UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Emily Thornberry – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2016-05-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the likelihood of (a) full ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty and (b) the commencement of negotiations on the proposed Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    The Strategic Defence and Security Review restated that the Government sees entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and successful negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty as key steps towards multilateral disarmament. While we cannot predict when other States will take the decisions necessary to achieve these goals, we continue to pursue both objectives, which were strongly supported in the G7 Foreign Ministers’ declaration at their meeting in Hiroshima.

  • Lord Condon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Condon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Condon on 2016-06-08.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the disruption to rail passengers in Kent on 6 June, what action they are taking to ensure a more reliable service for rail passengers travelling between Kent and London terminals.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    My Hon Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Claire Perry MP, as Rail Minister, chairs a monthly meeting with Network Rail, train operators in the South East, Transport Focus, and Department for Transport officials. This group monitors performance and passenger experience and it is absolutely committed to identifying improvements and ensuring rail passengers see the benefits of these improvements being delivered. Network Rail and Southeastern both need to show much greater improvement in their ability to fix faults quickly and communicate with their passengers more effectively. The Department will ensure that lessons are learned from the disruption in Kent that day.

  • Baroness Altmann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Baroness Altmann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Altmann on 2016-09-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimates they have made of the number of women who were unaware in (1) 2011, (2) 2012 and (3) 2013, that the Pensions Act 1995 had changed their state pension age from 60.

    Lord Freud

    The Department does not hold a specific estimate on the number of women that are unaware of their state pension age. We wrote to all women affected by the Pensions Act 1995 between April 2009 and March 2011 using the addresses held by HMRC at the time.

    In 2004, a DWP survey found that 73 per cent of people aged 45 to 54 (so aged 57 to 66 in 2016) were aware of the future increase in Women’s State Pension age. In 2006, 86 per cent of women aged 55-64 (so aged 65 to 74 in 2016) and 90 per cent aged 45-54 (so aged 55 to 64 in 2016) were aware that the State Pension age will increase in future. In 2012, a similar survey found that only 6% of respondents thought their State Pension Age was 60.

  • Lord Jopling – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Jopling – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jopling on 2016-10-20.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 13 October (HLWS187), what was the average price paid by Government Hospitality per bottle of (1) white, and (2) red, wines produced in (a) France, (b) Germany, (c) Italy, (d) Spain, (e) South Africa, (f) Australia, (g) New Zealand, (h) the United States, and (i) the UK.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    As highlighted in the Annual Statement of 13 October (HLWS187), the average cost per bottle of wine bought by Government Hospitality in 2015-16 was £11.00. Government Hospitality does not calculate the average cost of bottles purchased by type or country of origin, as to do so would incur disproportionate costs.

  • Seema Malhotra – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Seema Malhotra – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-11-09.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the British Business Bank will support UK productivity.

    Greg Hands

    The British Business Bank aims to make finance markets work better for smaller businesses. The Bank’s work improves productivity by encouraging investment and promoting a dynamic economy.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Mark Hendrick – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2015 to Question 17720, if he will take steps to ensure that magistrates’ courts seek confirmation of income by means of P60s, payslips, certified accounts or letters confirming benefit entitlement when assessing the level of fines on the basis of income.

    Andrew Selous

    Defendants before the magistrates’ court are already required to complete a “Statement of Assets and other Financial Circumstances” form which the court takes into account when deciding the amount of any fine or other financial imposition. Defendants are also advised to bring copies of any supporting documentation with them on the day of their hearing, as the court may ask to see evidence of their financial circumstances. The form makes it clear that it is an offence to make a false statement or withhold information.

  • Jeffrey M. Donaldson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Jeffrey M. Donaldson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeffrey M. Donaldson on 2016-01-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with the Home Secretary on the oral and written evidence provided by the Government to the Joint Committee on the Draft Investigatory Powers Bill.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    I have been in regular contact with the Home Secretary on the Investigatory Powers Bill since drafting began last year. The Government is fully aware of the crucial importance of this legislation for combating terrorism in Northern Ireland. In November, the Home Secretary and I met to discuss the pre-legislative scrutiny process and the latest draft of the Bill that has been examined by the Joint Committee.

    Between November and January, the Government provided detailed evidence to the Joint Committee, including the Home Secretary’s oral evidence given last week. The Government’s evidence has explained the provisions of the Bill in detail and has set out the necessity of the powers as well as the safeguards that are to apply.

  • Jess Phillips – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Jess Phillips – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-02-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre is taking to protect children and young people from grooming through social media sites.

    Karen Bradley

    The National Crime Agency’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Command leads, supports and coordinates the law enforcement response to the threat from child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) which has been designated one of the highest priority crime threats facing the UK.

    CEOP Command works closely with social media companies, and law enforcement agencies in the UK and overseas, to identify victims and pursue offenders engaged in grooming children on the internet. CEOP Command has developed a comprehensive education programme, called Thinkuknow, which provides targeted advice to children, parents and carers, including on how to use social media safely.

    In 2014/15, over 3 million children saw the NCA’s Thinkuknow educational material. Further detail on the Thinkuknow campaign can be found online at: www.thinkuknow.co.uk

  • Wes Streeting – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Wes Streeting – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Wes Streeting on 2016-03-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions she has had with examination boards on the provision of ice skating as part of GCSE PE.

    Nick Gibb

    Following consultation (from July to September 2014), the Department published reformed content for physical education (PE) GCSE and A level in January 2015. The content includes a list of sports and activities in which students could be assessed as part of these qualifications.

    The sports and activities in which students may be assessed were proposed by awarding organisations (AOs). Ice skating was not included, as it was not considered to meet all of the criteria for inclusion set out in the PE activity list rationale, which can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/447738/GCSE_activity_list_for_PE.pdf.

    Exclusion of ice skating from the list was not raised as an issue during the consultation. The inclusion or otherwise of an activity on the list does not represent a view on the legitimacy of the activity. The activity list will be reviewed at a later stage.

    Further details can be found in the Government response to the consultation (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/gcse-and-a-level-reform) and equality analysis (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-level-subject-content-equality-impact-assessment).

    “

  • Stuart C. McDonald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Stuart C. McDonald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stuart C. McDonald on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will commission an independent inquiry into the role of (a) her Department and (b) ETS related to allegations of English Language Test fraud.

    James Brokenshire

    The investigation into the abuse of English language testing in 2014 revealed extremely serious, large scale, organised fraud and it is right that the Home Office took decisive action in respect of those against whom there was evidence of cheating. We are disappointed by the decision of the Upper Tribunal and, once we have the full determination, we will consider our next steps carefully, including an appeal of this decision.