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House of Commons Hansard Ministerial Statements for 13 May 2014 (pt 0001)
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You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Hansard >
Commons Debates > Daily Hansard - Written Ministerial Statements
13 May 2014 : Column 17WS
13 May 2014 : Column 17WS
Written Statements
Tuesday 13 May 2014
CABINET OFFICE
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Handling Member's Correspondence
The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General (Mr Francis Maude): I am today publishing
a report on the performance of Departments and agencies on handling correspondence from Members and
peers during the calendar year 2013.
Details are set out in the table below. Correspondence statistics for 2012 can be found in the Official Report,
13 May 2013, column 23W.
Departmental figures are based on substantive replies unless otherwise indicated. The footnotes to the table
provide general background information on how the figures have been compiled.
Correspondence from MP/Peers to Ministers and Agency Chief Executives 2013!
\Department or Agency Target set for reply [Number of letter _II% of replies within
(working days) received target
IAttorney-General’s Office 120 433 86
\Department for Business, Innovation 15 7,968 93,
land Skills
I- Companies House 10 114 100
I- Insolvency Service 15 62 89
I- Land Registry 15 107 93
I- Skills Funding Agency 10 451 96
(Cabinet Office 15 3,072 72
(Charity Commission 15 262 91
[Department for Communities and Local I]10 9,832 72
Government
I- Planning Inspectorate 10 1,022 81
\Crown Prosecution Service 20 410 89
\Department for Culture, Media and 120 6,317 51
Sport
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[Ministry of Defence 20 4,853 82
[Department for Education? 15 16,898 66
[Department of Energy and Climate 15 6,920 74
Change
\Department for Environment, Food and 15 10,362 71
[Rural Affairs
I- Animal Health and Veterinary 15 113 94
\Laboratories Agency
I- Rural Payments Agency 15 179 91
[Food Standards Agency *
“DH Ministers replies 20 141 87
“FSA Chair/CE replies I20 M4 89
Foreign and Commonwealth Office 120 10,043 95
[Department of Health 18 18,918 95
13 May 2014 : Column 18WS
- Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency 3 18 64 93
- Public Health England 18 73 99
Home Office* 158,761 61
-UK Visas & Immigration/Immigration Enforcement/Border Force® 20 57,582 70
- Her Majesty’s Passport Office
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151,123 69
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Department for International Development 153,407 94
Ministry of Justice 154,985 83
- HM Courts Service and Tribunals Service”
“Where Ministers replied 15 1,006 78
“Where CEO replied 15417 85
- National Archives (Minister and CEO replies) 1519 100
- National Offender Management Service
“Where Ministers replied 15899 74
“Where CEO replied 20274 93
- Office of the Public Guardian”
“Where Ministers replied 1547 90
“Where CEO replied 1052 98
- Official Solicitor and Public Trustee 1515 60
Northern Ireland Office 15509 86
Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Schools 15340 74
Office of Gas and Electricity Markets 15379 67
Office of the Leader of the House of Commons 15147 96
Office of the Leader of the House of Lords 15134 85
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Office of Rail Regulation 2051 85
OFWAT (Water Services Regulation Authority) 10119 85
Scotland Office 15170 72
Serious Fraud Office 20 64 7B
Department for Transport 20 8,041 97
- Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency 7 2,272 99
- Driving Standards Agency 10192 98
- Highways Agency 15417 91
- Maritime and Coastguard Agency 10 35 91
HM Treasury 159,608 72
- HM Revenue and Customs”
“Where Ministers replied 151,915 73
“Where CEO replied 156,331 83
Treasury Solicitor’s Department 10 16 100
Wales Office 15 47 100
13 May 2014 : Column 19WS.
Department for Work and Pensions 20 21,005 89
- Child Maintenance Group® 15 1,410 99
- Health and Safety Executive 15 165 95
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- Human Resources 15 20 38
- Director General” 15 2,825 97
! Departments and Agencies which received 10 MPs/Peers letters or fewer are not shown in this table.
Holding or interim replies are not included unless otherwise indicated. The report does not include
correspondence considered as Freedom of Information requests. 2 Department for Education statistics
include Education Funding Agency, National College of Teaching and Leadership, and Standards and
Testing Agency. 3 From 1 January to 16 June 2013 the target set for reply at MHRA was 20 working days.
The reduction to 18 on 17 June was made to bring the Agency in line with the target set by the Department
of Health. * HOHQ refers to all Home Office correspondence that is not dealt with within UK VI/IE/BF (the
former UKBA). > Reported separately from HOHQ because of different target that applies to these cases. ©
Formerly Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission. 7 Formerly Chief Operations Officer.
DEFENCE
National Strategy for Maritime Security
The Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Philip Hammond): I am today laying before the House the UK
national strategy for maritime security (NSMS), which outlines for the first time the UK’s coherent and co-
ordinated approach to delivering maritime security at home and internationally by explaining how we
organise and use our extensive national capabilities to identify, assess and address maritime security
challenges. The strategy places the maritime domain in context, highlighting its importance to UK prosperity
and security and explains how, through effective collaboration across Government and with industry and our
international partners, and through the integration of our assets and personnel wherever possible, we will
deliver a maritime security output much greater than the sum of its parts.
