Category: Speeches

  • Richard Benyon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Richard Benyon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Benyon on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what basic measures his Department takes in relation to (a) controls on abstraction and (b) prevent and control pollutants from diffuse sources in order to comply with Article 11.3 of the Water Framework Directive.

    Dan Rogerson

    Controls on water abstraction are applied through the licensing system operated by the Environment Agency, which sets out prior authorisation and control of water abstractions and impoundments.

    Measures to prevent and control pollutants from diffuse sources include:

    i. Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010. These make it an offence to cause or knowingly permit a water discharge activity or groundwater activity, except under, and to the extent authorised by, an environmental permit. The Environment Agency regulates discharges under the environmental permitting regime. It can carry out works itself to rectify activities causing pollution, or issue anti-pollution works notices to require work to take place to prevent, remedy or prohibit pollution, as well as prosecuting offenders if pollution does take place;

    ii. the Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations 2008, which aim to reduce agricultural nitrate pollution and the risk of further such pollution occurring. The regulations implement the Nitrates Directive, and apply within designated Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (57% of England);

    iii. the Water Resources (Control of Pollution)(Silage, Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil)(England) Regulations 2010, which set standards for storing silage, livestock slurry and agricultural fuel oil to minimise the risk of water pollution. These are applicable nationally; and

    iv. cross-compliance requirements for those farmers claiming direct payments and those participating in various rural development schemes.

  • Ian Austin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Ian Austin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2014-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department’s policy is on whether receiving parents should be responsible for estimating the weekly expenses of the paying parent in the calculation of child maintenance entitlement.

    Steve Webb

    Section 14 of the Child Support Act 1991 and the Child Support Information Regulations 2008 provide the Child Support Agency and Child Maintenance Service with wide powers to obtain information from parents and third parties for the purpose of making decisions relating to child maintenance, including those decisions which relate to establishing the child maintenance of a Paying Parent.

    The Receiving Parent is not responsible for estimating the weekly expenses of a Paying Parent. The Child Maintenance Service, which administers the 2012 Scheme, is built to make best use of taxable income information that is regularly and reliably available from HMRC. However, in the 1993 and 2003 schemes, administered by the Child Support Agency, the Receiving Parent can sometimes be asked to provide evidence of expenditure in order to support an application for a variation on the grounds of “lifestyle inconsistent with declared income”.

  • Sammy Wilson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Sammy Wilson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sammy Wilson on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make it his policy to research the use of non-slip surfaces for man-holes in order to reduce the number of accidents involving motor cycles.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    There are various types of manhole covers on the market that have enhanced skid resistance. In addition, the Institute of Highways Engineers has produced guidance on locating manhole covers to reduce the risk to they pose to motorcyclists. As such, the Department currently has no plans to commission research on these issues.

  • Catherine McKinnell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Catherine McKinnell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2014-03-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 2.42 of Budget 2014, whether the Regional Air Connectivity Fund will only be available to new domestic routes; which regional airports will be eligible; when funding is likely to become available; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Chancellor announced in this year’s Budget that funding to maintain existing air connectivity to London – first announced in the 2013 Spending Round last June – will increase from £10million to £20million per year. The Chancellor also announced that support from this funding will be provided for start-up aid for new air routes from UK regional airports. European Union aviation State aid guidelines allow for start-up aid to be provided under certain conditions to facilitate the development of new routes from airports which handle fewer than five million passengers per year. This currently includes Newcastle Airport.

    The Department for Transport is working with the Treasury to develop guidance that will clarify how the Government will ordinarily expect to interpret the European Union State aid guidelines, and explain how the funding process will operate.

  • Hugh Bayley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Hugh Bayley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hugh Bayley on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate the UK Statistics Authority has made of the number of (a) men and (b) women who were employed (i) full-time and (ii) part-time in York Central constituency for the 12-month Annual Population Survey periods ending in September in each year since the inception of the survey.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

  • Julian Sturdy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Julian Sturdy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Sturdy on 2014-04-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2014, Official Report, columns 340-1W, on warm home discount scheme, on what date his Department will publish its consultation on changes to the warm home discount for 2015-16 onwards.

    Gregory Barker

    We plan to publish the consultation on changes to the Warm Home Discount for 2015-16 later this spring. We have not set a date for publication.

