Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, whether he plans to provide additional time in programme motions for House Business as a result of the additional time required for divisions in the House while social distancing measures are in place.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
The division lobbies have been replaced by a more appropriate alternative and I pay tribute to Mr Speaker for his work to devise a method of voting that allows us to vote in person but is also safe and in line with Public Health England advice.
I was pleased to see that the time taken for divisions decreased significantly over the course of the day, as members became more used to the new process.
On the specific question of programme motions, it is for the House to agree any programme motions in the usual way.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the (a) costs and (b) benefits to council tax payers of local authorities in England declaring a climate emergency in their area; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Government welcomes the actions of Local Authorities across England to tackle climate change. We have always been clear that to achieve our climate targets it will take significant ambition at all levels.
Achieving clean growth has to be a shared endeavour between government, local authorities, businesses, civil society and the British people. The development of Local Industrial Strategies, led by Mayoral Combined Authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships, will build on unique local strengths to ensure every community, and the country, reaches their economic potential, supports clean growth and green jobs.
Most motions have committed Councils to come back later this year with programmes to achieve their stated ambitions. This Government is looking at what support we can provide through our local energy programme and other programmes to help Councils make progress in taking action to tackle climate change.
Asked by: Christopher Chope (Conservative - Christchurch)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the effect on climate change of local authorities in England declaring a climate emergency in their area; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Government welcomes the actions of Local Authorities across England to tackle climate change. We have always been clear to achieve our climate targets will take significant ambition at all levels.
Most motions have committed Councils to come back later this year with programmes to achieve their stated ambitions. This Government is looking at what support we can provide through our local energy programme and other programmes to help Councils make progress in taking action to tackle climate change.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish a response to Early Day Motion 2113 entitled Use of animals for warfare experiments.
Answered by Stuart Andrew - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
Animal experiments at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down are conducted under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act (ASPA) 1986 and are licensed by the Home Office. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) does not conduct animal experiments for the development or testing of offensive weapons, and the Home Office does not grant licences for these purposes. Dstl fully complies with the ASPA.
Animals are used in experiments for the development of new vaccines, treatments or medical procedures - results of the research using animals at Dstl Porton Down will not only save the lives of UK service personnel but can also benefit civilians. It is MOD policy that all medical products for use by service personnel are licensed in the same way as any other pharmaceutical drug. Dstl's remit to provide safe and effective countermeasures requires some testing in animals in order to meet regulatory requirements.
Dstl Porton Down currently uses less than half of one per cent of the total number of animals used in experimentation in the UK, and works to the animal welfare standards set out in the Guidance on the Operation of the ASPA, and the Code of Practice for the housing and care of animals bred, supplied or used for scientific purposes. Dstl has an active programme to minimise the use of animals in experiments, in accordance with the principles of the 3Rs (reduction, refinement and replacement).
It is not normal practice for the Government to respond to Early Day Motions unless an MP has secured a debate on the motion.
Asked by: Greg Mulholland (Liberal Democrat - Leeds North West)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, if he will bring forward proposals to allow the online tabling and signing of Early Day Motions.
Answered by Chris Grayling
This issue was considered in the last Parliament by the House of Commons Procedure Committee in its first report of Session 2013-14 (HC189). The Committee considered whether to recommend the adoption of an e-tabling system, but concluded that it was not appropriate for EDMs to be tabled electronically unless significantly stronger authentication than was then required for parliamentary questions could be guaranteed. However, it did recognise that there might be benefits in allowing MPs to add their signatures to EDMs electronically.
Following the closure of the savings programme, the House authorities continue to consider how they can improve effectiveness and drive innovation, including in the area of electronic delivery of services.
I suggest that the Honourable Gentleman raises the issue with the Procedure Committee.
Asked by: Peter Bone (Independent - Wellingborough)
Question to the Leader of the House:
To ask the Leader of the House, how many programme motions were proposed in each year since the introduction of such motions; and how many such motions were agreed to.
Answered by Lord Hague of Richmond
No records of the number of programme motions moved each year are maintained and this information could only be provided at disproportionate cost. In the last ten years, every programme motion that has been moved has been agreed to.