Category: Speeches

  • Harriet Harman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Harriet Harman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harriet Harman on 2014-06-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what proportion of primary pupils of each ethnic background and in total have engaged with (a) theatre activities, (b) music activities, (c) dance and (d) other arts in each year since 2009-10.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    Taking Part child survey results for activity by individual art forms are not regularly published broken down by BAME. This requires further analysis of the underlying survey data and we will publish this analysis in the libraries of both Houses.

  • Vernon Coaker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Vernon Coaker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2014-03-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2014, Official Report, column 181W, on D-Day landings: anniversaries, how many (a) veterans, (b) armed forces’ widows, (c) armed forces’ spouses and (d) carers his Department expects will be in attendance for each of the 70th anniversary D-Day commemoration events in the UK.

    Anna Soubry

    The 70th Anniversary D-Day commemorative events in Portsmouth are being organised by Portsmouth City Council, and the military is supporting the event as requested. Similarly, the Services are supporting events planned by the Normandy Veterans Association (NVA). The Department is unable to predict the numbers who may be present at any of these events and has received no requests to facilitate attendance.

    The Ministry of Defence was made aware of Portsmouth City Council’s planned events in April 2013. We were informed about the majority of NVA events in February 2013, and the National Memorial Arboretum event in November 2013. We have been working closely with the Royal British Legion and the NVA on the planned events to mark this significant anniversary, and have ensured that a range of Service charities and associations are kept informed, including COBSEO, the Confederation of Service Charities.

  • Graham Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Graham Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2014-06-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, for what reason the option of maintaining the current provider-funded model was dropped in his Department’s second consultation on funding reform for apprenticeships.

    Matthew Hancock

    The 2013 consultation on apprenticeship funding reforms sought evidence on the feasibility and impact of three different models for reforming apprenticeship funding. Following consideration of the responses to these, the second consultation sought views on two models—a PAYE model and an apprenticeship credit—that are consistent with an employer-driven apprenticeships system. A pure provider payment model was ruled out, as evidence from the first consultation indicated that this model was the least likely to deliver the intended aim of giving employers true purchasing power.

  • Tim Loughton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Tim Loughton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2014-03-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions (a) he and (b) other Ministers in his Department have had with members of the National Panel on Serious Case Reviews.

    Mr Edward Timpson

    My Rt hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and I had a meeting with the members of the panel of independent experts on Serious Case Reviews earlier this year.

  • Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-06-11.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) mean and (b) median age was of people who were registered as self-employed in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012 and (iv) 2013.

    Mr David Gauke

    The average age of self-employed individuals in the UK is 46 years old. This median age is also 46 years old and these figures are consistent across the three years from 2009-10 to 2011-12.

    These estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes (SPI) for the years concerned. The SPI for 2012-13 will be available later in the year.

  • David Hanson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    David Hanson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2014-03-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many fines levied under the Immigration (Employment of Adults Subject to Immigration Conrol) (Maximum Penalty) Order 2008 of a value of (a) up to £1000, (b) between £1000 and £2000, (c) between £2000 and £5000 and (d) between £5000 and £10000 remained unpaid.

    James Brokenshire

    Information on how many fines levied under the Immigration (Employment of
    Adults Subject to Immigration Control) (Maximum Penalty) Order 2008 of a value
    of (a) up to £1000, (b) between £1000 and £2000, (c) between £2000 and £5000
    and (d) £5000 and £10000 remained unpaid, is not recorded in a format
    compatible with National Statistics protocols. Data constraints on electronic
    records mean that the Home Office would have to examine in detail a large
    number of individual case files in order to ascertain the information
    required. The cost of producing the data linking civil penalties issued to our
    accounting system for civil penalties which remain unpaid by value would be at
    a disproportionate cost to the Home Office.

    However, the Home Office has collected £30.6 million in fines through the life
    of the regime and the current total value of outstanding collectable debt is £14.6
    million.

    The Home Office is using the Immigration Bill to make it easier to enforce
    civil penalty debts in the courts and is incorporating debt recovery best
    practice from across government departments, with earlier initiation of legal
    proceedings for debt recovery if required.

  • Tom Blenkinsop – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Tom Blenkinsop – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-06-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effects of Scottish independence on businesses in the North East and Cumbria.

    Michael Fallon

    I have not made such an assessment. The UK Government’s Scotland Analysis Programme identified benefits for UK businesses from common rules and institutions that create a larger domestic market, reduce administrative burdens and encourage fair competition. Diverging regulatory regimes and new burdens created by an international border may affect the level of trade (£48 billion from Scotland to rest of UK in 2012, and £59 billion in the opposite direction) and the 30,000 people who currently travel freely between Scotland and North England each day to work.

