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  • Deidre Brock – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Deidre Brock – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-07-20.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government plans to take to ensure continued cooperation with EU member states to prevent money laundering after the UK leaves the EU.

    Simon Kirby

    Money laundering is a global problem that can undermine the integrity and stability of our financial markets and institutions. The UK was a founding member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which sets the global standards to combat money laundering and terrorist financing, and the EU Commission and a majority of EU Member States are also FATF members. The UK will continue to play a leading role in tackling illicit financial flows through working with the FATF to ensure that standards are implemented effectively and through engaging bilaterally with countries on operational issues.

  • Justin Tomlinson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Justin Tomlinson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Tomlinson on 2016-07-20.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the benefits to the UK economy of video games tax relief.

    Jane Ellison

    The creative industries make a valuable cultural contribution to the UK, they are also an important part of a dynamic and diversified economy.

    In its first two years the video games tax relief aided the production of 135 games, supporting £417 million of production spending in this country.

    The latest statistics on all of the creative sector tax reliefs can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/creative-industries-statistics-july-2016

    “

  • Maria Eagle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Maria Eagle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2016-07-20.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend the local discount scheme to residents across Merseyside to allow them to travel toll-free across the Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee bridges when they open in 2017.

    Mr David Gauke

    My officials continue to work with the Department for Transport on the financial and contractual implications of any further extension of user discounts. A decision will be made on this in due course.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Church Commissioners

    Mark Hendrick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Church Commissioners

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2016-07-20.

    To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, which churches and personnel in Preston and the rest of the Diocese of Blackburn have participated in the English Churches and Cathedrals Sustainability Review.

    Mrs Caroline Spelman

    The Cathedral and Church Buildings Division of the Church of England is engaging with the ‘English Churches and Cathedrals Sustainability Review’ centrally on behalf of all the Anglican Cathedrals and Parish Churches in England. Engagement is currently at an early stage. Four workshops are being held in churches this month (September) to help inform a document that will then be widely consulted upon.

  • Tom Blenkinsop – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Tom Blenkinsop – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2016-07-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will publish a response to the recommendations in the report by Lord Heseltine, entitled Tees Valley: opportunity unlimited, published in June 2016.

    Andrew Percy

    This independent report is for consideration by the Tees Valley Combined Authority and wider stakeholders. Government will not issue a formal response, but is committed to supporting Tees Valley Combined Authority relationship with Government across the wide range of areas identified in the report. Local leaders are planning a formal update event for the report in the Autumn.

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-07-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how much central government funding has been provided to each combined authority in each year since those combined authorities have been established.

    Andrew Percy

    The funding provided to combined authorities is agreed through Devolution Deals and City Deals (where applicable). These deals are individually negotiated agreements that include funding as well as the devolution of additional powers and flexibilities. The funding shown below has been provided directly by the government to each combined authority since they were established.

    Combined Authority

    Financial year

    Overall total (£m)

    Greater Manchester 1/4/2011*

    2011/12

    223.9

    2012/13

    59.6

    2013/14

    81.1

    2014/15

    182.6

    2015/16

    241.9

    2016/17

    290.3

    North East 15/4/2014*

    2014/15

    27.4

    2015/16

    117.1

    2016/17

    132.0

    West Yorkshire/ Leeds 1/4/2014*

    2014/15

    72.3

    2015/16

    120.0

    2016/17

    182.6

    Tees Valley 1/4/2016*

    2016/17

    15.7

    West Midlands 17/6/2016*

    2016/17

    85.1

    Sheffield City Region 1/4/2014*

    2014/15

    26.0

    2015/16

    82.6

    2016/17

    101.2

    Liverpool City Region 1/4/2014*

    2014/15

    28.3

    2015/16

    60.1

    2016/17

    98.9

    *Date established

    “

  • Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-07-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many people working for his Department or its executive agencies on a (a) directly employed, (b) agency or (c) outsourced basis are paid less than the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation; and how many of those people are employed on zero-hours contracts.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    My department does not employ any staff earning less than the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation, or any staff employed on zero-hour contracts.

    One of our agencies, the Planning Inspectorate, currently has four agency staff employed on a temporary basis earning above the National Living Wage but less than the living wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation. They will be paid the higher Living Wage Foundation rate after 12 weeks employment.

    Another of our agencies, the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, has an outsourced contract for catering on-site. The contractor employs 42 staff earning the National Living Wage, but less than the Living Wage Foundation rate. These staff are on zero-hour contracts.

    At present, there are 154 staff employed by an outsourced company to work within the DCLG Facilities Management contract. Of these 111 are paid at or above the National Living Wage but beneath the Living Wage Foundation rate. There are 28 zero hour contracts in place.

    The Department maintains a position that the level of employee payment is for our external contractors to determine, while encouraging payment of a living wage.

  • Anna Turley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Anna Turley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anna Turley on 2016-07-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will review processes for handling deaths of persons subject to deprivation of liberty safeguards, and their effect on (a) members of the family of the deceased, (b) police services and (c) the role of care providers.

    David Mowat

    We have asked the Law Commission to review the deprivation of liberty safeguards. As part of this review, the Law Commission is considering the role of coroners in investigating all deaths of people subject to deprivation of liberty safeguards. We expect its final report and recommendations to be published in December.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-07-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will review the powers of local authority pensions schemes to indirectly invest in companies linked with the manufacture of cluster munitions.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    Investment decisions in the local government pension scheme are the responsibility of the 90 designated administering authorities in England and Wales and must be taken on the basis of expert advice and in compliance with the Scheme’s regulatory framework. Since 2000, pension fund authorities have been required to publish a statement of investment principles, including their policy on the extent to which social, environmental or ethical considerations are to be taken into account in the selection, retention and realisation of investments. The regulations also require that each statement is published locally.

    We have no immediate plans to change these existing obligations, but will keep them under review.

  • Hugo Swire – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Hugo Swire – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hugo Swire on 2016-07-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the progress against its targets of BT’s commercial roll-out of superfast broadband in the Connecting Devon and Somerset area.

    Matt Hancock

    Broadband Delivery UK works closely with the Connecting Devon and Somerset team and BT to keep progress on the BT commercial roll-out under review. Responsibility for the commercial roll-out lies with BT.