Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Fiona Mactaggart and Mike Penning(8 years, 2 months ago)
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Mike Penning
The truth of the matter is that someone duly elected to run the service, as the PCC would be, is better than anybody seconded on to any committee. I am sure we all want efficient emergency services, and the fire service working closely with the ambulance service and the police is the way we would like to do that.
Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab)
Critical to collaboration between emergency services will be their communications networks. How much will the new emergency service communications network cost, and when will it be in place?
Mike Penning
We are currently going out to contract. There are bids out there, which are confidential. We know that the excellent Airwave system that we have had for many years needs replacing. It was very expensive and the replacement will be cheaper than Airwave.
Police Funding Formula
Debate between Fiona Mactaggart and Mike Penning(8 years, 6 months ago)
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Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.
Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.
This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record
Mike Penning
I am deeply conscious that we must make sure that there is confidence in a Department, particularly the two Departments that I represent. I met the permanent secretary this morning, and the Home Secretary, the permanent secretary and I are meeting tomorrow.
Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab)
The Minister will be aware that rapid population growth creates challenges for the police. Violent crime in Slough, which I represent, has increased by 18.5% over the past year. When re-examining the formula, will he work in a transparent way, because that is critical to trust in policing by consent? Will he perhaps adopt the suggestion made by my right hon. Friend the Member for Leicester East (Keith Vaz), the Chair of the Select Committee, and take into account the challenges created in areas of high population growth?
Mike Penning
One of the reasons that we need a new formula is the high population growth that has taken place, particularly in Slough. That is why the formula needed to be changed, and because it was so opaque. I rest my case.
Personal Independence Payment: South East
Debate between Fiona Mactaggart and Mike Penning(10 years, 5 months ago)
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Fiona Mactaggart
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which of the 21 personal independence payment consultation centres serving South and East England cannot be reached within (a) 90 minutes and (b) 60 minutes by public transport from all parts of their catchment area.
[Official Report, 18 November 2013, Vol. 570, c. 677W.]
Letter of correction from Mike Penning:
An error has been identified in the written answer given to the hon. Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 18 November 2013.
The full answer given was as follows:
Mike Penning
No claimant should travel more than 90 minutes (single journey) by public transport, for their consultation. As part of the process Atos, as the assessment provider in the south and east of England, will offer an assessment at their nearest location and it is only when that location is full would claimants be sent to an alternative site. As part of their bid, Atos stated that 75-90% of claimants will have no journey longer than 60 minutes. In the exceptional circumstance where a claimant is unable to make a journey within 90 minutes via public transport Atos will offer either a home visit or the ability to use a taxi.
The correct answer should have been:
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Fiona Mactaggart and Mike Penning(12 years, 7 months ago)
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Mike Penning
I shall have to write to my hon. Friend about the A64. As for moving more transport on to rail, the industry rightly says that trains often take goods to the rail hubs, and trucks—which will now be the longer semi-trailers—take them from there to the distribution centres and supermarkets. When the longer vehicles are introduced, there will be fewer traffic problems, fewer lorries and more rail transport, which is what we want.
Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab)
5. What assessment he has made of the importance of the voice of the passenger to decisions about rail investment; and if he will make a statement.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Fiona Mactaggart and Mike Penning(13 years, 10 months ago)
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Mike Penning
The hon. Gentleman, a Minister in the previous Government and a former firefighter, is well aware of how speed cameras can protect the public. As a former firefighter myself, I know that speed has been part of the reason for many road traffic accidents, but not the sole reason for them. The growth of speed cameras has been so great that the public are concerned about whether they are there for safety or to raise money for the Treasury. The Government will not put any more money in; if local authorities want to do so, that is okay. Intermittent and average speed cameras are in use, particularly on motorways, and are an excellent way of easing congestion on our motorways.
Fiona Mactaggart (Slough) (Lab)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental responsibilities.