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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Fiona Bruce – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Fiona Bruce – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he has taken to increase the flow of impartial information into the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea following the report of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in that country.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    The British Embassy in Pyongyang has arranged for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) officials to attend education programmes in the UK with a human rights element, and also to attend economics workshops in Pyongyang aiming to deepen their understanding of international standards and norms. The British Council English language teaching programme in Pyongyang provides another area of extensive engagement. The Embassy also delivers strong messages directly to DPRK interlocutors about the UK’s human rights concerns, including concerns arising from the UN Commission of Inquiry.

  • Dame Tessa Jowell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Dame Tessa Jowell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dame Tessa Jowell on 2014-06-09.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the total number of properties (a) in the UK and (b) in the Greater London region affected by a levy on a property’s value of above a (i) £2 million and (ii) £5 million threshold.

    Mr David Gauke

    I refer the Right Honourable Member to my answers of 12 May (column 332W) and 13 May (column 529W). The number of residential properties in the UK valued at more than £2 million was estimated before Budget 2012 to be around 55,000.

    The Treasury does not have a precise regional breakdown of properties worth over £2million.

  • Miss Anne McIntosh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Miss Anne McIntosh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Miss Anne McIntosh on 2014-06-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average length of time is taken to renew an existing passport and issue a new one.

    James Brokenshire

    A straightforward renewal application, where the customers provide the required supporting documentation at the outset, is usually dealt with within three weeks. Expected turnaround times for applications made in the UK and on a country by country basis for overseas applications are set out on www.gov.uk.

  • Meg Munn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Meg Munn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Meg Munn on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he plans to develop pilot projects of his proposals to allow further delegation of children’s social care functions.

    Mr Edward Timpson

    Responses to the consultation on further delegation of children’s social care functions are currently being considered. Local authorities will be able to apply to the Children’s Social Care Innovation Programme for support to make use of any new freedoms introduced, and the impact of activities funded through the programme will be robustly evaluated.

  • Roger Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Roger Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Williams on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, for what reason householders converting to higher efficiency natural gas condensing boilers are eligible for help under the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund, but householders in rural areas converting to higher efficiency oil or liquid petroleum gas condensing boilers are not eligible.

    Gregory Barker

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth on 9th June 2014, Official Report, Column 21W.

  • Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2014, Official Report, column 212W, on USA, whether either government places restrictions on the use of data shared between the UK and the US.

    Hugh Robertson

    Britain has a strong and longstanding intelligence relationship with the US. In both countries, intelligence work takes place within a strong legal framework. Our intelligence-sharing work with the US is subject to Ministerial and independent oversight and scrutiny by the Intelligence and Security Committee. As referred to in my answer to the honourable member on 11 June 2014, Official Report, column 212W, the Interception Commissioner in his latest annual report addresses the issue of intelligence sharing between the UK and its partners, including recording that the Regulation of Ivestigatory Powers Act 2000 strictly limits the lawful dissemination of intercept material to the minimum that is necessary for the authorised purposes.

  • Liam Fox – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Liam Fox – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liam Fox on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of recent territorial gains of the Islamist insurgent group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant; and if he will make a statement.

    Hugh Robertson

    The situation in Syria and Iraq is very serious and the territorial gains made by ISIL are deeply concerning. ISIL are a brutal terrorist group who want to impose rule on people using their extremist ideology, violence and extortion. Our objective is to see a prosperous and stable Iraq as part of a stable region. The recent developments clearly threaten this. In the immediate term we are very concerned about the large numbers of Iraqis being displaced from Mosul and surrounding areas. As well as a strong security response by the Iraqi forces, there needs to be a strong political solution.

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of work-based stress on suicide levels.

    Norman Lamb

    Numerous studies, including the Marmot Review into health inequalities in England (published in 2010) draw attention to the impacts of unemployment, and particularly long-term unemployment, on mental health.

    Research also demonstrates that work related stress and mental health problems often go together. Work related stress may trigger an existing mental health problem that the person may otherwise have successfully managed.

    However, common mental health problems and stress can exist independently. For example, people can have work related stress leading to physical symptoms such as high blood pressure, without experiencing anxiety and depression. They can also have anxiety and depression that is unrelated to stress.

    Gainful employment promotes mental well-being. Unfortunately, the workplace can also be the source of nonproductive stress leading to physical and mental health problems, including suicidal thoughts and behaviours and suicide.

    A number of studies demonstrate an association between the areas of England worst affected during the recent financial crisis and increased suicide rates. Between 2008 and 2010, there were approximately 800 more suicides among men and 155 more among women than would have been expected based on historical trends. This was supported by a recent review of the international impact of the global economic crisis. A rise in poor health status associated with the recession has also been found not only for the unemployed, but also among people who remain employed.

    People come into contact with the welfare system at a time when they may be vulnerable because of unemployment and its associated consequences. The Department for Work and Pensions provides guidance and training for staff to help them identify and support people who are vulnerable, including those who may be at risk of suicide or self-harm.

  • Tracey Crouch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Tracey Crouch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tracey Crouch on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Department is taking to improve healthcare outcomes by improving the awareness of gambling addiction on the part of healthcare professionals; and what guidance NHS England provides to local health authorities on the commissioning of services for gambling addiction.

    Norman Lamb

    The Department does not hold information on what specific training is provided to alcohol and drug treatment staff. Ensuring competent staff is the responsibility of local commissioners and providers.

    Public Health England (PHE) is working with the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the national gambling treatment service to identify how it can strengthen training, and are promoting the work of the Royal College of General Practitioners who have developed an online gambling diagnosis and treatment training resource that is available free to all health professionals.

    PHE promotes the Royal College of General Practitioners’ online training resource among all health professionals. PHE has developed guidance for local authorities on gambling and is exploring what the local needs are and where evidence allows it to intervene. However, PHE does not wish to undermine the treatment available through the national provider GamCare until evidence emerges that this is not meeting current need.

    My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with PHE and NHS England on a range of health issues. PHE is also working with NHS England and the Local Government Association to explore what the current need is locally so it can get a better picture; and decide whether PHE needs to act through prevention and restrictions on gambling shops; or through changes to the current GamCare treatment network.

  • Jessica Morden – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Jessica Morden – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jessica Morden on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much overtime has been paid to passport office staff at the Newport Passport Office since 2011.

    James Brokenshire

    Overtime costs relating to the Newport Passport Office from January 2011
    to 2014 amount to £298,965.