1-20 of 408 results for askedby:"Sandra Osborne"
Librarians' tools
- Search time
- 5.853 seconds
- Solr query time
- 0.007 seconds
- Search query
- askedby:"Sandra Osborne"
- We searched for
- tablingMember_ses:302777 OR askingMember_ses:302777
Type
House
Session
Year
Department
More
Member
More
Primary member
Answering member
More
Legislative stage
Legislation
Subject
More
Publisher
I have raised many times the devastation caused by abandoned coal mines in my constituency. The Secretary of State will be aware of the proposal for an exemption from carbon price support, which would greatly help their restoration and create 1,000 jobs. Can we expect good news on this in the Budget, and does he agree that
the Scottish Government should step up to the plate with some of their £500 million surplus to help the restoration?
I have raised many times the devastation caused by abandoned coal mines in my constituency. The Secretary of State will be aware of the proposal for an exemption from carbon price support, which would greatly help their restoration and create 1,000 jobs. Can we expect good news on this in the Budget, and does he agree that
the Scottish Government should step up to the plate with some of their £500 million surplus to help the restoration?
First, I am happy to pay tribute to the hon. Lady, who has been a doughty fighter for her constituents’ interests in this regard. As for what will be in the Budget, I am afraid that, like the rest of us, she will have to wait and see, although I can assure her that my Department remains engaged on this issue. We continue to work closely with the Scottish Government on their joint taskforce, which will next meet in March. My right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland will represent the UK Government on that occasion.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what meetings he has had with stakeholders to discuss his Department's report, Life cycle impacts of biomass electricity in 2020; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what meetings he has had with stakeholders to discuss his Department's report, Life cycle impacts of biomass electricity in 2020; and if he will make a statement.
My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has spoken with, and exchanged correspondence with, industry representatives, academic experts and with environmental organisations about the report. Where correspondence has been received in the form of campaigns, the Government’s response has been published on its website.
DECC officials have also engaged extensively with stakeholders on the report both during and after its preparation and will continue to do so as we further develop our evidence base.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to his Department's report, Life cycle impacts of biomass electricity in 2020, what assessment he has made of the (a) reliability of evidence that the main UK biomass supplies come from North America and (b) effect of...
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to his Department's report, Life cycle impacts of biomass electricity in 2020, what assessment he has made of the (a) reliability of evidence that the main UK biomass supplies come from North America and (b) effect of...
As part of their sustainability requirements, biomass generating stations must report their biomass sustainability data to Ofgem, and this includes the country of origin. This data is published annually on Ofgem’s website1. From later this year, biomass generators will also be required to have their sustainability data independently audited, annually.
In 2013, the Department carried out an analysis of domestic and imported wood use by major biomass generating stations, using both the above sustainability reporting and additional five- year forecasts that large scale generators provided to the Department as part of a voluntary exercise2. The forecast weight of domestically sourced wood used for biomass power generation is expected to remain stable between 2.3 and 2.5 million oven dried tonnes (modt). This analysis supports the Department’s assessment that major generators intend to focus on international rather than domestic sources of wood.
Furthermore, as ‘high quality’ wood, such as that suitable for saw logs and timber production, commands a significantly higher market price than residues, this makes high quality wood unattractive and unaffordable for use as woodfuel. Therefore market forces, both here and abroad, should mean mixed used of wood continues.
[1] https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/biomass-sustainability-dataset-2012-13
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 28 January.
If he will list his official engagements for Wednesday 28 January.
Q4
.
Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (Lab):
Last week, the Institute for Fiscal Studies revealed that poorer families had lost most under the Prime Minister’s tax and benefit policies. What happened to his promise that this Government would be the most family friendly ever?
Q4
.
Sandra Osborne (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock) (Lab):
Last week, the Institute for Fiscal Studies revealed that poorer families had lost most under the Prime Minister’s tax and benefit policies. What happened to his promise that this Government would be the most family friendly ever?
The IFS report found that the richest had paid the most to reduce the deficit, so we should be clear about the figures: the richest 20% have paid more to reduce the deficit than the remaining 80%. If the hon. Lady wants to quote the IFS, she might want to remember that it said:
“We’ve had a great big recession. We had the biggest recession we’ve had in 100 years…it will be astonishing if household incomes haven’t fallen and earnings haven’t fallen”.
