First elected: 5th May 2005
Left House: 3rd May 2017 (Defeated)
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
These initiatives were driven by Robert Flello, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Robert Flello has not been granted any Urgent Questions
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress.
Burial Rights Reform Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - David Burrowes (Con)
Electoral Reform (Local Elections and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Ranil Jayawardena (Con)
Understanding the full cost to the economy would require a detailed analysis of business supply chains. This information can only be provided at disproportionate cost.
There is a longstanding principle, dating back to 2005, which was communicated to the sector in the 2007/08 funding year, that, in general, we do not provide funding for provision that is either an employer or a statutory requirement. Instead, we believe that these costs should be met by employers or individuals themselves.
Land Registry is the land registration authority for England and Wales. It requires confirmation of a person’s identity (including when the person is a corporate body, for example a company) when an application is made to register:
· a transfer of a property or a transfer of a mortgage, both for value and not for value, for example, by way of gift;
· a lease of property, both for value and not for value,
· a surrender of a registered lease,
· a mortgage
· a discharge or release of a mortgage when the discharge or release is in paper form.
Confirmation of identity is also required on:
· the first registration of a freehold or leasehold estate following an event which induces registration, for example a sale or mortgage,
· the voluntary first registration of a freehold or leasehold estate where the title deeds have been lost or destroyed.
The confirmation of identity is required for both the person disposing or granting the interest, for example, the seller, and also for the person acquiring the interest, for example, the buyer.
Land Registry also requires confirmation of identity when a person changes their name and the change is evidenced by deed poll, a statutory declaration or statement of truth, and when a citizen applies to change their address in the land register.
Land Registry does not routinely require confirmation of identity in other situations but may ask for this before completing a registration if it considers it prudent to do so.
Confirmation of identity is also not required where the value of the land involved in a disposal does not exceed £6,000.
Land Registry’s requirements are based on the most significant fraud risks which are where an application is made to change the registered owner of a registered estate or a mortgage or their details in the register. It keeps its counter-fraud requirements under regular review and has from time-to-time introduced additional requirements to deal with identified threats.
All employees on zero hours contracts can already, after 26 weeks, request a move to fixed hours contracts under flexible working legislation, brought in on 30 June 2014. We are also currently banning exclusivity clauses in zero hours contracts and the employment status review currently taking place is looking further at the employment rights zero hours workers have.
Adult learners undertaking full Level 3 or Level 4 qualifications approved for public funding may be eligible for a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan. These include A Levels, Access to HE Diplomas and other Certificates and Diplomas, many of which will be appropriate to the freight industry.
Apprenticeships are jobs with training. Funding for the training element of an apprenticeship is provided by the Government and the employer – not the apprentice. Student loans are therefore not appropriate for apprenticeships.
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to Questions 906709, 906716, 906719, 906724 and 906725:
During my visit I discussed a variety of issues with Prime Minister Modi, including Kashmir.
The UK's long-standing position, held by successive Governments, is that it is for India and Pakistan to find a lasting resolution to the situation, taking into account the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
It is for individual departments to determine their own access arrangements. The Cabinet Office's own protective security arrangements apply to staff, contractors and all visitors. It is not the policy of the department to publish what those arrangements are.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The Cabinet Office works with other government departments, devolved administrations, emergency responders and other organisations to enhance the UK’s ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies. The effectiveness of these arrangements is reviewed regularly to ensure lessons arising from emergencies are identified and actioned.
The level of electricity generation is dependent on the flow rate of the water and the difference in elevation between the intake and the outlet. Capacities for run of river plants tend to be below 2 Megawatts and more typically below 500 Kilowatts. Current UK hydro capacity is estimated at 1,750 Megawatts with further potential of around 1,000 Megawatts, mostly at small scale in remote locations.
The Government does not keep data on water mills.
