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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Lord Allen of Kensington – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Lord Allen of Kensington – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Allen of Kensington on 2016-01-25.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan to publish results against each of the key performance indicators highlighted in the policy document Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    Information on the key performance indicators set out in Sporting Future: A New Strategy for an Active Nation will be included in the annual progress report to parliament planned for December 2016. It will include results of surveys, including Active Lives and Taking Part, and competitions, like the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will be available in the course of the year.

  • Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-02-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he plans to bring forward proposals to change the closest living relative definition in the Mental Health Act 1983 to include unmarried fathers once their children are aged 18.

    Alistair Burt

    One of the aims set out in the Green Paper, No voice unheard, no right ignored – a consultation for people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health conditions, published in March 2015, is to ensure people’s ‘nearest relative’ under the Mental Health Act 1983 (MHA) is someone who is meaningful to them. We have no plans to specifically change the nearest relative definition in the MHA to include unmarried fathers once their children are aged over 18 years.

    This will ensure that people are able to choose their own ‘nearest relative’, who has specific legal responsibilities under the MHA. The current MHA definition of the nearest relative will be updated to be used as a default if necessary, when the person is unable to make a choice for some reason.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-03-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to introduce innovative measures to tackle Daesh propaganda.

    Mr John Hayes

    This Government takes very seriously the need to protect vulnerable individuals from damaging propaganda disseminated by groups such as Daesh. The scale and speed with which this material can be spread online remains a challenge and a fundamental shift in the scale and nature of our response to Daesh propaganda is required.

    Government, the internet industry and civil society all have a role to play in combatting extremism online. Our unique model involves a close partnership with the public and industry to equip mainstream voices with the confidence and skills they need to effectively challenge extremism. We are helping to build the capacity of civil society groups to confront and challenge the ideology of extremism and terrorism. By bringing civil society groups together with communications professionals and industry experts, they are being provided with advice and support, production capabilities, public relations expertise and social media training. This work allows groups to share their alternative message more widely, and is specifically aimed at undermining Daesh propaganda.

    Close working with responsible social media providers has disrupted online Daesh propaganda. Since 2010 over 150,000 pieces of terrorist-related material have been removed by industry from various online platforms at the request of the dedicated police Counter-Terrorism Internet Referral Unit (CTIRU). Removal requests are now at over 1,000 a week and approximately 70% of CTIRU’s caseload is Daesh related.

    The Counter Extremism Strategy, published in October 2015, also sets out further work to uplift efforts to outmatch the scale and pace of terrorist and extremist use of the internet. As part of this we are pressing industry to take a lead in tackling the abuse of their services by terrorist and extremist groups.

    We are working closely with international partners to share learning and expertise in the support of positive alternative messages, and disruption of poisonous Daesh propaganda on a global scale.

  • Hilary Benn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Hilary Benn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2016-04-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of compliance by the United Arab Emirates with international treaties and norms on the use of torture.

    Mr Philip Hammond

    The British Government consistently and unreservedly condemns torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and it is a priority for us to combat it wherever and whenever it occurs. We are aware of recent allegations made against the United Arab Emirates and we have expressed our concerns to the authorities, including our expectation that all cases will be thoroughly investigated in line with international standards. During those representations the United Arab Emirates confirmed that they are committed to investigating any allegations of mistreatment. The United Arab Emirates are a State Party to the Convention against Torture.

  • Andrew Percy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Andrew Percy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Percy on 2016-05-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he has taken to tackle anti-Semitism in English universities.

    Joseph Johnson

    There is no place in our society, including higher education, for anti-Semitism or any other form of bigotry, hatred and racism. We expect universities to act swiftly to investigate and address any anti-Semitic incidents reported to them. Responsibilities for ensuring students do not face harassment, abuse or violence rests with individual institutions, as a clear part of their duties under the 2010 Equality Act.

    At the request of the Government, Universities UK have set up a taskforce to consider what more can be done to address harassment on campus, including on the basis of religion and belief. The taskforce has had meetings with or received evidence from a wide range of organisations which include the Union of Jewish Students, the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Community Security Trust.

    The taskforce is expected to report its findings in the autumn but has already identified the need for an improved data collection of incidents by institutions, to ensure universities are recording incidents effectively; the importance of complaints procedures that protect the identity of students who may be fearful of coming forward; and the need for better training for staff to respond to instances of harassment.

  • Alistair Carmichael – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Alistair Carmichael – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alistair Carmichael on 2016-07-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the status is of the monthly log of flights which passed through Diego Garcia between January 2002 and January 2009; and whether those logs are available to be published.

    Sir Alan Duncan

    The monthly logs between January 2002 and January 2009 along with all other historic flight records held by the FCO, were released to the ISC in December 2015.

  • John Pugh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    John Pugh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Pugh on 2016-10-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, approximately how many (a) British and (b) non-British nationals are employed cleaning the Westminster estate of his Department.

    David Mundell

    The Scotland Office participates in a Ministry of Justice Framework Contract for the cleaning of its premises in the Westminster estate. The Scotland Office does not hold information as to the nationality of the staff employed through this contract.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Greg Mulholland – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2015-11-19.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many jobs will be lost at each of the 137 HM Revenue and Customs local offices to be closed by 2027.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) announcements about the move to regional centres focus on where it will deliver its business from in the future. HMRC expects that most of its current staff will be able to travel to one of the new sites. HMRC has quoted the expected sizes of its regional centres. The smallest will hold 1,200 to 1,300 full-time equivalent (FTE) members of staff and the largest will hold more than 6,000. More details will be available when final staffing levels are agreed.

    The plans are part of HMRC’s long-term transformation into a smaller, more highly-skilled operation offering modern, digital services.

    The number of people relocating from individual offices will be known when lines of business have finalised their plans and individuals have had the opportunity to discuss their personal circumstances in one-to-one meetings with their manager.

    Overall, HMRC has planned on the basis that it is likely to have about 50,000 FTE posts by 2021.

  • Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville on 2015-12-21.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many homes have been built on flood plains in each of the last five years; and how many homes have been granted planning permission for building on flood plains.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    This Government takes flood prevention extremely seriously and we are investing £2.3 billion in flood defences over the next six years, as well as protecting flood maintenance spending in real terms over this Parliament.

    We have put in place strong safeguards to stop inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding, and are delivering the homes this country needs by taking forward plans to build homes on suitable brownfield land.

    The Environment Agency provides advice on whether or not to grant permission, with latest figures showing 99% of proposed new homes had planning outcomes in line with their advice, but final decisions rest with local authorities.

    The Department does not collect figures for the numbers of homes for which planning permission for building on a flood plain has been granted.

  • Lord McAvoy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord McAvoy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord McAvoy on 2016-01-28.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish the minutes and papers of the last seven meetings of the Joint Exchequer Committee.

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    The UK and Scottish governments publish a joint communique after each meeting of the Joint Exchequer Committee, it outlines what was discussed at the meeting. The negotiations are ongoing and require a private space in which discussions can make progress.

    The UK government has no plans to publish any further minutes or papers from the Joint Exchequer Committee.