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  • Mr Dave Watts – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Mr Dave Watts – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Dave Watts on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will publish an assessment of the likely effect of the change to pensions announced in the 2014 Budget on the budget for welfare payments over the next ten years.

    Steve Webb

    The impact on welfare spending will depend on how people choose to use their savings; the choices people make may increase or decrease the likelihood of them being eligible for means tested benefits at some point in their retirement. However we are talking about people who have saved for their future and therefore we would expect the numbers choosing to rely solely on welfare benefits to be small.

    The introduction of the single-tier pension also means that the majority of people will have a state pension income above the basic means test.

    The details of the policy and the guidance offer are being developed and we are consulting on this.

  • Natascha Engel – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Natascha Engel – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Natascha Engel on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what charges are incurred by those appealing against a benefit assessment ruling.

    Mike Penning

    This is a matter for the Ministry of Justice.

    They have no plans to introduce fees to bring an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support).

  • Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she is taking to increase the amount of government spending allocated to Northern Ireland.

    Mr Andrew Robathan

    The Government continues to provide considerable additional support and, as a result of spending decisions announced at Budget, the Executive will receive positive Barnett consequentials of over £21 million. However, the long term answer for the Northern Ireland economy is a private sector revival and not increases in Government spending.

  • Andrew Selous – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Andrew Selous – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Selous on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on economic development in Northern Ireland.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    I regularly hold discussions with Executive ministers on a range of economic issues.

    Last week, I chaired a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Task Force on Banking and Access to Finance which was established to help Northern Ireland businesses access finance.

  • Mr John Baron – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Mr John Baron – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr John Baron on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made on the review of so-called letters of comfort issued to on-the-runs.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    On 11 March I appointed Lady Justice Hallett to carry out an independent inquiry into the administrative scheme dealing with so-called ‘on the runs’.

    The terms of reference require the provision of a full public account of the operation and extent of the scheme.

    I will lay a copy of the report before the House as soon as practicable after I receive it.

  • Damian Hinds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Damian Hinds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Damian Hinds on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what recent discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on economic development in Northern Ireland.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    I regularly hold discussions with Executive ministers on a range of economic issues.

    Last week, I chaired a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Task Force on Banking and Access to Finance which was established to help Northern Ireland businesses access finance.

  • Mrs Mary Glindon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Mrs Mary Glindon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mrs Mary Glindon on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the effect of reductions in the number of people employed in the public sector in Northern Ireland.

    Mr Andrew Robathan

    The Government is committed to rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy in favour of the private sector which we, and the Executive, believe is the best way to ensure a sustainable and prosperous future. Over the last year, private sector jobs in Northern Ireland have increased by 10,490 and public sector jobs by 1,790.

  • Kate Hoey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Kate Hoey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress has been made on gaining compensation from the Libyan government for the victims of terrorist acts perpetrated by the IRA.

    Mr Andrew Robathan

    As my Rt hon Friend the Prime Minister said during Prime Ministers Questions on the 26th March, the British Government has raised repeatedly with the Libyan Government, at the highest levels, the importance of them engaging with UK victims seeking redress. This includes those seeking compensation through private campaigns, and their legal representatives.

  • Lord Mendelsohn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Mendelsohn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2014-03-24.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what customer, user and satisfaction surveys were conducted in the last 12 months in the Department for Transport and the agencies that report to it; which of them have been reported to the management board in the last 12 months; and which were commissioned by the management board.

    Baroness Kramer

    The information requested regarding the conduct of customer, user and satisfaction surveys across the Department for Transport and its agencies in the last 12 months is as follows:

    Survey Comissioned by Board Reported to Board
    DVLA
    Customer Satisfaction Survey 2012-13 Yes Yes
    VOSA
    ATF Satisfaction Survey Yes Yes
    PSV operators survey
    MOT modernisation user survey
    User evaluation of communications – operators
    User evaluation of communications – MOT
    MCA
    UK Ship Register Yes
    Survey and Inspection Regime Yes
    Seafarer Certifcate of Competency Yes
    Seafarer Certificate of Equivalent Comeptency Yes
    HA
    National Road User Survey Yes
    Area Road User Survey x7
    DSA
    Car driving test candidates x2 Yes
    Motorcycle driving test candidates x2 Yes
    LGC/PCV driving test candidates Yes
    Approved driving instructors x2 Yes
    Approved motorcycle training bodies
    Potential driving instructors
    Trainers on the ORDIT register
    Trainers on the voluntary LGV/PCV register

    Glossary

    ATF Authorised Testing Facility
    DSA Driver Standards Agency
    DVLA Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
    HA Highways Agency
    MCA Maritime and Coastguard Agency
    PSV Public service vehicle
    VCA Vehicle Certification Agency
    VOSA Vehicle and Operator Services Agency
    LGV Large goods vehicle
    PCV Passenger carrying vehicle
    ORDIT Online register of driving instructors

  • Lord Mendelsohn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    Lord Mendelsohn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2014-03-24.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what customer, user and satisfaction surveys were conducted in the last 12 months in the Wales Office and the agencies that report to it; which of them have been reported to the management board in the last 12 months; and which were commissioned by the management board.

    Baroness Randerson

    The Wales Office has not conducted any customer or user surveys in the last 12 months.

    However, the Wales Office conducts a staff engagement survey annually, and the results are reported to the Department’s management board.