Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Lord Marlesford – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the The Lord Chairman of Committees

    Lord Marlesford – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the The Lord Chairman of Committees

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

    To ask the Chairman of Committees which peers who were Members of the House of Lords throughout the 2014–15 parliamentary session attended on fewer than 25 per cent of sitting days, indicating in respect of each peer the number of days attended.

    Lord Laming

    The House sat for 126 days in the 2014/15 Session and therefore members needed to attend at least 32 times to reach an attendance rate of 25%. For the purposes of this answer: an attendance is counted as an attendance in the Chamber, in Grand Committee, in a Select Committee or a vote in the division lobbies.

    The following members attended on fewer than 32 days. The figures do not include members who joined part way through the Session, members who died or retired part way through the session, or members who were disqualified or on leave of absence throughout the Session. Some of the Members listed were unwell and have since died, and some took leave of absence in the next Session. In discharging their parliamentary duties members of the House of Lords can draw substantially on experience and expertise gained outside Parliament. Therefore members may devote considerable time to maintaining and increasing that knowledge.

    Members who took leave of absence for part of the Session and attended fewer than 25% of total days that they were eligible to attend:

    Days attended

    Total sitting days that member was eligible to attend.

    Dixon, L.

    0

    32

    Mogg, L.

    0

    35

    Janner of Braunstone, L.

    0

    36

    Hutton, L.

    1

    109

    Brooks of Tremorfa, L.

    2

    27

    Evans of Parkside, L.

    2

    35

    Thomas of Walliswood, B.

    3

    41

    Other members who attended fewer than 32 times:

    Days attended

    Grabiner, L.

    0

    Healey, L.

    0

    Inge, L.

    0

    Mayhew of Twysden, L.

    0

    Neill of Bladen, L.

    0

    Saville of Newdigate, L.

    0

    Soulsby of Swaffham Prior, L.

    0

    Archer of Weston-Super-Mare, L.

    1

    Baldwin of Bewdley, E.

    1

    Browne of Madingley, L.

    1

    Goldie, B.

    1

    King of Lothbury, L.

    1

    Peel, E.

    1

    Weidenfeld, L.

    1

    Williamson of Horton, L.

    1

    Bell, L.

    2

    Cameron of Lochbroom, L.

    2

    Campbell of Loughborough, B.

    2

    Ezra, L.

    2

    Falkender, B.

    2

    Malloch-Brown, L.

    2

    Turner of Ecchinswell, L.

    2

    Wolfson of Aspley Guise, L.

    2

    Alliance, L.

    3

    Burns, L.

    3

    Carter of Barnes, L.

    3

    Heseltine, L.

    3

    Lloyd-Webber, L.

    3

    Sacks, L.

    3

    Tombs, L.

    3

    Sharman, L.

    4

    Parkinson, L.

    4

    Bamford, L.

    5

    Coe, L.

    5

    Feldman, L.

    5

    London, Bp.

    5

    Smith of Kelvin, L.

    5

    Waldegrave of North Hill, L.

    5

    Wilson of Dinton, L.

    5

    York, Abp.

    5

    Collins of Mapesbury, L.

    6

    Freyberg, L.

    6

    Fritchie, B.

    6

    Guthrie of Craigiebank, L.

    6

    Williams of Oystermouth, L.

    6

    Wolfson of Sunningdale, L.

    6

    Haughey, L.

    7

    Rogers of Riverside, L.

    7

    Stevenson of Coddenham, L.

    7

    Winchester, Bp.

    7

    Young of Graffham, L.

    7

    Darzi of Denham, L.

    8

    Kestenbaum, L.

    8

    Nickson, L.

    8

    Rotherwick, L.

    8

    Chelmsford, Bp.

    9

    Hall of Birkenhead, L.

    9

    Myners, L.

    9

    Renwick of Clifton, L.

    9

    Richards of Herstmonceux, L.

    9

    Bristol, Bp.

    10

    Rix, L.

    10

    Browne-Wilkinson, L.

    11

    O’Donnell, L.

    11

    Vallance of Tummel, L.

    12

    Carrington, L.

    12

    Browne of Ladyton, L.

    12

    Drayson, L.

    12

    Glendonbrook, L.

    12

    Green of Hurstpierpoint, L.

    12

    Leach of Fairford, L.

    12

    Sheffield, Bp.

    12

    Currie of Marylebone, L.

    13

    Hattersley, L.

    13

    Macfarlane of Bearsden, L.

    13

    Mandelson, L.

    13

    Ryder of Wensum, L.

    13

    Sassoon, L.

    13

    Truro, Bp.

    13

    Blackwell, L.

    14

    Canterbury, Abp.

    14

    McCluskey, L.

    14

    Tordoff, L.

    14

    Davies of Abersoch, L.

    15

    Hogg, B.

