Category: Speeches

Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-11.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many loans from the European Investment Bank were approved in the UK by (a) constituent region and nation and (b) local authority area in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke

Answer: The EIB publish all loans made to UK borrowers. The link below provides information on lending volumes to the UK and details on individual UK projects are available on the EIB website.

http://www.eib.org/projects/regions/european-union/united-kingdom/index.htm

01/01/2023
Helen Goodman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2015-11-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with FIFA officials on the candidacy of Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa for FIFA President.

Tracey Crouch

I have had no discussions with FIFA officials regarding candidates standing for the FIFA Presidency.

01/01/2023
Paul Monaghan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Monaghan on 2015-11-27.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what correspondence the Government has had with the Clydesdale Bank on implementation of the Access to Banking Protocol and the (a) closure of branches and (b) reduction of banking services in the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross constituency.

Harriett Baldwin

The Government welcomed the industry-wide Access to Banking protocol announced in March 2015. From the first of May this year, each participating bank has committed to carry out a number of steps if it is closing a branch. This includes establishing the impact of a branch closure before it takes place; finding suitable alternative provision; and putting in place suitable alternative measures before a branch is closed.

There is a commitment to review the operation of the protocol after one year. In August, the Minister for Small Business, Industry and Enterprise and I wrote to the Chief Executive of the British Bankers’ Association and requested an update on progress towards the appointment of an independent reviewer. A copy of the letter was also sent to the Chief Executives of the banks that are signatories to the Access to Banking protocol.

Banks and building societies need to balance customer interests, market competition, and other commercial factors when considering their strategy.

Decisions on the opening and closing of individual bank branches are taken by the management of each bank on a commercial basis without intervention from Government.

01/01/2023
John Healey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Healey on 2016-01-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many new affordable homes to (a) rent and (b) buy will be built via section 106 Planning Obligations on the direct commissioning sites at (i) Old Oak Common, (ii) Northstowe, (iii) Lower Grayling Well, (iv) Connaught Barracks and (v) Daedelus Waterfront.

Brandon Lewis

The holding costs for the site relate to the entirety of the site and are consistent with the legal and health and safety obligations of the Homes and Communities Agency as land owner.

01/01/2023
Victoria Borwick – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Victoria Borwick on 2016-02-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government steps to encourage local authorities (a) to use their powers under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and (b) in other ways to allocate space for surgeries in new developments.

Alistair Burt

Departmental officials have regular contact with those at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG). Discussions have included the funding of local infrastructure through the community infrastructure levy and section 106 agreements. We consider that national planning guidance published by DCLG provides local planning authorities with the required information to enable them to assess the future provision of local infrastructure which will include health and social care facilities.

The provision of national health services in England is managed by clinical commissioning groups and NHS England. In order to assess whether new surgeries or other healthcare facilities will be required as a result of new development, local planning authorities should engage with these commissioners.

They should be able to assess whether existing health services will be adversely affected by a new residential scheme and if so, what additional healthcare facilities would be required. This could include the enlargement of existing premises or lead to a requirement for new accommodation. Based on this information, the local planning authority has to make a decision on the appropriate funding arrangements for the required infrastructure resulting from a new development.

We consider the best solution in this matter is for local planning authorities to use their existing powers to consult with the commissioners rather than any intervention by the Department.

01/01/2023
Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-02-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if the Government will reverse its decision to impose an annual charge to Australian and New Zealand citizens for use of the NHS.

James Brokenshire

The Impact Assessment published on 4 February 2016, alongside the draft Immigration (Health Charge) (Amendment) Order 2016, estimates that a net additional £41 million could be raised for the NHS in present value, over 5 years, in 2016-17 prices, by applying the health charge to Australian and New Zealand nationals and reducing the annual health charge for Youth Mobility Scheme visa applicants from £200 to £150.

The Impact Assessment can be viewed at the link below and is also available in the Vote Office (Commons):

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2016/9780111143278/impacts

These changes are subject to affirmative resolution and will be debated in the House of Commons and House of Lords. If they are approved by Parliament, the Government plans to implement the changes from 6 April.

The Government think it only fair that Australian and New Zealand nationals contribute to the UK’s health service in the same way as other non-EEA nationals.

The changes will only apply to Australian and New Zealand nationals who plan to enter the UK for a temporary period of more than six months; visitors will not need to pay the charge and Australians and New Zealanders will continue to benefit from our reciprocal healthcare agreements.

Further, the Government has in recognition of the close and important links between our countries, agreed during discussions with the Australian and New Zealand Governments, to reduce the health charge that applies to the Youth Mobility Scheme from £200 to £150 in line with students. This is the category used by more than half of Australian and New Zealand nationals granted visas to the UK.

01/01/2023
Paul Blomfield – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-03-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many reparation orders have been made by HM Courts and Tribunals Service against people convicted of modern slavery offences in each of the last six months.

Mike Penning

The information requested can be found in the CJS Outcomes by Offence data tool at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2014

Data for 2015 and 2016 will be published in due course.

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01/01/2023
Andrew Rosindell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-04-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 29 February 2016 to Questions 28144 and 28086, if her Department will take into account, when making a decision on granting right to abode, the Government’s obligations for life under the Armed Forces Covenant to support veterans and their families.

James Brokenshire

The assessment of the request by former members of the Hong Kong Military Service Corps that they be granted right of abode in the UK is under consideration. This will take into account all available information.

01/01/2023
Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-05-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidelines his Department issues on continued payment of housing benefit when a person remains in hospital for longer than 52 weeks.

Justin Tomlinson

Guidance for local authority staff about temporary absence from home is contained in the Housing Benefit Manuals on GOV.UK. The guidance for absences of up to 52 weeks is covered in paragraphs 3.530 – 3.534 of Chapter A3.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236950/hbgm-a3-liability-to-make-payments.pdf

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01/01/2023

Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-07-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many applications from maintained schools to convert to academy status were (a) approved and (b) declined by each regional schools commissioner in 2015.

Edward Timpson

The table below shows the total number of applications received in 2015 from Local Authority maintained schools and how many of these were subsequently approved or declined. The information is split by the RSC region in which the schools are located. Please note that the decision to approve or decline may in some instances have been made by ministers.

RSC region	Total number of applications received in 2015	Number of applications received in 2015 that were approved	Number of applications received in 2015 that were declined
East Midlands & Humber	59	43	3
Lancashire & West Yorkshire	42	35	1
North	63	49	0
North East London & East	55	55	0
North West London & South Central	55	52	0
South London & South East	56	49	1
South West	90	74	0
West Midlands	113	100	1
Total	533	457	6

A small number of applications received in 2015 have been withdrawn or not yet decided.

The data is correct as at 1 July 2016.

01/01/2023