The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Stephenson on 2016-07-06.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of HM Revenue and Customs’ preparedness for handling customer enquiries in advance of the January 2017 self-assessment deadline.
Mr David Gauke
January is always a peak time for customer contact and, as in previous years, will be subject to detailed resource planning. This planning is still at an early stage.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2016-10-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the consultation on transforming the tribunal system Transforming our Justice System is not cross-referenced to the Department for Work and Pensions consultations website, given its relevance to the appeals process for Personal Independence Payment.
Lord Keen of Elie
The noble Lady will be aware that the Government is investing £1 billion to modernise our world-leading justice system. That means creating a system that is just, proportionate and accessible.
The ‘Transforming our Justice System’ consultation is about the administration of justice across all courts and tribunals and not one specific area. My officials are engaging with appropriate stakeholders, including disability groups, on relevant matters.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2015-11-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) independent domestic violence advisers and (b) independent sexual violence advisers operating in the criminal justice system in each year since 2010-11.
Karen Bradley
The previous Government ring-fenced nearly £40 million – £10 million per year – of stable funding up until 2015 for specialist local domestic and sexual violence support services, rape crisis centres, the national domestic violence helplines and stalking helpline. This funding has been extended until April 2016 and includes part-funding for 144 Independent Domestic Violence Advisers (IDVAs) and 87 Independent Sexual Violence Advisers (ISVAs).
The Home Office supports these roles through training and awareness-raising, including for the majority of IDVAs and ISVAs who are employed by local authorities and third sector organisations.
We recognise the importance of specialist support services and are working with voluntary sector partners and local commissioners to assess coverage and need for these specialist advisers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2015-12-11.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what Henry VIII powers were (a) enacted in legislation passed in the 2010 to 2015 Parliament and (b) since May 2015.
Mr Oliver Letwin
Each time the Government proposes a new delegated power in a Bill, it submits a memorandum to the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee setting out the case for the power. These memoranda are published on Parliament’s website.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2016-01-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what progress the Government has made in negotiating with its EU partners about developing anti-dumping measures covering steel imports.
Anna Soubry
The EU’s anti-dumping procedures are driven by requests from EU producers to the European Commission. The Commission is responsible for considering requests for and, if appropriate, opening anti-dumping investigations. My International Comparisons working group agreed to work closely with the steel industry on supporting cases where they provide evidence of dumping, as we did with Celsa Steel and rebar last year.
The Government is strongly in favour of effective trade defences to tackle unfair trade practices. The Government voted in favour of anti-dumping measures on steel products in July and November and it was the UK that lobbied successfully for an investigation into rebar. The Government secured agreement on the need for fast and effective action at an EU level and a robust dialogue with China and other producer countries at the Extraordinary Competitiveness Council in November. We have pressed the Commission to consider ways of speeding up investigations and recently wrote to the Commission with specific proposals. We will be attending a summit meeting on 15 February to push for further progress. Recent announcements by the EU on registration measures for cold rolled strip and rebar show they have listened and are taking swifter action.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-02-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to measure the effectiveness of his Department’s work to tackle obesity.
Jane Ellison
We will be setting out a comprehensive new strategy to tackle childhood obesity in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-03-07.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what effect the tribunal charge is having on claims before industrial tribunals, with particular reference to discrimination and equal pay claims.
Lord Faulks
On 11 June we announced the start of the post-implementation review of the introduction of fees in the Employment Tribunals. This review will consider, so far as is possible, the impact the fees have had on those with protected characteristics who use the Employment Tribunals and the types of case they bring.
The review will report in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-04-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children were subject to child protection procedures in each year since 2010.
Edward Timpson
The requested information can be found within table A2 of the ‘Characteristics of children in need: 2014 to 2015’ statistical first release: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/characteristics-of-children-in-need-2014-to-2015
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachel Reeves on 2016-05-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress has been made on selecting a route for high speed rail across the Pennines.
Andrew Jones
In the recent 2016 Northern Transport Strategy Spring Update, Transport for the North published some of the emerging options for Northern Powerhouse Rail, including new lines and major upgrades across the Pennines.
By the end of the year, Transport for the North and the Department for Transport will have established a more detailed view of the potential route options for Northern Powerhouse Rail, their capabilities, and their costs and benefits, providing the evidence base for prioritising route options.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-07-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many people were living in the private rented sector by (a) age group and (b) local authority area in each of the last five years.
Brandon Lewis
The Department collects information on the age of private renters via the English Housing Survey (EHS). The size of the EHS sample does not permit us to produce local authority estimates. England figures going back to 2003 can be found in AT1.4 here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/501068/2014-15_Section_1_Households_tables_and_figures_FINAL.xlsx