The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-04-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children were subject to child protection procedures in each year since 2010.
Edward Timpson
The requested information can be found within table A2 of the ‘Characteristics of children in need: 2014 to 2015’ statistical first release: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/characteristics-of-children-in-need-2014-to-2015
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rachel Reeves on 2016-05-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress has been made on selecting a route for high speed rail across the Pennines.
Andrew Jones
In the recent 2016 Northern Transport Strategy Spring Update, Transport for the North published some of the emerging options for Northern Powerhouse Rail, including new lines and major upgrades across the Pennines.
By the end of the year, Transport for the North and the Department for Transport will have established a more detailed view of the potential route options for Northern Powerhouse Rail, their capabilities, and their costs and benefits, providing the evidence base for prioritising route options.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-07-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many people were living in the private rented sector by (a) age group and (b) local authority area in each of the last five years.
Brandon Lewis
The Department collects information on the age of private renters via the English Housing Survey (EHS). The size of the EHS sample does not permit us to produce local authority estimates. England figures going back to 2003 can be found in AT1.4 here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/501068/2014-15_Section_1_Households_tables_and_figures_FINAL.xlsx
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill on 2016-09-15.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the role that Parliament should play in triggering the Article 50 process, in the subsequent negotiating process, and in approving or otherwise the final terms under which the UK leaves the EU.
Lord Bridges of Headley
The Department for Exiting the EU will work closely with Parliament on what the approach to negotiations should be. The Government’s position is clear: triggering Article 50 is a prerogative power and one that can be exercised by the Government. There are now legal proceedings underway and it would therefore not be appropriate for the Government to comment further on these at this time.
The precise timing, terms and means by which we leave the EU will be determined by the negotiations that follow the triggering of Article 50. We will observe in full all relevant legal and constitutional obligations that apply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-10-20.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff of his Department are involved in the renegotiations of the UK’s tax treaties with developing countries.
Jane Ellison
HM Revenue and Customs’ Tax Treaty Team, which at October 2016 has 10.3 full time equivalent members of staff, is responsible for negotiating the UK’s tax treaties. The make-up of the negotiating programme will vary from year to year which means it is not possible to put an exact figure on the number of staff involved with negotiations with developing countries.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2015-11-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support his Department is giving to Côte d’Ivoire to strengthen its border security with Liberia.
James Duddridge
Through our commitment to the UN Peacekeeping Budget, the UK contributed £23 million to the UN Operation in Côte D’Ivoire (UNOCI) and £19.5m to the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in financial year 2014/2015, both of which help secure the Côte D’Ivoire-Liberia border. The UK has supported UN Security Council Resolutions 2226 and 2239 extending the mandates of both Missions into 2016.
Despite incidents early in 2015, neither UN commander has reported any recent security concerns along the border region. We welcome the improved security situation and greater stability in Liberia and Cote D’Ivoire. We expect both governments to assume increased responsibility for the security of their shared border as the two UN missions begin to draw down.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Reynolds on 2015-12-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to support farmers to invest in new capital equipment.
George Eustice
Investment in the agriculture sector is an important driver to improving its productivity and growth. To support this, the Government has a range of tax and subsidy measures in place.
The Annual Investment Allowance is at its highest ever permanent level of £200,000, with effect from 1 January 2016. This is of particular benefit to firms investing heavily in plant and machinery, such as those in the agricultural sector. From April 2016, self-employed farmers will be able to average their profits for Income Tax purposes for two years or five years. This will enable farmers to spread volatile profits further and better plan their investments.
The Government also supports the agricultural sector through direct recognition of any actual depreciation in the capital gains tax computation at the point of sale. Agricultural land and buildings remain subject to a number of tax reliefs and exemptions including exemptions from business rates, agricultural property relief from inheritance tax and capital gains rollover relief on developed agricultural land.
The Government also supports investment in the agricultural sector through capital grants under the Rural Development Programme. This is primarily through the Countryside Productivity scheme, focusing on innovative investment that will lead to a step change in productivity.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Edwards on 2016-01-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations he has received from the Welsh Government in the last week on the announcement of job losses in South Wales by Tata Steel.
Anna Soubry
In the light of this announcement, we have been discussing with the Welsh Government how we can work together to ensure a sustainable and successful future for the steel industry in Wales. Officials from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills attended the first meeting of the Port Talbot Taskforce on 20th January, which was convened by the Welsh Government to develop plans to limit the impact of the job losses and support the industry further. The Welsh Government also wrote to my Rt hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 19th January.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will place in the Library all correspondence between the Government and EU Commission on the application of EU Directive 41/2003 Institutional Retirement Provision to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
Mr Marcus Jones
We have checked records back to 2007 and there has been no correspondence with the EU Commission by the Government on the application of this directive to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2016-03-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate his Department has made of the number of new apprenticeships in Calder Valley constituency in each of the next four years.
Nick Boles
The Department does not produce estimates of future Apprenticeship starts by Parliamentary constituency.