The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Kinnock on 2016-06-15.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any Government official or Minister discussed with the Crown Estate its decision not to report the incident of 13 March 2016 at Windsor Great Park involving Prince Andrew to the police.
John Penrose
There have been no discussions by Ministers or Government officials with the Crown Estate regarding its decision on this matter.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Kinnock on 2016-06-15.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has discussed with the devolved administrations inserting the new anti-lobbying clause into their government grants.
Matthew Hancock
Officials in the Cabinet Office Grants Efficiency Programme team held preliminary discussions with the devolved administrations as part of the implementation of the grants clause. However, as announced on 27 April, the implementation of the clause has been paused pending a review of the representations made and we will take a decision on the form of the clause following this review. Revised guidance will be published in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Gardiner on 2016-06-15.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he plans to take to ensure the independence and neutrality of the Charity Commission Board when reappointing commissioners whose terms are due to end.
Mr Rob Wilson
By law, the Charity Commission for England and Wales is not subject to Ministerial direction or control, ensuring its operational independence. Several factors are considered in making appointments and reappointments to the Charity Commission board. These include taking account of the mix of skills and experience of the board as a whole, along with any conflicts of interest and any declarable political activity. For reappointments the performance of the relevant board member is also considered. Appointments and reappointments to the Charity Commission’s board are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-06-15.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if his Department will prioritise the recruitment and training of trade negotiators in the event of the UK voting to leave the EU.
Mr David Gauke
As the PM announced on Monday 27th June, the Cabinet has agreed the creation of a new EU unit in Whitehall. This will bring together officials and policy expertise from across the Cabinet Office, the Treasury, the Foreign Office and the Business Department.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-06-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what information his Department holds on how many free trade negotiations involving the EU have been both initiated and concluded in the last 10 years.
Anna Soubry
Over the last ten years, the EU has initiated, but not yet concluded, preferential trade negotiations with the following countries: United States of America; Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay); the Pacific Community (Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu); Japan; India; the Philippines; Malaysia, Thailand; Tunisia; Libya. The European Commission has also launched trade negotiations to modernise existing agreements with Armenia, Mexico and Morocco.
Over the last ten years, the EU has concluded preferential trade negotiations with the following countries: Kosovo; Bosnia; Serbia; Ukraine; Montenegro; Albania; South Korea; Singapore; Vietnam; Ukraine; Georgia; Moldova; Canada; the Andean Community (Colombia, Ecuador and Peru); Central America (Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala); the East African Community (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda); the West African Community (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo); the Southern African Development Community (Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland); and CARIFORUM (Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Surinam, Trinidad, Tobago, and the Dominican Republic).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Mactaggart on 2016-06-15.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many tax credit cases which have been processed by Concentrix have involved single parents; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Gauke
I refer the right honourable gentleman to the answer I gave on 4 February 2016 [24418].
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Judith Cummins on 2016-06-15.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to support the expansion of cultural infrastructure in Bradford as part of the Northern Powerhouse policy initiative.
Greg Hands
We are committed to investment in cultural infrastructure in the Northern Powerhouse, including in Bradford. For example, Arts Council England has provided £1m to support the Yorkshire Festival, which runs from 16 June to 3 July in various locations across Yorkshire, including Bradford. In addition, we are currently inviting bids from cities to host the Great Exhibition North. This will celebrate the art, design and culture of the North and the £15m Legacy Fund will pave the way for further cultural investment in the Northern Powerhouse.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-06-15.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the annual revenue arising from VAT on incontinence products is.
Mr David Gauke
VAT arising from the sale of incontinence products and VAT that is recovered on the purchase of incontinence products is not separately itemised on the VAT return, so the requested information is not available.
However, there are many circumstances where incontinence products are supplied at the zero rate of VAT. This includes over the counter sales for personal use.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burgon on 2016-06-15.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of instituting a common standardised approach for calculation of risk weights in the capital requirements regulation for banks and building societies, including new entrant banks less than five years old.
Harriett Baldwin
The government is committed to increasing banking competition and meets with a wide range of institutions as part of the process of developing policy to help drive more competition.
We have already taken significant action to improve competition in banking. This includes:
Delivering the Current Account Switch Service and midata so customers are able to compare personal current accounts and switch where they see a better deal – simply, quickly and reliably;
Lowering barriers to entry and helping to establish the New Bank start-up Unit, making it quicker and easier for new banks to enter the market and compete effectively with the incumbents;
Creating the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as a single, stronger competition regulator, to promote competition and ensure markets work well for consumers, businesses and the wider economy.
The government is also taking action by working with the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Bank of England to introduce a more proportionate prudential regime for smaller banks and building societies. The exchange of letters between the Economic Secretary and Andrew Bailey published in November 2015 highlights this work.
In its retail banking market investigation, the CMA provisionally found that banks on the standardised approach are at a competitive disadvantage in the provision of lower LTV mortgages compared to banks using internal models. It also stated that the capital requirements regime has the potential to impact on competition in retail banking in a range of areas. The government, working with the PRA and Bank of England will take forward the issues identified by the CMA.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burgon on 2016-06-15.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what correspondence he has had with (a) the Competition and Markets Authority, (b) the Prudential Regulation Authority and (c) new entrant banks about the internal ratings-based approach and the standardised approach for risk weights in capital requirements regulation; and if he will place a copy of that correspondence in the Library.
Harriett Baldwin
The government is committed to increasing banking competition and meets with a wide range of institutions as part of the process of developing policy to help drive more competition.
We have already taken significant action to improve competition in banking. This includes:
Delivering the Current Account Switch Service and midata so customers are able to compare personal current accounts and switch where they see a better deal – simply, quickly and reliably;
Lowering barriers to entry and helping to establish the New Bank start-up Unit, making it quicker and easier for new banks to enter the market and compete effectively with the incumbents;
Creating the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) as a single, stronger competition regulator, to promote competition and ensure markets work well for consumers, businesses and the wider economy.
The government is also taking action by working with the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Bank of England to introduce a more proportionate prudential regime for smaller banks and building societies. The exchange of letters between the Economic Secretary and Andrew Bailey published in November 2015 highlights this work.
In its retail banking market investigation, the CMA provisionally found that banks on the standardised approach are at a competitive disadvantage in the provision of lower LTV mortgages compared to banks using internal models. It also stated that the capital requirements regime has the potential to impact on competition in retail banking in a range of areas. The government, working with the PRA and Bank of England will take forward the issues identified by the CMA.