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  • Mike Kane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Mike Kane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Kane on 2014-04-29.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support the Government is giving to credit unions to help extend access to fair credit.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The Government is supportive of credit unions and has taken a number of steps to assist them, most recently including:

    • The Department for Work and Pensions investment of up to £38 million in an expansion project for credit unions. The project aims to help credit unions expand and grow, enabling them to provide financial services to more people.
    • From 1 April this year the Government increased the cap on the maximum interest rate a credit union can charge for loans from 2% to 3% per month. This will allow credit unions to make more loans to their members without making a loss. Even if they choose to charge the higher rate of interest the cost of borrowing from a credit union will still be significantly cheaper than many high cost lenders.

    The Government intends that these measures will help the credit union sector go from strength to strength, so it can be a viable option for financial services provision for an even wider range of consumers.

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what satellites currently use facilities at West Freugh for data transmission.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The satellite reception capability at the West Freugh site is currently used to receive satellite observed environmental data (meteorological, oceanographic and observed weather) from several different satellite sources. I am withholding details of specific satellites as disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Skynet 5 satellites can use facilities at West Freugh for data transmission.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    Skynet 5 does not currently use the facilities at West Freugh for data transmission.

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions (a) photographs have been taken of intercepted aircraft on Quick Reaction Alert flights and (b) such photographs have been released to the public in each of the last three years.

    Mr Mark Francois

    Photographs are routinely taken during Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) interceptions. There is strong public and media interest in the RAF Quick Reaction Alert deterrent capability. MOD policy is to release a limited amount of non-sensitive information on QRA launches, sometimes including photographs. This provides the public with strong examples of how the RAF is able to respond to this kind of incident. It also provides public awareness of the RAF’s ability to defend the UK through the effectiveness of its air defences and to maintain the full deterrence value of the QRA mission. Media enquiries regarding QRA launches also often include requests for photographs.

    Consequently, RAF Operations Staffs in coordination with MOD officials, including the MOD Directorate of Media and Communications, will occasionally consider these photographs for public release.

    Photographs of a recent QRA mission were released on 25 April 2014. The previous release of photographs of intercepted aircraft from a recent mission was in March 2010; additionally for other QRA information releases in the last three years, MOD have utilised stock images from the Defence Image Library.

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, who authorises the public release of photographs of aircraft that are intercepted during Quick Reaction Alert flights.

    Mr Mark Francois

    Photographs are routinely taken during Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) interceptions. There is strong public and media interest in the RAF Quick Reaction Alert deterrent capability. MOD policy is to release a limited amount of non-sensitive information on QRA launches, sometimes including photographs. This provides the public with strong examples of how the RAF is able to respond to this kind of incident. It also provides public awareness of the RAF’s ability to defend the UK through the effectiveness of its air defences and to maintain the full deterrence value of the QRA mission. Media enquiries regarding QRA launches also often include requests for photographs.

    Consequently, RAF Operations Staffs in coordination with MOD officials, including the MOD Directorate of Media and Communications, will occasionally consider these photographs for public release.

    Photographs of a recent QRA mission were released on 25 April 2014. The previous release of photographs of intercepted aircraft from a recent mission was in March 2010; additionally for other QRA information releases in the last three years, MOD have utilised stock images from the Defence Image Library.

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what consideration his Department gave to procuring the Rangeless Airborne Instrumented Debriefing System with Collision Warning software for installation on the Tornado aircraft.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The requirement of the Ministry of Defence was for an Instrument Debriefing System. Records of any consideration given to the procurement of additional capabilities are no longer centrally held and the retrieval of this information would be possible only at disproportionate cost.

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, by whom the decision was taken not to proceed from the Technology Demonstrator Phase of the EASAMS collision warning system to Full Development and Production; and whether that decision was reflected in the relevant platform risk registers.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 7 April 2014 (Official Report, column 96W).

    Risk Registers are not designed to record the outcome of the scoping of systems which are at pre-concept stage.

  • Ian Austin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Ian Austin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the reasons are for the changes to Network Rail’s planned redevelopment of the western elevation of New Street Station, set out in planning application 2014/02551/PA to Birmingham City Council.

    Stephen Hammond

    Network Rail has proposed a change to the　Navigation Street　footbridge and the cladding to the existing station building which forms part of the western elevation of the　Birmingham New Street　redevelopment　to deliver a simpler and more cost effective design.

    Detailed structural analysis has proved that the existing 1960s built structures cannot support the proposed cladding and would need significant strengthening to support the additional weight and loading.　 This would require extended railway closures causing delays and disruption to passengers.

    The proposed new design would look very similar to the original plan from the street but would be significantly more cost effective, straightforward to construct and avoid the need for lengthy possessions of the railway below, thereby minimising disruption to passengers. 　It will continue to be a great improvement over the existing 1960s built structure.

  • Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average time taken to process applications for redundancy payment is through My Civil Service Pension; and what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken.

    Mr Francis Maude

    MyCSP Ltd, a mutual joint venture, provides scheme administration for the Civil Service pension arrangements under a contract managed by the Cabinet Office.

    Redundancy schemes under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme are covered by separate commercial arrangements between MyCSP Ltd and each individual employer.

    The average time for completing these individual exercises is not collated centrally.

  • Fiona Bruce – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Fiona Bruce – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Written Statement of 9 April 2014, Official Report, column 1417WS, on qualifications reform, and the Answer of 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 42W, on in vitro fertilisation, whether the study of the human genome as part of the revised content for GCSEs in science will involve pupils learning that genomic DNA is only found in the cell nucleus and that mitochondrial DNA is not part of the genome.

    Elizabeth Truss

    The requirement that students study the genome and gene expression in the revised GCSE combined science and GCSE biology criteria covers all organisms, and is not specific to the human genome. It is therefore given at a level of generality that applies to all living things. The only specific reference in this section of the criteria to the human genome is in the context of the statement that requires students to be able to discuss the potential importance for medicine of our increasing understanding of the human genome.

    In developing their specifications which meet these criteria, Awarding Organisations may choose to include microorganisms, humans or any other organism when they cover the genome and gene expression.