Category: Speeches

  • Seema Malhotra – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Seema Malhotra – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-11-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he plans to publish the report of the Cutting Red Tape programme.

    Anna Soubry

    The Cutting Red Tape programme has completed the evidence gathering stage for the six reviews launched earlier this year. The programme is now working with the responsible departments and regulators to understand the scale of potential savings, and to support them in developing next steps which respond to the findings of the reviews. The Government’s next steps will be to publish the review findings and associated responses in the New Year.

    The programme is also running an open call for evidence for future reviews via its Twitter account @CutRedTapeUK and #CutRedTape, and its website https://cutting-red-tape.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/

    “

  • Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-12-16.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people were (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted for (i) off-shore tax evasion, (ii) in-shore tax evasion, (iii) tax credit fraud, (iv) VAT fraud, (v) smuggling and (vi) other tax-related offences in each financial year since 2010-11.

    Mr David Gauke

    The information is not held in the format requested. HM Revenue and Customs’ centrally held data records the primary reason for the court case. The central data does not separately identify smuggling cases or use the term ‘in-shore evasion’ when recording the number of prosecutions or convictions.

  • Poulter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Poulter – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Poulter on 2016-01-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the sustainable development goals on the UK’s aid spending on health initiatives; and if her Department will issue a guidance note on that spending.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    The UK played a key role in creating a set of Global Goals that are universal and inclusive and is committed to championing the goals. Delivering Global Goal 3, to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all”, will instruct the health support we provide, with priority given to ensuring that poorer, harder to reach populations achieve better access to good quality essential services. DFID’s ongoing Bilateral Aid Review (BAR) and Multilateral Aid Review (MAR) will ensure we allocate our budget in the right places and in the right way, based on solid evidence, to contribute to the delivery of the Global Goals and to achieve our manifesto commitments.

  • Christopher Chope – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Christopher Chope – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Chope on 2016-02-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to reply to the letters dated 11 December 2015, 14 January and 10 February 2016 from the Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner on port security and border controls; and if she will place a copy of her responses in the Library.

    James Brokenshire

    The Home Secretary sent a response to the letters dated 11th December 2015 and 14th January 2016 on 22nd February 2016. She has not received a third letter. Responses will not be added to the library, this is not usual practice for private correspondence.

  • Martyn Day – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Martyn Day – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2016-03-21.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to paragraph 2.159 of Budget 2016, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the freeze in petrol and diesel duty on (a) carbon emissions by cars and (b) the environment.

    Damian Hinds

    The Government took a wide number of factors into account when considering the case for a further duty freeze, including the impact on carbon and emissions. The data shows that carbon dioxide and air pollutant emissions from the road transport sector have continued to fall since 2011 when Government cut fuel duty by 1 penny per litre and froze it. This information can be found here in Table TSGB0308: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/tsgb03

    “

  • Anna Turley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Anna Turley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anna Turley on 2016-04-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what comparative information his Department holds on the rate of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects in the UK and in other EU member states.

    Ben Gummer

    The prevalence of neural tube defects in live births, fetal deaths (over 20 weeks’ gestation) and terminations of pregnancy for fetal anomaly in 2012 in the British Isles Network of Congenital Anomaly Registers, registers (covering 36% of the births in England and Wales) was 12.5 per 10,000 births (source: Congenital anomaly statistics 2012, England and Wales (2014)).

    In European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies registries (covering 25.8% of the births in the United Kingdom) the prevalence of neural tube defects in 2012 for the UK was 12.53 neural tube defects per 10,000 births. By comparison, other European Union member states ranged from 1.75 per 10,000 births to 17.37 per 10,000 births. Differences in total prevalence rates may reflect a number of factors including genetic and environmental differences.

    Data on prevalence is available at:

    http://www.eurocat-network.eu/AccessPrevalenceData/PrevalenceTables

    “

  • Fiona Bruce – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    Fiona Bruce – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Fiona Bruce on 2016-05-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she is taking to help strengthen the economy of Northern Ireland.

    Mr Ben Wallace

    The Government’s long term economic plan to strengthen the economy is delivering for the UK and for Northern Ireland.

    By cutting the deficit, reducing business taxes and encouraging investment in enterprise and innovation we are making Northern Ireland a more competitive and attractive place to do business.

  • Rosie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Rosie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rosie Cooper on 2016-07-21.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) consultation, (b) decision-making process and (c) timetable he plans for deciding the final rules for the Government’s Lifetime Individual Savings Accounts (ISA) scheme; and whether he plans to conduct a consultation on what life events in addition to the purchase of a first home will be eligible for penalty-free withdrawal of such investments before the age of 60.

    Jane Ellison

    Following the Budget, the Government has engaged with industry on the detailed design of the Lifetime ISA, including on penalty-free withdrawals.

    The Queen’s Speech for the 2016-17 session announced the Government’s intention to legislate for the Lifetime ISA. The legislation which will enact this measure will be introduced to Parliament in due course.

    The Government will continue to talk to industry and interested parties about the Lifetime ISA while the Bill is being considered by the House, leading up to its planned launch.

  • Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-07.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints have been made about credit rating agencies; how many investigations the Financial Conduct Authority has launched into the performance of credit rating agencies; how many investigations the Information Commissioner’s Office has launched into the performance of credit rating agencies; and if he will make a statement.

    Simon Kirby

    This question has been passed on to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). The FCA and ICO will reply directly to the Honourable member by letter. A copy of the letters will be placed in the Library of the House.

  • Joan Ryan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Joan Ryan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Joan Ryan on 2015-11-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what representations he has received from further education colleges on withdrawal of ESOL Plus Mandation Funding.

    Nick Boles

    The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has received an estimated 40 letters on this subject from a range of people, including Further Education College Principals, ESOL teachers, ESOL students, local councils, the Association of Colleges and other furthereducation stakeholders.