Defence Medical Services | Ministry of Defence | Written Answers

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2014 to Question 217205, if he will make it his Department's policy to collect and analyse data on the extent to which armed forces medical personnel are in breach of the single service harmony guidelines; and if he will make a statement.

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Government Policy On Derelict And Abandoned Buildings

Menzies Campbell has signed EDM277. Motion reads: "That this House recognises the devastating effect that derelict and abandoned buildings can have on a community, both commercially and on its landscape; notes that such sites can pose a serious health and safety risk, especially as an attraction to homeless and younger people; further notes the effect of land banking as a barrier to regeneration and to sustainable development; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislative proposals to allow local planning authorities to tackle sites in their communities including allowing an administration charge to be levied against property owners to cover costs of safeguarding and assessing the site and to introduce a land value tax on vacant sites, similar to that already imposed in Denmark and discussed in the Barker Review 2003, in line with the value of business rates which would be payable if a permitted development had already taken place."
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Youth Services

Menzies Campbell has signed EDM488. Motion reads: "That this House believes that all young people across the UK should have access to a statutory funded, wide-ranging and universal youth service with ring-fenced funding from central government which is delivered by local authorities working closely with schools and youth voluntary organisations; notes the importance of youth services being delivered by professionally qualified youth workers, who offer young people the benefit of wide-ranging information, advice, guidance and support; recognises that a statutory funded, wide-ranging and universal youth service will deliver not only a safe and secure environment for young people to thrive, but in addition, embed critical life skills that enable young people to positively contribute to society both socially and economically; additionally recognises that for many young people, especially the most vulnerable and those from disadvantaged communities, the provision of a statutory funded, universal and wide-ranging youth service will support their journey into further and higher education, employment or training; further believes that a statutory funded, wide-ranging and universal youth service will constitute value for money in that such a service will lead to many young people not having to access higher tiered and more costly interventions later in their lives; and further believes that responsibility for youth services within central government should rest with the Department for Education."
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Defence Spending

Menzies Campbell has seconded EDM757. Motion reads: "That this House believes that the UK faces a growing and ever more complex range of current and future threats, many of which were unforeseen, such as the Ukrainian crisis; calls on the next Government to adopt effective and properly resourced diplomatic, development and defence policies to meet these threats; and supports the UK devoting at least 20 per cent of its gross domestic product to defence, including a one per cent per annum increase in the defence equipment budget."
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Proceeds of Crime | Home Office | Written Answers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2015 to Question 219531, what recommendations have been made by the policy review undertaken by the Asset Recovery Task Force.

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