Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Alistair Carmichael – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Alistair Carmichael – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alistair Carmichael on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on how many occasions Ministers in his Department have delayed providing information to the Intelligence and Security Committee in order to make a determination as to whether to share that information as set out in Schedule 1 to the Justice and Security Act 2013.

    Ben Gummer

    The Cabinet Office is unable to find any record of having declined to disclose information to the Intelligence and Security Committee under Schedule 1 of the Justice and Security Act 2013.

    The Cabinet Office is unable to find any record of having unreasonably delayed providing information to the Intelligence and Security Committee in order to make a determination as to whether to share that information, as set out in Schedule 1 of the Justice and Security Act 2013.

  • Kate Green – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Kate Green – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2015-11-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what steps his Department is taking to implement the family test.

    David Mundell

    The Family Test was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2014 and introduced in October 2014. It is an integral part of the policy making process and is applied in the development of all new policy. DWP published guidance for Departments and officials on how the test should be applied when formulating policy and my Department follows that guidance.

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-12-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions his Department has had with the government of Romania on (a) improving media freedom and media pluralism in that country and (b) the activities of (i) Central Media Enterprise, (ii) Adrian Sârbu and (iii) Ronald Lauder.

    Mr David Lidington

    The British Embassy in Bucharest continues to follow the issue of media freedom in Romania, given its impact on the quality of democracy and on the rule of law. As part of the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism (CVM), to which Romania has been subject since its EU accession, the European Commission has called on Romania to “review existing standards to safeguard a free and pluralist media”. We have worked closely with the European Commission and the Romanian government in encouraging full implementation of CVM recommendations including on the relationship between the media and state institutions. The Department has had no recent discussions with the government of Romania on the activities of Central Media Enterprise, Adrian Sarbu or Ronald Lauder.

  • Angela Crawley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Angela Crawley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Crawley on 2016-01-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans the Government has to seek legislative consent from the Scottish Parliament for the proposed repeal of the Human Rights Act 1998.

    Dominic Raab

    This Government was elected with a clear mandate to replace the Human Rights Act with a Bill of Rights. We will bring forward proposals for consultation in due course, and will fully engage with the Devolved Administrations.

    It would be premature to comment on the application of the Sewell Convention until the package of legislation is settled.

  • Dan Jarvis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Dan Jarvis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2016-02-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to reduce the smoking rate in (a) local authorities in which it is above the English average and (b) other local authorities.

    Jane Ellison

    Local authorities, funded by the Government’s public health grant, have responsibility for providing a programme of tobacco control that meets the needs of their populations. Public Health England provides local authorities with a range of data and tools including the Local Tobacco Control Profiles for England and a local youth smoking mapping tool, to assist local priority setting and support delivery.

    This Government has committed to publishing a new tobacco control plan to further reduce the prevalence of smoking in England. Addressing health inequality and local variation will be a priority of the new strategy. We are working with local authorities to develop this element of the plan to support and empower local action, where tobacco control can be tailored to the unique needs of local populations.

  • Tulip Siddiq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Tulip Siddiq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-03-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2016 to Question 28947, how many referrals the helpline has made to which relevant bodies in each year it has been in place, which relevant, on what date it is planned that the new modern slavery helpline will begin to operate; and how much funding the Government has allocated for the operation of that helpline.

    Karen Bradley

    I refer the Hon. Member to my response of 2 March. Between 31 July 2014 and 31 July 2015, 849 contacts were made to the NSPCC-run modern slavery helpline. Of these in total, 403 referrals were made to the police, 106 referrals were made to children’s services, 1 to the armed forces and 81 to other agencies. For the period 1 August 2015 to 31 January 2016 74 referrals were made to the helpline. Of these 49 referrals were made to the police, 14 referrals were made to children’s services and 11 to other agencies. A referral may be made to more than one agency and may include update referrals.

    No funding has been allocated for the NSPCC helpline for the financial year 2016-17. Polaris, a US-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), is establishing an enhanced UK helpline in collaboration with a UK-based NGO, which will supersede the current NSPCC helpline. The NSPCC helpline will remain in operation until the enhanced helpline is up and running. Start up funding of up to £1 illion has been provided by Google.org. The new helpline is expected to be in operation later this year.

  • Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-04-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to ensure that people in receipt of Government administered free cavity wall insulation schemes do not suffer damp in their houses after insulation.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Under the Energy Company Obligation, which is the primary government support for measures of this type, the insulation of a cavity wall must be accompanied by an appropriate guarantee, approved by Ofgem. Amongst other criteria, the guarantee must include an assurance framework for the quality of the installation and the product used in the installation. As the administrator of ECO, Ofgem assess the suitability of this framework.

    Alongside this, the Department for Communities and Local Government has begun research into dampness in buildings caused by both internal moisture and wind-driven rain and related to insulation. This project is due for completion later this year. We are also aware of the recent publication of BBA Technical report No. 3, Full fill cavity wall insulation in areas of very severe exposure to wind driven rain.

    The results of both projects, together with any other relevant information, will be considered as part of any review of the regulations and associated statutory guidance. DECC and DCLG have also commissioned Dr Peter Bonfield to conduct a wider independent review of consumer advice, quality and standards and consumer protection for energy efficiency and renewable installations. The findings of this review will cover installations of Cavity Wall insulations. This report will be published in due course.

  • Greg Knight – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Greg Knight – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Knight on 2016-05-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, for what reason several cameras are being installed on the A1 north of Colsterworth; how many accidents have occurred on the stretch of road being covered by those cameras in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

    Andrew Jones

    Highways England are installing average speed cameras on the A1 north of Colsterworth as part of a safety improvement scheme. This is in response to safety concerns in the Stoke Rochford area. Monitoring has identified this site as having a high cluster of collisions resulting in injuries where speed was a contributing factor.

    Validated accident data for this section of the A1 from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2014 show a total of 62 personal injury collisions:

    Year

    Slight Injury

    Serious Injury

    Fatal

    2010

    8

    2

    0

    2011

    9

    3

    0

    2012

    13

    1

    1

    2013

    10

    0

    0

    2014

    13

    2

    0
  • David Burrowes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    David Burrowes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Burrowes on 2016-07-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the timetable is for Stephen Shaw to complete his follow-up review of the use of immigration detention.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The follow up to Stephen Shaw’s review into the welfare in detention of vulnerable persons will take place in late 2017, with timings to be agreed with Mr Shaw.

  • Alistair Carmichael – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Alistair Carmichael – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alistair Carmichael on 2016-10-07.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make Police Scotland eligible for VAT refunds.

    Jane Ellison

    The Government has no intention of bringing forward legislative proposals to make Police Scotland eligible for VAT refunds.