  • Stephen Mosley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    Stephen Mosley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Mosley on 2014-03-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many students obtained eight GCSE B grades or above in (a) Flintshire council area and (b) Wrexham council area in (i) 2009 and (ii) 2013.

    Mr David Jones

    This information relates to a devolved matter and is not held by the UK Government. I have therefore written to the Minister for Education and Skills in the Welsh Government seeking the information requested.

    I will write to the hon Gentleman when further information is received, and place a copy in the Library of the House.

  • Liam Byrne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Liam Byrne – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liam Byrne on 2014-06-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent estimate he has made of the cash value of the student loan book in each year to 2050 (a) before and (b) after sales of student loans.

    Mr David Willetts

    (a) We estimate the cash value of ICR student loans to follow approximately this profile going forwards.

    Value of loan book in real terms

    2014-15

    2015-16

    2016-17

    2017-18

    2018-19

    2019-20

    2020-21

    2021-22

    2022-23

    2023-24

    £70bn

    £80bn

    £90bn

    £100bn

    £110bn

    £120bn

    £130bn

    £140bn

    £150bn

    £160bn

    2024-25

    2025-26

    2026-27

    2027-28

    2028-29

    2029-30

    2030-31

    2031-32

    2032-33

    2033-34

    £170bn

    £180bn

    £190bn

    £200bn

    £210bn

    £220bn

    £230bn

    £240bn

    £250bn

    £260bn

    2034-35

    2035-36

    2036-37

    2037-38

    2038-39

    2039-40

    2040-41

    2041-42

    2042-43

    2043-44

    £260bn

    £270bn

    £280bn

    £280bn

    £290bn

    £300bn

    £300bn

    £310bn

    £320bn

    £320bn

    2044-45

    2045-46

    2046-47

    2047-48

    2048-49

    2049-50

    £330bn

    £330bn

    £330bn

    £330bn

    £330bn

    £330bn

    Value of loan book in nominal terms

    2014-15

    2015-16

    2016-17

    2017-18

    2018-19

    2019-20

    2020-21

    2021-22

    2022-23

    2023-24

    £70bn

    £80bn

    £100bn

    £110bn

    £130bn

    £150bn

    £170bn

    £190bn

    £210bn

    £230bn

    2024-25

    2025-26

    2026-27

    2027-28

    2028-29

    2029-30

    2030-31

    2031-32

    2032-33

    2033-34

    £250bn

    £270bn

    £300bn

    £320bn

    £350bn

    £380bn

    £410bn

    £440bn

    £470bn

    £500bn

    2034-35

    2035-36

    2036-37

    2037-38

    2038-39

    2039-40

    2040-41

    2041-42

    2042-43

    2043-44

    £530bn

    £570bn

    £600bn

    £640bn

    £670bn

    £710bn

    £750bn

    £790bn

    £830bn

    £870bn

    2044-45

    2045-46

    2046-47

    2047-48

    2048-49

    2049-50

    £920bn

    £960bn

    £1,000bn

    £1,030bn

    £1,070bn

    £1,100bn

    These estimates assume that fees will increase in line with inflation from 2016 onwards. These forecasts also take account of the freeing up of student number controls in the Autumn Statement, increases in loan take-up rates, demographic changes over time and updated earnings modelling.

    (b) The government has a stated aim to sell the pre-2012 loan book. However, the exact programme of sales has yet to be determined. Consequently, it is not possible to estimate the yearly value of the student loan book after these sales have taken place.

  • Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Angus Robertson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Robertson on 2014-03-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assets and how many service personnel were involved in NATO exercise Joint Warrior from (a) the UK, (b) NATO members and (c) non-NATO members in each of the last two years.

    Dr Andrew Murrison

    The following tables detail the number and type of assets together with the number of Service personnel from the UK, NATO members, and non-NATO members involved in Exercise JOINT WARRIOR for the last two years.

    Maritime Units represent the number of Ships and Submarines, Land Units represent Brigades/Battery/Legion/Squadron participating and Air Units represent the number of Aircraft taking part.

    Personnel numbers are rounded approximations as exact numbers vary day to day. In 2013 approximately 50 personnel and 40 augmentees from Joint Force Air Component HQ and 50 Air Surveillance and Control System personnel at RAF Bulmer also participated as part of their normal duties.