The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the net benefits to people in Wales of the UK’s membership of the EU.
Mr David Jones
I refer the hon Gentleman to the answer I gave to the members for Delyn, Cardiff West and Ogmore earlier today.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Evans on 2014-05-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made of the level of trade undertaken by businesses in Wales with countries in the EU.
Mr David Jones
I refer the hon Gentleman to the answer I gave to the members for Delyn, Cardiff West and Ogmore earlier today.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2014-05-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of levels of satisfaction with Cafcass among younger children who do not complete formal feedback forms.
Simon Hughes
While complaints made to Cafcass by children and young people are monitored nationally, it collects, monitors and acts on feedback at a local level. Cafcass has commissioned the Family Justice Young People’s Board to review how children and young people provide feedback to Cafcass and advise on ways to encourage more feedback both via formal and informal routes. Cafcass now has various methods of obtaining feedback from the children and young people it works with which include more formal methods such as feedback forms and more informal and child-friendly methods such as ‘feedback trees’. Feedback trees encourage children to write out or draw their feelings on how Cafcass has worked with them, allowing Cafcass practitioners to build on this feedback. There is no central or national monitoring of this informal feedback.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2014-05-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of EU proposals to remove the right for network operators to block 18-plus content.
Mr Edward Vaizey
We are aware that there some concerns that the European Parliament’s amendments to the draft Connected Continent regulation may restrict ISPs ability to block illegal content or to filter adult content at the request of customers. The UK Government supports the aims of the Connect Continent package, but let me clear that we will not agree to any proposals that restrict the ability of parents to protect their children from inappropriate content on line. We are confident that this was not the intention of the European Parliament and we are working with EU Member States, the European Commission and the European Parliament to deliver a final package that promotes an open, safe and secure internet.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2014-05-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were convicted of causing death by (a) careless and (b) dangerous driving in the last year for which figures are available; and what the average sentence was for each offence.
Jeremy Wright
Severe maximum penalties, of 14 years imprisonment, are available for those who cause death through dangerous driving or under the influence of drink or drugs and statistics show that the overwhelming majority of those convicted for these offences receive lengthy custodial sentences. The maximum penalty for causing death by careless driving is 5 years imprisonment and for causing death by disqualified, unlicensed or uninsured driving is two years imprisonment. We are keeping the law in this area under review. If any further changes are needed, we will bring forward proposals.
The Justice Secretary made an announcement on 6 May about our plans to strengthen the law in relation to disqualified drivers who cause death or serious injury; increasing the maximum sentence for causing death by disqualified driving to 10 years and introducing a new offence of causing serious injury by disqualified driving, with a maximum penalty of 4 years.
The number of offenders found guilty and sentenced to an immediate custody at all courts and the average custodial sentence length (months) for ‘careless’ and ‘dangerous’ driving in England and Wales from 2008 to 2012 (latest available data) can be viewed in the table.
Court proceedings data for 2013 are planned for publication in May 2014.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2014-05-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions officials in his Department have had with High Speed UK about alternatives to High Speed 2.
Mr Robert Goodwill
We are not aware of any request from High Speed UK for a discussion with officials in the Department engaged on HS2, nor of any such discussions having taken place. We are, however, aware that High Speed UK have responded to consultations on issues related to HS2.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-05-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many universal credit budgeting advances were made between April 2013 and April 2014.
Esther McVey
Budgeting support is available at the start of a Universal Credit claim. The requested information is not currently available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Toby Perkins on 2014-05-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will commission an inquiry into the extent of problems arising from the use of motorised vehicles on unmetalled roads.
Dan Rogerson
In the Deregulation Bill Committee debate on 25 March, we announced that we propose to form a working group along the lines of the current rights of way Stakeholder Working Group. We will invite stakeholders with the relevant experience and expertise to join a group with an independent chair and secretariat, ensuring that the group contains a balance across the full range of interests.
Any proposals made by the group for changing the current framework for managing the recreational use of motor vehicles would be subject to a full public consultation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nia Griffith on 2014-05-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many companies are registered to provide Green Deal assessments in Wales.
Gregory Barker
TheGreen Deal Oversight and Regulation Body (ORB) produces publically available information on the supply chain. The latest information is available by using the search tool at http://gdorb.decc.gov.uk/.
These organisations operate in different geographical locations and provide a wide variety of offers to consumers. Table 1.16 of the Department’s quarterly Official Statistics release shows the self-reported operational coverage of assessor organisations by Local Authority that they are expecting to operate within:
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Blunkett on 2014-05-02.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will review the applicability of VAT to vouchers for spectacles and other prescriptions under the voucher scheme; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Gauke
The NHS optical voucher scheme provides financial support by way of a voucher to eligible persons to help them buy goods such as spectacles. The vouchers are simply a means of financial support; the VAT consequences result from the goods and services that the voucher is used to buy. Therefore, VAT exemption will apply to the eye test, fitting services and any medical treatment of an eye condition and VAT will apply to the spectacles, irrespective of how payment is made.