2014-04-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the cost to the fire services was of dealing with fires at local authority-owned waste management sites in the last two years.

    Brandon Lewis

    This information is not held centrally. The cost to fire and rescue authorities in England of dealing with specific fires is a matter for each fire and rescue authorityThe cost to fire and rescue authorities in Wales of dealing with specific fires is a devolved matter.

    Fire and rescue authorities must produce regularly, and consult on, an integrated risk management plan. The plan must identify the risks facing local communities and detail how the fire and rescue authority will allocate its resources to mitigate them effectively. People have opportunities to make their voices heard on such issues.

    There is still scope for fire and rescue authorities to make sensible savings, such as through reforms to flexible staffing and crewing arrangements, better procurement; shared services, collaboration with emergency services and other organisations on service delivery and estates, sickness management; sharing of senior staff, locally led mergers and operational collaborations, new fire-fighting technology, preventative approaches and working with local businesses.

  • Nick Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Nick Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Smith on 2014-04-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many fires were reported at privately-owned waste management sites in the last two years.

    Dan Rogerson

    Environment Agency records show that there were a total of 595 incidents of fire reported at privately operated waste management sites in 2012 and 2013. This represents an average of one fire for every 18 privately operated sites.

  • Nick Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Nick Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Smith on 2014-04-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many fires were reported at local authority-owned waste management sites in the last two years.

    Dan Rogerson

    Environment Agency records show that there were a total of five incidents of fire reported at local authority-operated waste management sites in 2012 and 2013. This represents an average of one fire for every 110 local authority-operated waste management sites.

  • Nick Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Nick Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Smith on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many vulnerable prisoners are held in dedicated vulnerable prisoner accommodation.

    Jeremy Wright

    The term "vulnerable prisoner" covers a wide range of prisoner types/characteristics but broadly these are those who need protection from themselves and other prisoners for a variety of reasons, including the nature of their offence, debt or conflicts outside or within the prison.

    Our approach to managing these prisoners varies according to the nature of why they are deemed as vulnerable and is dependent on specific offending needs.

    The number of prisoners in England and Wales who are identified as vulnerable is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost as it would involve contacting every prison directly in order to request how many prisoners each prison has identified, or is managing, as a vulnerable prisoner.

    All closed prisons in England and Wales have the facility to accommodate vulnerable prisoners in designated accommodation.

  • Nick Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Nick Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Smith on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many vulnerable prisoners are currently held in prisons in England and Wales.

    Jeremy Wright

    The term "vulnerable prisoner" covers a wide range of prisoner types/characteristics but broadly these are those who need protection from themselves and other prisoners for a variety of reasons, including the nature of their offence, debt or conflicts outside or within the prison.

    Our approach to managing these prisoners varies according to the nature of why they are deemed as vulnerable and is dependent on specific offending needs.

    The number of prisoners in England and Wales who are identified as vulnerable is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost as it would involve contacting every prison directly in order to request how many prisoners each prison has identified, or is managing, as a vulnerable prisoner.

    All closed prisons in England and Wales have the facility to accommodate vulnerable prisoners in designated accommodation.

  • Nick Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Nick Smith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Smith on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2014, Official Report, column 211W, on waste disposal: fire, how many of the incidents of fire reported at local authority operated waste management sites in 2012 and 2013 were repeated incidents at the same site.

    Dan Rogerson

    None of the five incidents of fire at local authority-operated waste management sites were repeated incidents at the same site.

  • Nick Smith – 2022 Tribute to HM Queen Elizabeth II

    Nick Smith – 2022 Tribute to HM Queen Elizabeth II

    The tribute made by Nick Smith, the Labour MP for Blaenau Gwent, in the House of Commons on 10 September 2022.

    I mourn the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and on behalf of my constituents, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the royal family.

    When I heard the sad news, my first thought was that we, the British people, had lost our pre-eminent public servant. Her late Majesty once said:

    “I do not give you laws or administer justice, but I can do something else. I can give you my heart and devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations.”

    Queen Elizabeth dedicated her life to the greater good, and wove together the ties that bind us.