That is the view of the IFS, and it is right. It also says that the shadow Chancellor’s plans are for an extra £170 billion of borrowing, so if Labour is going to quote the IFS, it should accept its figures for more spending, more borrowing and more debt—all the things that got our country into this mess in the first place.
What steps he plans to take to support older people experiencing long-term unemployment.
What steps he plans to take to support older people experiencing long-term unemployment.
We have taken a range of steps. Most recently, in last week’s autumn statement, we announced a new pilot that will test how we support older claimants to help them return to work. It will benefit 3,000 older claimants whose age is a barrier to their finding work.
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.
Why does the Work programme fail the over-50s so badly, and why has it taken the Government more than three years even to begin to do anything about that?
Why does the Work programme fail the over-50s so badly, and why has it taken the Government more than three years even to begin to do anything about that?
On the contrary, the labour market performance of older workers has been among the best during the last four years. During a period of slow economic growth, older workers actually did the best. Nevertheless, we are not complacent, hence the new pilots that I announced last week.
The South Ayrshire food bank is threatened with closure if it cannot find funding for premises for food
storage and distribution by Christmas. Given today’s report on food banks, and given that the people involved are having to do this incredibly important work for the poorest in our society thanks to this Government’s nasty welfare policies, what practical support can the Government provide to those charities to support their important work?
The South Ayrshire food bank is threatened with closure if it cannot find funding for premises for food
storage and distribution by Christmas. Given today’s report on food banks, and given that the people involved are having to do this incredibly important work for the poorest in our society thanks to this Government’s nasty welfare policies, what practical support can the Government provide to those charities to support their important work?
The Government give huge support to charities up and down the country. I do not know the specific case that the hon. Lady has mentioned, but if she wants to drop me a note about it, I would be happy to look into it and see whether there is anything more we can do to help. I have to say, though, that the Opposition go on and on about what we are doing with welfare and how it has somehow driven everybody into this situation, but in Germany 1.5 million people a week go to food banks. It has nothing to do with our welfare reforms, and Germany is a wealthier country. Food banks have grown around the world, but the latest figures from the OECD show that, in the category of the “difficulty to afford food”, the UK is almost alone in having gone down from the position that we inherited from the last Government. This Government are doing more to help poor people to get by and to get jobs, rather than leaving them parked on unemployment benefit like the last Government did.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has made to the German Government about the issue of responsibility for the victims of thalidomide damage in the UK; and what the UK Government's responsibilities are in this matter.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has made to the German Government about the issue of responsibility for the victims of thalidomide damage in the UK; and what the UK Government's responsibilities are in this matter.
I wrote to Manuela Schwesig, Federal Minister of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, on 14 October 2014, asking if she would meet with representatives of the Thalidomide Trust. The specific issue of responsibility for the victims of the Thalidomide disaster was not addressed.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has made to his German counterpart on thalidomide damage in the UK.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has made to his German counterpart on thalidomide damage in the UK.
I met with the Thalidomide Trust on 23 June 2014 and subsequently wrote to Manuela Schwesig, Federal Minister of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, on behalf of all four UK Governments, asking if she would meet with the Trust.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there has been a change to the Government's policy that the type 26 frigates will be built in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether there has been a change to the Government's policy that the type 26 frigates will be built in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
The Government is committed to the future of shipbuilding in the UK. Complex warships for the Royal Navy are only built in UK shipyards.
The Type 26 Global Combat Ship programme is currently in its Assessment Phase. While the build contract has not yet been awarded, from 2015 the only shipyards in the UK that are able to build complex warships will be those on the Clyde.
What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of resources available to process compensation claims for injured armed forces veterans.
What recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of resources available to process compensation claims for injured armed forces veterans.
We have taken on extra staff, including five accredited doctors, to make sure that we process complaints and cases quickly. On the armed forces compensation scheme, I assure the hon. Lady that 100% of the cases of those with the most serious injuries are cleared within 20 days. We are making good progress; I have the full figures available to me, and I will share them with her.
I thank the Minister for her reply. One of my constituents who was injured in Iraq tells me that she is caught up in a quagmire of red tape. She says that many of her queries go unanswered and that it takes years to settle claims. There is an online petition asking for an inquiry into the Veterans Agency in relation to those problems. What will the Minister do about it?
I thank the Minister for her reply. One of my constituents who was injured in Iraq tells me that she is caught up in a quagmire of red tape. She says that many of her queries go unanswered and that it takes years to settle claims. There is an online petition asking for an inquiry into the Veterans Agency in relation to those problems. What will the Minister do about it?
