Tag: Parliamentary Question

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

    Julian Knight – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Knight on 2016-03-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what comparative assessment he has made of the safety of railways in the UK and other European countries.

    Claire Perry

    The United Kingdom currently has the safest record of any major railway network in Europe. All European Union Member States collect statistics about their safety performance including, for example, accidents and consequences, accident precursors and technical information. This material is collated by the European Railway Agency in its Annual Safety Performance Reports which are published at www.era.europa.eu/Core-Activities/Safety/Safety-Performance/Pages/Safety-Performance-Report.aspx.

    “

  • Paul Monaghan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Paul Monaghan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Monaghan on 2016-04-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Government plans to establish an Infrastructure Police Force to replace the Civil Nuclear Constabulary, British Transport Police and Ministry of Defence Police.

    Mike Penning

    The Strategic Defence and Security Review made a commitment to “integrate infrastructure policing further and to review the options to do this” and this review is underway.

  • Lord Empey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Empey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2016-05-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what additional financial resources and staff are being made available to assist unaccompanied children coming to the UK from refugee camps (1) in Europe, and (2) outside Europe.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    Our Syrian resettlement programme is working well and local authorities across the country have been closely involved in this. Alongside this programme we will consult local authorities on how best to implement the resettlement scheme for children at risk announced on 21 April and the provisions of the Immigration Act 2016 for the admission to the UK of unaccompanied refugee children from elsewhere in the EU. This will be done as part of our wider discussion with local authorities and other partners, including non-governmental organisations, about unaccompanied children who arrive in the UK and claim asylum here and about the implementation of new arrangements to relieve the pressure on particular local authorities by transferring these children to the care of other local authorities. The Home Office funds local authority care for unaccompanied asylum seeking children and funding arrangements form part of the ongoing discussion with local authorities. We are determined to ensure that no local authority is asked to take more unaccompanied children than local services are able to deal with and that impacts are managed in a fair and controlled way.

  • Tim Loughton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Tim Loughton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2016-07-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the outcome of the EU referendum.

    Mr Philip Hammond

    I have been holding, and will continue to hold, discussions with my international counterparts on the outcome of the EU referendum. Last week I met international counterparts at the NATO summit. I will meet many more overseas counterparts at the Asia–Europe Meeting in Ulaanbaatar later this week. I will also attend the Foreign Affairs Council, which will include an informal dinner on 17 July with my European counterparts to discuss the referendum outcome and an EU and Gulf Cooperation Council Summit Dinner on 18 July.

  • Keith Vaz – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Keith Vaz – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keith Vaz on 2016-09-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which of the recommendations made by the APPG for Yemen in its report, Conflict in Yemen, the forgotten crisis, published in October 2015 have been adopted by his Department.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    We welcomed the report and share the APPG’s concern about the serious humanitarian crisis in Yemen. A political solution is the best way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and end the conflict. The UK continues to strongly support the work of UN Special Envoy, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, and his tireless efforts in working with all parties to bring about peace in Yemen. The UK has continued to engage including at senior levels in support of the UN Special Envoy’s work. Along with my US, Saudi Arabian and Emirati counterparts, we released a Communiqué calling for an immediate return to the Cessation of Hostilities after meetings held on 21 September at the United Nations General Assembly.

    We are aware of reports of alleged violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) by actors in the conflict and take these very seriously. It is important that all sides conduct thorough and conclusive investigations into incidents where it is alleged that IHL has been breached. We regularly raise the importance of compliance with IHL with the Saudi Arabian Government and other members of the military Coalition. Saudi Arabia has publicly stated that it is investigating reports of alleged violations of IHL, and that lessons will be acted upon. We have also raised our concerns with the Houthis on the importance of compliance with IHL.

