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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Tobias Ellwood on Communities and Local Government.

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Brandon Lewis

This Government has provided a range of financial support schemes to help individuals, businesses, farmers and local authorities return to normality after the winter’s severe weather: these include Council Tax Relief, Business Rate Relief, the Business Support Scheme, and Repair and Renew Grants.

The Government deals with local authorities who administer support schemes on its behalf. It does not deal directly with residents and does not therefore hold information at constituency level in terms of requests for financial support that have been granted: that is a matter for the local authorities concerned. I can say, however, that Bournemouth Borough Council has received some £350,000 to repair local roads damaged by severe weather, a further £268,000 from the Department for Transport’s Potholes Fund and my Department is aware that as at 25 June, the Council has received 70 claims for Council Tax Relief totalling some £14,000, one claim for Business Rate Relief and three applications from residents for Repair and Renew Grant to help build better flood protection into their homes. The Government retrospectively reimburses councils for the costs incurred from its flood recovery schemes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Chris Ruane on Health.

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Norman Lamb

The 2014 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey is due to report by end of March 2017.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for David Winnick on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

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Dan Rogerson

As independent charities, handling correspondence is entirely a matter for the Canal & River Trust and other similar trusts. However, I have asked my officials to draw this issue to the attention of the Trust at their next meeting.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Alan Whitehead on Energy and Climate Change.

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Michael Fallon

We anticipate that some generators will seek to establish the terms of any PPA and financing arrangements before they participate in the CfD allocation round, in order to understand better their likely costs. Agreements between generators and PPA providers could take a number of different forms, from indicative terms to a signed contract. The decision to sign a conditional PPA ahead of the auction, and the duration of any agreement, are ultimately commercial matters.

We anticipate that the Offtaker of Last Resort (OLR) will encourage competition in the PPA market both at the outset of the CfD and once any initial PPA has expired. Generators agreeing to a conditional PPA would be able to participate in the later short-term PPA market, once their initial PPA had expired; backed by the protections afforded by the OLR.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Geoffrey Cox on Energy and Climate Change.

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Gregory Barker

The supply of LPG is subject to UK competition law under the Competition and Markets Authority.

The study by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) into the off-grid energy market, published in October 2011, found that there is a generally positive initial impact of the Competition Commission (CC) Orders from 2009 to make it easier for consumers to switch Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supplier.

In April 2012, the OFT also secured voluntary agreements from the major LPG suppliers to make changes to their domestic bulk customer contracts and improve transparency around switching and cancellation rights. These changes apply for both individual tank and metered estate customers.

The Competition and Markets Authority will continue to keep the Orders under review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Nic Dakin on Energy and Climate Change.

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Michael Fallon

My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not received any recent direct representations from industry regarding the effect of load management on performance and industry.

National Grid recently announced two new balancing services to balance supply and demand in the coming winters. One of these, Demand Side Balancing Reserve (DSBR), will extend existing arrangements for companies to receive payment to reduce their electricity use or switch to on-site generators for short periods when instructed by National Grid.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Lord Mann on Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

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George Eustice

The UK is committed to the protection of endangered species, including through playing a leading role in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES promotes the sustainability of endangered species through either prohibiting trade or strictly controlling any trade through a licensing system. The breeding and ranching of endangered species for commercial gain can be permitted under CITES. The UK fully supports the aims of CITES and works to ensure that assessment of whether trade should be permitted for any particular species is based on robust scientific evidence.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for James Clappison on Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

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Hugh Robertson

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office receives daily updates from our posts in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. We have offered practical support. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), spoke to the Israeli Foreign Minister on 17 June about this issue. I also discussed this issue with both Israeli and Palestinian authorities during my visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories between 18-19 June.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Anas Sarwar on International Development.

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Lynne Featherstone

The roots of the conflict in Central African Republic (CAR) are complex and whilst the recent inter-communal violence is primarily targeting Muslim inhabitants, Christian communities have also fallen victim to sectarian killings. Much of the Muslim population of CAR has fled, including traders who were overwhelmingly Muslim.

DFID is funding agencies such as UNHCR, Mercy Corps and the ICRC to implement protection programmes in CAR, including conflict resolution and social cohesion activities. DFID has contributed £18 million in 2014 towards the crisis. The UK is also supporting the international efforts to restore peace and security and has welcomed the adoption of UNSCR 2149 authorising the deployment of a UN peacekeeping mission (MISCA).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford on Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

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Mr Hugo Swire

The UK is giving £12m in aid to Rakhine State to support shelter, water sanitation and hygiene programmes, nutrition and protection activities, as well as non-food items for 115,000 people. We are also funding £4.5m towards livelihoods projects in Rakhine and support to the UN’s coordination of the international humanitarian response.

We remain one of the most vocal and active members of the international community in supporting those calling for human rights and democracy in Burma. I was the first Western Minister to visit Rakhine State in December 2012. I raised concerns again with the Burmese government during my second visit to Burma in January this year, and I again saw Rohingya leaders to hear from them about the many issues they are facing.

The plight of the Rohingya was also at the top of the agenda during the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron’s) meeting with President Thein Sein in London in July 2013. In March this year, I summoned the Burmese Ambassador and called on the Burmese government urgently to restore humanitarian access to all communities in need, and to ensure the security of humanitarian aid workers and all communities in Rakhine State. The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks), again raised our concerns in a call with his Burmese counterpart in April, and I most recently discussed the situation with the Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister on 12 June.

We will continue to urge the Burmese government to take swift and decisive action to protect the lives and rights of Rohingya and other minorities in Rakhine State, and to address the underlying causes of ethnic and religious discrimination and violence.