If the hon. Lady writes to me directly, I am more than happy to take up her constituent’s difficulty and claim; I have no trouble with that. There have been difficulties, but good progress is being made. Unfortunately, some claims take much longer, because of their complexity and the changing nature of medical needs, diagnoses and prognoses. I can assure her that, in general, we are making good progress.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of members of pension schemes who did not receive a tax-free lump sum on receipt of pension in the few months prior to the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) regulations adopted in April 2010, which...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the number of members of pension schemes who did not receive a tax-free lump sum on receipt of pension in the few months prior to the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) regulations adopted in April 2010, which...
The FAS may pay members of schemes which transfer their assets to government a tax-free lump sum when payments begin, provided their scheme has not paid them during the winding up period. In the three months from January to March 2010, 263 such members were paid a scheme pension and did not receive a tax-free lump sum.
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UK military strikes in Iraq in helping to tackle the advance of ISIL.
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of UK military strikes in Iraq in helping to tackle the advance of ISIL.
The United Kingdom is part of a coalition of more than 60 countries supporting the Government of Iraq against ISIL, and RAF strikes are assisting Iraqi ground forces. A number of strategically important towns in the North have been liberated by the peshmerga, but the scale of the problem remains significant. The coalition’s air intervention has halted the rapid ISIL advance, but it alone is not capable of rolling back ISIL’s gains. Ultimately, the fight against ISIL in Iraq must be led by the Iraqis themselves, with the new Government ensuring that there is an inclusive and unified response.
The Secretary of State has rightly acknowledged that the air strikes are only one element of a wider political and military strategy, including support for the creation of a more representative Iraqi Government. Having just returned from Iraq with the Foreign Affairs Committee, I am aware of ongoing disputes between Irbil and Baghdad, which may well have a negative effect on the achievement of that aim. What progress does the Foreign Secretary think can be made, and what are the implications if the situation cannot be resolved?
The Secretary of State has rightly acknowledged that the air strikes are only one element of a wider political and military strategy, including support for the creation of a more representative Iraqi Government. Having just returned from Iraq with the Foreign Affairs Committee, I am aware of ongoing disputes between Irbil and Baghdad, which may well have a negative effect on the achievement of that aim. What progress does the Foreign Secretary think can be made, and what are the implications if the situation cannot be resolved?
There are still outstanding disputes between Irbil and Baghdad, but, if I may say so having been there two and a half weeks ago myself, the mood music between Irbil and Baghdad is much better now than it has been for months, probably years. Kurdish Ministers are now in Baghdad. There is a serious discussion going on about the division of oil revenues, which is one of the crucial outstanding issues. I told the House a week or so ago, and I repeat again today, that I am optimistic about relationships between Irbil and Baghdad at least in the medium term.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long each claimant has waited for the review and completion of a compensation claim under the War Pension and the Armed Forces Compensation System Schemes since the inception of those schemes.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how long each claimant has waited for the review and completion of a compensation claim under the War Pension and the Armed Forces Compensation System Schemes since the inception of those schemes.
The length of time each claimant has waited for the review and completion of a compensation claim under the War Pension and Armed Forces Compensation System since the inception of those schemes, in 1921 and 2005 respectively, is not available and can be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, the information below provides the average length of time taken to process claims under the War Pensions Scheme and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme in each year since 2009. Information before 2009 is not available.
WAR PENSIONS SCHEME
2009-10 45 working days
2010-11 39 working days
2011-12 51 working days
2012-13 82 working days
2013-14 110 working days
Year to date 103 working days
ARMED FORCES COMPENSATION SCHEME
2009-10 80 working days
2010-11 93 working days
2011-12 125 working days
2012-13 164 working days
2013-14 109 working days
Year to date 89 working days
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the cost to the public purse of the removal of Trident from Scotland.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the cost to the public purse of the removal of Trident from Scotland.
The UK Government has no plans to move the strategic nuclear deterrent from Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde, and has not considered options for moving the deterrent. Any alternative solution would come at huge cost to the taxpayer.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the annual cost to the public purse is of retaining and basing the nuclear deterrent at Faslane and Coulport.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the annual cost to the public purse is of retaining and basing the nuclear deterrent at Faslane and Coulport.
The cost of retaining the nuclear deterrent at Faslane and Coulport cannot be separately identified from expenditure incurred for multiple activities at Her Majesty's Naval Base Clyde.