The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering on 2016-05-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of basic farm payments claimed during 2015 had been paid as of 30 April.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
As at 2 May, the first working day following 30 April, 98% of Basic Payment Scheme claimants had received a payment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering on 2016-05-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will extend the deadline for claims for basic farm payments for 2016 until 31 May or later.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering on 2016-05-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the possible impact on the local economy and the environment of hydraulic fracturing in Ryedale, and what were the results of the economic impact assessment carried out on that proposed development.
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
A planning application for the extraction of shale gas in Ryedale is currently under consideration by North Yorkshire County Council. It would not be appropriate for the Government to comment on the specifics of any proposal. It will be for the Council to take into account the impacts of the proposed development on the local economy and the environment as relevant in its determination of that application.
The Government continues to support the development of the shale industry in the UK. It has the potential to power economic growth, create tens of thousands of jobs and provide a new domestic energy source, making us less reliant on imports from abroad.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2016-05-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills tracks the performance of FTSE 100 companies and is able to identify where any company has introduced a cost-cutting measure and correspondingly reduced executive pay, and if so, what percentage of those companies have done so.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the noble Lord.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2016-05-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is their policy that FTSE 100 executive pay is a matter solely for shareholders or also for a wider group of affected stakeholders such as pension holders, customers, and the customers of similar companies.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the noble Lord.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2016-05-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is their policy, in circumstances where more than 50 per cent of shareholder votes oppose executive pay awards, that the companies’ boards should take note.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the noble Lord.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2016-05-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to legislate to change non-binding shareholder votes in relation to executive pay in public companies to binding votes if they pass the 50 per cent threshold.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the noble Lord.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2016-05-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support annual executive pay votes by shareholders, and whether they intend to legislate to stop three-year votes on that issue.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the noble Lord.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2016-05-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will introduce a duty on shareholders of a significant size to address executive pay and company performance and increase those shareholders’ reporting requirements to pension trustees.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the noble Lord.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Myners on 2016-05-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review, or charge others to review, the performance of the trustees of the BHS pension schemes, and whether the current trustees are fit and proper to continue performing that role at BHS and other pension schemes.
Baroness Altmann
The investigation into the BHS pension schemes, including the role of the trustees, is a matter for the independent Pensions Regulator.
The actions of the trustees and competence of the trustees are among the issues that we would expect the Regulator to be considering as part of its investigations.