    In 2012 the Queen visited Ebbw Vale. It was one of those days in our valleys when the skies empty gallons, but still she saw through the programme. Her late Majesty knew that meeting our community leaders, hearing our choirs, collecting flowers from children—being with us—mattered. She showered good will on the people of Blaenau Gwent as the water rained down on all of us.

    In the days that followed, the Queen also visited Aberfan. She was due to open a new school in the village that had been struck by grief just 46 years earlier. On reflection, I now realise that she was the constant. She was there when tragedy struck, standing alongside us when our nation mourned, but she was also there to usher in the new beginnings.

    As I look to the future and think of His Majesty King Charles III, I recall his visit, as Prince of Wales, to Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan, the hospital named after my predecessor who established our national health service. Although it was very carefully done, there was a nod to the political genius who established yet another great institution of our country. The Prince wore a blue cornflower in his buttonhole—it was a classy look. He clearly knew of our great valleys and their history. I have no doubt that he will continue the legacy of his beloved mother, the late Queen.

    Finally, I warmly welcome the naming of the new Prince and Princess of Wales. Though I mourn our longest-reigning monarch, I now say, God save the King.

  • Nick Smith – 2022 Speech on the Restoration of the Palace of Westminster

    Nick Smith – 2022 Speech on the Restoration of the Palace of Westminster

    The speech made by Nick Smith, the Labour MP for Blaenau Gwent, in the House of Commons on 12 July 2022.

    I will be quick, Madam Deputy Speaker. My contribution tonight is born of seven years of frustration at making so little progress with this project. In 2018, I voted for the decant, as I thought it was the simplest thing to do. I also thought we would go to Richmond House, because that was the safest place for us to stay in and it was close to the Departments of State in Whitehall. I really thought it was very straightforward and I hoped we would make good progress.

    Tonight, I support amendments (a) and (b). I support amendment (a) not because I think in policy the Government have stopped progress on this, but because Ministers have stymied progress on this important project. I support amendment (b) because we need new machinery and new energy to take this forward. I also support it because, although we need occasional reviews and challenge for experts, most of all we should provide the way forward through this.

    Like my right hon. Friend the Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mark Tami), I think we need full transparency on cost. We need to go into this with our eyes open, but see it as an investment in our country’s history and in this great place. Most of all, I want to crack on, as we have delayed progress for far too long.

  • Nick Smith – 2020 Speech on Free School Meals

    Nick Smith – 2020 Speech on Free School Meals

    Below is the text of the speech made by Nick Smith, the Labour MP for Blaenau Gwent, in the House of Commons on 16 June 2020.

    I wholeheartedly support the Labour motion and I am glad that the Government now recognise the strength of our case. It is important at this time that children who need help will be fed over the summer.

    Let me illustrate my point by referring to a crisis that my sisters and I experienced when we were young. We were children in a single-parent home in the south Wales valleys. We benefited from free school meals and clothing grants through our early years. At those times, those meals were a godsend. When I was 14, our mum had a terrible mental health episode. She moved away and left me and my two younger sisters to fend for ourselves for a few weeks, then my dad came back from being a seafarer to look after us. Mum did leave us with a £10 note, which was a big help, but she was in a terrible state. It was the start of ongoing very poor health for her, and she was to die at 42 years of age.

    I vividly remember the day after my mum left. I worked as a paper boy and there was a muesli promotion in one of the women’s magazines, so we had packets of muesli for breakfast for the next few days. Over those few weeks alone, we three kids pulled together, relatives stepped in and we managed until my dad came back. At school, we had free school meals. Those meals kept us going. Of course, it was a very unusual situation, but so ​is a global pandemic: people are having to feed their families while earning 80% of their normal wages; and people on sick pay are having to survive on £95 a week. This summer, too many families will find themselves in poverty and some will have to deal with a crisis. They may need that school-meal lifeline.

    My message is simple. The Government told us at the start of the pandemic that no one would be left behind. We should stand up for children who, through no fault of their own, need our support. I am glad that the Labour motion will now receive all-party support tonight. And finally, I say well done to Marcus Rashford.