Category: Speeches

  • Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Clive Lewis – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Lewis on 2016-05-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April 2016 to Question 35137, what estimate she has made of the proportion of fuel poor households needed to reach the interim energy efficiency target of EPC band E by 2020 using the fuel poverty efficiency rating methodology that will be households in receipt of the Warm Homes Discount Scheme.

    Andrea Leadsom

    The number of F and G-rated fuel poor households [1] in England that will be in receipt of Warm Home Discount to 2020 will depend on changes in the energy efficiency of the housing stock and reforms to the welfare system over time.

    Based on current scheme eligibility, we estimate that around 25% of F and G-rated fuel poor households in England are eligible for Warm Home Discount.

    The Warm Home Discount has an important role in supporting households with their energy bills but is not the primary way we are addressing fuel poverty in the long term. We are reforming the Energy Company Obligation to improve the energy efficiency of homes that need it most, tackling the root cause of fuel poverty.

    [1] As measured by the Fuel Poverty Energy Efficiency Rating. More information is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/332236/fpeer_methodology.pdf

    “

  • The Countess of Mar – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The Countess of Mar – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Countess of Mar on 2016-06-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to amend Section 4:4 of The Blue Badge Scheme Local Authority Guidance (England) to exclude the first sentence that specifies certain medical conditions in order to ensure that eligibility is based on disability or ill health regardless of diagnosis.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    The Government has no current plans to amend the non-statutory guidance to local authorities about the Blue Badge scheme. As the guidance makes clear “Each application should be considered on its merits – not on a “one size fits all” basis. The final decision about whether an applicant meets the criterion is for the issuing authority to make.”.

  • Lord Taylor of Warwick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Lord Taylor of Warwick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick on 2016-09-06.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the finding of the Ernst & Young study on the employment landscape for young people in the UK that there are significant variations in youth unemployment rates across different regions of the UK.

    Lord Freud

    Nationally, nearly 86% of young people are either working or in full-time education. Since 2010, the proportion of young people who have left full-time education and are unemployed has fallen to 5.8%, close to the lowest on record. There is always some regional variation, but youth unemployment rates exaggerate this because they are affected by the varying proportion of young people in full-time education. Looking at young people claiming unemployment benefits, which excludes full-time students, the variation between regions is narrower than in 2010, with the West Midlands, Yorkshire & Humberside and the North East having seen the largest falls.

  • Lord Harris of Haringey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lord Harris of Haringey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Harris of Haringey on 2016-10-21.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 12 October (HL Deb, col 1889–90), what steps they have taken to inform parents that the provision of information about their child’s nationality for inclusion in the school censure is optional and that they can decline to provide that information without any adverse consequences.

    Lord Nash

    The Department for Education publishes guidance for schools on administering the school census. It is up to schools to then work with parents and guardians to collect this data. As stated in the guidance (section 5.3.5) the requested information on nationality is as declared by the parent or guardian. The parent or guardian may decline to provide this information to the school without consequences. In such a case, the school would record this as ‘refused’ to meet its statutory duty to make a return.

    However, the Department is aware that a number of schools have not implemented the collection in accordance with the guidance. We will, therefore, work with the sector to consider how it can better support schools in collecting school census data for future rounds.

    To address any uncertainties, I have placed an information note in the House Libraries. This note has also been published on the Department’s public website.

    The guidance is available on the Government’s website, www.gov.uk, by searching for ‘School census 2016 to 2017: guide for schools and LAs’.

  • Rupa Huq – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Rupa Huq – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rupa Huq on 2015-11-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the projected average age of a first time buyer in 2020.

    Brandon Lewis

    My Department does not produce forecasts of the average age of first time buyers.

    The number of first time buyers is the highest for 7 years.

    We are committed to turning Generation Rent into Generation Buy which is why this Government is committed to extending opportunities for homeownership. Since 2010, over 230,000 people have been helped to buy a home using government-backed schemes. The voluntary deal with the housing association sector means that 1.3 million housing association tenants will be given the Right to Buy.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-12-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has conducted of the adequacy of the level of financial support offered to small businesses that have been in operation for two years or less; and if he will make a statement.

