Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Roger Godsiff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Roger Godsiff – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2016-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the consultation on whether to introduce a new online system for disability benefit appeals, whether the Government (a) took steps to ensure claimants were aware of that consultation, (b) plans to consult with groups representing disabled and ill people and people who claim employment and support allowance, personal independence payment or disability living allowance and (c) will take steps to ensure that the views of claimants are given sufficient weight when deciding whether to proceed with those proposals; and when she plans for the results of that consultation to be released.

    Sir Oliver Heald

    The Government is investing £1 billion to modernise our world-leading justice system. That means creating a system that is just, proportionate and accessible.

    Technology will be at the forefront of our reforms but specific support will be provided to ensure tribunals remain accessible to all and physical hearings will be used to resolve many cases.

    The ‘Transforming our Justice System’ consultation is about the administration of justice across all courts and tribunals and not one specific area. My officials are engaging with appropriate stakeholders, including disability groups, on relevant matters. We will consider all submissions before issuing a response in the coming months.

  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-11-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government applied to the European Commission globalisation adjustment fund to secure support funding for the British steel industry plants recently closed or under threat of closure.

    Priti Patel

    The European Globalisation Fund (EGF) provides a financial contribution for active labour market measures, aimed at reintegrating those made or at risk of being made redundant in the labour market.

    Member States are responsible in the first instance for tackling trade adjustment redundancies – the fund is therefore designed to add to national, regional and local assistance.

    The UK already offers a broad range of personalised support to workers made redundant through its Rapid Response Service and Jobcentre Plus, which could not be duplicated or substituted by EGF.

    The Rapid Response Service and the Jobcentre Plus Core Offer are effective reintegration tools which represent good value for money and are our primary and most effective means of response to support the industry.

    In addition to this, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has also announced packages of support worth up to £80 million for SSI in Redcar and up to £9 million for TATA Steel in Scunthorpe.

    Only if more support is necessary other suitable sources of support will be considered.

  • Debbie Abrahams – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Debbie Abrahams – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Debbie Abrahams on 2015-11-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his polices of the report by the UK Council on Deafness, Impact assessment: telephony equivalence for d/Deaf people, published in November 2013.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    We welcome what has been achieved over the years with the introduction of Next Generation Text Relay and the number of companies offering video relay services increasing. Public facing Government departments will continue to work with interested parties to ensure this positive progress continues.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-01-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on (a) tackling isolation of women living in rural areas and (b) providing more opportunities for women to participate in political and public life.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    I have had no discussions with the Northern Ireland Executive on tackling isolation of women living in rural areas.

    I have general discussions with Ministers in the Executive on a range of issues and this has included providing more opportunities for women to participate in political and public life. During the recent cross party talks, I also highlighted the importance of engaging women in community initiatives to combat the influence of paramilitary groupings. This is reflected in the Fresh Start Agreement.

    The Government recognises the lack of female representation in politics and public life and further recognises the positive outcomes that result in tackling this inequality. As the 2015 Conservative Manifesto said: “We also want to increase the proportion of public appointments going to women in the next Parliament, as well as the number of female MPs.”

    I have attended a number of events meeting women’s groups from across Northern Ireland and discussed the role of women in civic society and politics. This includes speaking at the Women’s Engagement Roadshow event in Belfast which highlighted the work Government is doing to improve the lives of women, and also provided women with a forum to voice their concerns about the issues that are important to them.

    I welcome the fact that on 11 January Arlene Foster became Northern Ireland’s first woman First Minister.

  • Helen Hayes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Helen Hayes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Hayes on 2016-01-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether residents living in supported housing will be exempt from the local housing allowance cap.

    Justin Tomlinson

    We value the work of the supported housing sector extremely highly and are working closely with them to ensure they are supported as effectively as possible.

    As part of this, we have commissioned an evidence review of supported housing.

    The results of this research will determine any appropriate exemptions.

  • Sheryll Murray – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Sheryll Murray – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sheryll Murray on 2016-02-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimates he has made of the additional resources needed and the cost of providing additional dialysis capacity for those patients who will no longer be suitable for a kidney transplant and for those patients whose transplant graft fails due as a result of restrictions in the range of immunosuppressant agents that will be introduced if the recommendations of the NICE review of TA 85 [ID456] are upheld at appeal.

    George Freeman

    We have made no such assessment.

    The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has not yet published its final updated guidance on the use of immunosuppressive therapy for kidney transplant in adults (review of TA85) or on the use of immunosuppressive therapy for kidney transplant in children and young people (review of TA99). NICE is developing resource impact reports to support implementation of its guidance which will be published alongside its final technology appraisal guidance.

  • Nick Clegg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Nick Clegg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Clegg on 2016-03-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of people using cannabis in the UK for medicinal purposes; and if she will make a statement.

    Karen Bradley

    The Home Office does not collect data on this.

    Decisions on disposal options for those who possess cannabis for any reason are an operational matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

  • Hilary Benn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Hilary Benn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2016-03-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his oral contribution of 12 January 2016, Official Report, column 697, whether UK personnel provided a quick check on whether the reported airstrike in Yemen on a market place in the Hajjah Governorate had broken international humanitarian law.

    Mr Philip Hammond

    The role of the UK liaison officers is to maintain an information flow with the Saudi Arabian authorities. We do not comment on the specifics. The Saudi Arabian Government announced on 29 February, that they are forming an independent committee to examine military activity in civilian areas in order to minimise possible civilian casualties; assess the Coalition’s rules of engagement; assess accidents, verification and targeting procedures and advise how they can be improved; and provide a clear, full and objective report for each investigation made including conclusions, lessons learnt and recommendations for future actions.

  • Baroness Thomas of Winchester – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Baroness Thomas of Winchester – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2016-05-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to gather evidence on food insecurity in the UK.

    Lord Gardiner of Kimble

    There is no single definition of food insecurity. The factors that impact on household food security are complex. There are multiple indicators such as quality, variety and desirability of diet as well as total intake, not all of which are measured consistently. It is, therefore, very difficult and potentially misleading to attempt to develop a single classification of food insecurity.

    Defra publishes annual statistics to show the proportion of household income spent on food by (a) all households and (b) the lowest income 20% of households. Lower income families spend a greater proportion of household income on food (15.7% compared to 11.4% for the average household). This has remained stable over recent years: 16.5% in 2013, 16.6% in 2012, 16.6% in 2011, 15.8% in 2010 and 16.1% in 2009. The most recent statistics are in the Food Statistics Pocketbook 2015 on the GOV.UK website.

    Year on year food prices have continued to fall with an annual rate of inflation of -2.7 per cent in the year to March 2016. General inflation is 0.3 per cent, unchanged from January.

  • Jonathan Ashworth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Jonathan Ashworth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Attorney General, what information he holds on whether the Serious Fraud Office plans to investigate the UK office of the law firm Mossack Fonesca.

    Jeremy Wright

    On 10 April, the Prime Minister set up a multi-agency taskforce to obtain and analyse the leaked “Panama Papers” and take action where possible. The taskforce comprises HMRC, the National Crime Agency, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and the Financial Conduct Authority who are working collaboratively to investigate any evidence of wrong-doing identified within the “Panama Papers”. The taskforce will report on its progress later this year.