Category: Speeches

  • Baroness Whitaker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Baroness Whitaker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Whitaker on 2014-06-16.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what criteria with respect to good design they intend to establish in their new plans for the Highway Agency.

    Baroness Kramer

    It is government policy that our major road improvements should follow good design principles. For example, in "Action for Roads" we made it clear that any improvements to the network must be made in a way that supports the nation’s overall quality of life. This means that our strategy for roads, and detail requirements will need to:

    • Be designed to minimise environmental impacts and, where possible, tackle existing problems.

    • Build on existing cooperation with organisations like Natural England to find the best solutions to environmental challenges.

    • Continue to work in a planning framework which protects the wider environment.

    We are establishing the first Roads Investment Strategy, which includes a performance specification for the new strategic highways company. This will aim to ensure that the company’s design and delivery activities align with the overall goals that government has for the Strategic Road Network (SRN). Good design, including how the SRN interfaces with built environments and impacts on quality of life, will need to be an important element of both the process and the implementation.

  • Mary Creagh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Mary Creagh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Creagh on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which airports meet the eligibility criteria for the Regional Air Connectivity Fund; and how much each such airport has been awarded in each of the last 10 years.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Department for Transport is in detailed discussions with regional councils regarding two air routes that might qualify for support through a Public Service Obligation under financial provisions announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in the 2013 Spending Round last July, to maintain regional air access to London. Of these, Dundee Council is currently tendering for an airline to operate a service between Dundee Airport and London.

    The Chancellor announced in this year’s Budget that support will also be made available 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 development of new routes from Member State airports which handle fewer than five million passengers per year.

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

  • 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 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many meetings the Minister of State for (a) Business and Enterprise, (b) Universities, Science and Skills and (c) Skills and Enterprise has had with his Department’s Chief Scientific Adviser in the last 12 months.

    Mr David Willetts

    As was the case under previous administrations, details of internal meetings are not normally disclosed.

  • Lord Wills – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Wills – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wills on 2014-04-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the impact on public spending as a result of the new pension arrangements announced in the 2014 Budget.

    Lord Deighton

    The impact will depend on how people choose to use their pension savings, which is difficult to predict. The Government expects any impact to be small in the context of the other pension measures announced in this Parliament – including State Pension age changes, the introduction of the single tier pension and public service pension reform – which are projected to save around £17 billion in 2030 in today’s terms. The estimated net fiscal impact of pension changes announced in this Parliament can be found in Chart 1.12 of the Red Book here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/293759/37630_Budget_2014_Web_Accessible.pdf

  • Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Ivan Lewis – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-06-16.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HM Revenue and Customs has taken to to tackle the problem of employees being paid below the minimum wage in Northern Ireland.

    Mr David Gauke

    I refer the hon. Member to my answer provided previously to his question of 30 April 2014, Official Report, column 725W

  • Baroness Stern – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Baroness Stern – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Stern on 2014-04-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken to respond to the recommendation by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons in his recent report on HMP Belmarsh that the library should increase its opening hours so that all prisoners have access to it.

    Lord Newby

    1. The prisoner regime includes a programme to allow access to the library once a week for those not attending education. The implementation of New Ways of Working, which includes the introduction of a new Core Day, will increase the opportunity for prisoners to access the library.

    2. All in use cells on the High Security Unit / Special Secure Unit are appropriately furnished in compliance with national guidelines, which are also included as part of the unit’s operating standards. The cells are also equipped to the specification required for accommodating Category A prisoners. The accommodation on the unit is inspected monthly, to ensure compliance and to maintain decency; this system is audited.

    3. The Governor has a programme of visits throughout the establishment; this includes visits to the HSU / SSU. The requirement for a weekly visit is completed by the Governor or the Deputy Governor, and the visits will ensure that all prisoners and staff are frequently seen and any emerging issues are heard and noted. These visits are now recorded for audit and inspection purposes.

  • Ian Austin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Ian Austin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment has been made of the likely effects of the Government’s proposed Deregulation Bill on jobs in tourism.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    At present, local authorities are required to set term and holiday dates for only about 30% of secondary schools and 70% of primary schools (around half of all registered pupils). The Deregulation Bill gives more schools the flexibility to make changes should they wish to, although the experience of the academies programme, foundation schools and voluntary aided (church) schools, suggests that only a small percentage of schools are likely to vary their term dates where there is a compelling benefit to pupils’ education.

