The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2016-03-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will conduct an assessment of UK science infrastructure to inform departmental decision-making on spending priorities.
Joseph Johnson
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 11 April 2016 to Question 32088.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Monaghan on 2016-04-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on provision of affordable housing in rural areas.
Rory Stewart
The Secretary of State holds regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Rural housing is one of the issues that frequently arises.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moynihan on 2016-06-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to (1) extend the powers of UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) to investigate doctors administering performance enhancing drugs to athletes outside the control of British governing bodies of sport, and (2) introduce new powers to enable UKAD to take legal action should such doctors be found to have breached the World Anti-Doping Agency Code; and if so, when.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
The Government will review the outcomes of the independent review of UK Anti-Doping’s processes following allegations made in the Sunday Times. DCMS is currently undertaking a review of current legislation and, as part of this, will consider the independent review’s findings to determine whether any new powers are necessary.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sarah Champion on 2016-09-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to lay guidance on licensing functions under taxi and private hire vehicle legislation before Parliament.
Andrew Jones
The Department is currently updating the existing guidance on local authority licensing functions for taxi and private hire vehicles. We will consult on a draft once the Policing and Crime Bill, which provides a new power for statutory guidance, has received Royal Assent.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2016-10-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what procedures have been put in place to ensure that EU funds committed to the Khartoum Process are not embezzled by corrupt officials; and whether they have investigated whether there has been collusion between Sudanese security officials and human traffickers.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
All EU funds committed to the Khartoum Process are managed by Member States’ Development Agencies or International Organisations. No funding will be channelled through the beneficiary countries’ government structures.
We are deeply concerned by the reports of collusion between Sudanese security officials and human traffickers, and have raised this issue directly with the government of Sudan as part of our wider engagement on migration. The UK is supporting the Sudanese judiciary to implement new anti-trafficking legislation by helping them improve their understanding of both this and the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2015-11-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what human rights concerns he plans to raise with President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi of Egypt during his forthcoming visit.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron) discussed human rights issues in Egypt with President Sisi on 5 November. He raised a number of concerns, including around the detention of political activists, mass trials and restrictions on freedom of expression.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Howe of Idlicote on 2015-12-02.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House the report of, or other documentation from, Ofcom’s strategic review that led to the decision that Ofcom should regulate video-on-demand programme services from 1 January 2016.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
From 1 January 2016, Video on Demand (VOD) services will be regulated by Ofcom, following an internal review to ensure the regulation of broadcast is as effective and efficient as possible, for the benefit of customers, audiences, and the industry. Ofcom will act as the sole regulator for VOD services, rather than two separate bodies carrying out this work, creating operational efficiencies and allowing editorial content on VOD services to sit alongside Ofcom’s existing regulation of broadcasting.
Ofcom has communicated the outcome and reasons for its decision to stakeholders. More information can be found here :http://media.ofcom.org.uk/news/2015/1520333/
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Hollobone on 2016-01-13.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much accrued to the public purse through VAT on domestic fuel in the last year for which figures are available.
Mr David Gauke
The information requested is not available. HM Revenue and Customs does not collect data on VAT accruals from particular goods and services.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-02-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to improve suicide prevention policies in response to the statistics on suicides in the UK, 2013 Registrations, published by the Office for National Statistics on 19 January 2016.
Alistair Burt
The Government has invested over £1.5 million on suicide and self-harm prevention research since the National Suicide Prevention Strategy to inform and target our strategy for reducing suicide rates.
In January last year, we asked local areas to aspire to an ambition of zero suicides, to raise awareness around mental health and suicide prevention in particular.
We are in the early stages of discussions about re-invigorating the National Strategy to drive local delivery. We are developing those plans for this, and will make an announcement shortly.
The highest cause of death in young men and women in England is death through suicide, and rapid skilled response through a well-publicised access route is essential to reduce mortality. The NHS111 Mental Health Programme has been set up specifically to improve services and NHS England is working with Mind and the Telephone Helplines Partnership to develop a training course designed by people with lived experience specifically to support 111 call handlers deliver the best possible response in times of crisis.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-02-29.
To ask the Prime Minister, what value and proportion of cross-departmental spending on official development assistance overseen by the National Security Council was subject to the Independent Development Act 2002 in each of the last three years.
Mr David Cameron
Individual NSC departments are responsible and accountable for their own spending on Official Development Assistance through cross-Government funds. The National Security Council provides strategic oversight and direction.