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  • Diana Johnson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Diana Johnson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-09-09.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2016 to Question 40168, what proportion of Civil Service Fast Streamers undertook a regional placement in each fiscal year since 2009-10.

    Ben Gummer

    The Fast Stream Scheme uses graduate years rather than fiscal years for the Fast Stream Cycle of 1 September – 31 August. The total number of Fast Streamers per graduate year that undertook regional placements based on our Fast Stream cycle is shown below.

    All

    YEAR

    Proportion*

    Total*

    Comment

    Population

    1st Sep 2013 – 31 Aug 2014

    41%

    111

    Includes postings to secondment organisations and government departments

    269

    1st Sep 2014 – 31 Aug 2015

    35%

    181

    519

    1st Sep 2015 – 31 Aug 2016

    34%

    213

    628

    Notes

    * The figures are for those on the Corporate Generalist Fast Stream Programme who have undertaken posts outside of London during that particular year

    * The data was calculated on 12/09/2016

  • Graham Allen – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Graham Allen – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Allen on 2016-09-09.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer to Question 44728, how many (a) amended and (b) cancelled tax credit claims account for the savings in annually managed expenditure identified.

    Jane Ellison

    Since the contract with Concentrix began in November 2014, Concentrix have amended around 103,000 tax credit claims up to and including 11 September 2016. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Concentrix, acting on HMRC’s behalf, do not separate out the number of awards that are either partially amended or stopped.

  • Norman Lamb – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Norman Lamb – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Norman Lamb on 2016-09-09.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to provide additional funding of £350 million per week to the NHS after the UK has left the EU.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Treasury and the Government as a whole are determined to make a success of leaving the EU.

    The Government has committed to the NHS receiving £10 billion more per year by 2020-21, than it did in 2014-15. This is £2 billion more than the NHS asked for in its own 5 Year Forward View.

  • Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Tim Farron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-09-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will reassess the potential merits of proposals to make sustainable drainage systems compulsory in new housing developments at risk from flooding.

    Gavin Barwell

    There are strict tests in national planning policy to protect people and property from flooding and we have been very clear that where these tests are not met new development should not be allowed.

    The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that new development should only be considered appropriate in areas at risk of flooding where it gives priority to the use of sustainable drainage systems. The policy was strengthened in April 2015 to make clear the expectation that sustainable drainage systems should be provided in all major new developments, unless demonstrated to be inappropriate. The Framework is underpinned by planning guidance, including guidance on sustainable drainage systems, which was strengthened last year.

    The Housing and Planning Act 2016 places a duty on the government to carry out a review of both planning legislation and planning policy in respect of sustainable drainage systems in developments. Any subsequent changes would be based on the evidence from this review.

    Additionally, developers must comply with the building regulations which give priority to sustainable drainage systems in their hierarchy of arrangements for dealing with rainwater draining from roofs and pavings giving access to the building.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Mark Hendrick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2016-09-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which district and unitary councils in England prosecuted landlords under (a) section 80, (b) section 95 (1), (c) Section 95 (4) of the Housing Act 2004 in 2015; and how many convictions there were in each of those authorities under each of those sections of that Act.

    Gavin Barwell

    H.M Courts and Tribunal Service, which is responsible for the administration of magistrates’ courts where offences under the Housing Act 2004 are considered, has advised that they do not hold information on convictions under the Act.

  • Andrew Turner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Andrew Turner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Turner on 2016-09-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what functions are planned to become the responsibility of the proposed Solent combined authority; what estimate he has made of the costs of each of those functions in the next (a) 12 months, (b) five years and (c) 30 years; and if he will publish all information that his Department holds on those proposed functions.

    Andrew Percy

    The proposals for a Solent Combined Authority have been developed by local leaders and partners in the Solent and leaders in the Solent have been undertaking a consultation to inform their proposals and gather the views of local people. Following that it will be for the local authorities to decide if they wish to propose forming a Combined Authority.

    Ministers and officials have held discussions with Solent partners on what additional powers and funding could be devolved to the local area, as we have with local areas up and down the country. These discussions have not as yet reached a conclusion although I expect that if a Solent Combined Authority is proposed to government a devolution deal could be rapidly concluded.

  • Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-09-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to reduce homelessness.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    One person without a home is one too many. That is why the Government is clear that prevention must be at the heart of everything we do to reduce homelessness. We are investing £500 million to prevent, relieve and reduce homelessness across this Parliament. This includes protecting homelessness prevention funding for local authorities, which will amount to £315 million by 2019-20, to help them continue to provide quality advice and assistance to everyone who approaches them for help. Since 2010, local authorities have helped prevent or relieve over one million cases of homelessness.

    Reducing homelessness is a complex issue. The causes are varied and driven by issues such as health, education, justice, welfare, and employment. That is why we have increased central investment to tackle homelessness over the next four years to £139 million, including a new £10 million Social Impact Bond to support rough sleepers with the most complex needs. This builds on the success of the world’s first homelessness Social Impact Bond, run by the Greater London Authority to turn round the lives around of 830 of London’s most entrenched rough sleepers. Over half have achieved accommodation, employment or reconnection outcomes.

    In addition we have invested £15 million to improve outcomes for young people through the Fair Chance Fund. This funding is turning around the lives of around 1,900 18 to 25 year olds with complex and overlapping needs, by supporting them into accommodation, education, training and employment.

    We also announced in the Budget an additional £100 million to deliver low cost ‘move on’ accommodation to enable people leaving hostels and refuges to make a sustainable recovery from a homelessness crisis, providing at least 2,000 places for vulnerable people to enable independent living. I am also considering Bob Blackman MP’s Homelessness Reduction Bill 2016-17.

  • Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-09-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received from charities, local authorities and policy experts on potential ways to reduce homelessness.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    Ministers meet with representatives of local authorities, voluntary and charity sector organisations, policy experts and other partners on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues including potential ways to reduce homelessness.

    The government publishes a list of all ministerial meetings with external bodies on departmental business on a quarterly basis. This is available at www.gov.uk.

  • David Mackintosh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    David Mackintosh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Mackintosh on 2016-09-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps her Department is taking to support the implementation of Ofcom’s recommendations related to BT and Openreach.

    Matt Hancock

    It is for Ofcom to implement its recommendations for the relationship between BT Group and Openreach. Nine out of ten homes and businesses now have access to superfast broadband, but our goal is to make sure the UK builds the right infrastructure to maintain our position as a world leading digital nation. We welcome Ofcom’s determination to tackle these issues.

    We are clear that a more independent Openreach is needed to benefit consumers and the UK’s digital infrastructure. Swift and clear action is needed to give certainty to consumers, industry and investors in the UK’s broadband infrastructure and to deliver rapid improvements in the level of investment and service.

  • Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Lewis on 2016-09-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many forces personnel, by rank, have purchased a property under the Help to Buy scheme.

    Mark Lancaster

    The information is not held in the format requested.

    However, the latest monthly figures for The Forces Help to Buy Scheme are published at the following link:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/546417/20160818-FHTB_Official_Stats_July.pdf