Category: Speeches

  • Baroness Thomas of Winchester – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Baroness Thomas of Winchester – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester on 2016-07-07.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made an assessment of the amount of benefits to which people are entitled that go unclaimed.

    Lord Freud

    On 28th June 2016 the Department for Work and Pensions published the report “Income-related benefits: Estimates of take-up in 2014/15”. The full report has been published online.

    For Great Britain, the following estimates are available for 2014/15:

    • Pension Credit: Up to £3.1 billion of available Pension Credit went unclaimed;
    • Housing Benefit: Up to £4.6 billion of available Housing Benefit went unclaimed;
    • Jobseeker’s Allowance (Income-based): Up to £2.4 billion of available Jobseeker’s Allowance (Income-based) went unclaimed.
    • Income Support and Employment and Support Allowance (Income-related): Up to £2.9 billion of available Income Support and Employment and Support Allowance (Income-related) went unclaimed.
  • Baroness Randerson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Baroness Randerson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-10-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they plan to address the shortfall in revenue from Vehicle Excise Duty since October 2014.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    The amount of vehicle excise duty (VED) collected varies year on year. The Office of Budgetary Responsibility forecast that VED revenue would fall by £300 million in 2015-16. The actual reduction of £93 million was principally caused by the ever increasing number of fuel-efficient cars on the road which attract a lower rate of VED, as well as a small increase in evasion.

    The DVLA operates a comprehensive package of measures to tackle VED evasion. These measures range from reminder letters, penalties and court prosecutions through to the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras, wheel-clamping and the removal of unlicensed vehicles. The latest figures show that 98.6% of all motorists comply with the requirement to pay VED.

  • Alison McGovern – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Alison McGovern – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison McGovern on 2015-11-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on support for people with mental health conditions who claim jobseeker’s allowance.

    Alistair Burt

    Ministers at the Department of Health and Department for Work and Pensions met on 3 June and agreed to greater cross government working between our respective Departments. Following that meeting, the Department of Health and Department for Work and Pensions Work and Health Unit was created to improve the health and employment outcomes of benefit claimants. Next year, the unit will launch a range of voluntary mental health and employment pilots to support working age individuals with or at risk of developing a mental health condition retain and return to employment.

    We know that people come into contact with the welfare system at a time when they may be vulnerable because of unemployment and its associated consequences. The Department for Work and Pensions provides guidance and training for staff to help them identify and support people who may be vulnerable.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 6 of Sir Peter Hendy’s report on the replanning of Network Rail’s Investment Programme, published on 25 November 2015, if he will publish an analysis by cost heading of the £2.8 billion estimate of the cost of Great Western Main Line electrification.

    Claire Perry

    As the Sir Peter Hendy report states, ‘work to update the programme for Great Western Electrification is being concluded as this report is completed. The latest estimates for cost and delivery milestones have been reflected in this report although this is still subject to final review. Electrification to Cardiff is planned to be completed in Control Period 5 (2014-19) within the estimated total cost of £2.8 billion (in 2012-13 prices). As elements of the design programme mature, a more accurate assessment of the cost and delivery schedule will be established.

  • Lord Laird – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Lord Laird – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-01-21.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consultation they have had with community groups, organisations, and individuals to assess whether the policy of parity of esteem set out in the Belfast Agreement 1998 is working effectively, and what action they have taken as a result.

    Lord Dunlop

    I have nothing further to add to my earlier responses on parity of esteem.

  • Lord Stevenson of Balmacara – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Stevenson of Balmacara – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stevenson of Balmacara on 2016-02-10.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will provide an analysis of the main funding sources for those arrested in the UK for alleged terrorist activities as categorised in the 2015 European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report.

    Lord Bates

    We are unable to provide analysis for the arrests included in this report as the information is not centrally recorded in this way, and many of these investigations will be ongoing. However, the UK National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing, released in October 2015, provides our assessment of the methods used to raise funds for terrorism in the UK, drawing on operational experience.

  • Baroness Tonge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Baroness Tonge – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2016-03-07.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of the UK financial commitment to Gaza since fighting ceased in 2014 has been spent, and on what.

    Baroness Verma

    The UK provided more than £17 million in immediate humanitarian assistance for those affected by the Gaza conflict in the summer of 2014. In October 2014, the UK pledged a further £20 million in early recovery assistance at the Gaza Reconstruction Conference in Cairo. The UK has disbursed this pledge in its entirety. Since then the UK has provided more than £25 million of additional support to Gaza for a range of activities, including basic service delivery and support to the private sector.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-04-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the process is for approval of additions or removals of mandatory days for flying the national flag from the list published by his Department on the gov.uk website; which official of his Department has responsibility for that list; and how often that list is revised.

    David Evennett

    My officials discuss any additions or changes with the Lord Chamberlain’s Office. The Designated Days for the flying of the Union Flag are agreed each year and published on the DCMS presence on GOV.UK. There are currently no plans to change the list.

    “

  • Jack Dromey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Jack Dromey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jack Dromey on 2016-05-23.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average time taken to extradite suspected criminals is from category 2 (a) Type A and (b) Type B territories.

    James Brokenshire

    The European Arrest Warrant is designed to speed up the process of extradition. As set out in Command Paper Cm 8897 (Decision pursuant to Article 10(5) of Protocol 36 to The Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union), in terms of average time taken for surrender from the UK to another country, it takes on average about three months to extradite someone under a European Arrest Warrant. Extradition to relevant non-EU countries takes on average about ten months but can, and often does, take considerably longer. Time limits are shorter under the European Arrest Warrant than under the European Convention on Extradition, resulting in shorter times in custody overall.

  • Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-07-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2016 to Question 39341, on his Department’s reorganisation, how much he estimates the reorganisation of his Department’s 1 Victoria Street building will cost.

    Joseph Johnson

    The Department’s 1 Victoria Street building is actively managed to allow for routine changes to its occupancy as the needs of the Department alter over time. Those needs include any organisational change, including changes to pan-Government arrangements, and any opportunities to accommodate other public bodies which lead to estate savings elsewhere. The costs of reorganisation, which will vary by year depending on requirements, are met from the Department’s estates budget through active financial planning. The budget also allows for planned and responsive buildings maintenance where this liability falls to the tenant.