The majority of hydro capacity in Great Britain was installed in Scotland in the first hydro revolution in the 1950s, with a smaller amount installed in Wales. The majority of these installations are still operating. In 2015, it was estimated that there were 1,065 operational plants with a capacity of 1,750 Megawatts, generating 6 Terawatt hours (equivalent to 1.8% of UK electricity supply)[1].
The Government does not monitor the condition of existing hydro power plants in the UK. It is a business decision for companies to determine when to carry out repairs and refurbishments.
[1] www.gov.uk/government/statistics/regional-renewable-statistics
There are no legal powers to compel an occupier to notify TV licensing that no TV licence is required. All TV Licensing letters ask people who don’t need a licence to get in touch in order to update their records.
We have received one representation about the tone of letters sent by TV Licensing to an occupier who did not have television receiving equipment but who chose not to notify TV Licensing of that fact.
Under the terms of the BBC’s Charter and Agreement, the BBC is operationally and editorially independent of Government and there is no provision for the Government to intervene in the Corporation’s day-to-day operations
The numbers of new entrants to religious education initial teacher training (ITT) courses in England, and the target levels, for each of the last five years are as shown in Table 1 below.
The numbers of people achieving qualified teacher status (QTS) in religious studies in each of the last five years are as shown in Table 2 below.
Table 1: New entrants to Religious Education ITT courses.
Year | Postgraduate ITT new entrants | Postgraduate ITT target | Percentage of the postgraduate target achieved | Undergraduate ITT new entrants |
2011/12 | 463 | 446 | 104% | 15 |
2012/13 | 471 | 439 | 107% | 12 |
2013/14 | 367 | 450 | 82% | 12 |
2014/15 | 386 | 537 | 72% | 8 |
2015/16 | 411 | 650 | 63% | 14 |
Table 2: Final year religious education trainees obtaining QTS awards.
Year | Postgraduate | Undergraduate | ||||||
Number awarded QTS | Number not awarded QTS | Total | Percentage awarded QTS | Number awarded QTS | Number not awarded QTS | Total | Percentage awarded QTS | |
2009/10 | 755 | 96 | 851 | 89% | 12 | 2 | 14 | 86% |
2010/11 | 762 | 78 | 840 | 91% | 19 | 2 | 21 | 90% |
2011/12 | 464 | 71 | 535 | 87% | 17 | 7 | 24 | 71% |
2012/13 | 419 | 65 | 484 | 87% | 25 | 5 | 30 | 83% |
2013/14 | 321 | 23 | 344 | 93% | 12 | 0 | 12 | 100% |
Further information is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-teacher-training
The numbers of new entrants to religious education initial teacher training (ITT) courses in England, and the target levels, for each of the last five years are as shown in Table 1 below.
The numbers of people achieving qualified teacher status (QTS) in religious studies in each of the last five years are as shown in Table 2 below.
Table 1: New entrants to Religious Education ITT courses.
Year | Postgraduate ITT new entrants | Postgraduate ITT target | Percentage of the postgraduate target achieved | Undergraduate ITT new entrants |
2011/12 | 463 | 446 | 104% | 15 |
2012/13 | 471 | 439 | 107% | 12 |
2013/14 | 367 | 450 | 82% | 12 |
2014/15 | 386 | 537 | 72% | 8 |
2015/16 | 411 | 650 | 63% | 14 |
Table 2: Final year religious education trainees obtaining QTS awards.
Year | Postgraduate | Undergraduate | ||||||
Number awarded QTS | Number not awarded QTS | Total | Percentage awarded QTS | Number awarded QTS | Number not awarded QTS | Total | Percentage awarded QTS | |
2009/10 | 755 | 96 | 851 | 89% | 12 | 2 | 14 | 86% |
2010/11 | 762 | 78 | 840 | 91% | 19 | 2 | 21 | 90% |
2011/12 | 464 | 71 | 535 | 87% | 17 | 7 | 24 | 71% |
2012/13 | 419 | 65 | 484 | 87% | 25 | 5 | 30 | 83% |
2013/14 | 321 | 23 | 344 | 93% | 12 | 0 | 12 | 100% |
Further information is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-teacher-training
The numbers of new entrants to religious education initial teacher training (ITT) courses in England, and the target levels, for each of the last five years are as shown in Table 1 below.
