The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2016-04-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consultation there has been with the Scottish Government on the implementation of the Polar Code from 1 January 2017.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Government has not yet implemented the Polar Code which is due to enter into force next year. However, we will formally consult all stakeholders, including the Scottish Government, before we introduce the UK Regulations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-05-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 18 of the Motoring Services Strategy consultation, what (a) criteria, (b) process and (c) timeframe his Department plans to use to explore the possible privatisation of practical driving tests.
Andrew Jones
The Motoring Services Strategy was published on 12 May. As this document explains, we are exploring whether other models of service delivery might offer a better and more flexible range of services to road users, either as alternatives to the current arrangements or to complement them, including involving the private sector in delivering some or all of the services.
This is in line with the Government’s wider agenda to ensure that the driver testing and training regime prepares new drivers for a wide range of real life driving conditions and situations.
No decision has been taken about the preferred option or range of options, and we are committed to ensuring that, whatever model may eventually be chosen (including the option of retaining the present system), current standards of propriety and testing will be maintained. We are clear that road safety is our top priority and therefore the high quality and integrity of the UK’s driver testing regime must not be compromised by any changes to the delivery model.
We will work with DVSA, stakeholders and customer groups to assess the viability of those options with the aim of improving road safety.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-07-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to reduce the likelihood of future flooding in Whalley, Ribchester and surrounding areas.
Rory Stewart
The Environment Agency (EA) has spent approximately £750,000 on flood defence schemes in the villages of Slaidburn and Bolton by Bowland over the last decade.
Since the December 2015 flooding, the EA has given one-to-one help and advice to over 100 residents. As part of the works to repair bank erosion at Whalley Bridge, the EA is contributing £20,000 to reduce flood risk by removing gravel from the river channel.
Currently there is a review of flood risk in the Lower Calder which will develop options and predicted costs to address the Main River flooding. The EA aims to report at the end of the year. In 2017, a review of flood risk in Ribchester will commence.
Lancashire County Council is currently bidding for £2 million in Grant in Aid to address surface water flooding in Whalley and Billington. The Environment Agency’s flood and coastal erosion risk management investment programme is refreshed annually to accommodate change, maximise opportunities and integrate new projects. The Regional Flood and Coastal Committee will endorse changes and new additions to the programme, which are then prioritised nationally according to the partnership funding process.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Redfern on 2016-09-15.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to revise the boundaries of Clinical Commissioning Groups in the light of regional devolution deals.
Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen
NHS England has no plans to revise the boundaries of clinical commissioning groups in light of regional devolution deals.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2015-11-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how her Department plans to ensure it identifies organised crime groups involved in wildlife crime through the information sharing process after March 2016.
Mike Penning
The National Crime Agency brings together intelligence from the whole of UK law enforcement to provide a single view of the most significant serious and organised crime threats and vulnerabilities. Organised acquisitive crime, which includes wildlife crime, is one of the threat categories considered by the National Crime Agency.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno on 2015-12-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people who entered the UK as unaccompanied immigrant children were deported last year having reached the age of 18.
Lord Bates
The records the Home Office holds relate to unaccompanied asylum seeking children. The most recent records the Home Office holds are to the end of September 2015.
|
Period |
Number of Cases |
Enforced Removal |
Voluntary Removal |
|
Oct 2014 – Sep 2015 |
241 |
122 |
119 |
This data relates to individuals who were under 18 at the time of application and aged 18 or over on the day of removal.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-01-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the trends in the prison population for (a) white and (b) non-white prisoners over the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.
Andrew Selous
This information is published and can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/offender-management-statistics-quarterly.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will provide additional funding to South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group for improvements and new facilities at Guisborough Primary Care Hospital.
Alistair Burt
We are making additional resources available to the National Health Service by backing the NHS Five Year Forward View with £10 billion a year real terms additional funding by 2020-21, compared to 2014-15, with £3.8 billion real terms growth in 2016-17.
It is for the local NHS to determine how best to use the funds available to it to improve local services. In 2016-17, the South Tees Clinical Commissioning Group will receive £413.3 million – a cash increase of 3.05%.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-03-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the Turkish government on the security screening and monitoring processes for refugees entering from Syria; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of those processes during the last six months.
Mr David Lidington
We regularly discuss these and other issues with the Turkish government. Turkey is a key partner for the EU in the migration crisis borne out of the situation in Syria. The UK recognises Turkey’s extraordinary generosity in hosting over 2.7 million refugees from Syria. In 2016 Turkey has taken steps to improve its screening of incoming refugees. It has also amended its visa regime for Syrians and Iraqis who, bar those crossing the land border, are now required to obtain a Turkish visa prior to arrival.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Morris on 2016-04-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to support the right of the people of the Falkland Islands to develop their own economy without interference; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Hugo Swire
The UK has no doubt about its sovereignty over the Falklands and surrounding maritime areas, nor about the Falkland Islanders’ right to decide their own future. We will continue to make that clear to Argentina and other countries in the region.