Tag: Parliamentary Question

Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2015-11-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much was spent from the public purse on reimbursing each non-European Economic Area country for health care provided to UK nationals for each financial year from 1997-98 to 2014-15.

Alistair Burt

Regarding non-European Economic Area (EEA) countries, including those with reciprocal healthcare agreements with the United Kingdom, we can confirm that no reimbursements are made from the public purse in respect of healthcare provided to UK citizens.

For non-EEA countries without a reciprocal agreement in place with the UK, it would be for the individual to pay for any healthcare needed and for that reason appropriate travel and medical insurance is highly advisable. Similarly, for those non-EEA countries with whom the UK does have a reciprocal healthcare agreement, no money changes hands between the parties to the agreement. The basis of these agreements is reciprocity – that is, necessary healthcare is provided in most cases free of charge to the visitor and the associated costs are absorbed by either side.

The information requested on the amount received in reimbursement from EEA countries in only available for the country totals of cash payment for 2007-08 to 2014-15. That information is provided in attached table. We do not hold totals for amounts before 2007-08, as the information is hot held centrally.

01/01/2023
Alex Chalk – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Chalk on 2015-12-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department plans to spend per person on cycling in England outside London for each year until 2020-21.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Government has agreed a four-year revenue and five-year capital settlement for local transport spend, which includes cycling and walking investment. The Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, to be published in summer 2016, will explain the Government’s investment strategy for cycling and walking.

01/01/2023
Lord Taylor of Warwick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick on 2016-01-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the consequences that would follow if negotiations between the EU and the USA on the renewal of the Safe Harbour agreement on data transfers fail.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe

I remain hopeful that the EU and US will come to an agreement on a replacement for safe harbor. If not, data transfers to the US will need to be based on an alternative method of transfer.

I visited Washington at the beginning of January where I discussed what this Government could do to aid discussions between the Commission and US. Since this visit, I hosted a roundtable together with the Information Commissioner’s Office where we provided business and other interested organisations with an update on the discussions.

The Government continues to urge both sides in these negotiations to reach a swift conclusion. Commissioner Jourova recently said that she believed an agreement was possible and the Committee comprising the data protection authorities of all 28 member states will meet to review the position on 2 February.

In the meantime the Commission issued a communication on 6 November 2015 regarding international transfers. This is based on guidance from the Article 29 Working Party which is the grouping of the European data protection authorities. The Information Commissioner’s Office has also issued guidance on the use of alternative methods of data transfer between the EU and US.

01/01/2023
Bridget Phillipson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2016-02-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what data sets are maintained by NHS Property Services.

George Freeman

NHS Property Services currently holds data sets under three categories – Asset Management, Facilities Management (FM) and Finance.

The Asset Management data set holds information under 27 categories, including the Company’s legal agreements with landlords and tenants, site plans and schedules of occupation. The FM data set holds information under 13 categories, including cost breakdowns by property and basic building and utilities data. The Finance data set holds information under four categories, including a financial register of major assets above £5,000.

The Company currently has an on-going project to create a central database of all information relating to the portfolio. This is considered key to providing the detailed level of consistent data necessary to manage its spaces optimally.

01/01/2023
Lord Hoyle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hoyle on 2016-03-01.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the latest figures for the UK’s balance of trade with the EU.

Lord Maude of Horsham

The latest figures for the UK’s balance of trade with the EU are publically available in the ONS Balance of Payments: Quarter 3 (July to Sept) 2015 publication.

The UK’s balance of trade in goods & services with the EU in 2014 was -£58.8 billion, relating to £230.2 billion in exports and £289.1 billion in imports.

01/01/2023

Douglas Carswell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2016-03-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many staff in his Department were in receipt of Continuity of Education Allowance in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15; and what the cost to his Department was of providing that allowance for staff based (i) in the UK and (ii) overseas in each such year.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

The figures requested are attached and as follows:

	Number of Staff	Cost CEA Home	Cost CEA Overseas	Total
2012/2013	442	£8,736,957	£6,189,104	£14,926,061
2013/2014	378	£6,727,304	£6,435,519	£13,162,823
2014/2015	370	£7,193,211	£5,749,923	£12,943,134

It is a condition of their employment that members of the diplomatic service must be prepared to serve anywhere in the world at any time during their career, sometimes at very short notice. Those with children have a legal obligation as parents to ensure that their children receive a full-time education from the age of five years. Most parents prefer to take their children with them abroad, but in some of the 168 countries where the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has UK based staff, we do not permit staff to take their children for health or security reasons. In others, local schools of an acceptable standard are not available. It is longstanding practice that the FCO helps staff by providing financial support for their children’s education in the UK where staff choose this, or are obliged to do so given local conditions in the country to which they are posted.

01/01/2023

Lord Stoddart of Swindon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2016-05-03.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to contest the European Commission’s decision to open an infringement case against the UK over time-based road charges for heavy goods vehicles.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The Commission has requested information prior to reaching a considered view about the UK’s HGV Levy and its compatibility with EU Directives. The Government considers that the levy is justified and consistent with the free movement of goods, and will respond to the Commission in due course.

01/01/2023
Lord Pendry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pendry on 2016-06-15.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they are supporting British businesses in Colombia so that they do not contribute to the human rights violations against, in particular, the indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

Encouraging businesses to respect human rights is a global priority for this Government. We recognise that communities such as indigenous and afro-descendant people and those in isolated rural areas are particularly vulnerable.

The UK National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights sets out how the Government is implementing the UN Guiding Principles. British firms are expected to uphold these principles in their overseas operations, as well as in the UK. It is for each country to implement a National Action Plan to ensure compliance with the Guiding Principles.

We worked closely with the Colombian authorities to develop their National Action Plan, published in December. All companies operating in Colombia, including British ones, should comply with the requirements and guidelines set out in that National Action Plan.

The Minister for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend, the Lord Price of Sturminster Newton, launched a campaign for British businesses to support peace, primarily through respect for human rights, during his visit to Colombia last month. Twenty of the largest British companies operating in Colombia subsequently agreed to align themselves to the Colombian National Action Plan for business and human rights.

01/01/2023
The Marquess of Lothian – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Marquess of Lothian on 2016-09-12.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Iran seeking the return of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and her daughter to the UK.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

I am deeply concerned by recent reports that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been sentenced without confirmation of the charges against her. On 11 September our Acting Ambassador raised our concerns with the Iranian Government and pressed for urgent confirmation of the charges and sentencing against her. We continue to raise our strong concerns about British prisoners in Iran, including Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, at the highest levels in both London and Tehran. The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), did so in her introductory call with Iranian President Rouhani on 9 August and again on 20 September at the UN General Assembly in New York. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson), similarly raised this case in his introductory call with Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif on 4 August, and followed up in writing on 29 August. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood) met Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s family on 8 September to reassure them that we will continue to do all we can and that we remain ready to help them bring Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s daughter back to the UK if requested.

01/01/2023
Drew Hendry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-10-19.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to review the levels of VAT paid by tourism and hospitality businesses.

Jane Ellison

The Government keeps all taxes under review, although there are no current plans to review the levels of VAT paid by tourism and hospitality businesses.

01/01/2023