The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2016-01-27.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Members for East Worthing and Shoreham and Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle on the British Mercantile Marine Memorial Collection which was sent on 28 October 2015 and resent on 5 January 2016.
Greg Hands
I replied to the Hon. Member on 19 November 2015. A copy of my reply has been resent.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many official visits he has made to local authorities since May 2015 where the primary purpose of the visit was in connection with the Northern Powerhouse policy.
Greg Clark
As part of my Ministerial duties I visit local authorities across the country, including regular visits in connection with the Northern Powerhouse.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Gardiner on 2016-03-15.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of science and research and charity organisations on the potential effect of including anti-lobbying clauses in grant agreements.
Matthew Hancock
The new clause in government grants makes sure that taxpayers’ money is not diverted from their intended purpose and wasted on political campaigning and political lobbying.
As indicated at the House of Lords Science Technology Committee, BIS and Cabinet Office are looking into how this new clause will apply to academic research.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Leslie on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make an assessment of the contribution of the Corsellis Brain Collection to medical research and health improvement in the UK; and if he will make a statement.
George Freeman
Started in the early 1950s by Professor Nick Corsellis at Runwell Hospital, in recent years the Corsellis Collection of brain pathology specimens has been managed and maintained by West London Mental Health Trust (WLMHT). The excess costs of maintaining the collection can only be supported by WLMHT from funds received for patient care. Therefore WLMHT has decided to dispose of the collection by seeking expressions of interest in the brain tissue of value for research, mainly sub-collections of the less common pathologies, and to respectfully dispose of that tissue for which no scientific purpose could be envisaged.
WLMHT has received expressions of interest, but none in taking the complete collection. The original timescale for closure was by the end of March 2016, but WLMHT will support a further three months activity to meet the additional requests for tissue samples. The collection will close by the end of June.
The Department and NHS England have not made any specific assessment of the contribution of the collection to medical research and health improvement in the United Kingdom, or undertaken any specific analysis of the potential effect on medical research of dismantling the collection.
The Medical Research Council supports a range of brain tissue banks which have been set-up around specific disorders and diseases generally to collect post-mortem brain tissue from consented donors.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-05-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, which suppliers are approved to install the service offered under the satellite broadband subsidy scheme; and what regulation those suppliers are subject to from BT on installation procedure.
Mr Edward Vaizey
Suppliers for the main scheme are as follows:
www.ibub.co.uk/satellitescheme/
www.europasat.com/lp/bduk-national/
www.broadbandwherever.net/BDUK
http://www.primetech-bduk.co.uk
http://avonlinebroadband.com/broadband-vouchers/
www.notspotbroadband.com/grant-schemes/
http://toowayinfo.bentleywalker.com/bduk/
Suppliers for the supplementary scheme (which include fixed wireless providers) are as follows:
http://www.voip-unlimited.net/airwave-home/
http://www.juice-broadband.com/
https://6ginternet.com/subsidy
https://www.wessexinternet.com/
http://www.securewebservices.co.uk/
www.broadbandwherever.net/home
The suppliers on the main scheme are contracted by BT as being able to provide satellite products through BT Wholesale. BT only contracts with suppliers who are able to demonstrate that they have a competent network of installers who are able to meet installation standards set out as part of the contract terms between supplier and BT.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Amanda Solloway on 2016-06-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress the Government has made on supporting women with perinatal mental health issues.
Alistair Burt
The Government is fully committed to improving perinatal mental health services. Following an announcement by the Prime Minister in January, we are investing an additional £365 million by 2021 to improve services so that women are able to access the right care, at the right time and close to home.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2016-09-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Pakistan about the kidnapping and forced conversion of Christian and Hindu girls and young women, the alignment of Pakistani Law with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and freedom of religion.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We are concerned about continuing reports of abuses against religious minorities in Pakistan. The Government strongly condemns the persecution of all minorities, including the targeting of innocent people based on their beliefs or gender. Our concerns are reflected in the latest update to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office annual human rights report.
We regularly raise our concerns about the protection of vulnerable groups, including women and religious minorities, with the Pakistani Government at a senior level. In April, the previous Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Philip Hammond), raised the importance of safeguarding the rights of all minorities with Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs.
It is encouraging that the government of Pakistan has enacted legislation to protect religious minorities. The UK Government continues to urge Pakistan to honour in practice its human rights obligations, including those related to religious minorities and women, and to uphold the rule of law.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Hayes on 2015-10-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when NHS England plans to publish guidance to commissioners on their duty to pay excess treatment costs.
George Freeman
NHS England has confirmed that guidance to commissioners on their duty to pay excess treatment costs will be published by the middle of November 2015.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2015-11-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are assisting Burundi and its neighbours to prevent further sectarian violence.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK has been actively working with the international community to prevent sectarian violence in Burundi. Our activities in New York, the EU and the region, including calls from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge), to the Burundian Foreign Minister, Ugandan Foreign Minister and African Union (AU) Peace and Security Commissioner have had an impact. There are signs the Burundian government is taking a more conservative approach in using the police and security forces. We have also pushed for the EU to start Article 96 negotiations with Burundi. Burundi has agreed to participate in Article 96 negotiations, having initially refused. We support a sanctions regime for Burundi whereby four individuals have been listed so far and the EU and AU are considering further sanctions on individuals. We continue to work with the AU who are mobilising the financial and political resources to assist with the mediation process between the East Africa Community and Burundi.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2015-12-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many magistrates’ courts opened in each local justice area in each year since 2010.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The tables below show magistrates’ courts that have opened since 2010. Each of these new courts replaced multiple smaller facilities, providing modern and efficient premises in place of buildings which were unfit for purpose.
|
2011 |
|
Westminster Magistrates Court |
|
2012 |
|
Aberystwyth Justice Centre |
|
Chelmsford Magistrates Court |
|
Colchester Magistrates Court |
|
Newport Magistrates Court |
It is not possible to present the above sites by their local justice areas as many local justice area boundaries change over time.