UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Gareth Johnson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Gareth Johnson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Johnson on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Bahrain.

    Hugh Robertson

    We believe that the only way to promote peace and stability in Bahrain and address the legitimate aspirations of all Bahrainis is through dialogue leading to an inclusive political settlement. With elections in October, we hope that this is an opportunity to reach a deal. We encourage all sides to engage constructively in this process.

  • Ian Swales – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Ian Swales – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Swales on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency will include small and medium-sized enterprises in the procurement process for its contract to manage direct debit payments for vehicle tax discs.

    Stephen Hammond

    The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) will deliver direct debits for vehicle excise duty in two phases. Initially, the DVLA will partly use its existing contract for IT service provision with elements being subcontracted via an open competition which will include small/medium enterprise interest.

    The full strategic solution will be pursued in an open competition which will start in 2015. This open competition will also invite interest from Government frameworks which support small/medium enterprise involvement.

  • Luciana Berger – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Luciana Berger – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 16 June 2014, Official Report, column 486W, on health: business, what assessment his Department makes of the annual updates; and what estimate he has made of the number of hours of officials’ time spent assessing those updates.

    Jane Ellison

    Officials review annual updates to Responsibility Deal pledges on receipt and liaise with partners directly if any clarification is required.

    The Department does not record separately the spent on reviewing annual updates to the Responsibility Deal.

  • Clive Betts – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Clive Betts – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Betts on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to support the hydrogen fuelling market; and when he expects to have completed them.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    As set out in Driving the Future Today our strategy document published last year, the Government is committed to the move to ultra-low emission vehicles. We recognise the economic opportunities for the UK that this transition provides as well its potential contribution to cutting the emissions from road transport.

    The Government’s approach to this agenda has been consistently technology neutral and we have been active participants in UKH2Mobility. This is a joint industry-Government project evaluating the potential for hydrogen as a transport fuel and the scope to make the UK an early market for the commercial deployment of hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) from 2015 onwards. The UKH2Mobility project is ongoing and both Government and industry participants are working together to consider the steps needed to secure the benefits of moving to hydrogen as a transport fuel for the UK. This includes the clear contribution that studies have shown FCEVs can make to improving air quality in the UK. We have undertaken no specific research on the impact of FCEVs on air quality in London.

  • Frank Field – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Frank Field – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many meetings have taken place since the beginning of 2014 between departmental officials and the NSPCC; who attended such meetings; what the purpose was of such meetings; and if she will make a statement.

    Norman Baker

    Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of
    international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public
    and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
    Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations and individuals are
    passed to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis and are subsequently
    published on the Cabinet Office website which is available here:
    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-ministers-gifts-and-hospi
    tality-oct-2012-to-dec-2012

  • David Mowat – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    David Mowat – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Mowat on 2014-04-10.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to reform the Business Premises Renovation Allowance following HM Revenue and Customs’ recent consultation.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government has introduced legislation in Finance Bill 2014 to clarify the scope of Business Premises Renovation Allowance. The aim is to address exploitation of the allowance, whilst preserving it as an investment incentive and ensuring continued value for money for tax payers.

  • Pamela Nash – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Pamela Nash – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Pamela Nash on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many passport renewals for residents in (a) Airdrie and Shotts constituency, (b) Lanarkshire, (c) Scotland and (d) the UK have been completed within a three week turnaround time from receipt in each year since 2009.

    James Brokenshire

    Her Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO) does not store information at constituency level and
    the cost of extracting the information requested would be disproportionate.
    Information on passport processing performance can be found in HMPO’s annual
    report and accounts, via the links below.

    2009-2010:
    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/118758
    /annual-report-accounts-200910.pdf

    2010-2011:
    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/identity-and-passport-service-annual-
    report-and-accounts-2010-to-2011

    2011-2012:
    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/118751
    /ips-annual-report-2012.pdf

    2012-2013:
    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/210619
    /IPS_annual_report_and_accounts_2012-13.pdf

  • Earl Attlee – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Earl Attlee – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Earl Attlee on 2014-04-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to address the issue of online third parties acting as middlemen between the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and driving licence applicants.

    Baroness Kramer

    The Government is taking decisive steps against such websites.

    Officials are working with various government organisations and search engine providers to raise awareness and ensure appropriate enforcement action is taken. Ministers recently met with Google and as a result, Google has taken down a series of adverts. Similar work will be carried out with other search engine providers.

    The National Trading Standards Board will receive an additional £120,000 to clamp down on misleading websites.

    The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has issued messages on Twitter and gov.uk to advise customers that gov.uk is the only official website. Officials have worked with the press to inform customers that they may be charged an unnecessary fee if they do not use gov.uk. The DVLA is arranging to amend forms, leaflets and envelopes to make the correct website clearer for customers. Officials will continue to issue appropriate communications to help raise awareness of these sites.

  • Gavin Williamson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Gavin Williamson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Williamson on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what action he is taking to ensure that incidents of assault against prison staff are being effectively investigated.

    Jeremy Wright

    The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) takes assaults on prison staff very seriously. There are systems in place to deal with perpetrators quickly and robustly, with serious incidents referred to the police for prosecution.

    Prisoners engaging in violent behaviour will be subject to an immediate review of their Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) level. There is a strong presumption that such incidents will lead to an immediate downgrade to Basic level unless there are exceptional circumstances.

    Assaults on staff in prison are a particularly serious matter given the need for staff to be able to maintain control and order in what can be a volatile environment. NOMS is working closely with the police and CPS to develop a new joint protocol for the management, reporting and prosecution of crime in prisons. Part of this work will involve the development of more effective measures to enable successful prosecution of prisoners who assault NOMS staff.

    NOMS is committed to exploring options to continue to improve how violence is managed in prisons to keep both staff and prisoners safe. It is currently reviewing the policy and practice of the management of violence.

    Prison Service Instructions set-out the range of options available to Governors to investigate serious assaults. The Governor must ensure that an appropriate level of investigation is commissioned. They must also ensure that any lessons are learned from the incident and disseminated appropriately, those harmed are supported and perpetrators of harm are sanctioned.

  • Lord Chidgey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Lord Chidgey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Chidgey on 2014-04-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in relation to aid to Ethiopia, whether they have liaised with the government of the United States about the co-ordination of development assistance in the agricultural sector.

    Lord Bates

    The UK is part of the US-led ‘New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition’ in Ethiopia, which entails regular dialogue and coordination of our work in the agricultural and related sectors. DFID and USAID are co-donors to the national safety net programme, which provides cash and food for some seven million food insecure Ethiopians, most of whom are rural farmers. We also collaborate closely on land issues; DFID’s new land certification programme in Ethiopia builds on work by USAID to test certification methodologies.