1-20 of 1,094 results for askedby:"Eric Illsley"
Librarians' tools
- Search time
- 0.289 seconds
- Solr query time
- 0.007 seconds
- Search query
- askedby:"Eric Illsley"
- We searched for
- tablingMember_ses:301385 OR askingMember_ses:301385
Type
House
Session
Year
Department
More
Member
More
Primary member
Answering member
More
Legislative stage
Legislation
More
Subject
More
Publisher
How does the Minister square what he has just said about preserving libraries with the effects of the comprehensive spending review and the cuts in financing to local government, given that one of the first areas to face closure will be local library provision?
How does the Minister square what he has just said about preserving libraries with the effects of the comprehensive spending review and the cuts in financing to local government, given that one of the first areas to face closure will be local library provision?
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Independent (affiliation))
Answering body
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
29 November 2010
As I have said, libraries are a statutory service, so local authorities must provide them, and providing that they have a far-seeing and imaginative plan, they can do so. There are many excellent local library services up and down the country, and the future libraries programme is making sure that that knowledge is widely disseminated.
Subjects
Finance; Public libraries
Date
29 November 2010
Reference
519 c514
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether students eligible for the higher rate of education maintenance allowance will be eligible for an equivalent amount under the replacement scheme.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether students eligible for the higher rate of education maintenance allowance will be eligible for an equivalent amount under the replacement scheme.
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Independent (affiliation))
Answering body
Department for Education
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Tabled
Tabled on
9 November 2010
For answer on
15 November 2010
Date
9 November 2010
Reference
23536
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Yorkshire Forward, the Yorkshire regional development agency, owns assets in my constituency in Barnsley that are crucial for a major redevelopment programme in the town centre. Will the Prime Minister look urgently at ensuring that the ownership of those assets is transferred from Yorkshire Forward to the local authority so that the programme can go ahead? Could that transfer be facilitated before the body's abolition in 2012?
Yorkshire Forward, the Yorkshire regional development agency, owns assets in my constituency in Barnsley that are crucial for a major redevelopment programme in the town centre. Will the Prime Minister look urgently at ensuring that the ownership of those assets is transferred from Yorkshire Forward to the local authority so that the programme can go ahead? Could that transfer be facilitated before the body's abolition in 2012?
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Independent (affiliation))
Answering body
Prime Minister
Prime Minister's questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
27 October 2010
The hon. Gentleman makes a good point. The transition from regional development agencies to the new local enterprise partnerships has to be handled carefully, ensuring that such assets are put to good use. So far, the proposals for local enterprise partnerships that are coming in are extremely encouraging and will lead to more of what the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough (Mr Blunkett) talked about—more control locally rather than in distant regions that people do not identify with.
Subjects
Yorkshire Forward; Barnsley
Date
27 October 2010
Reference
517 c309
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Independent (affiliation))
Answered by
Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton
(Conservative)
Answering body
Prime Minister
Prime Minister's questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Answered on
27 October 2010
Notes
Lead question not printed
Subjects
Yorkshire Forward; Barnsley
Date
27 October 2010
Reference
517 c309; 19520
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Does the Minister accept that we could improve on the amount of material that we recycle, particularly glass and paper, if there were less contamination within the collection systems? Does he have any proposals to improve the myriad different collection systems used by local authorities throughout the country?
Does the Minister accept that we could improve on the amount of material that we recycle, particularly glass and paper, if there were less contamination within the collection systems? Does he have any proposals to improve the myriad different collection systems used by local authorities throughout the country?
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Independent (affiliation))
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Topical questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
9 September 2010
I have seen the waste system in place around the country described as ““anarchic””. Inevitably, local priorities will dictate how waste is managed, and rightly so; we do not want to prescribe from Whitehall how local authorities should prioritise areas of recycling. We set very high targets and we are determined to fulfil those. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that that precise matter will be part of the review, and that he, the Select Committee on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and others will be able to hold us to account on it.
Subjects
Recycling; Incinerators
Date
9 September 2010
Reference
515 c460
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will make a statement on her departmental responsibilities.
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Independent (affiliation))
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Withdrawn
Tabled on
21 June 2010
For answer on
24 June 2010
Subjects
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Date
21 June 2010
Reference
3970
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
May I return my right hon. Friend to the question that was raised a few moments ago—the problems that some of our overseas posts are experiencing as a result of exchange rate fluctuations? Surely it cannot be right that some of the staff at our overseas posts have to volunteer to work for a period for no salary to make up the posts' funding. Can we reinstate the overseas pricing mechanism and reinforce the measures that my right hon. Friend mentioned a few moments ago?