    15

    Leitch, L.

    15

    Neuberger, B.

    15

    Tanlaw, L.

    15

    Willoughby de Broke, L.

    15

    Falconer of Thoroton, L.

    16

    Hardie, L.

    16

    Haskins, L.

    16

    Montagu of Beaulieu, L.

    16

    Palumbo of Southwark, L.

    16

    Saatchi, L.

    16

    Stair, E.

    18

    Levene of Portsoken, L.

    18

    Edmiston, L.

    18

    Imbert, L.

    18

    Joffe, L.

    18

    Worcester, Bp.

    18

    Birmingham, Bp.

    19

    Kalms, L.

    19

    Lichfield, Bp.

    19

    Owen, L.

    19

    Patten of Barnes, L.

    19

    Young of Old Scone, B.

    19

    Feldman of Elstree, L.

    20

    Livingston of Parkhead, L.

    20

    Smith of Leigh, L.

    20

    Allan of Hallam, L.

    21

    Chadlington, L.

    21

    Chandos, V.

    21

    Durham, Bp.

    21

    Leicester, Bp.

    21

    Portsmouth, Bp.

    21

    Greenfield, B.

    22

    Macdonald of River Glaven, L.

    22

    Valentine, B.

    23

    Home, E.

    23

    Howard of Lympne, L.

    23

    Montgomery of Alamein, V.

    23

    Rochester, Bp.

    23

    Richardson of Calow, B.

    24

    Rosslyn, E.

    24

    Stern of Brentford, L.

    24

    Alli, L.

    25

    Magan of Castletown, L.

    25

    Puttnam, L.

    25

    Cullen of Whitekirk, L.

    26

    Levy, L.

    26

    Mar and Kellie, E.

    26

    Moore of Lower Marsh, L.

    26

    Palumbo, L.

    26

    Walker of Gestingthorpe, L.

    26

    Manningham-Buller, B.

    27

    Fellowes of West Stafford, L.

    27

    Turnbull, L.

    28

    Carswell, L.

    29

    Sugar, L.

    29

    Goldsmith, L.

    30

    Coventry, Bp.

    30

    Walker of Aldringham, L.

    30

    Cohen of Pimlico, B.

    31

    Judge, L.

    31

    Krebs, L.

    31

    Shaw of Northstead, L.

    31

    Sheldon, L.

    31
  • 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 2015-12-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assistance the UK has offered to Central African Republic with preparations for elections in that country in December 2015.

    James Duddridge

    Free, fair and inclusive elections are critical for the Central African Republic’s future stability, and for successful future reconciliation. As such, the UK supports the Constitutional Court’s ruling that all citizens of the Central African Republic, including internally displaced people and refugees in neighbouring countries, have the right to vote in upcoming elections. The UK is supportive of an EU Election Mission to the Central African Republic. The UK contributes to the UN peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic and is one of the largest humanitarian donors to the country, providing £58 million since 2013 to Central African Republic and Central African Republic refugees through non-governmental organisations and international organisations.

  • Ian Austin – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Ian Austin – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-01-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with (a) the police and (b) retailers on the sale of zombie knives in the UK.

    Karen Bradley

    The Government continues to work with the police and partners to ensure we reduce violence and knife crime, and in the year ending June 2015, knife crime recorded by the police was 17% lower than 2010. We are aware of concerns about zombie knives and we are currently considering representations including the letter of 13 January from the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the West Midlands and on 21 January from the prospective mayoral candidate for London Zac Goldsmith. A reply will be sent shortly and we will offer to meet with the PCC.

    We are currently considering what action to take against the prevalence of zombie knives on our streets. We are talking to retailers, including Amazon, about the action they can take. There are strict laws on the sale of knives to under 18s and on how knives can be marketed. We are concerned about any knives being carried in public especially if used to threaten and inflict violence. It is a criminal offence to possess a knife in public without good reason, and if a person is convicted a second time they now face a minimum mandatory custodial sentence following the introduction of this change by the Government in July 2015.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-02-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Reaper drones have been used in operations in Syria.

    Penny Mordaunt

    I am withholding operational information on the number of RAF Reaper aircraft deployed as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

  • David Nuttall – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    David Nuttall – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Nuttall on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will commission an independent assessment of the cumulative effect of all tobacco control measures on small businesses introduced since 1 January 2006.

    Jane Ellison

    The Department assesses the impact of all proposed measures before laying legislation using standard government methodology. These assessments are set out in Impact Assessments which are scrutinised by the Regulatory Policy Committee before publication alongside the Statutory Instrument. Impact Assessments specifically look at the impacts on small and micro businesses. A number of the tobacco measures contain commitments to further review the impact of the legislation within five years of them coming into force.