The numbers of people achieving qualified teacher status (QTS) in religious studies in each of the last five years are as shown in Table 2 below.
Table 1: New entrants to Religious Education ITT courses.
Year | Postgraduate ITT new entrants | Postgraduate ITT target | Percentage of the postgraduate target achieved | Undergraduate ITT new entrants |
2011/12 | 463 | 446 | 104% | 15 |
2012/13 | 471 | 439 | 107% | 12 |
2013/14 | 367 | 450 | 82% | 12 |
2014/15 | 386 | 537 | 72% | 8 |
2015/16 | 411 | 650 | 63% | 14 |
Table 2: Final year religious education trainees obtaining QTS awards.
Year | Postgraduate | Undergraduate | ||||||
Number awarded QTS | Number not awarded QTS | Total | Percentage awarded QTS | Number awarded QTS | Number not awarded QTS | Total | Percentage awarded QTS | |
2009/10 | 755 | 96 | 851 | 89% | 12 | 2 | 14 | 86% |
2010/11 | 762 | 78 | 840 | 91% | 19 | 2 | 21 | 90% |
2011/12 | 464 | 71 | 535 | 87% | 17 | 7 | 24 | 71% |
2012/13 | 419 | 65 | 484 | 87% | 25 | 5 | 30 | 83% |
2013/14 | 321 | 23 | 344 | 93% | 12 | 0 | 12 | 100% |
Further information is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-teacher-training
No specific discussions have occurred at Ministerial level on the use of water mills to generate electricity. However officials from the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Environment Agency cooperate closely to ensure that small-scale hydropower is exploited in a sustainable way so as to minimise environmental and other impacts.
These decisions would have been taken by the Scottish Government, as flooding is a devolved matter.
These decisions would have been taken by the Scottish Government, as flooding is a devolved matter.
Defra officials held constructive discussions with the rendering industry on this issue on 26 August 2015.
Defra has not undertaken research into the potential risk to human health of the transportation of animal carcasses and animal products in unsealed and unrefrigerated vehicles to rendering facilities.
EU animal by-products (ABP) legislation, which is in force to protect public and animal health, requires animal carcasses and other ABP material to be collected and transported in sealed new packaging or covered leak-proof containers or vehicles at an appropriate temperature. Non-compliance with this requirement is a criminal offence under the Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2013. In addition, the Government has been urging the rendering industry to consider what improvements can be made to current practice when transporting ABPs and on the issue of cooling carcasse material.
The Department understands that the rendering industry is currently undertaking and funding its own research into the costs and benefits of chilling ABPs during storage and transport.
The Department for International Development (DFID) has worked with the Department for Heath (who are leading the UK government’s response), Public Health England and the Foreign Commonwealth Office to help develop the UK strategy on Zika and support the World Health Organisation (WHO) galvanise an effective international response. There are four strands of this strategy which are: (a) galvanising effective leadership and international coordination; (b) ensuring a risk-based approach to identify priority regions/countries and likely impact of further spread; (c) shaping and contributing to country and regional responses and (d) playing a lead role in the international research response.
DFID has programmes in a number of countries which will support the Zika response. To date, countries in currently affected regions of Latin America and the Caribbean have not made specific requests for financial and/or other assistance from us to support children with microcephaly. We will continue to carefully assess any requests, offer additional assistance where needed and adapt any existing programmes to the needs required. We have already committed £200,000 of bilateral aid in support of Haiti’s Ministry of Health community mobilisation activities. DFID and Wellcome Trust will contribute £10 million (DFID up to £5million) for Zika research. We will continue to monitor the situation closely, working with other government departments and WHO.
