Category: Speeches

  • Biography information for Nic Dakin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Biography information for Nic Dakin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Nic Dakin on Energy and Climate Change.

    1

    Michael Fallon

    My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not received any recent direct representations from industry regarding the effect of load management on performance and industry.

    National Grid recently announced two new balancing services to balance supply and demand in the coming winters. One of these, Demand Side Balancing Reserve (DSBR), will extend existing arrangements for companies to receive payment to reduce their electricity use or switch to on-site generators for short periods when instructed by National Grid.

  • Ian Swales – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Ian Swales – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Swales on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to ensure that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency meets the deadline of 1 November 2014 for enabling payment for vehicle tax discs by direct debit.

    Stephen Hammond

    The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has in place a dedicated project team which is working on the systems and other changes needed to deliver direct debits for vehicle excise duty. Progress is being monitored in line with departmental governance procedures.

  • Biography information for Eilidh Whiteford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Biography information for Eilidh Whiteford – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Eilidh Whiteford on Transport.

    1

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    In England, the Highways Agency has the following 6 Average Speed Camera systems on its network:

    M3 (Junction 2) (South East Region)

    M3 (from the M25) (South East Region)

    M25 (J12) (South East Region)

    A14 (East of England)

    A38 Saltash Tunnel (South West Region)

    A3 Hindhead Tunnel (South East Region)

    Average speed cameras are also used in road works as a temporary measure.

    The Department for Transport does not hold this information for cameras on local authority roads. Local authorities have statutory duties related to road safety and decisions about whether they operate speed cameras are a matter for them.

    This is a devolved matter so the Department does not hold information on average speed cameras in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

  • Cheryl Gillan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Cheryl Gillan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cheryl Gillan on 2014-04-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the safeguarding directions in relation to High Speed 2 were last updated; and if he will publish the maps relating to that update.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The safeguarding directions in relation to High Speed 2 were last updated on 24 October 2013. The updated maps are published on the High Speed 2 Limited website at the following link:

    http://www.hs2.org.uk/safeguarding?sg_link=576

    “

  • Ian Murray – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Ian Murray – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2014-04-10.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of how much the reduction in the additional rate of income tax to 45 per cent will be worth each year for a person earning £1 million a year.

    Mr David Gauke

    I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Sefton Central (Bill Esterson).

  • Lord Watson of Invergowrie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Watson of Invergowrie – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Watson of Invergowrie on 2014-04-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have carried out an assessment of the impact of the Immigration Bill on children, as set out in the Cabinet Office guidelines.

    Lord Taylor of Holbeach

    The Home Office is committed to considering the impact of all new policies and legislation, including where they might have an impact on children. Careful regard has been had to the best interests of children in the UK in framing the provisions of the Immigration Bill. We are satisfied that the Bill is compatible with our obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and with the children’s duty under section 55 of the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009. The Home Office has published an Impact Assessment of the Immigration Bill and a European Convention on Human Rights Memorandum, so has no plans to conduct any additional child impact assessment.

  • Lord Chidgey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Lord Chidgey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Chidgey on 2014-04-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what methodology they use in co-ordinating with international partners the levels and distribution of international aid.

    Lord Bates

    There is no single international system designed to coordinate the level and distribution of international aid. However, the key determinant of where donor funds are distributed is the dialogue and coordination within each recipient country which is, where possible, led by the recipient country’s government

  • Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 2014-04-09.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they are doing to ensure the protection of bees.

    Lord De Mauley

    The importance of pollinators, including the honeybee, and their value to both food security and sustaining the natural environment is recognised as a high priority. In view of this, Defra has taken action on a number of fronts, including:

    · contributing £2.5 million over five years to the Insect Pollinators Initiative;

    · establishing the Healthy Bees Plan, a ten year plan to protect and improve the health of honeybees in England and Wales, of which five years has already been completed;

    · continuing to fund the long-established National Bee Unit bee health programme, which includes inspection of colonies, diagnosis of bee pests and diseases, and training for beekeepers; and

    · launching a public consultation on the National Pollinator Strategy this month.

  • Iain Wright – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Iain Wright – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Wright on 2014-04-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to Growth is Our Business: A Strategy for Professional and Business Services published in July 2013, if the new envoy network has been convened through UK Trade & Investment; and what progress his Department has made in orchestrating a mission programme.

    Michael Fallon

    In line with the commitment in “Growth is Our Business” to invite leading business people from professional and business services (PBS) to act as sector envoys whilst travelling abroad, several individuals were approached to join the Prime Minister’s list of Business Ambassadors. Appointments of four new PBS Business Ambassadors were announced in January 2014. These were Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE (Chief Executive Officer MITIE), Rona Fairhead CBE, Steve Varley (UK Chairman and Managing Partner (UK and Ireland) of Ernst and Young) and Will Lawes (Senior Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer). They joined Caroline Plumb (Chief Executive Officer, FreshMinds), Alan Parker (Chairman, Brunswick Group), who were already active.

    Business Ambassadors agree to undertake a programme of activities agreed with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) including holding events to promote UK businesses around the world, meeting overseas Ministers and inward missions, participating in trade missions and providing insights into how UKTI can best deliver for business.

  • Gregory Campbell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Gregory Campbell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2014-04-09.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the likely change in annuities in 12 months’ time for the average 65-year-old (a) man and (b) woman.

    Mr David Gauke

    At Budget, the Government announced significant reforms to the pensions market, giving people greater choice about how to access their defined contribution pension savings. For many people, purchasing an annuity will remain the best way to secure an income in retirement.

    These reforms will help consumers choosing to buy an annuity to get a better deal in a much more competitive market place. The Government expects the change to the pensions market to stimulate innovation and new competition in the retirement income market. The shape of the market will now be driven by the choices consumers make, placing power back into the hands of savers.

    In December 2012 Government passed legislation to amend the Equality Act and ban gender-sensitive pricing. This means that annuity providers can no longer use gender as a factor when calculating annuity offers.