Category: Speeches

  • Michelle Donelan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Michelle Donelan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Donelan on 2016-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he next plans to review speed limits in England.

    Andrew Jones

    There are no plans to review national speed limits in England except for temporary speed limits at road works. Local traffic authorities are responsible for setting speed limits on local roads where local needs and conditions suggest a speed limit which is lower than the national speed limit. Traffic authorities have the flexibility to set local speed limits that are appropriate for the individual road, reflecting local needs and taking account of local considerations.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-06-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what penalties he is able to levy on the Thameslink, Southern and Great Northern franchisee if the terms of that franchise are breached or its performance is judged to be inadequate; and whether any such penalties have been imposed since that franchise commenced.

    Claire Perry

    The “Enforcement Policy: Rail Franchise Agreements and Closures” sets out what actions can be taken; a copy of this is attached, and a copy will be placed in the libraries of both Houses.

  • Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Dawn Butler – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dawn Butler on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make it illegal to disable a diesel particulate filter.

    Mr John Hayes

    It is an offence under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations (Regulation 61a(3)) to use on a road a vehicle which has been modified in such a way that it no longer complies with the air pollutant emissions standards it was designed to meet. Removal of a diesel particulate filter (DPF), from a vehicle used on the road, will invariably result in a contravention of the Regulations (making the vehicle unlawful to use on the road). The potential penalties are £1,000 for a car and £2,500 for a van, lorry or bus.

    Under section 75 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, it is an offence to alter a vehicle in such a way that the use of the vehicle on a road would be unlawful. Thus both the vehicle user and the person disabling the DPF (if they knew or believed that the vehicle would be used on the road) could be found guilty of an offence under the Act.

  • Baroness Lister of Burtersett – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Baroness Lister of Burtersett – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett on 2015-11-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the median amount of (1) child benefit, and (2) child tax credit, received by working families with children whose family earnings are at least £23,000 in Greater London, or £20,000 outside Greater London.

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    The government is committed to achieving a higher wage, lower tax, lower welfare economy. That means more emphasis on support to working families on low incomes through reducing tax and increasing wages, than on topping up low wages through tax credits.

    The Chancellor is listening to concerns raised by colleagues and will announce in his Autumn Statement how he plans to achieve the same goal of reforming tax credits and saving the money we need to secure our economy, while at the same time helping in the transition.

    HM Revenue & Customs publish statistics about individuals and households claiming tax credits and child benefits, which are available on the gov.uk website.

  • Julie Cooper – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Julie Cooper – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Cooper on 2015-11-30.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the benefit to the public purse of the closing of tax loopholes in each of the next five years.

    Mr David Gauke

    Revenue protected in connection with avoidance measures is scored in relevant documentation published by HM Treasury.

    However, for convenience on 19 March 2015 the coalition government published a document detailing the action taken over the course of the last Parliament to tackle tax evasion and avoidance. That document can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling-tax-evasion-and-avoidance

    “

  • Alex Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Alex Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2015-11-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans she has to consult (a) parliamentarians and (b) the public on her Department’s 25 year plan for a healthy natural economy.

    Rory Stewart

    The Government is currently developing the framework that will guide the development of the 25 year environment plan, which will be published in early 2016. Over the course of 2016, supported by the Natural Capital Committee, we will be engaging with a wide range of interested parties and the public on the detailed content of the plan.

  • Lord Beecham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Lord Beecham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2016-01-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to review the operation of property guardianship schemes, and if so, whether that review will include the level of charges, standard of living conditions, and impact on local authority finances.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    The Government does not have any involvement in these arrangements. We have no plans to change that.

  • Stephen Hepburn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Stephen Hepburn – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Hepburn on 2016-02-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of construction prosecutions has resulted in a conviction in each of the last five years.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The percentage of construction (Standard Industrial Classification, section F) prosecutions completed in the relevant year and resulting in a conviction in each of the last five years, is as follows:

    Year

    Cases for which legal proceedings have been instituted

    Convictions

    Percentage resulting in conviction

    2010/11

    218

    201

    92%

    2011/12

    241

    220

    91%

    2012/13

    220

    209

    95%

    2013/14r

    225

    209

    93%

    2014/15p

    258

    243

    94%

    p – provisional

    r – revised
  • Nick Thomas-Symonds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Nick Thomas-Symonds – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-02-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, which universities have (a) introduced and (b) committed to introduce degree apprenticeships since September 2015; how many such degree apprenticeships each such university has introduced since September 2015; and in which industries those degree apprenticeships have been in.

    Nick Boles

    We will not have final numbers until after the academic year in question, however Individualised Learner Record (ILR) data for August to October 2015 (reported to date and rounded to the nearest 10) show that two universities – Sheffield Hallam University and University of Northumbria at Newcastle – have reported Level 6 apprenticeship standards starts. Sheffield Hallam University has 10 Level 6 apprenticeship standards starts in the management and leadership discipline, and University of Northumbria at Newcastle has 20 Level 6 apprenticeship standard starts in the digital industry.

    A further 19 universities have committed to the introduction of higher and degree apprenticeships since September 2015.

  • Stuart C. McDonald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Stuart C. McDonald – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stuart C. McDonald on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish all correspondence between her Department and ETS relating to allegations of English language text fraud.

    James Brokenshire

    There are on-going criminal investigations and prosecutions into matters connected with cheating in ETS tests and it would be inappropriate to release any information or details of correspondence in the circumstances.