The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-10-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to promote trade between the UK and countries in Central America.
Greg Hands
This Department has identified opportunities and resourced campaigns to access high value sectors including automotive, defence, technology, mining, oil & gas and financial services across the region.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2015-10-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will estimate the cost to businesses of inconsistent broadband coverage in the last 12 months.
Mr Edward Vaizey
Access to broadband is of vital importance to small businesses, which is why the Government-funded Broadband Connection Voucher Scheme has provided over 50,000 small and medium sized enterprises with access to high speed broadband.83 per cent of homes and businesses already have access to superfast broadband services, and thanks to the Government’s investment in the superfast broadband rollout. This is set to rise to 95 per cent by the end of 2017.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz Kendall on 2015-11-25.
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many people of each gender have worked as special advisers in the Government Equalities Office in each year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.
Edward Timpson
The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-12-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent representations he has received on international services stopping at Stratford International station; and if he will make a statement.
Claire Perry
I recognise the international importance of the HS1 network in allowing high-speed rail services from London to reach Europe, whilst noting that no international services currently serve Stratford International station. Eurostar, in which the government recently sold its 40% stake, accesses the HS1 network on an open access basis and is not subject to the terms of a franchise agreement or a contract let by government. Government has no power to direct or specify that Eurostar stops at Stratford International station. A decision made by Eurostar not to serve Stratford International would be as a result of commercial imperatives and priorities, for example, the potential revenue derived from customers using the station or the increased journey time which a further stop would involve. It would not be appropriate for government to interfere with that decision-making process. I have not received any recent representations on this matter from potential or actual train operators; who in any event, should address their questions to HS1 Ltd, as the infrastructure manager, in the first instance; nor have I held any discussions with Eurostar on the matter of services to Stratford.
Regarding any aspirations of Deutsche Bahn to commence operation of international services from St Pancras International, this is rightly a matter for HS1 Ltd as the infrastructure manager, who I understand have held discussions with a number of potential new entrants, including Deutsche Bahn. It would not be appropriate to comment on any ongoing commercial discussions between those parties.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gordon Marsden on 2016-01-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of the RAB charge for students entering higher education in England in 2016-17 who take up a full maintenance loan and tuition fees when finishing a three-year course; and if he will make a statement.
Joseph Johnson
The Resource Accounting and Budgeting (RAB) charge is calculated for the total full time student population, rather than separately for students on courses of different lengths or on the basis of the size of the loans taken out. We estimate that the RAB charge for full-time tuition fee and maintenance loans, and part time fee loans, is between 20% and 25%.
These estimates take into account the changes to student finance and the new HM Treasury discount rate used to value the student loan book announced at the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015. We will update our estimates in summer 2016 and publish these at the same time as BIS accounts, alongside an updated version of the simplified loan repayments model.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-02-19.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 15 February 2016 to Question 26319 on the national minimum wage, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in the arrears identified between April 2015 and November 2015; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Gauke
The Government takes the enforcement of National Minimum Wage very seriously. Any worker who believes that they are being paid below the minimum wage should make a complaint to the Acas helpline on 0300 123 1100. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) respond to every complaint that is referred to them by the Acas helpline. Additionally, HMRC collate and analyse data from various sources in order to identify those employers who are potentially more likely to be underpaying National Minimum Wage, so that they can undertake targeted enforcement against those employers.
The Government has increased annual funding of National Minimum Wage enforcement by nearly 60% since 2013/14, providing a budget of £13.2m in 2015/16. This has enabled a significant expansion of resources dedicated to enforcing the minimum wage; there are currently 237 staff in HMRC’s National Minimum Wage teams, up from 151 at the start of 2013/14. HMRC have also reviewed their ways of working to ensure a more efficient and effective service for workers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-03-16.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is sufficient funding in the navy budget to enable full manning, provision of spares and logistics support, and the appropriate training necessary for the new ships, aircraft and equipment being delivered to the Royal Navy in the next five years.
Earl Howe
As set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, Spending Review 2015 provided the investment necessary to deliver the most modern navy in the world. This programme has sufficient funding in the budget to enable full manning, provision of spares and logistics support, and appropriate training for the next five years.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Stewart on 2016-04-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to review access to compensation for victims of familial sexual abuse before 1979.
Mike Penning
The original Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme introduced in 1964 had a so called ‘same roof rule’ intended to prevent perpetrators benefiting from compensation paid to victims who lived with them. The rule was amended in 1979 to allow compensation for victims of incidents occurring after 1 October 1979 who no longer lived with their assailant. In line with usual practice, this rule change did not create retrospective entitlements. The Government has no plans to review the rule.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hywel Williams on 2016-05-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Iranian counterpart on allegations that Baha’i people sentenced to prison terms in Golestan province were tortured, forced to sign confessions and denied access to legal representation.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
We have made no specific representations on behalf of the group mentioned. However, we consistently raise our concerns about the treatment of the Baha’i community in Iran with the Iranian Government. We call on Iran to cease harassment of all religious minorities and to fulfil its international and domestic obligations to allow freedom of religion to all Iranians.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gloria De Piero on 2016-07-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much her Department has given from the public purse to each Nottinghamshire secondary school through the Year 7 catch-up grant in each of the last three academic years.
Nick Gibb
The Department publishes details online of individual school Year 7 Catch-up Premium allocations for each financial year. Details of the past three years allocations for all schools by local authority can be found here:
2015-16: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-7-catch-up-premium-2015-to-2016-allocations
2014-15: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-7-catch-up-premium-2014-to-2015-allocations
2013-14: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/year-7-catch-up-premium-2013-to-2014-final-allocations
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