Tag: Sharon Hodgson

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2015-10-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans the Government has to limit the sale of fireworks (a) geographically and (b) seasonally.

Anna Soubry

There are already seasonal limitations on the sale of fireworks. The Fireworks Regulations 2004 restrict their sale to the traditional fireworks periods of 5^th November, Diwali, New Year’s Eve and the Chinese New Year. It is possible to buy fireworks at other times of the year, but strict conditions are imposed on retailers wishing to sell them outside the traditional periods.

There are no geographical restrictions on the sale of fireworks, and currently no plans to introduce them, although further restrictions on their sale exist in Northern Ireland where a licence is required for home displays.

The Fireworks Regulations 2004 contain provisions to minimise the risk of fireworks harming people, property and animals, and Government-sponsored advice and guidance on the safe and considerate use of fireworks is freely available on the Safer Fireworks website.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2015-10-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what information the Government holds on the number of (a) domestic and (b) forest or woodland fires caused by the use of fireworks in each of the last five years.

Greg Clark

The figures in the table show that almost 750 fires attended by fire crews were recorded as having fireworks as the cause of ignition in either dwellings, other residential or forest/woodland fires over the past five years. However, the Department collects information on the source of ignition for primary fires only. Primary fires include all fires in buildings, vehicles and outdoor structures or any fire involving casualties, rescues or fires attended by five or more appliances. The definition also includes “woodland/forest/crops” but other similar land types (eg “grassland, pasture, grazing etc”) are considered secondary fires for which this information is not gathered.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2015-10-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to provide adequate fire service on bonfire night.

Greg Clark

The Government is grateful to all firefighters who continually demonstrate their commitment to protecting their communities, particularly at this busy time of year.

It is for each local fire and rescue authority to ensure the adequacy of its fire and rescue service provision on bonfire night and throughout the year. Each will have in place an Integrated Risk Management Plan, identifying and assessing the risks facing its communities and determining its priorities in relation to prevention, protection and response.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2015-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the average length of a consultation period is in his Department.

Joseph Johnson

So far in this Parliament, the mean length of a Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) consultation is 50 days, so just over 7 weeks. BIS consultations follow the Government’s consultation principles which can be viewed at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/255180/Consultation-Principles-Oct-2013.pdf

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2015-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps the Government is taking to publicise its call for evidence for the Review of the Secondary Ticketing Market.

Nick Boles

The “Review of Consumer Protection Measures in the Ticket Resale Market” commenced on 13 October 2015 with a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament.

The Call for Evidence was published on Gov.uk on 13 October and my officials have written to the main stakeholders to alert them to this and invite contributions.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2015-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, who drafted the terms of reference for the Review of the Secondary Ticketing Market; and how those terms of reference were decided upon.

Nick Boles

The Terms of Reference were decided upon by Ministers and the Chair following input from major stakeholders.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2015-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, by what process the decision to appoint Professor Waterson as Chair of the Secondary Ticketing Market was made.

Nick Boles

The independent Review requires a suitable qualified and experienced Chair, who is demonstrably independent of Government and has no link to any particular interest group on secondary ticketing.

Professor Waterson was invited to be the independent Chair by my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for the Business, Innovation and Skills and for Culture, Media and Sport.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2015-10-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the Wilson Doctrine has been consistently applied to the communications of the hon. Member for Washington and Sunderland West; and whether that hon. Member has been subject to surveillance.

Mr John Hayes

The Government’s position on the Wilson Doctrine was set out by the Prime Minister in a written ministerial statement made on 4 November 2015.

As the Prime Minister made clear, the Wilson Doctrine has never been an absolute bar to the targeted interception of the communications of Members of Parliament or an exemption from the legal regime governing interception. The Doctrine recognised that there could be instances where interception might be necessary.

The Prime Minister announced that as matter of policy the PM will be consulted should there ever be a proposal to target any UK Parliamentarian’s communications under a warrant issued by a Secretary of State. This applies to Members of Parliament, members of the House of Lords, the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Welsh Assembly and UK members of the European Parliament. It applies to all activity authorised by a warrant issued by a Secretary of State: any instance of targeted interception and, electronic surveillance and equipment interference, when undertaken by the Security and Intelligence Agencies. This is in addition to the rigorous safeguards already in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) and the Code of Practice issued under it which set out a series of robust safeguards for any instance of interception.

It is long standing policy of successive Governments neither to confirm nor deny any specific activity by the Security and Intelligence Agencies. Under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 it is an offence for anyone to identify an individual interception warrant or an individual interception that takes place.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2015-10-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which agency is tasked with ensuring that mothers, infants and children are provided with adequate protection and support for appropriate feeding during emergencies; and if he will publish his Department’s policy or guidance documents to outline the steps to be taken in that direction.

Jane Ellison

Local emergency responders including Police, Fire and Rescue Service, Ambulance Service and Local Authorities are required under the Civil Contingences Act 2004 to assess the likelihood and impact of emergencies occurring in their local area, and to put in place appropriate plans to respond to these emergencies. This includes arrangements to evacuate and shelter large numbers of people, including vulnerable groups such as mothers with young infants. The Government publishes guidance on evacuation and shelter for local responders (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/274615/Evacuation_and_Shelter_Guidance_2014.pdf) which includes advice on the care and provision for vulnerable people.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2015-10-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which Minister in his Department is leading on infant feeding policy; for what reasons England has no ministerial infant feeding lead; and for what reasons England does not have a national infant feeding committee with measurable targets as suggested for all member states as part of the WHO Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding.

Ben Gummer

As Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Care Quality I have responsibility for breastfeeding (also called infant feeding) policy as I am the lead for maternity policy more widely. In addition, for clarity, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health (Jane Ellison) leads on the related area of children’s health and also has responsibility for health visitors.

The Department hosts a National Infant Feeding Steering Group which meets quarterly to promote evidence based policy and practice through communication and information sharing.

The Government is committed to supporting breastfeeding through the Healthy Child Programme. Breastfeeding is included in the Public Health Outcomes Framework so that the improvements can be tracked, and action taken as needed.