Tag: Tom Brake

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, which UK officials have been present at discussions on the peace process in Syria between the US and Russia.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

​Discussions to re-establish a nationwide Cessation of Hostilities have been led bilaterally between the US and Russia as co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG), without wider attendance. The UK participates in full meetings of the ISSG. The Foreign Secretary has attended ISSG meetings accompanied by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Political Director, the UK’s Special Representative for Syria, and Director Middle East and North Africa.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will list the UK delegates who attended the UN General Assembly meetings on refugees and migrants that took place on 19 and 20 September 2016.

Alok Sharma

On 19 September, the Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) attended the UN Summit Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants. She also participated in President Obama’s Leaders’ Summit on Refugees on 20 September. The Secretary of State for International Development, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Witham (Priti Patel) also attended both of these meetings. Senior officials from Number 10, the Department for International Development, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office provided support to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State during these events.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-10-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures his Department has in place to (a) monitor and (b) limit the amount of profit which pharmaceutical wholesalers are able to make from the NHS each year.

David Mowat

The Department introduced the Health Service Supplies (Costs) Bill on 15 September. This Bill is intended to enable my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State to make regulations to obtain information from across the supply chain to assure itself that all parts of the supply chain provides value for money to the National Health Service and the taxpayer. We expect everyone in the NHS and the supply chain should play its part in achieving efficiency savings.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2015-10-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on transferring to that Commission responsibility for the maintenance of military graves currently maintained by his Department.

Mark Lancaster

Discussions between Ministry Of Defence (MOD) and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) are continuing regarding the transfer of maintenance responsibility for the graves of military personnel buried in the UK since 1948.

Annual costs for the maintenance of each grave for which MOD is responsible are estimated to be between £65 and £205 depending on the location and condition of the grave. The MOD’s annual grant to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in respect of the graves they maintain is in excess of £47 million.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2015-12-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure there are enough neonatal nurses who have completed accredited training in specialised neonatal care to enable neonatal units to meet marker of good practice 2.2.3 in the Toolkit for High Quality Neonatal Services, published by the NHS and his Department in October 2009.

Ben Gummer

A key standard set out within NHS England’s service specification for specialised neonatal critical care is that hospitals trusts who do not meet the staffing levels recommended by the British Association of Perinatal Medicine, must be working towards an agreed plan with their respective Regional Specialised Commissioning Teams to meet and maintain the nurse staffing levels in line with the Department’s Toolkit for High Quality Neonatal Services.

The increasing demand for neonatal care has resulted in additional challenges for some trusts in meeting the recommended nurse to patient ratios. However, 71 (54%) of the 131 neonatal critical care services now meet required staffing ratios and NHS England Regional Specialised Services Commissioning Teams continue to work with their respective hospital trusts to improve this situation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-01-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, in what circumstances his Department can terminate the (a) Southern, (b) Thameslink and (c) GTR contracts early.

Claire Perry

Whilst Southern and Thameslink are used as operating names by the franchisee, they are in fact part of the GTR franchise, which operates the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern (TSGN) Franchise.

Schedule 10.2 of the TSGN Franchise Agreement (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/488198/tsgn-franchise-agreement.pdf p.506) specifies how this franchise can be terminated by the Department.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-02-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential effect of a UK withdrawal from the EU on cultural, sporting and media initiatives within the UK currently supported by the EU.

Mr Edward Vaizey

As the Prime Minister said in his statement to the House on Monday, the Government’s view is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-02-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential effect on the number of people employed as IT professionals who are from non-EU countries of the salary threshold increase for Tier 2 visa applications to £35,000.

James Brokenshire

The Government announced in 2012 that from 6 April 2016 Tier 2 visa holders who apply for settlement in the UK will be required to meet a minimum annual salary requirement of £35,000. PhD level roles and those in recognised shortage will be exempt from the £35,000 threshold.

Data of the number of people employed in specific regions of the United Kingdom is not available. The Home Office holds individual records showing the working location of Tier 2 (General) migrants, but centralised records show the registered address of the Tier 2 Sponsor, which is normally that organisation’s Head Office.

The Home Office published a full impact assessment on the changes to Tier 2 settlement rules when they were laid before Parliament on 15 March 2012. This includes the impact on the top ten occupations and is available on the gov.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/117957/impact-assessment-tier2.pdf

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-03-10.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will estimate the proportion of total duty paid on alcohol in the EU that is paid by people in the UK.

Damian Hinds

HM Treasury has made no such estimate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-03-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what financial support and other support his Department gives to civil society organisations, trades unions, charities and organisations devoted to democracy building in Iraq.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

We continue to support Prime Minister Abadi in his efforts to deliver the inclusive government, reconciliation and reform needed to give all Iraqi citizens a stake in the future of their country, and unite them against Daesh.

Through our Conflict, Security and Stability Fund, we are supporting a number of projects designed to strengthen democratic institutions in Iraq. This includes support for Global Partners Governance, who are working to strengthen the Iraqi parliament, enhance legislative processes and improve coordination between central and local government.