Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-05-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many voucher codes have been issued to date under the satellite broadband subsidy scheme; and for what proportion of those codes has installation been completed.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Basic Broadband Scheme comprises two schemes running in parallel: the main scheme is administered by the Local Authorities and BT using only satellite suppliers; and the second supplementary scheme is administered by BDUK and uses fixed wireless suppliers as well as satellite suppliers. These schemes form part of the Government’s commitment to ensure that every home and business in the UK has access to a broadband service of at least 2 Mbps.

    On the main scheme, there have been 2774 successful applications for codes, with 278 going on to place orders. On the supplementary scheme, there has been 1171 successful applications for codes, with 282 going on to place orders.

  • James Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    James Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by James Davies on 2016-06-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how he plans to implement the General Practice Forward View published by NHS England in April 2016.

    Alistair Burt

    NHS England and Health Education England are developing detailed plans to implement the 80-plus commitments set out in the General Practice Forward View. Key elements that will be launched in coming months will be the new practice resilience programme and the national development programme to support practices release capacity.

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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2016-09-08.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what reply they intend to give to the petition of Ms Jennifer Chim Pik Yee of Hong Kong addressed to the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    Ms Chim Pik petitioned Parliament for a debate on human rights relating to assistance that was provided to her in 2004 following a civil dispute in Pakistan. We have explained that there is nothing further that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office can do to assist her.

  • Alan Campbell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Alan Campbell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Campbell on 2015-11-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to amend the licensing schedule under the Pet Animals Act 1951 to make it species specific.

    George Eustice

    Defra is reviewing the Pet Animals Act 1951 as part of a wider review of some of the animal related licensing schemes. We are aiming to consult on a set of proposals shortly.

  • Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Jim Shannon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2015-11-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to protect bird species which are red-listed on the endangered species list.

    Rory Stewart

    Defra has classified 85 sites as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in England under the EU Birds Directive to protect rare and vulnerable wild birds and regularly occurring migratory species. The UK is currently undertaking a review of the terrestrial and coastal network of UK SPAs, which will inform the need for any further SPA provision. The UK is also making good progress in identifying a number of SPAs in the marine environment to complete our UK network.These will be in addition to the existing 108 SPAs with marine components currently in place in the UK, providing protection for just over 11,500km2 of seabird habitat.

    Terrestrial SPAs are underpinned by Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). SSSIs are the country’s very best wildlife and geological sites and many benefit birds. There are over 4,000 SSSIs in England covering around 8% of the country’s land area.Over 95% of our SSSIs are in favourable or recovering condition. Duties on public bodies in relation to wild bird habitat are also relevant, as set out in regulation 9A of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010.

    In addition, Natural England is working with partner organisations through its Species Recovery Programme to secure the long term recovery of endangered birds and other species in England. Projects are in place for a range of birds on the red list including the turtle dove, corn bunting, curlew, corncrake, twite, willow tit, hawfinch and ring ouzel.

    We are investing more than £3 billion in environmental outcomes as part of the Rural Development Programme for England (2014-2020). Biodiversity is one of the main objectives in our agri-environment schemes, such as the new Countryside Stewardship scheme, to be funded under the Programme. The Wild Pollinator and Farm Wildlife Package options within the new scheme will be of particular benefit for farmland birds in the wider countryside, providing winter feeding, nesting sites and food for chicks through appropriate management of farmland habitats. Our schemes also target specific red-listed species such as the corn bunting, black grouse and turtle dove.

    The UK Government is a signatory to the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds, which aims to achieve coordinated conservation and management for migratory waterbirds. The UK, with other Parties, has developed action plans for endangered migratory waterbirds such as the curlew and long tailed duck.

  • Lord Laird – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Lord Laird – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

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

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have compensated those members of the Ulster Defence Regiment who underwent target practice without ear muffs; and if not, why not.

    Earl Howe

    Yes, although some claims remain under consideration.

  • Seema Malhotra – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Seema Malhotra – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-02-03.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) primary and (b) secondary policy purposes are of research and development tax credits.

    Mr David Gauke

    R&D tax credits support businesses to invest in Research & Development (R&D). They play a key role in the Government’s objective to have a tax system that supports productive investment. A 2015 evaluation by HM Revenue and Customs found that each £1 of tax foregone by R&D tax credits stimulates between £1.53 and £2.35 of additional R&D investment.

  • Brendan O’Hara – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Brendan O’Hara – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Brendan O’Hara on 2016-02-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 19 October 2015 to Question 11029, whether assessment of the necessary infrastructure adaptations to update the facilities at HM Naval Base Clyde and Royal Naval Armament Depot Coulport has been completed.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    Assessments are currently under way to inform decisions and refine programme costs of the individual projects at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde and Royal Naval Armament Depot Coulport.

  • Ruth Cadbury – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Ruth Cadbury – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ruth Cadbury on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans his Department has to further investigate the deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital; and whether any future inquiry will be statutory in nature.

    Ben Gummer

    On 10 July 2014, my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health announced the establishment of the Gosport Independent Panel, chaired by Bishop James Jones, set up to review documentary evidence held across a range of organisations concerning the initial care of families’ relatives and the subsequent investigations into their deaths in Gosport War Memorial Hospital.

    The terms of reference for the Gosport Independent Panel, agreed with the families of the deceased and those treated, were published on 9 December 2014. In summary the terms of reference are to:

    ― consult with the families of the deceased and of those treated to ensure that the views of those affected are taken into consideration;

    ― obtain, examine and analyse documentation from all relevant organisations and individuals (governmental and non-governmental); and

    ― produce a report which will provide an overview of the information reviewed by the Panel and will illustrate how the information disclosed adds to public understanding of these events and their aftermath.

    The review by the Independent Panel is expected to complete by the end of 2017. Until such time as the findings of the Panel are published the Government does not intend to conduct any further inquiries.

  • Gloria De Piero – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Gloria De Piero – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gloria De Piero on 2016-05-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many key stage 1 children in (a) Ashfield and (b) Nottinghamshire were in classes of more than 30 children in the academic year beginning September (i) 2015, (ii) 2014 and (iii) 2013.

    Nick Gibb

    Information about the number of pupils in key stage 1 classes with more than 30 pupils is available at school level in the underlying data of the ‘schools, pupils and their characteristics’ statistics[1].

    Information on class sizes for the academic year beginning September 2015 is not yet available and is due to be released in June 2016.

    The following table shows the number of pupils in key stage 1 classes with more than 30 pupils in schools in Ashfield constituency and Nottinghamshire local authority for the academic years beginning in September 2013 and 2014.

    Ashfield Constituency

    Nottinghamshire LA

    January 2014 (academic year beginning September 2013)

    157

    1,184

    January 2015 (academic year beginning September 2014)

    62

    1,215

    There were no pupils in key stage 1 classes of more than 35 in either Ashfield or Nottinghamshire in January 2014 or January 2015.

    [1] Data from January 2014 is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2014 in the file called ‘SFR15_2014_school_level_classes_UD’ within the underlying data download.

    Data from January 2015 is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/schools-pupils-and-their-characteristics-january-2015 in the file called ‘SFR16_2015_Schools_Classes_UD’ within the underlying data download.