Category: Speeches

  • Craig Whittaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Craig Whittaker – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2016-07-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the outcome of the EU referendum on house prices in West Yorkshire.

    Gavin Barwell

    It is too early to tell. We are keeping markets under review and are actively engaged with house builders. The Secretary of State met with leading industry representatives this week to hear their views.

    The strong demand for housing which underpins the housing market continues – as does our commitment to getting them built at a rate that can achieve our ambition for a million more homes and a million more home owners by 2020.

  • Mark Prisk – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Mark Prisk – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Prisk on 2016-10-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the number of commercial landlords exempt from Energy Efficiency Regulations because of provisions against upfront costs.

    Jesse Norman

    Under the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property)(England and Wales) Regulations 2015, landlords of privately rented commercial property will need to ensure that, from 1 April 2018, their properties reach an energy performance rating of at least an ‘E’ before granting a tenancy to new or existing tenants. Landlords of commercial property are not exempt from having to meet the upfront costs of installing measures to improve performance; instead the regulations provide a cost effectiveness test, and landlords are required to install all recommended energy efficiency improvements which meet, or exceed, a seven year simple payback.

  • Louise Haigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Louise Haigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2015-10-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of senior civil servants in his Department are from a lower socio-economic background.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    This information is not held.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-11-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the decision was taken to transfer Newcastle Central Station to Virgin East Coast rather than to Network Rail.

    Claire Perry

    The East Coast Franchise Agreement provided for the potential transfer of Newcastle Station to Network Rail. The decision to continue with the existing management arrangements of the stations was taken in late August 2015 following a period of negotiation between Virgin Trains East Coast and Network Rail.

    The Department concluded that the best value to the public purse and passengers was to continue with the existing arrangements already in place at Newcastle rather than transfer the station.

  • Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andy Slaughter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2015-12-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many magistrates’ courts opened in each local justice area in each year since 2010.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    The tables below show magistrates’ courts that have opened since 2010. Each of these new courts replaced multiple smaller facilities, providing modern and efficient premises in place of buildings which were unfit for purpose.

    2011

    Westminster Magistrates Court

    2012

    Aberystwyth Justice Centre

    Chelmsford Magistrates Court

    Colchester Magistrates Court

    Newport Magistrates Court

    It is not possible to present the above sites by their local justice areas as many local justice area boundaries change over time.

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-01-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether the Greater Manchester Combined Authority is legally required to consult the public on the sites identified in the draft Greater Manchester Spatial Framework Development Plan.

    James Wharton

    The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities is currently involved in the preparation of a Greater Manchester Spatial Framework Development Plan working with the 10 metropolitan councils in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s area. We understand that this is intended to become a joint development plan document.

    A local authority may arrange for the discharge of any of its functions by a committee, sub-committee, an officer or by any other local authority. The ten local authorities have delegated responsibility for the “coordination” of the Greater Manchester Strategic Framework to Association of Greater Manchester Authorities Executive Board, a committee of the Combined Authority. Under these current arrangements, it is for each individual authority to decide how to engage its members in the production of the document.

    Each local planning authority must also comply with section 18 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, which requires them to prepare a Statement of Community Involvement which should explain how they will engage local communities and other interested parties in producing development plan documents and determining planning applications. This should be published on the local planning authority’s website and it is the authority’s responsibility to ensure that any Development Plan Document is prepared in accordance with it.

    It would not be appropriate for me to meet to discuss the detail of a plan in preparation.

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-02-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what discussions his Department has had with burial authorities and other stakeholders on the reuse of graves.

    Caroline Dinenage

    The issue of burial space is regularly discussed at meetings of the Burial and Cremation Advisory Group, which is chaired by this department and comprises key stakeholders and representatives within government and the wider burial sector. In addition, the department regularly engages on the issue with individual stakeholders, as appropriate.

  • Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-03-15.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he expects the report on electoral fraud by the Government’s Anti-Corruption Champion to be published.

    John Penrose

    Sir Eric Pickles will make his recommendations as soon as he is able. 66 written submissions are under consideration, as well as evidence provided in meetings with specific people and at a seminar of academics, stakeholder organisations and political parties.

  • Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Hunt of Kings Heath – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-04-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the fair-share Transformation Fund for Greater Manchester was calculated.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    NHS England has allocated £450 million to Greater Manchester, representing their fair share of available transformation budgets over the five year period.

    The Greater Manchester share is calculated by applying Greater Manchester’s total target Clinical Commissioning Group allocation as a percentage of the national amount to the relevant national policy and transformation funding. The Transformation Fund is being deployed in accordance with the priorities set out in the Greater Manchester Strategic Plan. A copy of the Plan is attached.

  • Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Justin Madders – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2016-05-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what funding has been allocated by Health Education England for clinical placements for the new nurse training places his Department plans to deliver by the end of the Parliament.

    Ben Gummer

    Following the reforms to higher education healthcare funding, the Government, through Health Education England, will retain the responsibility for commissioning and funding the minimum numbers of clinical placements required to produce sufficient healthcare graduates. The Government is consulting on the widest possible funding solutions to ensure there is sufficient placement capacity across the system, in order to match the expanded number of training places created by the reforms.