  • Hugh Bayley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Hugh Bayley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hugh Bayley on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber received how much funding from the Regional Growth Fund in each year since 2011-12.

    Michael Fallon

    We do not hold the data in the format requested. The Regional Growth Fund is supporting 51 projects and programmes in Yorkshire and Humber across five funding Rounds. Below is a breakdown of the allocated funding from 2011-2017 by Round:

    Round

    Projects

    Programmes

    Allocated funding (£m)

    1

    6

    0

    47.3

    2

    15

    2

    78.5

    3

    8

    4

    92.8

    4

    8

    4

    41.5

    5

    3

    1

    15

    The 11 regional programmes are providing support to small and medium-size businesses in the area. Support from RGF is expected to leverage £1.7bn of private investment.

  • Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2014-04-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had on provision for young women aged 16 to 18 years who have been victims of domestic violence; and if she will make a statement.

    Norman Baker

    The Coalition Government recognises that young people can be victims of
    domestic violence and abuse both within the home and in their relationships. That is why in March
    2013, we extended the definition of domestic violence and abuse to include 16
    and 17 year olds, and coercive control. Our aim in extending the definition is
    to increase awareness that young people experience domestic violence and abuse,
    encouraging more of them to come forward and access the support they need. In
    March 2013, the Home Office also published a guide to assist local areas to
    consider how the extension to the definition of domestic violence and abuse may
    impact on their services and identify potential gaps and opportunities for
    working with 16-17 year olds and how to respond to cases involving young
    people.

    The Coalition Government believes it is important to invite young people to
    express their views and preferences about policies that are developed for them which is why
    we have worked with the NSPCC to establish a Young People’s Panel. The Panel
    has met four times since its inception in 2012 and their discussions have fed
    into policy development around young people and domestic violence. This
    includes commenting on the guidance for local areas following the change in
    definition, and reviewing aspects of our media campaigns.

    The Home Office has also launched its Teenage Relationship Abuse and
    Teenage Rape Prevention campaigns. The aims of the campaigns are to prevent
    teenagers from becoming victims and perpetrators of abusive relationships. It
    will encourage teenagers to re-think their views of violence, abuse or
    controlling behaviour in relationships and direct them to places for help and
    advice. The campaign is aimed at 13 to 18 year old boys in particular.

  • Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graeme Morrice on 2014-06-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the current actual average clearance time is for a workplace capability assessment.

    Mike Penning

    The number of Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit Reassessment Work Capability Assessment referrals to Atos Healthcare in each of the last three years is as follows:

    01/06/2011 to 31/05/2012 – 1,553,839

    01/06/2012 to 31/05/2013 – 1,742,593

    01/06/2013 to 31/05/2014 – 1,495,159

    For the period October 2008 to May 2014, there have been 3,431,528 Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit Reassessment cases processed by Atos Healthcare within 35 days.

    The latest (April 2014) national Employment and Support Allowance Work Capability Assessment Actual Average Clearance Time (AACT) is 118.9 days.

    There are a range of financial remedies available within the Medical Services contract to address service level failure. However this is a matter of commercial in confidence between the Department of Work and Pensions and its supplier Atos Healthcare.

    The number of Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit Allowance cases that were referred to Atos Healthcare processed and returned within 35 days in each of the last three years is as follows:

    a). UK

    01/06/2011 to 31/05/2012 – 767,674

    01/06/2012 to 31/05/2013 – 1,073,987

    01/06/2013 to 31/05/2014 – 249,305

    b). Scotland

    01/06/2011 to 31/05/2012 – 97,951

    01/06/2012 to 31/05/2013 – 133,923

    01/06/2013 to 31/05/2014 – 58,326

    c). West Lothian Local Authority Area

    The information requested is not available

  • Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Helen Goodman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2014-04-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what facilities prison libraries have to help prisoners order books through the internet.

    Jeremy Wright

    The NOMS policy on prisoner retail allows prisoners (via prison staff) to order books from approved mail order providers. This is at the discretion of the Governor.

    An inter-library loan request service, facilitated by the librarian or library assistant, enables prisoners to request books in the same way as library users in the community.

    No charge is made for prisoners using the inter-library loan service. Where a special request is necessary, for example to the British Library, a charge will be made. This is consistent with the policy applied to service users in the community.