May I return my right hon. Friend to the question that was raised a few moments ago—the problems that some of our overseas posts are experiencing as a result of exchange rate fluctuations? Surely it cannot be right that some of the staff at our overseas posts have to volunteer to work for a period for no salary to make up the posts' funding. Can we reinstate the overseas pricing mechanism and reinforce the measures that my right hon. Friend mentioned a few moments ago?
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Topical questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
6 April 2010
That is certainly one of the issues that will be considered in the next comprehensive spending review. The £75 million that has, in effect, been added to the Foreign Office budget for this year will ensure that the comprehensive first-class global network that we have is maintained and developed.
Subjects
Public expenditure
Date
6 April 2010
Reference
508 c812
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Labour)
Answered by
David Miliband
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Topical questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
29 March 2010
For answer on
6 April 2010
Answered on
6 April 2010
On 1 April I announced that I had instructed the British Indian Ocean Territory Commissioner to declare a marine protected area in the territory, which will include a no-take marine reserve. By establishing this marine protected area, the UK has created one of the world's largest marine protected areas and has doubled the global coverage of the world's oceans benefiting from protection. I wish to emphasise that the creation of the MPA will not change the UK's commitment to cede the territory to Mauritius when it is no longer needed for defence purposes. It is also without prejudice to the outcome of the current pending proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights. The BIOT administration has been tasked with taking the establishment of an MPA forward in order that this is achieved in a realistic, sustainable and affordable way.
Finally, on a separate topic—[Hon. Members: "This is a different question."] No. On a separate matter, Mr. Speaker, I hope you will allow me to say, I am sure on behalf of the whole House, that we utterly condemn yesterday's attack on the US consulate in Peshawar and the earlier suicide attack in Lower Dir. There can be no justification for these bloody acts.
Subjects
Departmental responsibilities; Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Date
6 April 2010
Reference
508 c811-2; 325374
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
What steps his Department is taking to improve the governance of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
What steps his Department is taking to improve the governance of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Labour)
Answered by
Chris Bryant
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
29 March 2010
For answer on
6 April 2010
Answered on
6 April 2010
The finances and governance of the Turks and Caicos Islands were in a sorry state when we were forced to suspend constitutional Government. We are now working through the Governor on stabilising the public finances, on immigration issues and on issues relating to Crown land. The special investigation and prosecution team is in place and working.
Subjects
Politics and government; Turks and Caicos Islands
Date
6 April 2010
Reference
508 c803; 325352
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
The Foreign Affairs Committee has recently been made aware of serious concerns about the special investigation team's current investigation in the Turks and Caicos Islands, namely about the lack of adequate resources to fund the investigation and about the timetable that will lead to the ending of direct rule from the UK as early as 2011, which might not allow for a complete investigation. Will he address those issues?
The Foreign Affairs Committee has recently been made aware of serious concerns about the special investigation team's current investigation in the Turks and Caicos Islands, namely about the lack of adequate resources to fund the investigation and about the timetable that will lead to the ending of direct rule from the UK as early as 2011, which might not allow for a complete investigation. Will he address those issues?
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Labour)
Answering body
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
6 April 2010
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We need to make sure that a full investigation is conducted. That is why I am working very closely with colleagues in the Department for International Development to see whether there is a means of ensuring that the investigation team has the moneys to find out the truth, which is sorely needed in TCI. In that case, the moneys would be returned once assets were sequestered as a result of criminal investigations. We need to return as fast as possible to elections in TCI, because otherwise people will think that this is a return to colonial rule.
Subjects
Politics and government; Turks and Caicos Islands
Date
6 April 2010
Reference
508 c803
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Labour)
Answered by
Mike O'Brien
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Topical questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Answered on
23 February 2010
Notes
Lead question not printed.
Subjects
Medical treatments
Date
23 February 2010
Reference
506 c157; 317500
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Last year, a constituent of mine paid £4,000 for a private operation that she required to save her sight. A few months later, the operation was made available on the NHS by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. My constituent has obviously lost out. Will the Minister look again at the NICE appraisal system, and improve its transparency and speed of decision making, to avoid this situation in future?
