The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Arkless on 2015-11-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what progress has been made towards a resolution of the Scottish Power cashback mis-selling dispute since his meeting in July 2015 with the CEO of the Insolvency Service.
Sajid Javid
I have asked my officials to seek an update from Scottish Power on what steps they are taking in this matter.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2015-12-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when he plans to reply to Question 15306, tabled by the hon. Member for Hammersmith on 16 November 2015.
Caroline Dinenage
I refer the honourable member to the answer which I gave in PQ 15306, answered on 17th February 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Knight on 2016-01-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the implications are for the Government’s policy of bringing into force provisions of the Easter Act 1928 to fix a date for Easter of recent comments by the Archbishop of Canterbury; and if he will make a statement.
Nick Boles
I understand that the Archbishop of Canterbury has recently indicated that he is working with other Christian churches to agree on a fixed date for Easter. At present, Easter occurs on the first Sunday after the first ecclesiastical full moon following the spring equinox. The suggestion is that Easter be fixed in the second or third Sunday in April. The Easter Act 1928, which remains on the Statute Book, would set the date for Easter to fall on the Sunday that follows the second Saturday in April (i.e. between 9 and 15 April). The Act has not been brought into force. To so would require an Order in Council, with the approval of both Houses of Parliament. The Act also requires that, before the Order is made, “regard shall be had to any opinion officially expressed by any Church or other Christian Body." If the Christian churches were to agree on moving to a fixed date for Easter then the Government would consider, depending on what date is agreed, whether to bring into force the Easter Act 1928 or to make such other legislative provision as may be needed. However, there is no indication yet whether or when a date will be agreed or what that date would be.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on the possibility of establishing third party agreements to enable the deportation of foreign nationals who refuse or who cannot safely be returned to their country of origin to return to a neighbouring country.
James Brokenshire
Discussions continue to take place between a number of Government departments on a regular basis on how we tackle illegal migration, including solutions to enable the return of foreign nationals.
Each asylum case is considered on its individual merits. Where it is accepted that an individual would face persecution in their country of origin or it would be otherwise unsafe for them to return, some form of protection would normally be granted in the UK. If protection is not granted, then whether or not removal can be enforced, we expect failed asylum seekers to return home.
Generally, there are no countries to which, as a matter of immigration policy, we cannot remove. However there may be some countries where at any one time it is difficult logistically to undertake enforced removals.
We are in discussions with EU partners on how to take forward proposals to return those who travel through safe third countries back to those areas they transited through, or to establish zones of protection to which failed asylum seekers could be returned when return to their country of origin is not possible.
The UK also participates in a number of EU readmission agreements, some of which include clauses for returning third country nationals.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-03-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent steps she has taken to tackle stone theft.
Karen Bradley
Stone theft has a detrimental effect on towns and communities across England and Wales. The impact of these crimes includes both the economic cost to the victim, but there are also wider costs to the community, for example where schools, churches or heritage items are targeted by criminals.
We have received no recent representations from local authorities on this issue, nor have we had recent discussions with the police on stone theft specifically. However, the police are working with Historic England, the Crown Prosecution Service and others to share intelligence and shape good practice in tackling and preventing heritage crime, such as stone theft.
We would encourage all victims of stone theft, whether individuals or organisations, to report instances of these crimes to their local police, so that the crimes can be properly recorded and investigated. The local response is a matter for individual chief officers of police and Police and Crime Commissioners, taking into account the specific local issues and demands that they face.
We are satisfied that the existing legislation provides the police and courts with sufficient powers to respond to stone theft.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-04-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to protect serving and former members of the armed forces from discrimination in obtaining goods and services.
Mark Lancaster
The Government is fully committed to eliminating discrimination against Service personnel which is why we enshrined our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant into law. One of the core principles of the Covenant is that Service personnel should not suffer disadvantage as a result of their membership, or former membership, of the Armed Forces. The Covenant exists to redress the disadvantages that the Armed Forces community may face in comparison to other citizens.
Every Local Authority in mainland Great Britain, and two in Northern Ireland, have signed the Armed Forces Covenant which encourages local communities to support the Armed Forces in their area and promote public understanding and awareness. Additionally, over 930 organisations have now signed a Corporate Pledge to the Armed Forces Covenant, demonstrating their support for the Armed Forces Community.
Examples of steps being taken include developing shadow postcodes for British Forces Post Office (BFPO) addresses so that Service personnel can access online goods and services and launching the Defence Discount Service which offers a privilege card entitling members of the Armed Forces and their families to a range of discounts on goods and services.
Information on benefits and concessions available to the Armed Forces and veterans can be found at the following address:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/armed-forces-and-veterans/benefits-and-concessions-for-the-armed-forces-veterans-and-their-families/
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sharon Hodgson on 2016-05-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he plans to lay the report relating to secondary ticketing before Parliament as required by section 94 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.
David Evennett
My Rt. Hon Friends, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport intend to lay the report shortly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachael Maskell on 2016-07-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support households which are in water poverty.
Dr Thérèse Coffey
Water companies already offer a wide range of support to around 760,000 customers that struggle to pay their water bills. By 2020, they have committed to help an additional one million customers. The support they offer includes the nationally mandated WaterSure Scheme, voluntary social tariffs, charitable trusts, debt advice, payment plans and water efficiency advice.
The Government is committed to supporting a water industry built around transparency, resilience and affordability. We will continue to work with the Consumer Council for Water, Ofwat and the industry to ensure they continue to provide a fair deal for all customers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Gardiner on 2016-09-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what comparative assessment he has made of the potential risk of a cyber attack at the Hinkley C nuclear facility and other such nuclear facilities.
Jesse Norman
The security of existing and proposed nuclear facilities is a priority for the Government. The UK Civil Nuclear Sector is subject to a thorough safety and security regulatory regime, including cyber security, overseen by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). The entire new build nuclear programme, including Hinkley Point C, is subject to an ONR-led Generic Design Assessment process for new reactor designs. This will be supported by the National Cyber Security Centre’s design reviews with the relevant organisations, with the purpose of ensuring all new plants are cyber-secure by design and implementation.
In the interest of security, we do not disclose details of security risks to specific facilities
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2015-11-17.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what value of projects received investment through the Infrastructure Investment Forum (a) in 2015 and (b) since the Forum’s launch.
Greg Hands
The Insurers’ Infrastructure Investment Forum was set up the to give members of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) a direct communication link to Government, exploring ways to maximise opportunities for insurance fund managers to invest in UK infrastructure debt instruments via the capital markets.
In 2013 a group of 6 insurers agreed to aim to invest £25bn in UK infrastructure over the next 5 years. They have already invested over £5bn and are on track to meet their target.
In 2015 InfraRed Capital Partners and Prudential have each taken 45% stakes in the £1bn Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project.