The UK Government supports the work of various international organisations and agencies to promote informed choice, universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights and women’s empowerment. All UK support to improve sexual and reproductive health – including for family planning – must be provided in the context of informed choice.
No organisations the UK funds, who work in China, promote the one-child policy. The UK Government supports the work of various international organisations and agencies to promote informed choice, universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights and women’s empowerment, including voluntary family planning.
The World Health Organisation document “Preventing gender-biased sex selection. An interagency statement”, available online, includes more information and extensive references on these issues.
The UK Government does not promote or support abortion on the grounds of gender. The practice of sex selection is not caused by the availability of abortion services or technologies but is a consequence of deep rooted discrimination against women, poverty and cultural preference for sons. Our work on girls' education, women's empowerment, skills and jobs aims to increase the ‘value’ of girls and women in society and therefore tackle the pressures and incentives that drive preferences for male children.
The UK has never supported or funded the one child policy and closed its bilateral aid programme to China in March 2011. In India, our partners are strongly committed to implementing India’s 1994 National Pre-Conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Regulation Act, which bans the use of medical technologies for sex selection purposes.
Mode Shift Revenue Support (MSRS) awards made so far will help to remove about 140,000 fewer lorry journeys from road and onto rail in 2017/18 than the current year end forecast for 2016/17. For 2018/19, it is about 160,000 fewer.
This assessment is based on the first bid round for 2017/18 and 2018/19 funding which was held in December 2016.
Mark Thurston brings a huge array of varied experience across 30 years in the infrastructure sector around Europe, and in UK rail especially. This includes starting out as an apprentice at TfL, to major international engineering and infrastructure companies The Nichols Group and CH2M. At CH2M, he was the lead for the Programme Partner joint venture on the Olympics and Crossrail as well as overseeing all of CH2M’s European operations. He has held roles at Metronet, Railtrack and Brown and Root Engineering and Construction.
HS2 Ltd conducted an extensive global search for the right candidate to take forward one of the largest and most exciting infrastructure programmes in the world.
The salary was identified as the level necessary to attract and then secure the right candidate to lead the HS2 Project. It has been bench-marked against the salaries for similar senior positions in comparable industry roles. It is a competitive salary for the demands of the role and the skills required.
The job specification which set out the skills and experience criteria were published on the HS2 Ltd website.
Skills
► Information analysis - An ability to assimilate complex, ambiguous and often incomplete information, in order to take action providing clear direction and purpose to the organisation and its stakeholders.
► An ability to understand and focus on detail as needed whilst maintaining the strategic vision and overview to keep the project focused.
► Public speaking & Ambassadorial skills - to lead innovation within the broader industry, working with technical bodies, trade associations, the supply chain and government.
► Ability to build, lead and motivate top executive teams and consensus within these teams and the board.
Knowledge
► An ability to assimilate complex, ambiguous and often incomplete information, in order to take action providing clear direction and purpose to the organisation and its stakeholders.
► Knowledge of best practice approaches to embedding continuous improvement culture as the organisation shifts from concept to delivery and adapts accordingly.
► Knowledge of inclusive leadership techniques and approaches.
► Qualifications: Applicants will most likely have a strong academic or professional training and have experience of dealing with complex engineering and business issues.
Experience
► Experience of leading a successful transformation of a large complex commercially-focused delivery organisation, achieving significant improvements in efficiency, effectiveness and customer service.
► Experience of leading an ingrained Health and Safety culture through personal leadership and commitment.
► Experience of effective strategic risk management, change control processes and capital allocation on large scale capital intensive projects or within organisations delivering in this environment.
► Experience of dealing with the procurement of a complex supply chain.
HS2 Ltd conducted an extensive global search for the right candidate to take forward one of the largest and most exciting infrastructure programmes in the world. The process was led by Sir David Higgins, supported by Heidrick and Struggles (an international executive search firm) that identified 20 candidates from four continents (including America, Australia, Asia, as well as Europe).