    The Department assesses the impact of tobacco control measures on an ongoing basis as it develops policy and considers new measures. In September 2013, the Department published An Audit of the impact of the Department of Health’s Regulations upon business. A copy of the report is attached. The Audit report covered all regulations for which the Department has responsibility believed to have a potential cost to business, including those relating to tobacco control. As advised in the report, there is a robust cost-benefit case for the tobacco control regulations considered and experience shows that initiatives to reduce smoking prevalence work best in combination, with cumulative effects over time.

  • John Woodcock – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    John Woodcock – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Woodcock on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the value of (a) UK and (b) foreign munitions and sonobuoys purchased for the UK’s P-8A aircraft over the life of that aircraft by (i) year, (ii) country of manufacture and (iii) name.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 21 December 2015 to Question 19776 to the hon. Member for Garston and Halewood (Maria Eagle).

    The Ministry of Defence has not yet made a final decision on the method for contracting for delivery of the P8-A Poseiden aircraft to the UK. Therefore the information requested is yet to be determined.

  • Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-05-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the oral contribution of the Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise on 9 May 2016, Official Report, column 442, what the addresses are of the 14 locations across which his Department’s policy teams are spread.

    Joseph Johnson

    The addresses of the 14 locations where the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills policy teams are based are:

    Birmingham
    Victoria Square House
    Victoria Square
    Birmingham B2 4BU

    Bristol
    2 Rivergate
    Bristol BS1 6EH

    Cambridge
    Eastbrook House
    Shaftsbury Road
    Cambridge CB2 8DU

    Cardiff
    Companies House
    Crown Way
    Cardiff CF14 3UZ

    Coventry
    Cheylesmore House
    Quinton Road
    Coventry CV1 2WT

    Darlington
    Queensway House
    West Precinct
    Darlington TS23 2NF

    Gateshead
    St George’s House
    Kingsway
    Gateshead NE11 0NA

    Leeds
    Alexandra House
    Redvers Close
    Leeds LS16 6QY

    London
    1 Victoria Street
    London SW1H 0ET

    Manchester
    3 Piccadilly Gate
    Store Street
    Manchester M1 2WD

    Newport
    Concept House
    Cardiff Road
    Newport NP10 8QQ

    Nottingham
    Apex Court
    City Link
    Nottingham NG2 4LA

    Sheffield
    2 St Paul’s Place
    125 Norfolk Street
    Sheffield S1 2FJ

    Warrington/Daresbury
    Daresbury Laboratory
    Keckwick Lane
    Warrington WA4 4AD

  • Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many mandatory reconsiderations were submitted in relation to entitlement to disability living allowance for children in each of the last three years.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The table below shows the number of Mandatory Reconsiderations received for the last three years.

    Disability Living Allowance

    2013/14

    2014/15

    2015/16

    Child Mandatory Reconsiderations received

    18,543

    21,647

    27,015

    The information for the second question could only be supplied at disproportionate cost.

    Notes: Mandatory Reconsiderations were introduced from October 2013 as part of Appeals Reform. The figures shown in the table above for 2013/14 include reconsideration clearances (pre-reform) to enable the full year to be provided.

    Source: Department of Work and Pensions, Disability Living Allowance Computer System

    This type of internal management information does not form part of the official statistics outputs that are released by the Department in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority’s Code of Practice and should be used with caution.

  • Debbie Abrahams – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Debbie Abrahams – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Debbie Abrahams on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people affected by the closure of SSI Redcar have been supported back into employment through the Rapid Response Service.

    Damian Hinds

    Around 9 in 10 (1,990) of the 2,150 SSI and other workers who made an initial claim for benefits have since ended that claim.

  • Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 2015-11-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to make it cheaper and easier for food businesses to donate surplus food to charities rather than dispose of it via anaerobic digestion.

    Lord Gardiner of Kimble

    We have taken action to ensure that more surplus food is redistributed to people before being put to any other use through our voluntary agreements with the grocery and hospitality sectors. If surplus food cannot be prevented, the next best option is to ensure it is redistributed for human consumption. Signatories to the Courtauld Commitment, which includes UK retailers and food manufacturers, have reported a 74% increase in food redistribution between 2012 and the end of 2014 and we expect it to increase further.

    In January this year the Secretary of State for Defra and the Minister for Civil Society brought together key players from retail, food manufacturing and redistribution organisations to agree new actions to further increase levels of food redistributed. A working group is driving this forward to waste less and redistribute more. The Group is developing a partnership model to provide a consistent framework for providers and recipients of surplus food to reach agreement on working together. Research has also been commissioned from the Waste and Resources Action Programme, which will identify where and why waste and surpluses occur in the food chain to identify what action can be taken to increase waste prevention and redistribution.

    There will always be some unavoidable food waste. The Government’s Anaerobic Digestion Strategy is in place to reduce the amount of organic material going to landfill and drive the waste that is produced into energy recovery or recycling.