Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • David Amess – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    David Amess – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2015-11-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how the Government plans to develop a more comprehensive strategy to combat ISIL that prioritises protecting civilians in Syria.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The UK has a long-term, comprehensive strategy to degrade and defeat ISIL. We are working to protect UK citizens, both domestically and overseas, from the threat posed by ISIL, and playing a leading role in the 65-member Global Coalition that is tackling ISIL on the ground. That international effort includes military action against ISIL in its heartlands in Iraq and Syria, cutting off its finances, tackling foreign fighter flows, stabilising areas which have been liberated from ISIL, and countering its poisonous ideology through strategic communications.

    Unlike the Assad regime and its allies, who are bombing indiscriminately, Coalition military efforts in both Iraq and Syria are specifically designed to minimise civilian casualties. UK strike aircraft (which are currently operating only in Iraq) are equipped with advanced targeting systems and precision weapons to target ISIL by day or night whilst minimising civilian casualties.

    In addition to our efforts as part of the Global Coalition, the UK is directly helping protect Syrians on the ground. We are training Search and Rescue teams and supporting local Moderate Opposition structures to deliver governance, infrastructure, health services, education and livelihoods services. We also give more humanitarian aid to Syria than any other bilateral donor except the US.

    Ultimately, the only way to protect civilians in Syria is by achieving the mutually reinforcing objectives of defeating ISIL and ending the Syrian conflict. The latter can only be achieved through a political transition away from the Assad regime, whose brutality created and continues to fuel the conflict, and has led to ISIL’s expansion.

  • Ian Mearns – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Ian Mearns – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Mearns on 2015-12-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to update the National Maritime Security Strategy to 2019 to include the Government’s policy on the role of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

    Penny Mordaunt

    The National Strategy for Maritime Security was published in May 2014 and remains relevant to today’s challenges in the maritime domain. However, as we implement the outcomes of the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, we will consider whether the strategy should be reviewed.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, further to the Answer of 26 October 2015 to Question 12448, what criteria are used by her Department to determine the amount of aid provided to emerging economies like China and India.

    Mr Desmond Swayne

    As referred to in my response to Question 12448, we use a range of criteria to determine allocations to countries, and to meet the objectives of the UK Aid Strategy. Regarding the two partner countries referred to in the question, DFID closed its bilateral aid programme to China in March 2011 and now works in partnership with China on global development issues. The UK ended its traditional aid programme to India at the end of 2015. The new partnership with India will include technical assistance (sharing skills and expertise), investments in private sector projects that help the poor and generate a financial return for the UK taxpayer, and working together on global development issues such as trade and nutrition.

  • Viscount Ridley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Viscount Ridley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Viscount Ridley on 2016-02-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to the finding of the report An Unholy Mess, published by the Fair Admissions Campaign and the British Humanist Association last year, that a number of religiously selective schools have asked parents for information about their occupational, marital, and financial status as part of the admissions process, and whether they consider this to be acceptable.

    Lord Nash

    Many of the findings of the report by the Fair Admissions Campaign and British Humanist Association echo those reported by the Chief Schools Adjudicator in her Annual Report for the 2013/14 school year.

    Admission authorities for all state-funded schools, including schools with a religious designation, are required to comply with the mandatory provisions of the School Admissions Code and other admissions law.

    Where an objection is made to the Schools Adjudicator, if the arrangements are found to be unfair or fail to comply with the Code, the admission authority must make changes to ensure their arrangements are compliant. Where an admission authority fails to implement decisions of the adjudicator, the Secretary of State may direct the admission authority to do so.

    We continue to keep the Code under review, and, where we consider any changes are necessary to make the admissions system work more effectively for parents, these will be subject to a full public consultation.

  • Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-02-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2015 to Question 6424, what progress his Department has made on its internal review of employment status, launched on 6 October 2014.

    Nick Boles

    The internal review of employment status has now concluded.

    Ministers are carefully considering whether further steps are required to improve clarity and transparency for employers and individuals alike.

  • Viscount Waverley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Viscount Waverley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Viscount Waverley on 2016-04-21.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many UK Heads of Mission in Arabic-speaking countries speak Arabic.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    In the Middle East and North Africa region approximately 95 per cent of our Heads of Mission speak Arabic or other local languages (e.g. French or Hebrew).

  • Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-06-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what proportion of staff in her Department were (a) payroll and (b) non-payroll staff in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2015-16.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The proportion of staff who were (a) payroll and (b) non-payroll staff as at 31 March in each year from 2010-2011 to 2015-16 is set out in table 1.

    Payroll staff includes permanent staff, Short and Fixed Term Appointments, inward loans and secondments (where on payroll). Non-payroll includes agency staff, specialist contractors and consultants.

