Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • David Warburton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    David Warburton – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Warburton on 2016-01-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress the Government has made on putting in place a blue belt to protect marine habitats and species in the UK’s Overseas Territories.

    James Duddridge

    The UK Government has announced plans to designate a no-take Marine Protected Area throughout Pitcairn waters, and with the Ascension Island Government has agreed to close 50% of their waters from fishing activities whilst establishing a well-managed fishery in the remaining offshore waters. Work is also underway to identify any gaps in marine conservation across the remaining OTs, which will assist Territories in delivering additional marine protection through a range of marine management tools, where necessary. We will work closely with the Environment Audit Committee in this regard.

  • Diane Abbott – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Diane Abbott – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diane Abbott on 2016-02-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the implications of the findings of the report by Europol, Migrant Smuggling in the EU, published in February 2016, for her policies on tackling smuggling through the criminal justice system.

    James Brokenshire

    The Government’s system-wide approach to tackling Organised Immigration Crime is based on information and intelligence from a wide variety of sources. The Government takes Organised Immigration Crime very seriously – we are working to smash the criminal gangs that are fuelling this terrible trade in people. In June 2015 the Prime Minister announced the creation of the Organised Immigration Crime Taskforce bringing together officers from the NCA, Border Force, Immigration Enforcement and the Crown Prosecution Service. The Taskforce was subsequently expanded in November 2015 to more than 100 officers, and has had its funding extended until 2020. The Government values the intelligence-led approach to tackling Organised Immigration Crime Europol helps to facilitate, including through Joint Operational Team Mare, and welcomes the launch by Europol on 22 February 2016 of the new European Migrant Smuggling Centre which will proactively support EU Member States in dismantling criminal networks involved in organised migrant smuggling. The UK has been at the forefront of calls in the EU for a robust approach to tackling Organised Immigration Crime.

  • Hannah Bardell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Hannah Bardell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hannah Bardell on 2016-03-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when the final version of the report on pregnancy and maternity-related discrimination and disadvantage will be published.

    Nick Boles

    The final reports on pregnancy and maternity-related discrimination in the workplace were published on 22 March 2016, together with the Government response to recommendations made by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. We had intended to publish the final reports in December 2015, but this did not prove possible as the research reports were extensive and took longer than expected to finalise.

  • Derek Twigg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Derek Twigg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Derek Twigg on 2016-04-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2016 to Question 32463, what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on his announcement of 23 April 2015 of a special scheme to help small businesses in Runcorn and Widnes using the new Mersey Gateway Bridge and the existing Silver Jubilee Bridge from 2017.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Secretary of State for Transport met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 29th February 2016 and discussion included discount schemes on the Mersey Gateway Crossing.

    Officials in the Department for Transport and Her Majesty’s Treasury are continuing to work through the implications of any further extension of user discounts to the cost of the scheme and to the commercial structure of the contracts already signed for the scheme.

  • Andrew Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Andrew Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Smith on 2016-05-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has service standards in place for considering fee waiver applications.

    James Brokenshire

    There are no service standards for fee waiver applications.

  • Jonathan Ashworth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Jonathan Ashworth – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2016-07-18.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar has retained his role as the Government’s Anti-Corruption Champion.

    Ben Gummer

    The Prime Minister will consider all such appointments, including that of the anti-corruption champion, in due course.

  • Emma Reynolds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Emma Reynolds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emma Reynolds on 2016-10-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he or his officials have had with UK businesses on the consequences on them of leaving the EU Customs Union.

    Margot James

    My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and his officials have on-going discussions with businesses operating in multiple sectors to understand their views on a range of issues following the referendum.

  • Nic Dakin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Nic Dakin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nic Dakin on 2015-10-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress his Department has made in extending reassessment periods for claimants in the employment and support allowance support group (a) generally and (b) who have degenerative brain conditions.

    Priti Patel

    Despite routine re-assessments are currently suspended to focus on new claims, we have made an exception for deteriorating conditions where a repeat assessment can be requested. As a consequence no changes have been made to the re-referral periods for people in the Support Group.

  • Ian C. Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Ian C. Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian C. Lucas on 2015-11-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what her policy is on the European Food Safety Authority’s review on the evidence on the impact of neonicotinoids; and what representations she has made to that Authority on that review.

    George Eustice

    The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) review on the evidence on the impact of neonicotinoids is an important opportunity to produce an up-to-date assessment of this issue. EFSA has just completed the data collection phase and the UK will contribute fully to the review as it progresses.

  • Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe on 2015-12-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they have taken since 2010 to reduce air pollution caused by traffic journeys to Heathrow airport and in its immediate vicinity, and what was the outcome of those measures.

    Lord Gardiner of Kimble

    While the relevant local authority would be best placed to provide details on any specific measures, over recent decades, air quality has improved significantly. Between 2005 and 2013 emissions of nitrogen oxides have fallen by 38% and particulate matter has reduced by more than 16%. The Government is investing heavily in transport measures to reduce air pollution and since 2011 has committed £2 billion to increase the uptake of ultra-low emission vehicles, support green transport initiatives and support Local Authorities to take action.

    On 17 December, we issued the UK plan for improving air quality. It sets out a comprehensive approach that will reduce health impacts and meet our environmental and legal obligations. It is available on the GOV.UK website.