  • Lord Blencathra – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Blencathra – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Blencathra on 2015-11-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the job titles of the officials and other individuals on the Department of Health’s Voluntary Sector Grants Hub.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    As at 16 November 2015, the job titles of the officials and other individuals in the Department of Health’s Voluntary Sector Grants Hub are:

    Civil Service Grade / Job Title

    FTEs

    Grade 7

    1

    Senior Executive Officer (SEO) – Team Leader

    1.75

    Higher Executive Officer (HEO)

    1

    Higher Executive Officer (HEO) – Senior Account Manager

    4

    Executive Officer (EO) – Account Manager

    7

    Job titles provided along with grades in instances where staff share the same job title.

  • Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Karl Turner – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl Turner on 2015-12-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to paragraph 1.143 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, what the evidential basis is of the statement that a claimant culture exists in England and Wales in relation to whiplash claims.

    Dominic Raab

    The Government received and analysed data from numerous sources when formulating the announcement in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement. The quoted figures were arrived at by combining published industry estimates along with data from government and other sources.

    Government data, compiled by the Compensation Recovery Unit at the Department for Work and Pensions, indicates that claims volumes remain at historically high levels, some 50% higher than in 2006. Over the same period accident rates have fallen by around 26%. This is clear evidence that the system is in need of further reform, which is why on 25 November, in his Autumn Statement, the Chancellor announced tough new measures to control costs and reduce the number of unnecessary whiplash claims.

    The Government will consult on the detail of the new reform package in due course and the consultation document will be accompanied by an impact assessment.

  • Catherine McKinnell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Catherine McKinnell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2016-01-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to require six-monthly inspections of all licensed houses in multiple occupation and bed and breakfasts catering for homeless people.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    Local authorities, familiar with stock in their areas, are best placed to set up appropriate inspection plans that take account of resources available and risk posed by individual properties. The Government has no plans to require six-monthly inspections of licensed houses in multiple occupation and bed and breakfast accommodation occupied by homeless persons.

    Local housing authorities must also exercise their functions in respect of hazards under the Housing, Health and Safety Rating System in relation to licensed houses in multiple occupation and ensure any accommodation they secure to accommodate homeless households is suitable. In considering "suitability" authorities must consider whether the accommodation is affordable for the household, its size, its condition, its accessibility and also its location.

  • Caroline Nokes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Caroline Nokes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Nokes on 2016-02-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the potential psychological effect on victims of domestic abuse who are representing themselves as litigants in person in the family court of being cross-examined by their alleged abuser.

    Caroline Dinenage

    The Government is committed to supporting victims of domestic violence and abuse.

    The Ministry of Justice is undertaking research to explore how the family judiciary are currently managing cases where unrepresented alleged perpetrators of abuse can cross-examine vulnerable witnesses in the family court, and to establish what, if any, additional provisions could be considered to support them in doing so. A report will be published in due course.

    The research did not aim to assess the psychological impact of any cross-examination on victims of domestic abuse. However, some of the findings relate to the considerations the judiciary make in managing such cases appropriately, and the report will outline options to further protect vulnerable witnesses in the family court. It was out of scope of this research to explore cases where an unrepresented litigant who is a victim of domestic abuse may have to cross-examine their alleged abuser.

    Family judges have a range of powers and training to manage difficult court room situations and to ensure they are handled sensitively for victims of domestic violence and other vulnerable witnesses. Judges can intervene to prevent inappropriate questions or have questions relayed. Practical protections, for example, protective screens, video links, separate waiting rooms and separate entrances are available where appropriate. It is for the judge involved, on the basis of the evidence, to determine how the framework will be applied in a particular case.

    The family courts take the issue of domestic violence extremely seriously. The Child Arrangement Programme and Practice Direction 12J set out a strong and clear framework where domestic violence is alleged and all judges receive specific training on this framework.

  • Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-03-14.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many foreign nationals living in the UK have been (a) investigated and (b) prosecuted for a fraudulent child benefit claim for a child living in the EU in each of the last five years.

    Damian Hinds

    I refer my honourable friend to my response of 14 March 2016 (UIN 27517).

    http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2016-02-19/27517/27517

    “