The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-19.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it is his policy to change the rate of fuel duty applied to certain isolated and rural areas in response to changes in oil price.
Damian Hinds
The rural fuel duty rebate scheme offers a 5 pence per litre discount on fuel duty for fuel sold in qualifying areas. The rebate does not vary with the price of wholesale oil.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-02-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of a British exit from the EU on the international legal enforceability of protected UK food names.
George Eustice
We have not made an assessment of the potential effect of a British exit from the EU on the international legal enforceability of protected UK food names.
Separately, the Government is taking steps to achieve a significant increase in the number of UK food products covered by the EU’s protected food names scheme. We continue to exert pressure on the European Commission to secure wider international recognition of these products, as well as our wines and spirits drinks that are protected by Geographical Indications, in the context of EU bilateral trade negotiations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Tebbit on 2016-03-02.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any (1) minister, (2) official, or (3) ministerial special adviser, importuned any persons to sign letters concerning the European Referendum or the consequences of a national vote for leaving the EU in national newspapers; and if so, (a) how many were importuned, (b) how many signed, and (c) how many declined to do so.
Lord Bridges of Headley
I refer the Noble Lord to the Prime Minister’s oral response to the Hon Member for Mid Bedfordshire on 22 February 2016: Column 32.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nusrat Ghani on 2016-04-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what operational mitigation measures have been proposed by (a) Heathrow Airport Limited and (b) Gatwick Airport Limited to reduce the effect of aviation noise in the event of expansion of those airports.
Mr Robert Goodwill
Heathrow Airport Ltd. and Gatwick Airport Ltd. have published proposals on their respective websites to mitigate the impacts of aviation noise. The Government is continuing to engage with promoters for all three schemes shortlisted by the Airports Commission to develop the best possible packages of mitigation measures, including on noise.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-05-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which bodies are responsible for maintaining food hygiene standards in state funded primary and secondary schools; and what steps he is taking to support those schools which are found to be in need of improvement in that area.
Jane Ellison
Local authorities are responsible for food hygiene inspections of schools. Food hygiene legislation requires these premises to be registered as food businesses. The Food Standards Agency, which sets policy for and monitors enforcement of food safety legislation by local authorities, has advised that approximately 99% of educational establishments have satisfactory or better food hygiene standards.
Local authorities work with food businesses to make improvements in any premises that fail to meet satisfactory standards during inspections and may take a range of enforcement actions as considered appropriate in the circumstances of each case. The hon. Member or members of his constituency may contact the relevant local authority or the Food Standards Agency for detailed information about specific premises that may be of concern to him.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachel Reeves on 2016-07-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what provision schools make for Muslim children who want to take time off school for Eid.
Nick Gibb
A school should treat a pupil’s absence as authorised if a pupil is unable to attend on a day exclusively set apart for religious observance by the religious body to which their parent belongs.
This is set out in Regulation 6(2)(b)(ii) of the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006, available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2006/1751/regulation/6/made
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with how many local authorities his Department has worked to improve budgeting advice for universal credit claimants.
Damian Hinds
Universal Credit has introduced Personal Budgeting Support to provide budgeting and money advice to claimants as part of Universal Support provisions. We have engaged with all 380 local authorities in delivering this.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by William Wragg on 2015-11-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to ensure that smart meters provide the maximum possible benefits for consumers.
Andrea Leadsom
Smart meters will bring and end to estimated bills, make switching faster, and give bill payers more control ovr their energy use. It is vital that all consumers in Britain can benefit, so we’re requiring energy suppliers to offer a smart meter to every home and small business by the end of 2020.
Good progress is being made – over 1.7 million meters are already operating under the Programme.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Greaves on 2015-12-08.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government with which local authorities in England they are discussing an arrangement for the settlement of refugees from Syria.
Lord Bates
The Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme operates on a voluntary basis, and we are in discussions with local authorities across the UK regarding their participation. Resettlement can be a sensitive issue for local areas, and we therefore cannot disclose which local authorities are considering their involvement without their consent.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Melanie Onn on 2016-01-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the overall effect of changes to housing legislation and housing-related benefits which have come into force since 2010.
Brandon Lewis
Government interventions are reinvigorating the housing market. The number of new homes delivered last year was up by 25 per cent on the previous year, the highest year on year rise for 28 years. Completions are up and housing starts at their highest annual level since 2007, with more than 277,000 affordable homes delivered since April 2010 .
We have announced a doubling of the housing budget to more than £20 billion over the next five years to support the largest housing programme by any Government since the 1970’s
Between 2000/01 and 2012/13, the Housing Benefit bill more than doubled to £24 billion and the cost to the taxpayer increased 50%.