Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Roger Godsiff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Roger Godsiff – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2015-11-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will make an assessment of the implications for its policies of the report by Transparency International UK entitled, Gold Rush, published 15 October 2015; if her Department will retrospectively examine what transparency declarations can be required of existing investors who entered the UK on Tier 1 visas; what steps her Department takes to assess whether funds coming into the UK via those visas have been gained illicitly; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of strengthening those measures to address that issue.

    James Brokenshire

    The control of and provenance of the investment funds is central to the assessment of all Tier 1 (Investor) applications. In November 2014, we introduced new powers to refuse visa applications where there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Tier 1 (Investor) migrant is not in control and at liberty to freely invest the funds; where the funds were obtained unlawfully; or where the character, conduct and associations of a third party providing the funds mean granting the application is not conducive to public good.

    To further strengthen the route against abuse, we now require all Tier 1 (Investor) migrants to have opened an account with a Financial Conduct Authority-regulated bank for the purposes of making their qualified investment. Additionally, if an investor is applying to enter the UK, then they must provide proof of criminal record checks. All Tier 1 (Investor) migrants are liable to have their leave to enter or remain curtailed in certain circumstances, for example if they are discovered to have used deception in seeking a grant of leave, or if they cease to meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules. Those who are already in the route are subject to further checks on their investment and criminality when they make an extension or indefinite leave to remain application.

    We keep all immigration routes under review. We will make further changes to tackle abuse of the Tier 1 (Investor) route if required.

  • Danny Kinahan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Danny Kinahan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Danny Kinahan on 2015-11-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of removing treatments for multiple myeloma from the Cancer Drugs Fund on investment in clinical trials for that condition in the UK.

    George Freeman

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 16 September 2015 to Question 10093.

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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Patten on 2016-01-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 9 December 2015 (HL4410), whether any other Commonwealth countries prohibit the public observance of any religion other than Islam; and what discussions they have held with the Commonwealth authorities over freedom of religion.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    Further to my previous answer there are no other Commonwealth countries where the public observance of any religion other than Islam is prohibited. We continue to believe that all Commonwealth members should abide by the Commonwealth Charter which emphasises the need to promote tolerance, respect, understanding, moderation and religious freedom as critical steps in promoting peace and prosperity.

    At the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta in November 2015, Heads reaffirmed the importance of human rights. They recognised that freedom of opinion and expression, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, and freedom of religion or belief are cornerstones of democratic societies, and important for the enjoyment of all human rights, including the right to development, and are fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. They also emphasised the need to protect individuals from all forms of violence and discrimination.

    We will continue to raise individual cases and highlight practices and laws that discriminate against people on the basis of their religion or belief with those countries concerned. We will also continue to encourage Commonwealth partners to embrace the values set out in the Commonwealth Charter, including the freedom of religion or belief. We also look forward to discussing freedom of religion and other issues with the new Commonwealth Secretary General when she takes up office in April.

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-02-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2016 to Question 24211, whether it is her policy that former school sites should be retained for potential new school provision in areas of expected new housing growth.

    Edward Timpson

    The Secretary of State is keen to ensure that education land is used to support the stated priority for the Department in ensuring that there are sufficient good quality school places in the system. In granting consent for any disposal of publicly-funded land, the Secretary of State takes into account whether there is a basic need for additional school places in the area, and whether the land could be used to support an academy or free school. The requirement for the Secretary of State’s consent to dispose of publicly funded land extends to former school sites that have been used as a school within the last 8 years. For former playing field sites, it extends to 10 years.

  • Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps the Government has taken to tackle human rights violations against the Rohingya.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    We continue to press the Burmese authorities, both in public and in private, to take urgent steps to tackle the appalling situation of the Rohingya by improving security and the humanitarian situation, lifting restrictions on freedom of movement and finding a sustainable solution on citizenship. I pressed the government of Burma on this in July 2015 when I visited Rakhine State for the second time. Most recently, I raised the issue with the Burmese Foreign Minister, Wunna Maung Lwin, in September 2015 in New York.

    Addressing Rakhine and the persecution of the Rohingya community is one of the most pressing challenges facing the incoming government in Burma. We will continue our efforts to address the serious human rights violations against the community with the new administration.

  • Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of new claims for (a) jobseeker’s allowance and (b) employment and support allowance were processed within (i) 10 days and (ii) 16 days in the most recent 12 months for which data is available.

    Priti Patel

    The information requested is shown in the table below.

    Mar 2015

    Apr 2015

    May 2015

    Jun 2015

    Jul 2015

    Aug 2015

    Sep 2015

    Oct 2015

    Nov 2015

    Dec 2015

    Jan 2016

    Feb 2016

    ESA claims processed in 16 days

    75,437

    61,547

    57,693

    64,304

    66,640

    57,921

    67,286

    68,608

    66,937

    59,671

    65,356

    65,799

    ESA % claims processed in 16 days

    94.3%

    94.0%

    93.6%

    94.2%

    94.2%

    94.2%

    94.0%

    93.5%

    94.0%

    93.0%

    94.0%

    93.8%

    ESA claims processed in 10 days

    71,039

    57,797

    54,564

    60,980

    63,350

    54,751

    63,448

    64,874

    63,172

    56,129

    62,445

    61,682

    ESA % claims processed in 10 days

    88.8%

    88.3%

    88.5%

    89.3%

    89.6%

    89.1%

    88.6%

    88.5%

    88.7%

    87.5%

    89.8%

    87.9%

    JSA claims processed in 16 days

    162,277

    145,388

    128,763

    140,397

    152,020

    125,789

    140,787

    140,113

    129,424

    106,747

    135,544

    119,028

    JSA % claims processed in 16 days

    96.9%

    97.1%

    97.7%

    97.9%

    97.7%

    97.7%

    97.6%

    96.9%

    97.6%

    97.8%

    98.0%

    95.5%

    JSA claims processed in 10 days

    152,973

    137,019

    122,136

    132,386

    142,162

    118,331

    130,165

    130,794

    122,034

    100,038

    125,329

    102,447

    JSA % claims processed in 10 days

    91.4%

    91.5%

    92.6%

    92.3%

    91.4%

    91.9%

    90.2%

    90.5%

    92.1%

    91.7%

    90.6%

    82.2%

    Source

    Management Information System Programme (MISP). MISP is a Departmental performance management, data capture and reporting tool.

  • Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Philip Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what improvements have been made by the ACRO Criminal Records Office on access to overseas convictions of UK nationals convicted abroad.

    James Brokenshire

    The UK’s participation in the European Criminal Records Information System (ECRIS) since 2012 means that EU Member States are now obligated to notify the UK each time a UK national is convicted of a criminal offence in another state.

    In the last two years, the UK has agreed twelve bilateral agreements with countries outside the EU to improve the exchange of criminal records information (Jamaica, UAE, Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos, Antigua and Barbuda, Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and St Kitts and Nevis). The UK also receives conviction information on UK nationals with countries on an ad-hoc basis via Interpol.

    The Foreign and Commonwealth Office also notifies the ACRO Criminal Records Office when a UK national is subject to criminal proceedings overseas for a serious offence and seeks consular assistance. ACRO have also gained access to the OTRCIS system (Overseas Territory Regional Crime Intelligence System) so that they can now access convictions of British passport holders living in the British Overseas Territories).

  • Nigel Dodds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Nigel Dodds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2016-06-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what preliminary work her Department has carried out in preparation for the possibility of a vote to leave the EU.

    Mr Ben Wallace

    The Government believes that the UK is stronger, safer and better off in a reformed EU.

    The Northern Ireland Office has not undertaken any work in preparation for the possibility of a vote to leave the EU.

  • Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dawn Butler on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people paid (a) issue fees and (b) hearing fees in equal pay cases in each year since 2010.

    Sir Oliver Heald

    Information on Employment Tribunal fees is published in the Tribunals and Gender Recognition Statistics Quarterly on gov.uk.

    Data on how many people have paid fees in equal pay cases is not held centrally.

  • The Earl of Clancarty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The Earl of Clancarty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Earl of Clancarty on 2016-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish the results of their Consultation on implementing the English Baccalaureate, launched in November 2015.

    Lord Nash

    The results of the consultation on implementing the English Baccalaureate and the Government’s response will be published in due course.