The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karen Lumley on 2016-10-20.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average waiting time was for telephone calls to HM Revenue and Customs to be answered in each year for which figures are available.
Jane Ellison
Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs publishes regular performance reports, including average speed of answer; details of which are available on GOV.UK.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jessica Morden on 2016-10-20.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many outstanding applications for mandatory reconsideration of a tax credit decision by Concentrix there are in Wales; how many people in Wales have had a tax credit claim stopped by Concentrix; and how many such claims were subsequently reinstated by HM Revenue and Customs.
Jane Ellison
HM Revenue and Customs is currently focused on resolving the outstanding cases but will be preparing regional analysis, which will be available in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grant Shapps on 2016-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been spent from the public purse on purchasing (a) wearable fitness tracking technology and (b) diet pills for soldiers deemed to be overweight in the last financial year.
Harriett Baldwin
Wearable fitness tracking technology equipment is purchased by individual military units. Records of the cost of these purchases are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
In accordance with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, the Ministry of Defence prescribes the medication Orlistat for the management of obesity. The drug is prescribed to both UK military personnel and their dependants. In financial year 2015-16 the total purchase cost of Orlistat was £6,300.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anne-Marie Trevelyan on 2016-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the annual cost to the public purse is of sponsoring students at Wellbeck Defence Sixth Form.
Mark Lancaster
The total annual cost to the public purse of sponsoring students at Wellbeck Defence Sixth Form College is £13million.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anne-Marie Trevelyan on 2016-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to publish the results of his Department’s survey on its Family Accommodation Model; whether he plans to publish the results to all questions in that survey; and whether any such publication will include all data from the comments sections of that survey.
Mark Lancaster
The Future Accommodation Model (FAM) Survey closed on 3 October, having received almost 28,000 responses from our Service personnel. These responses will help the Ministry of Defence understand what the FAM could look like. The Survey results, including all of the comments, are now being processed and will be subject to rigorous analysis in the normal way. The large number of responses means that this process will take longer than initially anticipated, although we hope to be in a position to publish the results in full in early 2017.
Qualitative analysis of the comments section will form part of the results and will be published in a way that protects anonymity.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charles Walker on 2016-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much income has been received from anglers through the rod licence in each of the last five financial years; and if she will make a statement.
George Eustice
The income received from anglers through the rod licence for each of the last five years is provided in the table below:
|
Income (in million) |
|
|
2015/16 |
£21,083 |
|
2014/15 |
£21,147 |
|
2013/14 |
£21,590 |
|
2012/13 |
£21,840 |
|
2011/12 |
£23,742 |
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tommy Sheppard on 2016-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the Government’s policy is on eradicating nuclear weapons through multilateral disarmament by means of the international framework provided by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Sir Alan Duncan
The 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review restated the Government’s commitment to the long-term goal of a world without nuclear weapons in line with our obligations under Article VI of the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). We firmly believe that the best way to achieve this goal is through gradual multilateral disarmament negotiated using a step by step approach and within the framework of the NPT. The Government sees entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and successful negotiations on a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty in the Conference on Disarmament as key steps towards multilateral disarmament.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 October 2016 to Question 47624, what was discussed at the meetings held between the Administrator of Norfolk Island and officials of his Department; and who proposed that such meetings should take place.
Alok Sharma
The Australian High Commissioner invited an official from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to join a meeting at his residence for the Administrator of Norfolk Island at which the Member for Romford was also present and a wide ranging discussion on Norfolk Island took place. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office invited the Administrator of Norfolk Island to a further meeting to discuss, in the context of both countries’ relations with small island communities, our relationship with the Overseas Territories.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answers of 18 October 2016 to Questions 47623 and 47624, for what reasons officials of his Department met with the Administrator of Norfolk Island when the governance and administration of that island is a matter for Australia.
Alok Sharma
Pursuant to the Answer to Question 49602, officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office met the Administrator of Norfolk Island to discuss , in the context of both countries’ relations with small island communities, our relationship with the Overseas Territories. The United Kingdom and Australia are close partners and Ministers and officials from both countries regularly discuss a wide range of issues.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hugo Swire on 2016-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will have discussions with the Commonwealth Secretary-General on the Maldives leaving the Commonwealth.
Alok Sharma
As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson) said on 13 October, the UK is disappointed that the Maldives Government has decided to withdraw from the Commonwealth. We believe in the Commonwealth and its commitment to improving the lives of people across all its member states. It is an organisation dedicated to developing free and democratic societies, and to promoting peace and prosperity.
There are no current plans for Ministers to discuss the Maldives with the Commonwealth Secretary-General. Officials are in regular contact with the Commonwealth Secretariat.