The job specification which set out the skills and experience criteria were published on the HS2 Ltd website.
Skills
► Information analysis - An ability to assimilate complex, ambiguous and often incomplete information, in order to take action providing clear direction and purpose to the organisation and its stakeholders.
► An ability to understand and focus on detail as needed whilst maintaining the strategic vision and overview to keep the project focused.
► Public speaking & Ambassadorial skills - to lead innovation within the broader industry, working with technical bodies, trade associations, the supply chain and government.
► Ability to build, lead and motivate top executive teams and consensus within these teams and the board.
Knowledge
► An ability to assimilate complex, ambiguous and often incomplete information, in order to take action providing clear direction and purpose to the organisation and its stakeholders.
► Knowledge of best practice approaches to embedding continuous improvement culture as the organisation shifts from concept to delivery and adapts accordingly.
► Knowledge of inclusive leadership techniques and approaches.
► Qualifications: Applicants will most likely have a strong academic or professional training and have experience of dealing with complex engineering and business issues.
Experience
► Experience of leading a successful transformation of a large complex commercially-focused delivery organisation, achieving significant improvements in efficiency, effectiveness and customer service.
► Experience of leading an ingrained Health and Safety culture through personal leadership and commitment.
► Experience of effective strategic risk management, change control processes and capital allocation on large scale capital intensive projects or within organisations delivering in this environment.
► Experience of dealing with the procurement of a complex supply chain.
HS2 Ltd’s search consultants, Heidrick and Struggles, conducted a worldwide search and an advertisement was placed in the Sunday Times. Candidates were interviewed initially by Heidrick and Struggles and a shortlist was developed. The final interview was conducted by a panel of 7, which included the Chair of HS2 Ltd, the Department for Transport (DfT) Permanent Secretary, the Director General for High Speed 2, a senior Treasury Official and non-Executive Directors of HS2 Ltd and DfT. References were taken and the appointment was approved by the Secretary of State for Transport.
Mark Thurston brings a huge array of varied experience across 30 years in the infrastructure sector around Europe, and in UK rail especially. This includes starting out as an apprentice at Transport for London, to major international engineering and infrastructure companies The Nichols Group and CH2M. At CH2M, he was the lead for the Programme Partner joint venture on the Olympics and Crossrail as well as overseeing all of CH2M’s European operations.
The new CEO Mark Thurston has left CH2M and will not be working on, Crossrail, the Olympic Delivery Authority or any other projects on behalf of CH2M. He will solely be working for HS2 Ltd.
Rail Freight is a crucial part of our rail network. We published a Rail Freight Strategy in September 2016 which reaffirms our commitment to the rail freight industry and explains how we will work to advance its interests.
The Strategy commits to ensuring that the Government, in developing its strategy for new franchise competitions, will consider how rail freight can be more systemically considered in this process.
We want to ensure any proposals for rail reform work for everyone on the network, and we will be engaging with stakeholders as any new proposals develop.
Alongside this, progress has already been made with Network Rail creating a virtual freight and national passenger operator route to ensure the interests of freight operators are represented.
We engage with the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) on a regular basis to inform our thinking on a range on matters. We will work closely with stakeholders across industry, including the RDG, as we develop these specific proposals.
We follow the standard business case process to inform proposals and ensure value for money.
Rail freight is an integral part of the railway and will continue to be as we consider how greater alignment between track and train can help deliver a better service for users of the rail network.
The Shaw Report very much recognised the importance of rail freight, and I welcome the reforms Network Rail has already undertaken in response, including the Freight and National Passenger Operators route to ensure the interests of freight are represented.
I believe it is important that we make sure any future reforms to the rail system work for all users of the network. There are a number of potential models for how greater alignment might be achieved, and I want to reassure you that the Department will be consulting with all stakeholders, including the rail freight industry, as thinking on these proposals develops.
