Tag: Nigel Evans

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-01-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the UN to ensure a more open and transparent selection process of the next Secretary-General.

James Duddridge

Last year the UK launched an initiative to reform the selection process for the next UN Secretary General. We proposed measures that would deliver greater transparency, fairness and structure to the process. All other attributes being equal, it is high time for a woman to lead the United Nations – a job that represents the interests of all the world’s people cannot exclude half of its population. We were therefore pleased the General Assembly adopted a resolution (69/321) that broadly reflects our key proposals: clarity over timelines, greater transparency and an invitation to Member States to put forward women candidates. We also welcome the joint letter of 15 December 2015 (http://www.un.org/pga/70/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/08/15-Dec-2015_Appointment-of-Secretary-General-15-December-2015.pdf) from the Presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council that sets out principles to guide the selection process.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-03-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to promote apprenticeships during National Apprenticeship Week.

Nick Boles

National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) celebrates apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy. Hundreds of events took place across the country to encourage more people and employers to see the benefits that apprenticeships bring.

Employers, apprentices, support organisations, colleges, training providers and schools across the country were encouraged to support the week by hosting activities to showcase the achievements and benefits of apprenticeships and traineeships. Social media was widely used, including Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin, Twitter and Instagram.

I and my fellow Ministers were out throughout the week meeting apprentices and their employers.

Full information about NAW is at https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/national-apprenticeship-week-2016.

“

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-07-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if his Department will take steps to mitigate the environmental and congestion concerns of residents arising from the building of new houses in Whalley.

Brandon Lewis

Local authorities and their communities are best placed to decide, through their Local and Neighbourhood Plans, which land is most suitable for development and what infrastructure is needed to support it. The National Planning Policy Framework, which must be taken into account in plan-making and is a material consideration in individual planning decisions, makes it clear that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. It:

• states that Green Belt should be given the highest protection and its boundaries only adjusted in exceptional circumstances through the Local Plan process;

• requires local authorities to support a pattern of development that, where reasonable to do so, facilitates the use of public transport, walking and cycling, and focus significant development in locations which are or can be made sustainable

• enables local communities to identify for special protection green or open areas of particular importance to them as Local Green Space;

• is clear that inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk.

Individual decisions are made in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-09-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has further to centralise the delivery of acute stroke services in metropolitan areas.

David Mowat

NHS England’s National Clinical Director (NCD) for stroke is leading work to develop a full proposal which will consider the evidence and logistical issues involved in delivering mechanical thrombectomy to stroke patients across the country. This includes working with the relevant specialist societies, Royal Colleges and Health Education England to consider the workforce implications. Once the proposal has been developed, NHS England will decide whether the procedure should be made widely available.

To ensure there is equitable access to high quality hyper acute stroke care regardless of time of stroke or where a patient has their stroke, NHS England’s NCD for stroke continues to work with Clinical Networks, Urgent and Emergency Care Networks, clinical commissioning groups and the Sustainability and Transformation Plan footprints on how stroke care is best delivered to their local communities.

In some places, this is ‘the London type model’ of focussing care in a small number of centres and equipping these to be able to deliver specialist care 24/7. In other parts of the country, centralisation of care into specialist centres is not feasible for geographical reasons. In these cases, alternative solutions (such as the use of telemedicine) have to be considered. Whatever the scenario, NHS England is fully committed to ensuring that all patients receive the best quality of care and the most up to date treatments.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-01-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people who had been wrongfully released from English prisons were recalled in 2013.

Andrew Selous

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. My hon friend has very recently written to me about a specific case and I will reply to him shortly.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-03-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of UK nationals living in other countries in the EU.

Mr David Lidington

There is no legal obligation on a British citizen living overseas to register with the British Embassy, but estimates suggest that more than 1.2 million UK citizens are living permanently elsewhere in the EU. These estimates do not include people who reside for part of the year in another Member State or British travellers.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-07-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the cost of implementing long-term flood defence systems in areas vulnerable to flooding in Ribble Valley.

Rory Stewart

A scheme to better protect the Preston and South Ribble area from fluvial and tidal flood risk is at an estimated cost of £32 million, with an allocation of £8 million Flood Defence Grant in Aid within the current six year capital investment programme. The difference is being sought through partnership contributions and through Flood Defence Grant in Aid allocations beyond the current six year capital investment programme.

A scheme to protect Clitheroe from flooding from Mearley Brook would cost £4.8 million. This scheme is not in the six year investment programme and is subject to an ongoing bid for funding.

A future scheme to protect Whalley from flooding from the River Calder would cost approximately £1.4 million. This scheme is not in the six year investment programme and the Environment Agency is currently evaluating the scheme prior to any funding bid.

Lancashire County Council is currently bidding for £2 million in Grant in Aid to address surface water flooding in Whalley and Billington.

Currently there is a review of flood risk in the Lower Calder catchment which will develop options and estimated costs to address the main river flooding. The Environment Agency aims to report at the end of the year. In 2017, a review of flood risk in Ribchester will commence, which will include an evaluation of future costs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-09-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department plans to expand the list of Iranians responsible for human rights violations.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

At present we have no plans to expand the list.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-01-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people convicted of terrorism offences who were wrongfully released from English prisons were recalled in 2013.

Andrew Selous

Of those in prison on 1 January 2013 convicted under Terrorism Act (TACT) legislation or those who were convicted during the course of 2013 under such legislation, one prisoner was released in error. He was recaptured and brought back into custody.

NOMs formally investigates every release in error and the majority of prisoners released are quickly returned to custody to continue serving their sentence. Releases in error remain relatively rare occurrences. Less than one in 1000 releases is made in error.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-03-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children up to the age of four received the meningitis B vaccination in (a) Lancashire and (b) the UK in 2015.

Jane Ellison

The Meningitis B (MenB) immunisation for infants was introduced on 1 September 2015.

The vaccine is offered alongside other routine immunisations at two and four months of age, with a booster dose at 12-13 months. A limited one-off catch-up programme was also offered, targeting infants born in May and June 2015. Information on the number of children who received the meningitis B vaccination as part of National Health Service programme in 2015 is not yet available.

Coverage of vaccines offered in the routine childhood immunisation programme is usually evaluated at 12 months of age, however, in order to provide more timely information about the newly introduced MenB vaccine, a temporary sentinel surveillance programme was set up to extract monthly coverage data direct from general practice systems for children who had just reached six months of age in England. Preliminary vaccine coverage at six months of age for children born in May, June and July 2015 is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/vaccine-uptake.

It is anticipated that coverage for both doses of vaccine will increase when evaluated again when they are 12 months of age.

“