Hansard Written Answers and Statements

Some recent written answers

House of Lords: Railways: High Speed 2 answered 18 June 2013

Lord Willoughby de Broke: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they calculated the proposed capacity of HS2 trains.

Health: Tobacco Packaging answered 11 June 2013

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the introduction of standardised tobacco packaging; and if he will make a statement.

Health: Blood: Donors answered 17 June 2013

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health

(1) what assessment he has made of the performance of NHS Blood and Transplant in Devon;

(2) what proportion of transplant blood used in (a) Devon and (b) across the UK was sourced from abroad in each year since 2008;

(3) what recent steps he has taken to ensure that blood donors in Devon have access to local blood donation stations.

Transport: Railways: Windermere answered 11 June 2013

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to electrify the Windermere branch line; and if he will make a statement.

House of Lords: Apprenticeships answered 17 June 2013

Lord Adonis: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total number of staff employed within The Insolvency Service on 1 May 2013; and how many of them were (1) under the age of 21, (2) apprentices under the age of 21, and (3) apprentices over the age of 21.

Some recent written ministerial statements

Treasury: Credit Union Maximum Interest Rate Cap 12 June 2013

Sajid Javid: Last December the Government published a consultation on raising the maximum interest rate cap for credit union loans. This consultation sought views on the proposal to increase the maximum...

Work and Pensions: Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2013 17 June 2013

Steve Webb: Later today the Government will be publishing their response to the consultation on the Child Support (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2013 (“the regulations”). The regulations...

Defence: Defence Recovery Capability 11 June 2013

Mark Francois: Today marks the defence recovery capability reaching full operating capability following initial operating capability in 2010. Today also formally launches the recovery career services programme...

Justice: Pre-trial Cross-examination Testing 11 June 2013

Chris Grayling: The Government are committed to improving the experience of witnesses in court to ensure that they are supported to give their best evidence. Recent harrowing court cases involving children and...

Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Conflict Resources 13 June 2013

William Hague: I, together with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for International Development, the Member for Putney (Justine Greening), and the Secretary of State for Defence, the Member for...

Attorney-General: Child Sexual Abuse 11 June 2013

Oliver Heald: The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has today launched a public consultation on his new interim guidelines for prosecuting cases involving child sexual abuse. The guidelines set out the new...

Communities and Local Government: Tackling Aggressive Bailiffs 18 June 2013

Brandon Lewis: The coalition agreement committed the coalition Government to provide more protection against aggressive bailiffs and unreasonable charges. Further to this, last year, Ministers pledged to review...

Northern Ireland: “Building a Prosperous and United Community” 17 June 2013

Theresa Villiers: On Friday, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I agreed a package of measures with the First and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland aimed at rebalancing the Northern Ireland...

House of Lords: EU: Justice and Home Affairs Council 13 June 2013

Lord McNally: The Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council was held on 6 and 7 June in Luxembourg. My Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for Justice (Chris Grayling MP) and My Right Honourable...

Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Foreign Affairs/General Affairs Councils 18 June 2013

David Lidington: I will attend the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) on 24 June and the General Affairs Council (GAC) on 25 June. The Foreign Affairs Council will be chaired by the High Representative of the...

Health: Health Select Committee Report (Public Expenditure) 13 June 2013

Jeremy Hunt: I have today laid before Parliament “Government Response to the House of Commons Health Select Committee report into Public Expenditure on Health and Care Services: Eleventh Report of...

House of Lords: Health and Care Services: Expenditure 13 June 2013

Earl Howe: My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt) has made the following written ministerial statement. I have today laid before Parliament Government Response to the House of...

Energy and Climate Change: Energy Council 13 June 2013

Michael Fallon: The United Kingdom was represented by Shan Morgan, Deputy Permanent Representative to the EU, at the EU Energy Council in Luxembourg on 7 June 2013. Discussion centred on the internal energy...

House of Lords: Correction to Lords Oral Answer 17 June 2013

Baroness Verma: With regard to the Oral Answer I gave to the Question tabled by Lord Wigley, Official Report 11 June 2013, col. 1509, the Answer makes reference to the UK commitment to achieve at least an 80%...

Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: FCO Spending 2013-14 11 June 2013

William Hague: In my statement to the House of 10 July 2012, Official Report, column 16WS, I set out the funding allocations for the FCO’s strategic programmes for the financial year 2012-13. I now wish...

Environment Food and Rural Affairs: Correction to PQ Answer 154587 13 June 2013

Richard Benyon: I responded to a written PQ from the hon. Member for Vale of Clwyd (Chris Ruane) on 20 May 2013 asking which coastal towns have benefited from flood defences under the coastal change...

Business, Innovation and Skills: Pre-Council EU Foreign Affairs Council 13 June 2013

Vincent Cable: The EU Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) will take place in Luxembourg on 14 June 2013. I shall represent the UK on all the issues on the agenda. The substantive items on 14 June will be: the EU...

House of Lords: EU: Foreign Affairs Council 13 June 2013

Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint: My Rt.Hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Dr Vince Cable), has today made the following statement. The EU Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) will take place in...

Transport: EU Transport Council 17 June 2013

Stephen Hammond: I attended the final Transport Council of the Irish presidency in Luxembourg on Monday 10 June. Transport Council agreed general approaches on five proposals: the interoperability of the rail...

Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs: Ushakov Medals 17 June 2013

William Hague: I am pleased to announce that formal approval has been given to a recommendation for an exception to the rules on the acceptance of foreign awards to allow eligible British nationals to accept...