Category: Speeches

  • Jonathan Ashworth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Jonathan Ashworth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2015-09-16.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Enterprise Investment Scheme will be available to fund the construction of diesel power stations taking part in Capacity Market auctions after 2015.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Revenue and ‎Customs (HMRC), which administers the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), does not keep a record of the number of diesel power generation companies receiving capacity market payments that have received investments under the EIS.

    HMRC does not disclose details of companies that have raised investments under the EIS.

    No estimate has been made of the number of diesel power stations taking part in the next Capacity Market Auction that may receive investments under the EIS. Whether a company qualifies for EIS depends on its individual circumstances.

    The Government keeps all tax schemes under review, to ensure that any reliefs continue to encourage investment in a well-targeted and effective manner.

  • Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2015-09-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much (a) direct resource and (b) capital departmental expenditure limit funding his Department received from the Department for Health in relation to the (i) provision of improved psychiatric support to the armed forces and (ii) Midlands Medical Accommodation project in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

    Mark Lancaster

    The Department of Health (DoH) has provided Resource Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) funding in support of improved mental health care for the Armed Forces and Capital DEL funding for the Midlands Medical Accommodation (MMA) project. These funding arrangements between the DoH and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) commenced in Financial Year 2011-2012. DoH funding in each of the last four Financial Years was:

    Financial Year

    2011-2012

    2012-2013

    2013-2014

    2014-2015

    £ million

    £ million

    £ million

    £ million

    Improved mental health care

    1.01

    1.01

    1.79

    0.71

    MMA

    19

    26.67

    25

    10

    DoH funding in support of improved mental health care has been spent in a number of areas including, but not limited to; the provision of mental health social workers; civilian and locum manpower and enhanced training, assessment and support tools.

    The figures shown in the table exclude DoH funding spent on MOD research associated with mental health issues, as it has not been possible to separately identify this from other expenditure.

  • Barry Sheerman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Barry Sheerman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-09-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent decisions she has had with (a) representatives of the EU and (b) her counterparts in other member states on EU timber regulations.

    Rory Stewart

    Defra officials regularly discuss the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) and the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Regulation with both the European Commission and other EU Member States.

    Most recently (September 2015) Defra officials participated in a FLEGT/EUTR Expert Group meeting in Brussels, covering a range of related issues including implementation of the two regulations across the EU.

  • Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2015-09-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the NHS budget was spent on people with long-term health conditions in each financial year from 2000-01 to 2014-15; and if he will make a statement.

    Jane Ellison

    The most recent estimate on overall costs of long term conditions is set out in the Long Term Conditions Compendium of Information: Third Edition, which was published in 2012. The Compendium estimates that, in total, around 70% of the total health and care spend in England is attributed to caring for people with long term conditions.

  • Mike Kane – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Mike Kane – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Kane on 2015-09-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will estimate the effect on demand on policing services of budgetary reductions in other government departments.

    Mike Penning

    Home Office officials are working with the police and other government departments as part of the Spending Review preparations. This work includes understanding of the interface between the police and other agencies. We encourage greater joint working to continue to reduce crime and manage demand. The Department also welcomed the College of Policing report “Estimating demand on the police service", published in January, which included analysis of non crime demand. The report is available on the College of Policing website www.college.police.uk

    “

  • Douglas Carswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Douglas Carswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-09-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what plans his Department has for implementation of the ruling of the European Court of Justice in case C-266/14 of 10 September 2015, on justice and citizens’ rights.

    Nick Boles

    This judgment of the European Court of Justice automatically became part of UK law on the date of its publication. It is not necessary to amend UK domestic legislation to implement the judgment.

  • Gary Streeter – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Gary Streeter – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gary Streeter on 2015-09-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what infrastructure upgrades, other than the Reading rebuilding project, are being undertaken or planned to gain journey time benefit for the South West Peninsula from the new high-speed AT300 trains when they are introduced in December 2018.

    Claire Perry

    As part of the long-term economic plan to increase growth and create jobs in the South West, this Government has a commitment to £7.2 billion investment in transport infrastructure in the South West over this Parliament.

    As the Secretary of State for Transport set out in his oral statement to the House on 25 June, he has asked the new Chair of Network Rail, Sir Peter Hendy, to re-plan the enhancements programme. A full assessment of the delivery of the enhancements programme will be a specific task of the re-plan, which is due to report back in the autumn.

  • David Amess – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    David Amess – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department has (a) taken in each of the last three years and (b) plans to take in the next two years to ensure that war memorials are properly maintained and kept in a good state of repair; and if he will make a statement.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    DCMS has spent the following amounts maintaining national memorials in each of the last three years. The Memorials Grant Scheme is available to charities and faith groups, and can be used for works involving war memorials. The scheme will be available until 31 March 2015.

    Year

    Spend (£)

    2013/14

    529,000

    2012/13

    269,000

    2011/12

    334,000

    The Government has announced this week that it will give the War Memorials Trust up to £3 million over the First World War centenary period to boost the funds available to local communities for the repair and conservation of war memorials. English Heritage, Imperial War Museums and Civic Voice will together be given £1.5 million over the same period to deliver better protection through Listing, a greater pool of specialist skills, a national register of war memorials, and a network of trained volunteers.

  • Mark Menzies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Mark Menzies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Menzies on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he is taking to ensure that the distribution of shale gas community benefit funds go to those households closest to potential drilling sites.

    Michael Fallon

    We have welcomed a package of community benefits that was put forward by industry. It is encouraging that industry will offer £100,000 per fractured well site during exploration, so communities can benefit early, as well as 1% of revenues at production.

    The UK Onshore Operators Group has provided more information about the community benefits scheme and will be partnering with the UK Communities Foundation for two pilot schemes during the exploration stage. The UK Communities Foundation will work with local residents to use the funding according to their needs and priorities. UKOOG also announced further consultation on payments at production stage.

  • Virendra Sharma – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Virendra Sharma – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of potential links between alcohol and obesity.

    Jane Ellison

    The Government’s “Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A call to action on obesity in England”, October 2011, states that alcoholic drinks can be high in calories and contribute to the energy imbalance that can lead to being overweight and obesity. A copy of the document has already been placed in the Library.