The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Whitehead on 2016-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on what date he plans to open a consultation on the closure of coal plants by 2025.
Jesse Norman
Most of the UK’s existing coal fired power stations are old, relatively inefficient and require investment to reduce the level of damaging pollutants they emit. I expect to consult shortly on the closure of unabated coal stations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2015-11-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the type approval regime is for (a) aircraft used at UK airports and (b) ships used at UK ports; and whether there are any emissions standard components to either of those regimes.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The certification of aircraft and aero-engines is primarily the responsibility of the certification authority for the state of manufacture. In Europe this is the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) who also have oversight of aircraft and engines certified in other regions that expect to be registered in the UK or any other European country.
The certification requirement for Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Carbon Monoxide and unburnt hydrocarbon is based on operating the engine on a test bed at different thrust settings to simulate the landing and take-off phases of flight below 3000 feet. The visible smoke test identifies the worst case condition for smoke. A new standard for CO2 emissions from aircraft is being developed and is expected to assess the cruise emissions as this phase dominates total fuel burn. EASA certification Engineers would verify the fuel burn on tightly controlled test flights.
Ships are primarily regulated through the United Nations International Maritime Organization and are subject to a range of technical and operational requirements set down in international law.
Emissions from shipping are subject to controls under Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and a related European regime with performance standards in place for both pollutant emissions and energy efficiency. Where these requirements refer to the type approval of specific equipment, an approval process is carried out against the agreed standard to ensure the equipment is fit for purpose. The type approval of equipment on ships is normally carried out by a certification authority on behalf of a State.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-01-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to devise a written policy for the development, integration and use of military unmanned systems.
Earl Howe
The Ministry of Defence is currently seeking to articulate in one policy document the considerations for future UK capability requirements, development, integration and use of unmanned systems.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-02-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Overseas Security and Justice Assessment assessments the Government has carried out in relation to UK aid and security assistance programmes to Saudi Arabia in the last two years.
Penny Mordaunt
In the past two years the MOD has conducted three Overseas Security and Justice Assessments in relation to security assistance programmes with Saudi Arabia. Such engagement encompasses Defence Exercises, Defence Training in Saudi Arabia, Defence training in the UK (or a third party country), High Level International Engagement, UK personnel conducting long-term capacity building (Loan Service Teams/British Military Mission) and Working level International Engagement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-02-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2016 to Question 24803, whether Jobcentre work coaches are able to advise universal credit claimants of their eligibility for council tax reductions.
Priti Patel
Due to minor variations between different Local Authorities’ council tax reduction schemes, only the individual local Authority can advise claimants on eligibility requirements for their scheme.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Royston Smith on 2016-03-24.
To ask the Rt. hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, what the annual catering bill is for the House of Commons.
Tom Brake
Income from sales by catering services for the financial year 2014/15 was £9.4 million against costs of £11.8 million, which represents a net total cost for the annual catering bill for the House of Commons of £2.4 million. Figures for 2015/16 will be published in July 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2016-04-29.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 1 February 2016 to Question 24317, when HM Revenue and Customs plans to publish its Business Plan for 2016-17.
Mr David Gauke
HM Revenue and Customs published its Single Departmental Plan 2015 to 2020 on 19th February 2016, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmrc-single-departmental-plan-2015-to-2020
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding her Department has provided to projects operating in the Dadaab refugee camp since 1 January 2010.
Mr Nick Hurd
Between Jan 2010 and March 2016, the UK has contributed £56,525,096 to support refugees in in Dadaab.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Pugh on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many murders have been committed by people in receipt of psychiatric treatment or deemed by a court at the time of trial to require psychiatric treatment for a clinical illness in England and Wales in each of the last five years.
Brandon Lewis
The available information for England and Wales from the Home Office Homicide Index is shown in the attached table and shows the numbers of homicide offences where the court decides that, acting on medical evidence, the suspect should be the subject of a hospital order.
The data does not specifically identify those suspects requiring psychiatric treatment for a clinical illness.
Data is based on the number of offenders whose court proceedings have been completed. Due to the time it can take for cases to pass through the criminal justice system, there is likely to be an increase in the number of people convicted of homicide and given a hospital order for recent years when updated figures are published in 2017.
In addition, the National Confidential Inquiry, based at Manchester University, publishes an annual report on suicide and homicide of people with mental illness, using information from the Homicide Index and Hospital Trust records. The most recent report is available at:
http://research.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/cmhs/research/centreforsuicideprevention/nci/reports/
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what estimate he has made of the cost of (a) hiring and (b) transferring staff in his Department for each fiscal year of the Spending Review period.
Mr Robin Walker
Detailed work is underway to establish the budget required to fulfil the department’s set-up and responsibilities, including staffing budget, over the period of the Spending Review. The budget will be presented to the House of Commons and approved as part of the supplementary estimates in the new year, as is standard practice.