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  • Tom Blenkinsop – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Tom Blenkinsop – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-04-03.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what impact assessment he has made of the effect of pensioners savings bonds on the private sector investment market.

    Nicky Morgan

    The Budget set an upper limit of £10 billion for the level of inflows that National Savings and Investments (NS&I) should attract into the fixed-rate savings bonds for people aged 65 or over. This is less than 1% of the total UK retail savings market.

    The NS&I savings bonds announced at Budget should therefore not stop other institutions from attracting deposits or increasing lending. Furthermore, the introduction of New ISAs with an annual subscription limit of £15,000 will provide additional opportunities for banks and building societies to attract retail deposits.

  • Tom Blenkinsop – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Tom Blenkinsop – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-04-03.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the proposed role for National Savings and Investment (NS&I) offering pensioner savings bonds with NS&I’s objective of reducing the cost to the taxpayer of Government borrowing.

    Nicky Morgan

    NS&I’s purpose is to provide cost effective financing for the Government that balances the interest of savers, taxpayers and the wider markets.

    Given that the NS&I fixed-rate savings bond for people aged 65 or over are a Budget measure designed to offer targeted support to a particular group of savers, the costs of raising funding through these bonds, rather than gilts, was represented in Table 2.1 of the Budget 2014 document.

  • Margaret Curran – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Margaret Curran – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Curran on 2014-04-03.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the next meeting of the Finance Ministers Quadrilateral will take place; and what will be discussed at this meeting.

    Danny Alexander

    The last Finance Quadrilateral was held on 18 November 2013.

    No formal minutes of the meeting were taken, but Ministers present discussed the general economic outlook for the UK and for each of the devolved administrations, as well as looking forward to the forthcoming Autumn Statement. Agreement was reached at the meeting regarding the framework under which the devolved administrations could carry forward Financial Transactions capital into future years.

    The Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Finance Ministers from the devolved administrations aim to meet regularly in Quadrilateral format, complimenting bi-lateral meetings and conversations throughout the year. It is anticipated the next Quadrilateral will take place over the coming months. No date or agenda has yet been set.

  • Margaret Curran – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Margaret Curran – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Curran on 2014-04-03.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when the last Finance Ministers Quadrilateral met; and if he will place in the Library the minutes of that meeting.

    Danny Alexander

    The last Finance Quadrilateral was held on 18 November 2013.

    No formal minutes of the meeting were taken, but Ministers present discussed the general economic outlook for the UK and for each of the devolved administrations, as well as looking forward to the forthcoming Autumn Statement. Agreement was reached at the meeting regarding the framework under which the devolved administrations could carry forward Financial Transactions capital into future years.

    The Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Finance Ministers from the devolved administrations aim to meet regularly in Quadrilateral format, complimenting bi-lateral meetings and conversations throughout the year. It is anticipated the next Quadrilateral will take place over the coming months. No date or agenda has yet been set.

  • Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2014-04-03.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which parties have received the £30 million for the Garden Bridge announced in the National Infrastructure Plan.

    Danny Alexander

    HM TREASURY

    Helen Goodman MP

    BISHOP AUCKLAND

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which parties have received the £30 million for the Garden Bridge announced in the National Infrastructure Plan. 195166

    DANNY ALEXANDER

    The £30 million contribution to the Garden Bridge from Government is conditional on a business case being produced that demonstrates the project represents good value for money. The business case is expected to be complete by mid 2014.

    Should the business case demonstrate that the project represents good value for money, Government will agree the detailed terms of funding with the Garden Bridge Trust.

  • Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Simon Kirby on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether Mary Portas is still engaged as an adviser to the Government on high streets in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

    Brandon Lewis

    Mary Portas has helped raised the profile of British High Streets and sits on the Future High Street Forum as one of the founding members. All members play an important role and are working with Government to bring the issue of High Streets to national attention.

    This Government is committed to standing up for local shops and high streets. We have done this by cutting business rates for local shops, making sensible changes to planning rules and taking action to tackle unfair parking practices.

  • Alison Seabeck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Alison Seabeck – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Seabeck on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the timelines and milestones for Defence Equipment and Support Transformation will be published online and on the Defence Intranet.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her and the hon. Member for Mid Worcestershire (Sir Peter Luff) on 7 April 2014 (Official Report, column 91W-92W).

  • Madeleine Moon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Madeleine Moon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether (a) a bat, (b) a dormouse, (c) a crested newt and (d) an owl survey has been carried out at Defence Infrastructure Organisation site Ashchurch; what the result of each such survey was; and if he will make a statement.

    Dr Andrew Murrison

    A baseline ecological survey was undertaken at Ashchurch in 2008 and updated in 2012. Following this survey no detailed assessments were undertaken for owls, as there have been no sightings or evidence of protected birds, or dormice, due to no suitable habitat being identified.

    Further detailed studies have been carried out for both crested newts and bats. Results of these surveys showed there was no evidence of crested newts and little evidence of bat activity across Ashchurch. However, one building had a small bat roost and there was a possibility of a bat roost in a second building.

  • Dr Julian Huppert – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Dr Julian Huppert – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Julian Huppert on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure courses equivalent to those on the list of prescribed courses in the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 are not excluded from Higher Education Funding Council for England funding by virtue of coming into existence following the introduction of that Act.

    Mr David Willetts

    Our higher education reforms have transferred money from Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) block grant to support Government backed loans which students now use to pay fees at the institution of their choice. The most recent figures show that, for the first time, the majority of HE funding is now determined by the choices students make rather than coming directly from Government. In this context, we have no plans to extend HEFCE’s statutory funding remit.

    Students are able to take a range of qualifications for which they can access higher education student support, 24+ advanced learning loans, or professional and career development loans. We are currently looking at a number of options to ensure that we have effective progression pathways to support the development of higher level skills, particularly at levels 4 and 5. This includes having the right supporting funding mechanisms in place to deliver quality and value for money.

  • Nick Gibb – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Nick Gibb – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Gibb on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will amend the School Admissions Code to allow primary schools’ admission arrangements to give priority to pupils attending a primary school’s own nursery.

    Mr David Laws

    I refer the hon. Member to the response given to hon. Member for Enfield North, Nick de Bois, on 6 March 2014, Official Report Column 905W.