The strategy’s objectives are: to promote a secure international maritime domain and uphold international
maritime norms; to develop the maritime governance capacity and capabilities of states in areas of strategic
maritime importance; to protect the UK and the overseas territories, their citizens and economies by
supporting the safety and security of ports and offshore installations and Red Ensign Group-flagged
passenger and cargo vessels; to assure the security of vital maritime trade and energy transportation routes
within the UK marine area, regionally and internationally, and to protect the resources and population of the
UK and the overseas territories from illegal and dangerous activity, including scrious organised crime and
terrorism.
The strategy also introduces a robust Government approach to maritime security decision making and
confirms our commitment to preserving the flow of maritime trade and upholding international maritime law.
13 May 2014 : Column 20WS
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPME
Foreign Affairs Council for Development
The Secretary of State for International Development (Justine Greening): On 19 May, I will attend the
Foreign Affairs Council for Development in Brussels. The meeting will be chaired by the High
Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Ashton of
Upholland. The UK is recognised as a leader in international development as the first G7 member to reach
the UN aid target of 0.7% gross national income. As Secretary of State for International Development, I look
forward to participating in the meeting to share the UK experience in delivering world-class international
development and to work with other member states to push the EU to do more to use its development,
humanitarian, trade and diplomatic instruments in a coherent way to end poverty.
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Introduction
Baroness Ashton is expected to cover a number of topics in her introductory remarks, including an update on
the Ukraine donor co-ordination platform. I will take this opportunity to underline the vital role which the EU
and member states can play in supporting the Ukrainian Government’s reform efforts.
Post-2015 agenda
The UK remains at the forefront of the post-2015 discussions, building on the Prime Minister’s co-chairing
of the UN high-level panel. Ministers will discuss progress in the international post-2015 process, including
reflecting on current discussions in the open working group on sustainable development goals and next steps
for the EU. I will use this discussion to encourage the EU and member states to think strategically about how
to ensure we get the best possible outcome from next year’s UN negotiations.
Programming
The UK has been influential in strengthening EU development delivery. The EU is at the start of a new
seven-year programming cycle under the new multi-annual financial framework. As a result of UK and like-
minded member states’ efforts, there will be a greater focus on the poorest countries, increased flexibility and
country ownership, and an enhanced ability to measure results of EU aid. Ministers will receive an update on
implementation of the agenda for change, including programming of EU financial instruments and emerging
trends in the current programming period. I will welcome progress towards a results-based approach to the
delivery of EU aid, but also call for further action on results, tracking and value for money and greater
ambition on girls and women.
Rights-based approach to development
Ministers will adopt Council conclusions on a rights-based approach to development co-operation
reaffirming that promotion of human rights, democracy, the rule of law and good governance, and inclusive
and sustainable growth, are basic and mutually reinforcing pillars of the EU’s development policy.
Other agenda items
I expect to receive updates from the Commission and European External Action Service on the forthcoming
communication on private sector development, progress on policy coherence for development, the recent
global
13 May 2014 : Column 21WS
partnership for effective development co-operation ministerial, and the Eastern Partnership. I will also update
my counterparts on the “girl summit” which the Prime Minister and UNICEF will co-host on 22 July. This
will be a defining moment to rally a global movement to end female genital mutilation and child, early and
forced marriage for all girls within a generation. With global co-operation, we can build on the efforts of
many developing country Governments and local communities to end these harmful practices.
JUSTICE
Prison Service Pay Review Body (Triennial Review)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Jeremy Wright): My hon. Friend the Minister
of State for Civil Justice and Legal Policy, Ministry of Justice, Lord Faulks, has made the following written
ministerial statement:
On 4 March 2014, I announced in Parliament through a written ministerial statement, the commencement of
the triennial review of the Prison Service Pay Review Body (PSPRB). I am now pleased to announce the
completion of the review.
The PSPRB plays an important role providing independent advice to the Secretary of State for Justice and the
review has concluded that the body remains fit for purpose, delivering relevant and beneficial functions on
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behalf of the Prison Service, in an appropriate governance framework. The report makes some minor
recommendations to improve the governance arrangements for the PSPRB and these will be examined and.
implemented as required.
The triennial review has been carried out comprehensively and I am grateful to all those who contributed to
this review. I have, today, placed a copy of the report in the Libraries of both Houses.
13 May 2014 : Column 22WS.
TRANSPORT
Ministerial Correction
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Stephen Hammond): I would like to inform
the House that a statement I made on 29 April 2014 during an adjournment debate on proposed Government
reforms to taxi and private hire vehicle regulations, Official Report, column 225WH, was incorrect. During
the speech I stated that:
“the Government asked the Law Commission to carry out a comprehensive review of the law. As has rightly
been pointed out, it will present its report—it will not be presenting a Bill; it will be presenting a report in the
next few weeks—and at that stage, as with all reviews and reports, the Government will review the whole of
those detailed findings and recommendations.”
This was incorrect as the Law Commission will later this month present the Government with both a
comprehensive review of taxi and private hire legislation as well as a draft Bill. However, the Government
have no plans to introduce a dedicated taxi Bill in the final parliamentary Session. Instead, Government will
consider the detailed findings of, and recommendations made, by the Law Commission before setting out our
thinking on each in due course.
Given there will be no dedicated taxi Bill this Parliament, the measures which the Government intend to take
forward within the Deregulation Bill represent an ideal opportunity to make a real-world difference to the
business men and women who make up the taxi and private hire vehicle trades.
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