The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2015 to Question 16106, when he expects his Department’s review of compliance with the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 to be completed.
Mr Marcus Jones
The Department expects to complete the review of compliance with the Local Government Transparency Code 2015 by the end of March 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Percy on 2016-03-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on improving (a) business and (b) personal access to broadband.
Mr Edward Vaizey
The Government recognises the importance of broadband access throughout the UK for both businesses and individuals. I have regular discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) on how the UK can become a world leader in broadband, and on 24 February my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) announced a joint BIS/DCMS Review into Business Broadband to ensure that businesses are able to access the affordable, high-speed broadband they need.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Knight on 2016-04-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his Department’s most recent advice is for British citizens seeking to holiday abroad on the risk of illness from the Zika virus; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Hugo Swire
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice advises British nationals who are planning to travel to areas with confirmed cases of locally transmitted Zika virus to follow the advice of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC). They should also discuss their travel plans with their healthcare provider, particularly if they are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. The current advice issued by NaTHNaC is that pregnant women should postpone non-essential travel to areas with current active Zika virus transmission until after pregnancy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thangam Debbonaire on 2016-05-23.
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, when she plans to publish a response to the First Report from the Women and Equalities Committee, Session 2015-16, HC 390, on Transgender equality; and if she will make a statement.
Caroline Dinenage
The Government has welcomed the report from the Women and Equalities Select Committee into transgender equality.
The report provides a substantial number of recommendations covering almost a dozen public bodies, including several recommendations which call for significant changes to legislation and reforms to the NHS. Government is carefully considering these recommendations.
We continually engage with stakeholders from women’s and transgender communities and we would consider their views before making any changes to legislation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Hollobone on 2016-07-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure (a) the territorial integrity and (b) improved border arrangements with Spain of Gibraltar.
Mr David Lidington
The United Kingdom will continue to stand by Gibraltar. We are confident of the United Kingdom’s sovereignty over the whole of Gibraltar, including British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, and have been firm in our commitment to the double lock. We will continue to protect the rights of the people of Gibraltar to remain British, for as long as they wish to do so.
Maintaining a well-functioning Gibraltar-Spain border is one of our top priorities. We welcome the overall downward trend in border delays since their height in 2013, but we are alive to the risk of a return to disproportionate delays at any time. Her Majesty’s Government is working closely with Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar and European partners ahead of proposed changes to the Schengen Border Code later this year to ensure that delays due to security checks are not disproportionate. As we prepare for the process to exit the EU, we will fully involve Gibraltar to ensure that its interests are taken properly into account.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Redfern on 2016-09-15.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to promote the role of regional airports in stimulating the UK economy.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The government made clear in its Aviation Policy Framework, that airports across the UK make a vital contribution to the growth and recovery of regional and local economies and their role in helping to accommodate wider forecast growth in demand for aviation in the UK. The government recognises that regional air connectivity across the UK is also very important and announced in November 2015 that it will provide around £7million of start-up aid from the Regional Air Connectivity Fund over the next three financial years to support 11 new air routes from smaller airports. The Fund is also providing support to two Public Service Obligation routes from London to Dundee and Newquay. The UK government has also recently agreed in principle to support the air route between City of Derry Airport and London.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2015-11-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons the number and proportion of people receiving consultant-led mental health treatment within 18 weeks of referral is not recorded centrally; and what plans he has record such information.
Alistair Burt
The number and proportion of people receiving consultant-led mental health treatment is recorded within the monthly consultant-led referral to treatment waiting times collection, but is not separately identifiable. Data are separately identifiable for 18 high volume specialties, but most mental health treatment is not consultant-led.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2015-12-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 2 November 2015 to Question 13605, on Tenancy Deposit Schemes, if he will provide that information for 2014-15.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Burrowes on 2016-01-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the local government finance settlement will be subject to a needs-led review.
Mr Marcus Jones
The consultation on the provisional local government finance settlement for 2016-17 closed on 15 January. We are considering carefully all the responses and other representations made and will present final proposals soon to enable local authorities to set their budgets for 2016-17.
At the outset of the current system of business rates retention in 2013-14, we said there would be periodic reviews to take account of changes to needs and resources. As part of the move towards 100% business rates retention by the end of this Parliament, we will work with local government on the approach to implementing these reforms, including on the treatment of needs and resources, and will consult on proposed changes.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government has sought from or been given permission by the Italian government for use of the Sigonella air station in Sicily.
Penny Mordaunt
The UK Government has permission to operate from Naval Air Station (NAS) Sigonella. We make frequent use of it, for example in 2015, three Merlin helicopters were based there as a part of Operation WEALD, which provided search and rescue capability in the Mediterranean.
We are currently operating from NAS Sigonella as part of a NATO anti-submarine warfare exercise, Exercise DYNAMIC MANTA.