    Anna Soubry

    The Government recognises that new businesses can encounter difficulties in obtaining the finance they need to start-up or grow. However I am encouraged that net lending to smaller businesses has been recovering strongly since the end of 2014. The Bank of England has reported that credit conditions for SMEs seeking finance are improving and the SME Finance Monitor shows that 80% of SME loan and overdraft applications were successful in the 18 months to 2015 Q3, up from 68% in Q4 2013.

    Latest figures show that net SME lending from banks participating in the Funding for Lending Scheme grew by £675m in the third quarter and the Bank of England recently announced that allowances earned by banks for increasing their net lending under the scheme will be available to draw down for a further two years. The government also continues to fund start-up loans, with more than 33,000 loans worth over £180 million issued so far and a target to deliver 75,000 loans by the end of the parliament.

    I am also encouraged by our growing alternative finance sector, with the UK the leading fin tech centre of Europe.

    A recent report from the Legatum Institute rated the UK as the best country in the EU in which to start a business and the government will continue to back our small businesses to start and grow.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Mark Hendrick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2016-01-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he has taken to improve the time to respond to correspondence from hon. Members and Peers since the tabling of the statement on 3 June 2015, Handling Members’ Correspondence in 2014, HCWS11.

    Brandon Lewis

    I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 15 December 2015, PQ 19650.

    The reporting of performance of Government Departments in handling correspondence from hon. Members is co-ordinated by the Cabinet Office and published annually.

  • Gavin Robinson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Gavin Robinson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Robinson on 2016-02-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of pregnancies result in a diagnosis of post-natal depression.

    Alistair Burt

    We are advised by the Health and Social Care Information Centre that data is not collected on the diagnosis of post-natal depression.

    The NHS Improving Quality report; Improving Access to Perinatal Mental Health Services in England – A review (published September 2015), says that post-natal depression prevalence within the first few post-natal months is estimated to be 13%. This suggests that following the 687,346 maternities in 2014 in England and Wales, there were around 90,000 women in 2014 who suffered from post-natal depression in the first few post-natal months.

  • Brendan O’Hara – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Brendan O’Hara – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Brendan O’Hara on 2016-02-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Government plans to issue requirements for the second round of consideration of locations for a UK spaceport.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The 2014 Government Spaceplane Review provided the groundwork for enabling spaceplane operations from the UK, including identifying key criteria for locating a UK spaceport, and identifying potential locations based on these. The Government tested the conclusions of this review through consultation and published its response in March 2015. This confirmed Campbeltown, Glasgow Prestwick and Stornoway in Scotland, Llanbedr Airfield in Wales and Newquay in England as potential spaceport locations.

    Further information on the Spaceplane review and the Government consultation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/spaceport-locations-and-criteria

    Commercial spaceflight is a complex, international, and evolving market. The Government is considering a range of options on next steps that would best deliver our ambition of a spaceport, and the supporting regulatory environment for spaceflight, within this Parliament.

    The Government is in discussion with the US Government on ITAR-related issues. However, ITAR applications are not a factor at this stage for potential spaceport locations but may become so if a US spaceplane operator seeks to operate from the UK.

  • Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to improve trade with (a) Hong Kong and (b) China as a whole.

    Anna Soubry

    Increasing trade and growth through exports, to all overseas markets including Hong Kong and China is a key factor in the Government’s long-term economic plan. Government departments are working together to support UK businesses looking to take advantage of overseas opportunities and to create a strong business environment that allows them to flourish on the international stage.

    The focus on China and Hong Kong is exemplified by the fact that UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) has some 180 full-time equivalent posts in these markets, representing its largest overseas team working on trade and investment. UKTI also works in partnership with the China Britain Business Council (CBBC) which delivers volume trade support on its behalf for UK companies looking to export to China. CBBC offers support for UK businesses across 13 strategic locations in China.