Last year, a constituent of mine paid £4,000 for a private operation that she required to save her sight. A few months later, the operation was made available on the NHS by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. My constituent has obviously lost out. Will the Minister look again at the NICE appraisal system, and improve its transparency and speed of decision making, to avoid this situation in future?
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department of Health
Topical questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
23 February 2010
I agree that transparency is important in all aspects of NICE's work. Full details of its forward work programme are readily available on its website, wherever possible accompanied by expected publication dates for specific pieces of guidance. NICE consults publicly on each piece of draft guidance before making a recommendation.
Subjects
Medical treatments
Date
23 February 2010
Reference
506 c157
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that response. On a recent visit to New Hall women's prison, I was shocked to see the levels of self-harm among very vulnerable females. Some of the women are serving jail sentences for offences such as the non-payment of their television licence fee. Is there more that the Government can do to reduce the serious level of self-harm in women's prisons?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that response. On a recent visit to New Hall women's prison, I was shocked to see the levels of self-harm among very vulnerable females. Some of the women are serving jail sentences for offences such as the non-payment of their television licence fee. Is there more that the Government can do to reduce the serious level of self-harm in women's prisons?
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Justice
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
9 February 2010
We are taking steps to try to deal with serious self-harm in all our prisons. One of the best ways of preventing vulnerable women from self-harming is to try to provide alternatives to custody for petty offences. This enables the women to remain in the community while tackling their offending behaviour. In that respect, using the £15.5 million of extra resources that we have made available to divert women from custody is probably the best way of tackling this issue.
Subjects
Women; Prisoners; Self-harm
Date
9 February 2010
Reference
505 c745
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
What recent estimate he has made of levels of self-harm in women's prisons.
What recent estimate he has made of levels of self-harm in women's prisons.
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Labour)
Answered by
Maria Eagle
(Labour)
Answering body
Ministry of Justice
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
3 February 2010
For answer on
9 February 2010
Answered on
9 February 2010
About half of all incidents of self-harm across the entire prison estate are perpetrated by women, who comprise only 5 per cent. of the prison population. Levels of self-harm in women's prisons are broadly stable, although they are high. The number of self-inflicted deaths, however, has gone down to a three-year average of 60, which is a significant improvement on the past few years.
Subjects
Women; Prisoners; Self-harm
Date
9 February 2010
Reference
505 c745; 316136
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Is it not the case, however, that vast quantities of material collected for recycling cannot be recycled by industry, because the quality is not good enough? We are landfilling glass, which is completely recyclable, and exporting paper to China in order to meet our recycling targets, because there is not sufficient recycling capacity in this country. Will my hon. Friend meet representatives of the packaging industries to discuss these issues before our recycling targets are increased further?
Is it not the case, however, that vast quantities of material collected for recycling cannot be recycled by industry, because the quality is not good enough? We are landfilling glass, which is completely recyclable, and exporting paper to China in order to meet our recycling targets, because there is not sufficient recycling capacity in this country. Will my hon. Friend meet representatives of the packaging industries to discuss these issues before our recycling targets are increased further?
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
4 February 2010
I am always happy to meet those who are worried about this issue. They are right to have concerns, and we will certainly continue to consult thoroughly on this. However, figures released only this morning show that recycling has gone up to 38.3 per cent., so we are well on the way to meeting our 40 per cent. target for this year. That is encouraging, but creating better quality waste makes it more valuable, and that should be an incentive for local authorities and others to work harder.
Subjects
Recycling
Date
4 February 2010
Reference
505 c441
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
What steps she is taking to improve telephone communications between benefit claimants and Jobcentre Plus.
What steps she is taking to improve telephone communications between benefit claimants and Jobcentre Plus.
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Labour)
Answered by
Yvette Cooper
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
26 January 2010
For answer on
1 February 2010
Answered on
1 February 2010
In keeping with the 100th anniversary of the labour exchange, which is today, we are continuing to modernise communications with Jobcentre Plus to make it easier for millions of people to get in touch about their benefit or seeking work. We have been concerned for some time that people calling on mobile phones were being charged a lot for calls to claim benefits which would be free from landlines, so we have recently negotiated a deal with the major mobile phone companies that their customers should also not be charged for calling 0800 numbers, and we are looking at what further steps we can take.
