Category: Speeches

  • Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-03-01.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the technological capacity of small businesses to move to a quarterly digital tax reporting system by 2020.

    Mr David Gauke

    In the context of the Making Tax Digital programme, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has developed a strong understanding of the technological capability of small businesses.

    The vast majority of small businesses are already engaging with HMRC online. For example, 95% of VAT returns and 98% of Corporation Tax returns are submitted online, while a record 89% of self-assessment returns were submitted online in January 2016. In addition, many are already using digital tools to deal with their tax affairs.

    HMRC has additional research underway to further explore digital capability issues. The Department recognises that some people will need support to transition to dealing with their tax affairs digitally and will help those who may struggle to adapt.

    The Government will consult on the details of the Making Tax Digital proposals throughout 2016, including digital capability issues.

  • Rob Marris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Rob Marris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many local authority schools have been found to have made irregular payments to third party suppliers without the necessary contracts in each of the last three years.

    Edward Timpson

    Local authorities are responsible for the oversight of the schools they maintain and carry out their own programmes of financial monitoring.

  • Rebecca Long Bailey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Rebecca Long Bailey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2016-05-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on the imposition of sanctions on the Burundian government.

    James Duddridge

    The UK has led efforts to put into place sanctions against four human rights offenders in Burundi . Should Burundi continue to refuse to engage in dialogue and the political and security situation continue to deteriorate, we will push for further international sanctions against those blocking progress towards peace.

  • Chris Law – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Chris Law – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Law on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to ensure cross-departmental coordination of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

    Sir Desmond Swayne

    The Global Goals were a historic global agreement to eradicate extreme poverty and achieve sustainable development. DFID is working closely with the Cabinet Office and other departments to ensure a joined-up approach to implementing the Goals. The Government will produce a report on the UK’s contribution to implementation this year.

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union

    Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what discussions his Department has had to date with representatives of pharmaceutical companies on the UK voting to leave the EU.

    Mr Robin Walker

    Ministers have met with the Association of The British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) , and The Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union will be attending the EU UK Life Science Steering Board. We will continue to consult with a broad range of stakeholders on the implications of the referendum result, including the pharmaceutical industry.

  • Mark Williams – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Mark Williams – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2015-11-10.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when his Department introduced the Welsh Language Scheme; when that scheme was last updated; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of that scheme.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Government is enthusiastically committed to the Welsh language and to providing Government services in the Welsh language where there is demand for them.

    The Cabinet Office is improving the quality of service for Welsh speakers through user research, conducted jointly by the Wales Office and the Government Digital Service (GDS), as well as feedback from subject matter experts in governmental Welsh Language Units.

    GDS has liaised with government departments on a user needs-based review of current Welsh-language content on GOV.UK. The content in Welsh will be more prominently promoted from the equivalent English-language pages.

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  • Mrs Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Mrs Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mrs Madeleine Moon on 2015-12-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many military chapels there are in England and Wales; and how many such chapels are registered to conduct (a) same-sex and (b) other marriages.

    Penny Mordaunt

    There are 190 military chapels in England and Wales registered for marriages under the rites of Church of England or otherwise, as described under sections 69 and 70 of the 1949 Marriage Act.

    The Ministry of Defence allows same-sex marriages in military chapels, but none of the Sending Churches using the chapels currently allows same-sex marriages to be conducted there. I have asked the Chaplaincies of the three Services to advise me on how Parliament’s sanction of same sex-marriages may be fully implemented.

  • Oliver Colvile – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Oliver Colvile – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Oliver Colvile on 2016-01-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many young people over the age of 16 who are not in education, employment or training have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum condition or identified as having autism-related needs.

    Nick Boles

    The Department does not hold this information.

    The 0-25 Special Educational Needs and Disability system extends the rights that children with SEND of compulsory school age previously enjoyed to all those who are studying after the age of 16.All further education providers must now have regard to the SEND Code of Practice[1], and must endeavour to meet the needs of students with SEND, including those with autism.

    In 2015-16 the Department is providing funding of £239,502 for Ambitious about Autism to extend their previous grant-funded project, Finished at School, which developed an innovative, integrated model of transition support to enable more young people with complex autism and learning disabilities to access further education and training beyond school.

    [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-code-of-practice-0-to-25

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  • Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-02-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what plans she has to increase investment in home insulation.

    Andrea Leadsom

    We have made a commitment to insulate 1 million more homes this Parliament.

    We are providing support for households to improve their energy efficiency through a reformed domestic supplier obligation (ECO) from April 2017. This will run for five years, with a value of £640 million per year.

    Additionally, our Private Rented Sector Energy Efficiency Regulations made law from March 2015, will help up to 1 million domestic tenants in the private rented sector. This is expected to grow over time as people move from property to property.

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 29 February to Question 27441, if he will place in the Library the report received by the Civil Aviation Authority on the emergency landing of 25 January.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    In the UK it has long been the case that in order to contribute effectively to the improvement of flight safety, reportable occurrences in aviation are treated confidentially to maintain full and free reporting from the aviation community and to protect the identity of the individual.

    Occurrence reporting is now covered by (EU) Regulation No 376/2014. It requires that the reporting, analysis and follow-up to an occurrence pursuant to an ongoing CAA investigation remains confidential. For this reason, we are unable to place the report in the Commons Library.

    However, the Regulation does permit information to be released on request to interested parties that have a genuine safety related need for the information. An Application can be made at www.caa.co.uk

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