    The Department for Education has assessed the impact of the changes. Whilst there will be greater flexibility for schools, we will continue to expect that sensible conversations between the local authority and schools on coordination will take place. Local authorities have told the Department for Education that they will continue to coordinate term dates for schools as they do now. Variations to term dates could also help businesses and employers, for example, in areas of high-seasonal employment where employees may welcome the chance to holiday outside of peak tourist periods. For example, Bishop Bronescombe School in St Austell, has a two-week half term in May/June to accommodate parents’ seasonal employment patterns.

    A separate assessment of the specific impact on tourism-related jobs has not been carried out. The Department for Education has discussed the changes to this policy with a variety of tourism industry bodies – including ABTA and BALPPA.

  • Lord Rooker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Rooker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rooker on 2014-04-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have commissioned any studies to assess behavioural change consequent upon income and corporate tax changes since 2010.

    Lord Deighton

    The table below sets out the Corporation Tax rates from 2009-10 to 2014-15.

    Small Profits Rate

    Main Rate

    2009-10

    21%

    28%

    2010-11

    21%

    28%

    2011-12

    20%

    26%

    2012-13

    20%

    24%

    2013-14

    20%

    23%

    2014-15

    20%

    21%

    At Budget 2013 it was announced that from 2015-16 the rates would be unified to a single Corporation Tax rate of 20%.

    The latest year for which full data is available is 2011-12. Total onshore Corporation Tax liabilities fell slightly from £35.6bn in 2010-11 to £35.4bn in 2011-12. HMRC publishes annual National Statistics on Corporation Tax liabilities. Table 11.1B is attached[1].

    The table below sets out the Income Tax rates from 2000-10 to 2014-15.

    Basic Rate

    Higher Rate

    Additional Rate

    2009-10

    20%

    40%

    –

    2010-11

    20%

    40%

    50%

    2011-12

    20%

    40%

    50%

    2012-13

    20%

    40%

    50%

    2013-14

    20%

    40%

    45%

    2014-15

    20%

    40%

    45%

    The Starting Rate of tax for savings is currently 10%. This is applied only to savings income which falls within the starting rate band above the personal allowance.

    In 2014-15 the personal allowance is £10,000 and the starting rate band is £2,880. At Budget 2014 the Government announced that from 2015-16 that band would be increased to £5000 and the rate set to 0%.

    The latest available income tax liability statistics held by HMRC relate to the tax year 2011-12. These statistics are attached[2].

    Other more timely published information is available in tax receipts statistics which are published on a monthly basis and could be considered as a leading indicator of liabilities. These statistics are also attached[3].

    To estimate the exchequer impact of policy changes it is necessary to estimate the change in tax liabilities after taking into account the behavioural response. At each fiscal event where the tax rates have been changed these estimates have been made and certified by the Office for Budget Responsibility. These estimates are published in table 2.1of the corresponding Budget and Autumn Statement reports.

    There are significant behavioural responses associated with changes in the top marginal rate of income tax. The HMRC report ‘The Exchequer effect of the 50 per cent additional rate of income tax'[4] outlines these behavioural responses.

    HM Treasury and HMRC jointly published the report ‘Analysis of the dynamic effects of corporation tax reductions’ at Autumn Statement 2013[5].

    [1]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/256886/table11-1b.pdf

    [2]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277459/Table_2.6.pdf

    [3]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/294267/20140312_Feb_v0.2.pdf

    [4]http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/excheq-income-tax-2042.pdf

    [5]https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/analysis-of-the-dynamic-effects-of-corporation-tax-reductions

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  • 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 2014-06-16.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of whether arrangements for defence nuclear co-operations which were agreed at the UK-France summit in January 2014 summit comply with the (a) Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty, (b) Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and (c) other aspects of international law; and if he will place in the Library a copy of any such assessments.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    Arrangements agreed at the UK-France Summit in January 2014 are entirely consistent with all of our obligations under international law including the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test Ban Treaty and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. I am withholding release of any assessments under the principle of legal professional privilege.

  • Gloria De Piero – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Gloria De Piero – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gloria De Piero on 2014-04-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many and what proportion of (a) people, (b) men and (c) women were in (i) work, (ii) full-time work and (iii) part-time work in each constituency earn the national minimum wage; and what those figures were in each year since 2010.

    Jenny Willott

    The Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. Hourly levels of earnings are estimated from ASHE, and are provided by the Office for National Statistics for employees on adult rates of pay, whose earnings for the survey pay period were not affected by absence.

    Estimates for the number and proportion of national minimum wage jobs at sub-Regional geographies such as parliamentary constituency are not available for reasons of quality.

    Related information is available in the National Minimum Wage Low Pay Commission Report 2014, which contains some estimates for minimum wage jobs, as defined above, by Regions, gender and full-time/part-time:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/288841/The_National_Minimum_Wage_LPC_Report_2014.pdf

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