Tag: Richard Burden

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-11-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the recent findings of the UK Flag Advisory Panel on reform of the UK Ship Register.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The findings of the UK Ship Register Advisory Panel formed part of the evidence considered by the Maritime Growth Study, published on 7 September, and helped inform the Chair’s specific recommendations on the UK Ship Register.

The Government will respond formally to the Maritime Growth Study by the end of 2015, but is taking immediate action in response to some recommendations. This includes taking steps to support the improved operation of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) by appointing a commercial director to lead the UK Ship Register separately from the Agency’s regulatory functions and developing a business case to explore the costs and benefits of options for more significant reform of the MCA.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-11-06.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how he plans to implement his policy on local authority procurement policies in relation to boycotts, divestments and sanctions against other countries and the UK defence industry announced on 3 October 2015.

Matthew Hancock

Cabinet Office will shortly issue guidance that reminds public authorities of their international obligations when letting public contracts. Foreign policy is not a matter for local authorities. The guidance will make clear that boycotts in public procurement are inappropriate and may be illegal, outside where formal legal sanctions, embargoes and restrictions that have been put in place by the Government.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-11-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 November 2015 to Question 16052, what steps he is taking to ensure that the two Skoda vehicles tested were representative of the affected models and manufacturers from the Volkswagen Group; and what steps were taken to validate the effectiveness of the test procedure for the wider programme.

Andrew Jones

The two Skoda cars tested are part of the Vehicle Certification Agency fleet. Their engines are of the type that VW has confirmed as being equipped with software that recognises test conditions. Our testing has confirmed differences in exhaust emissions when measured using the type approval tests and with an alternative procedure. However, it cannot be guaranteed that a single alternative procedure would identify defeat strategies on other vehicles and therefore our planned programme of work will involve a number of alternative tests, including real driving, to interrogate their emission behaviour.

Our programme will consider, without bias, approximately 40 vehicles that are representative of some 70 different models in the UK market. These have been selected based both upon the volume of sales over each of the last 5-years and the overall number of each model currently licensed for use on the roads of Great Britain.

We have agreed with ministers in France and in Germany to exchange knowledge and understanding as our respective programmes develop. This collaboration may allow our programmes to be rationalised to avoid duplication of testing and secure best value for the taxpayer.

An update on progress will be prepared early in the New Year and a full report will be issued at the conclusion of the work.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-11-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that women’s refuge services (a) take steps to improve the level of reporting and (b) contribute to data gathering on cases of domestic violence and forced marriage.

Mr Marcus Jones

Protecting women and girls from violence and supporting victims is a key priority of this Government. As announced at Summer budget we have carried out, along with Home Office, a review of domestic abuse services, working closely with the Women’s sector using much of their data and we recognise how important data reporting is. Since 2003, the Government has supported UKRefugesOnline to maintain a database of domestic abuse services. In the Summer Budget we allocated an additional £131,000 of funding to support additional caseworkers at the helpline. It is for local commissioners to draw up agreements on data collection with domestic abuse service providers to support their local area Domestic Abuse Strategies.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-12-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the number of Vauxhall Zafiras which have caught fire in the last six months; and what discussions his Department has had with Vauxhall on the number of other such cars catching fire in a similar way.

Andrew Jones

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) currently holds 45 reports, since January 2015, of fires on Vauxhall Zafira on its database.It holds 10 reports where owners of Vauxhall Zafiras have raised concerns regarding the issue but have not actually suffered a vehicle fire. DVSA is working with the manufacturer to investigate this serious safety issue and is aware that they hold additional reports of fires on the Zafira model; however, DVSA is not aware of how many. DVSA is not currently aware of any defect trends regarding vehicle fires on any other model of Vauxhall’s or any other make of vehicle.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-01-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many claims for grants have been made under the electric vehicle homecharge scheme in each year since its introduction.

Andrew Jones

The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme was introduced in August 2014. In the period from September to December of that year there were 3,744 claims for grants. In the period January to November 2015 there were 12,435 claims for grants. The Office for Low Emission Vehicles is currently processing claims for grants made in December 2015.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-01-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received on the refusal of the Kurdistan Regional Government to pay tuition fees and living expenses to Kurd students studying in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We are aware of instances of non payment of fees by the Kurdistan Regional Government and that a number of students and universities have been affected by the current situation in the Middle East. The Government is continuing to work with Universities UK and the Higher Education International Unit to identify ways to enable students from the region to continue their studies in the UK.

A cross government body, the Responding to International Students Crisis Committee (RISC), has been established to look into issues faced by international students who have their studies disrupted due to crises in their home countries. The RISC provides a co-ordinated Government response on these issues so that affected parties know where to go for advice and guidance.

The Government is committed to ensuring that international students are looked after by our universities as part of our efforts to maintain the excellent reputation our higher education sector enjoys overseas. However there is no scope in the existing student support legislation for the Government to provide funding support for students in the UK. Students facing such difficulties should speak to their University.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-01-29.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to bring forward a revised procurement policy note for public authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Matthew Hancock

I refer the Hon Member to the answer I gave to him on 1 February 2016 to UIN: 24475.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-02-03.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 February 2016 to Question 24475, what his policy is on providing for parliamentary scrutiny any revisions to guidance on procurement policy and its relationship to foreign policy.

Matthew Hancock

Procurement guidance issued by the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) deals with operational matters and clarifies existing policy, set out in the EU Public Procurement Directives and the Public Contracts Regulations (2015), which were subject to Parliamentary process.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety on working conditions and safety standards in Bangladesh.

Mr Desmond Swayne

The Accord has played an important role in pushing up working conditions and safety standards in the Garments sector in Bangladesh. Since 2013 the Accord has independently inspected 1, 390 factories in the supply chains of their signatory brands. It has then supported those factories that continue to sell to Accord brands to implement Corrective Action Plans, resulting in safer factories for 2.4 million workers.

A review of the Bangladesh Sustainability Compact, completed by the EU, US and ILO in January 2016, recognised the contribution of private sector initiatives such as the Accord in improving labour, health and safety conditions for Bangladeshi workers.