Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Joan Ryan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Joan Ryan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Joan Ryan on 2015-11-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of reports that Tamil political prisoners have been on hunger strike in Sri Lanka; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    We noted that on 17 November the hunger strike by Tamil detainees was temporarily suspended until 15 December. We regularly raise matters of concern with the Sri Lankan government, including the detention of prisoners without trial. Our policy is unchanged and we remain committed to working closely with the Sri Lankan government and international partners to support the implementation of the commitments made by Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in September, and in the UN Human Rights Council resolution of 1 October.

  • Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2015-12-08.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much money has been spent on flood defences in each year from 2010.

    Lord Gardiner of Kimble

    The amount of capital investment on flood defences in each year from 2010 is shown below:

    Financial year

    Capital investment on flood defence excluding the exceptional funding provided as a result of the 2013/14 floods (£m)

    Exceptional funding provided as a result of the 2013/14 floods (£m)

    2010/11

    364.9

    2011/12

    260.7

    2012/13

    269.1

    2013/14

    295.3

    25.0

    2014/15

    353.3

    125.0
  • 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 2016-01-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assistance the Government has given to the Libyan government for training Libyan army personnel.

    Penny Mordaunt

    We welcome the recent progress towards the formation of a Government of National Accord in Libya. We are considering, with partner nations, how we can best support a Libyan Government once it is established, including capacity building and security sector reform.

    We are also training two Libyan Officer Cadets who are due to commission from Sandhurst later this year after successfully completing their training programme in the UK which started in April 2014.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-02-10.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many freedom of information requests were (a) granted and (b) refused by his Department in each of the last five years.

    Matthew Hancock

    This information is publicly available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics

    “

  • Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-03-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of his Department’s (a) Senior Civil Servants and (b) core policy civil servants are based in London.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    On 1st March 2016, 97.8% of senior civil servants and 98.7% of core policy civil servants employed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport were based in London.

  • Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Lord West of Spithead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-04-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the flying of the Red Ensign on Merchant Navy Day on 3 September will be added to the list of mandatory days for flag flying in the UK.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    The designated days for flying the Union Flag on Government buildings have been specifically set to mark special occasions by command of Her Majesty the Queen and on the advice of Government. Any additions or changes must be discussed with the Lord Chamberlain’s Office. There are currently no plans to change the list.

    However, as flag flying is deregulated, any organisation may fly any flag at any time, so long as they have the necessary planning permission, therefore anyone may fly the Red Ensign on this day if they wish.

  • Helen Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Helen Jones – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2016-05-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent assessment he has made of the threats facing the Baltic states; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    The 2014 Wales Summit, under UK leadership, delivered an effective and united response to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and its actions in Eastern Ukraine.

    NATO has agreed to strengthen its defence and deterrence posture to provide further reassurance to Allies and deter Russian aggression.

    In February 2016 Defence Ministers agreed to address specific concerns raised by the Baltic States and Poland. Ahead of the Warsaw Summit in July, work continues within the Alliance to determine the size and scale of an enhanced forward presence in the East. The proposed measures are proportionate, defensive in nature, and not a threat to Russia, but demonstrate unequivocally the unity within the Alliance and the continued commitment of all Allies to the NATO principles of collective defence and security.

    A UK contribution will ultimately be shaped by what is agreed by all Allies.

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

    Caroline Flint – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Flint on 2016-07-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps her Department is taking to tackle access to and use of psychoactive substances in prisons.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    The Justice Secretary is clear that safety is fundamental to the proper functioning of our justice system and a vital part of our reform plans. There are a number of factors, including the availability of psychoactive substances in prisons, which must be tackled in order to make our prisons safe and places of rehabilitation.

    We have introduced tough new laws which will see those who smuggle packages over prison walls, including new psychoactive substances, face up to two years in prison. Those who involve themselves in the distribution of drugs in our prisons should know that they could face prosecution and extra time behind bars. We have a comprehensive range of security measures and searching techniques in place to detect drugs, and to prevent smuggling into prisons.

  • Chris Elmore – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Chris Elmore – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Elmore on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to facilitate the learning of the Welsh language by pupils in England.

    Nick Gibb

    Primary and secondary schools can choose to teach the Welsh language to pupils if there is sufficient demand. It is possible for a pupil in England to take privately a Welsh language GCSE offered in Wales if an examination centre is willing to enter them. This will include a revised Welsh Second Language GCSE available for first teaching from September 2017.

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-11-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will take steps to reduce Islamist culture at HM Prison Whitemoor.

    Andrew Selous

    Any behaviour by those convicted of extremist crimes or who subscribe to an agenda which seeks to promote extremist views will be challenged and managed accordingly.

    In order to ensure our current practice is as robust and effective as possible in dealing with such beliefs, the Justice Secretary has commissioned a review, supported by external expertise, of the overall approach to dealing with Islamist extremism in prisons, probation and the youth justice system.