Subjects
Jobcentres; Jobcentre Plus; Telephone services
Date
1 February 2010
Reference
505 c1; 314101
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that response, and particularly for her reference to the anniversary of labour exchanges. My constituents and my local citizens advice bureau have complained to me about the use of 0845 numbers in jobcentres. Claimants seem to wait a very long time before their query is dealt with. Although jobcentres offer to call claimants back, by that time they have spent a considerable amount of money dealing with that telephone inquiry. Can the Government move away from 0845 numbers altogether?
I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that response, and particularly for her reference to the anniversary of labour exchanges. My constituents and my local citizens advice bureau have complained to me about the use of 0845 numbers in jobcentres. Claimants seem to wait a very long time before their query is dealt with. Although jobcentres offer to call claimants back, by that time they have spent a considerable amount of money dealing with that telephone inquiry. Can the Government move away from 0845 numbers altogether?
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Work and Pensions
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
1 February 2010
My hon. Friend raises an important point. I have asked for all the phone lines to be reviewed now that we have made important progress. I think he would agree that the first step was to get the deal with mobile phone companies so that people were not being charged for the important calls setting up their benefit claims, which can be the longest calls that people make. The 0845 numbers have traditionally been used for shorter calls, and as my hon. Friend rightly says, Jobcentre Plus will call back any customer who is concerned about the cost of calls, but I have asked the Department to look at what further we can do to support all our customers. He will appreciate that cost always has to be taken into account, but we want to make it as easy as possible for people to get the help that they need, particularly to get back into employment.
Subjects
Jobcentre Plus; Telephone services; Jobcentres
Date
1 February 2010
Reference
505 c2
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
Independent petrol station retailers in my constituency are also facing huge increases in their business rates from 1 April. Although I agree with the need for an independent valuer, there appears to be no right of appeal against these revaluations until they are put in place from 1 April. Will my right hon. Friend look at that again and provide some form of redress for these retailers?
Independent petrol station retailers in my constituency are also facing huge increases in their business rates from 1 April. Although I agree with the need for an independent valuer, there appears to be no right of appeal against these revaluations until they are put in place from 1 April. Will my right hon. Friend look at that again and provide some form of redress for these retailers?
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Oral questions - Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
26 January 2010
There is a right of appeal. What is more, I draw my hon. Friend's attention to the £2 billion transitional scheme that has been put in place. It is always the case, every five years, that the independent revaluation of business rates produces winners and losers. That is why we have a transitional relief scheme that means that the impact on rates bills can be no more than 11 per cent. next year and just 3.5 per cent. for small businesses. There is protection alongside the ability to appeal that my hon. Friend seeks.
Subjects
Business rates; Valuation
Date
26 January 2010
Reference
504 c657-8
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. I recently read a briefing which said that about a quarter of local authorities were ignoring Environment Agency recommendations against developments in areas prone to flooding. Does that cause him some concern?
I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. I recently read a briefing which said that about a quarter of local authorities were ignoring Environment Agency recommendations against developments in areas prone to flooding. Does that cause him some concern?
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Oral questions - 1st Supplementary
Status
Answered
Answered on
8 December 2009
This issue will concern many members of the public, and my hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise it. We have made the Environment Agency a statutory consultee on planning applications in areas at risk of flooding. The figures I have suggest that in about 97 per cent. of cases in which the agency objects on flood risk grounds, the final decision is in line with its advice. I know how seriously he takes these matters, and I would be delighted to meet him to discuss in more detail the figures that he has.
Subjects
Floods; Property development
Date
8 December 2009
Reference
502 c147
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons
If he will require local planning authorities to act on objections by the Environment Agency to planning applications on the grounds of the risk of flooding.
If he will require local planning authorities to act on objections by the Environment Agency to planning applications on the grounds of the risk of flooding.
Asked by
Eric Illsley
(Labour)
Answered by
Lord Austin of Dudley
(Labour)
Answering body
Department for Communities and Local Government
Oral questions - Lead
Status
Answered
Tabled on
2 December 2009
For answer on
8 December 2009
Answered on
8 December 2009
Again, the terrible events of the past few weeks underline the importance of these issues. Our planning policy requires local planning authorities to re-consult the Environment Agency where the agency objects to a planning application on flood risk grounds. This is backed by a direction requiring planning authorities to provide the Secretary of State with the opportunity to intervene where the agency sustains an objection to major development proposals.
Subjects
Floods; Property development
Date
8 December 2009
Reference
502 c147; 304611
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
House
House of Commons