The invitation list for the round table is yet to be finalised. People from a number of organisations have been asked to keep the time on 17th November available. The organisations (other than Government) involved are Abbey Logistics Group, the British International Freight Association, British Ports, the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, the Freight Transport Association, Freightlink Europe, Labyrinth Solutions, the Rail Delivery Group, Rail Freight Group, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation, the Road Haulage Association, Unite the Union, the UK Major Ports Group and the UK Warehousing Association.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) ensures compliance with the cabotage regulations by carrying out roadside checks, which are conducted by DVSA enforcement examiners.
The Government takes the recovery of non-payment of tolls, charges, penalties and fees very seriously by UK and non UK drivers. The following sets out the steps used by the different organisations responsible in addressing the non-payment of UK charges and penalties.
When a non-UK vehicle uses the Dartford Crossing without paying the Dart Charge, Highways England uses a European debt recovery agency to issue a Penalty Charge Notice. Highways England also runs seasonal compliance campaigns, providing translated material at ports, airports and poster sites in the Calais area to build broader awareness for foreign drivers heading to the UK.
For the HGV levy, the Government has effective enforcement procedures that are delivering 95% compliance rates in Great Britain. The Driver and Vehicle and Licencing Agency (DVLA) has the powers to target non-compliant vehicles, and hold them until a penalty is paid.
Enforcement of road traffic legislation is an operational matter for the police. They are able to issue penalties for speeding, and those who cannot provide a verified UK address can be required to make an on-the-spot roadside payment, known as a fixed penalty deposit.
Local authorities have powers to clamp or remove foreign vehicles to ensure drivers comply with parking restrictions and pay any penalties.
The Government will continue to look at the ways we collect tolls, charges, penalties and fees by non-UK drivers and ensure improvements are made where necessary.
The Government takes recovery of non-payment of tolls, charges, penalties and fees very seriously both by UK and non UK drivers. When it is non-payment from a non UK driver a European debt recovery agency is used to support recovery of outstanding charges.
It is not possible to identify the amount in tolls, charges, penalties and fees which remain unpaid by (a) commercial and (b) domestic drivers from outside the UK in each of the last five years without incurring disproportionate cost as this information could only be obtained by a search of all tolling, charging, penalty charging and fee systems.
Highways England’s traffic officer service has 198 vehicles. On a typical weekday, there are approximately 90 vehicles deployed during the day shifts and around 49 for night times. Where there are major events or severe weather warnings, with likely impacts on the strategic road network, additional vehicles will be used.
None of the vehicles carry defibrillators.
The training of carriageway clearance for new Traffic Officers is within a 5 week training programme and supported by an additional 6 week coaching period. For existing experienced Traffic Officers a 1 day practical course in Enhanced Carriageway Clearance is mandated.
The courses are delivered by experienced Traffic Officers and are regularly reviewed. A significant proportion of the learning experience is practical and scenario based. Because of the nature of the training, it would not be appropriate to place any written material, out of context, in the Library. However, Highways England have offered Honourable Members of the Transport Select Committee a visit to one of their Regional Control Centres to observe their Traffic Officers in action.
The Trade Union that represents Highways England Traffic Officers was consulted throughout the life of the enhanced carriageway clearance project, which focused on carriageway clearance of vehicles of all types. Trade Union representatives attended a number of meetings and specific workshops.
Highways England has not received any claims relating to heavy goods vehicles damaged as a result of being moved by Highways England traffic officers in the last 12 months. Hence, no compensation has been paid.
As at 6 June 2016, 910 Highways England Traffic Officers have been trained in the activity of carriageway clearance. This training is appropriate for all vehicle types as it is designed to provide specific criteria which Traffic Officers must follow to determine whether it is safe to remove any vehicle from a carriageway to a place of relative safety.
In addition, all Traffic Officers who work on smart motorway sections are trained in the specifics of that operational environment before they are designated as safe to operate. No operational activity is undertaken by Highways England Traffic Officers without appropriate training and supporting safe systems of work.