    Table 1

    Payroll

    Non-payroll

    2011

    92%

    8%

    2012

    89%

    11%

    2013

    88%

    12%

    2014

    91%

    9%

    2015

    89%

    11%

    2016

    94%

    6%
  • Margaret Hodge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Margaret Hodge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Hodge on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will publish a list of all secondees to his Department from (a) PwC, (b) Deloitte, (c) Ernst and Young, (d) KPMG and (e) other consulting firms in the last three financial years; and what the role was of each of those secondees.

    Kris Hopkins

    The Northern Ireland Office has not had any secondees from (a) PwC, (b) Deloitte, (c) Ernst and Young, (d) KPMG and (e) other consulting firms in the last three financial years.

  • Baroness Randerson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Baroness Randerson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-10-10.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the National Infrastructure Commission will examine the economic impact of (1) the deployment of Operation Stack in 2015, and (2) their plans for a lorry area to address problems caused by Operation Stack.

    Lord Young of Cookham

    The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) will examine strategic transport infrastructure when it conducts its first National Infrastructure Assessment.

    The Chancellor, together with the NIC, has launched a call for ideas to give stakeholders an opportunity to contribute their ideas for issues which could form the subject of future NIC studies. This process will help us ensure the NIC is focused on the country’s most critical infrastructure challenges.

  • Philip Davies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Philip Davies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2015-11-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which regulations his Department introduced as a result of EU legislation in (a) 2013, (b) 2014 and (c) 2015 to date; which regulations his Department expects to implement as a result of EU legislation in (i) 2016 and (ii) 2017; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such regulation to the (A) public purse and (B) private sector.

    Jane Ellison

    In the years indicated, the Department has introduced the following regulations, either wholly or partially, as a result of European Union legislation:

    2013

    – Statutory Instruments 2013/1855 and 2013/2593 concerning the regulation of medicines.

    – Statutory Instrument 2013/2327 concerning the regulation of medical devices.

    – National Health Service (Cross-Border Healthcare) Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/2269).

    – The Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/3243).

    – Medical Profession (Responsible Officers) (Amendment) Regulations 2013.

    2014

    – Statutory Instrument 2014/490 concerning the regulation of medicines.

    – Quality and Safety of Organs Intended for Transplantation (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (SI 2014/1459).

    – Health Care and Associated Professions (Indemnity Arrangements) Order 2014 (Order 2014/1887).

    – The Human Tissue (Quality and Safety for Human Application) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (SI 2014/2883).

    – The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Quality and Safety) Regulations 2014 (SI 2014/2884).

    – General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise) (Amendment) Rules Order of Council 2014.

    – General Medical Council (Licence to Practise and Revalidation) (Amendment) Regulations Order of Council 2014.

    – General Medical Council (Restoration following Administrative Erasure) (Amendment) Regulations Order of Council 2014.

    – General Medical Council (Voluntary Erasure and Restoration following Voluntary Erasure) (Amendment) Regulations Order of Council 2014.

    – Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) (Knowledge of English) Order 2014.

    – The Human Medicines (Amendment) Regulations 2014.

    2015 to date:

    – National Health Service (Cross-Border Healthcare) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 (SI 2015/139).

    – General Chiropractic Council (Indemnity Arrangements) Rules Order of Council 2015.

    – General Osteopathic Council (Indemnity Arrangements) Rules Order of Council 2015.

    – General Medical Council (Fitness to Practise and Over-arching Objective) and the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (References to Court) Order 2015.

    – Health Care and Associated Professions (Knowledge of English) Order 2015.

    – Health Care and Associated Professions (Knowledge of English) Order 2015 (Commencement No 1) Order of Council 2015.

    In the years indicated, the Department expects to implement the following regulations as a as a result of EU legislation:

    2016

    – The Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Quality and Safety) Regulations 2016.

    – The Human Tissue (Quality and Safety for Human Application) (Amendment) Regulations 2016.

    – Regulation (EU) 609/2013, concerning detailed requirements as to the composition of certain specific types of food (infant and follow-on formula; processed cereal-based foods and baby foods; foods for special medical purposes; and total diet replacement for weight control), and the nutritional information that must be provided in respect of such foods.

    – The European Qualification (Health and Social Care Professions) Regulations 2016.

    – The Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016.

    2017

    – Regulations implementing the EU Regulation on Clinical Trials and Regulations implementing the two EU Regulations on Medical Devices and In-vitro Medical Devices.

    When the Department makes regulations that transpose EU legislation, it follows the guidance and framework set by the Better Regulation Executive. This requires the Department to prepare and publish an impact assessment only when the net costs to business are greater than £1 million per year. These would be laid with associated regulations and explanatory memorandum.