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  • Rosie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Rosie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rosie Cooper on 2016-03-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of the devolution of skills policy to local authorities on the development of British Sign Language and sign language interpreting skills.

    Nick Boles

    The Department for Business Innovation and Skills supports British Sign Language (BSL), lip reading and managing hearing loss provision in England through the Adult Education Budget. Providers receive funding for this provision as they do for all other courses.

    In the academic year 2018/19, subject to readiness conditions being met, we intend to devolve the Adult Education Budget to certain Combined Authorities which have signed devolution deals[1]. In such areas, subject to necessary Orders being passed by Parliament, functions relating to the Adult Education Budget will transfer to the Combined Authority. The Combined Authority will assume responsibility for commissioning adult education provision, including in relation to BSL and sign language as it judges appropriate to meet local needs. Some providers, including Specialist Designated Institutions, are currently funded nationally. Their post-devolution funding arrangements will be confirmed in the coming months.

    Skills provision in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a devolved matter and the assessment and adequacy of BSL provision is the responsibility of the devolved administrations.

    [1] To date, deals have been agreed with: Sheffield City Region; Liverpool City Region; West Midlands; North East; Tees Valley; Greater Manchester; Greater Lincolnshire; East Anglia; West of England

  • Martyn Day – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Martyn Day – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-03-16.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps is he is taking to support the youth work sector; and if he will take steps to support that sector through sustainable funding, investment in research and incentives to encourage volunteering.

    Mr Rob Wilson

    It is the responsibility of local authorities to decide how to allocate funding for youth services according to local need, through the existing statutory duty (Education Act 2006, Section 507B). Government launched the Delivering Differently for Young People Programme to offer practical support to local authorities in exploring innovative and sustainable models for delivering youth services. Government continues to support the Centre for Youth Impact to work with youth organisations to undertake research to measure impact and demonstrate value to funders and commissioners. We are also committed to expanding National Citizen Service, which many youth sector organisations help to deliver. Government is taking new steps to encourage and enable social action. This includes a further £15m investment in the next phase of the Centre for Social Action. We want social action to become a lifelong habit.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-03-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with motor vehicle insurance companies on reducing the level of insurance premiums.

    Andrew Jones

    The Department for Transport has held a number of recent meetings with the motor insurance industry, for example to discuss young driver safety and technology measures which impact on the cost of insurance.

    The Autumn Statement 2015 announced the Government will bring forward measures to reduce the excessive costs arising from unnecessary whiplash claims, and as the industry is competitive we expect average savings of £40 to £50 per motor insurance policy to be passed onto customers. Some insurers have already committed to pass on all savings to consumers as a result of the proposed changes.

    The pricing of insurance products is a commercial matter for individual insurers in which the Government does not seek to intervene.

  • Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl McCartney on 2016-03-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations he has received from pub tenants and pub tenant groups on the appointment of the new Pubs Code Adjudicator.

    Anna Soubry

    As of 18 March 2016, my Department has received one piece of correspondence from an individual pub tenant and three pieces of correspondence from pub tenant groups on the appointment of the new Pubs Code Adjudicator, since the appointment was announced.

  • Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-03-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the additional expenditure reductions that will be required of local authorities following the announcement of the changes to business rates made in the Budget.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    These tax cuts provide significant support to local businesses. The Small Business Rate Relief measure announced at the Budget will mean 600,000 of the smallest businesses will not have to pay business rates.

    Local authorities will be compensated in full for their loss of income as a result of these changes.

  • Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-03-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the comments of Chief Executive NHS England, in response to the sugar tax announcement in the budget, that sadly soft drinks are now our children’s largest single source of diabetes-inducing teeth-rotting excess sugar.””

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    The evidence behind the comments from Simon Stevens, Chief Executive NHS England, comes from the Public Health England report ‘Sugar reduction: the evidence for action’ published in October 2015.

    The PHE report states that soft drinks are the largest single source of sugar for children and teenagers in England, and that consuming too much sugar can lead to weight gain, which in turn increases the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and some cancers. It is also linked to tooth decay.

    This is why at Budget 2016, the Chancellor announced a new levy aimed at the producers and importers of added sugar soft drinks. The levy is designed to encourage companies to reduce the amount of added sugar in soft drinks and move consumers towards healthier choices. The levy will from part of a wider comprehensive childhood obesity strategy which the government launch in the summer.

  • Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-03-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review the legislation governing credit unions.

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    On 31 December 2014, the government published a response to the Call for Evidence on Credit Unions.

    In this response the government committed to considering the potential changes to credit union legislation highlighted by the Call for Evidence over the course of this parliament.

  • Baroness Whitaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Baroness Whitaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Whitaker on 2016-03-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the account in the Equalities and Human Rights Commission’s report Is England Fairer? of the discrimination faced by Gypsies, Travellers and Roma, and how they propose to address this.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    The Government is committed to creating a fair society in which all people, of whatever ethnic origin or background, are able to participate fully in society and realise their full potential. The Government deplores racism in all its forms and is determined to ensure everyone has the opportunity to get on in life, free from harassment and fear.

    The UK has a strong and well-established legal framework to combat discrimination and hate crime, which protects all individuals, including Gypsies, Travellers and Roma, from racial and other forms of discrimination, and racially motivated crime.

    The Government is taking action to improve the situation of disadvantaged people, including Gypsies, Travellers and Roma, in a number of the areas of concern identified in the Equality and Human Rights Commission report. These include improving educational attainment and attendance; tackling bullying; improving access to healthcare; supporting people into work and keeping them there; tackling hate crime; and addressing the over-representation of ethnic minorities in the criminal justice system.

  • Lord Moynihan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Lord Moynihan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moynihan on 2016-03-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, prior to hosting the World Athletics Championships in London 2017, they intend to introduce legislation to criminalise athletes who seek to enhance their performance in sport through banned doping programmes and gain selection over other athletes who do not.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    The case for criminalisation is currently being reviewed by the department.

  • Lord Moynihan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Lord Moynihan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moynihan on 2016-03-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether UK Anti-Doping has adequate medical, administrative and financial resources to undertake international programmes for third-party countries, including a testing programme in Russia, whilst providing a comprehensive anti-doping programme in the UK.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    The payments that UK Anti-Doping receives from third party countries ensures the UK’s anti-doping programme is not compromised by its international work.