The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kilclooney on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether levels of VAT in the UK can be reduced without the approval of the EU.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
Member States have full autonomy over VAT within an agreed EU framework. Member States can apply a standard rate of VAT no lower than 15 per cent and apply a reduced rate of VAT no lower than 5 per cent.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-04-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many children in England on a child protection plan have been (a) referred to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and (b) received treatment from CAMHS in each of the last five years.
Alistair Burt
This data has not been collected centrally. However, in February this year for the first time the Health and Social Care Information Centre began collecting a range of data about children and young people’s use of secondary mental health services via the new Mental Health Services Dataset. This includes data on whether children and young people using services are, or have been, subject to a child protection plan. Data quality and quantity will take time to build, but we expect a range of national reports to be developed during the course of 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2016-05-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the French government about its initiative to restart the Middle East peace process to advance a two-state solution.
Mr Philip Hammond
I have discussed the French initiative with the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, and with his envoy for the Middle East Peace Process, Pierre Vimont. We will continue to work closely with the French government to ensure that their initiative makes a constructive contribution that encourages the parties to resume negotiations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thangam Debbonaire on 2016-07-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 June 2016 to Question 39223, what criteria officials of her Department have to follow to fulfil the aim of processing refugee integration loan applications as quickly as possible.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The rules setting out eligibility for integration loans are set out in the Integration loans for Refugees and Other Regulations 2007. All the factors set out in these Regulations are considered for each application received for an integration loan.
We do not intend to set a target time for processing loans less than the 28 day support period given to those granted refugee status. However processes are reviewed on a regular basis and the department aims to respond to all applications as quickly as possible.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-09-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether it is the Government’s position that the UK can sign new trade deals before the UK has formally exited the EU.
Greg Hands
The UK will remain a member of the EU until we formally exit, with all of the rights and obligations that membership entails. This means that the EU currently retains competence for most aspects of trade policy. We are, however, engaging with a broad range of international partners to best promote British trade, and to ensure that Britain becomes the global leader in free trade once we leave the EU.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-11-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 12 November to Question 14860, whether all of the providers approved by her Department to provide baseline assessment for primary schools reached the qualifying 10 per cent threshold for providers by the 30 April 2015 deadline.
Nick Gibb
The contractual acceptance criteria for reception baseline suppliers had two levels related to the volume of schools recruited. If fewer than four suppliers met the 10% threshold, suppliers were still accepted if they had recruited more than 1,000 schools. All approved suppliers met the minimum volume criteria.
The reception baseline contract is published online at: https://data.gov.uk/data/contracts-finder-archive/contract/1656259/
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2015-12-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will exempt adults with disabilities whose partner is unable to share the same bedroom due to that disability from the under-occupancy penalty.
Justin Tomlinson
The Courts recently accepted that disability in itself does not mean that couples are unable to share a bedroom and administering an exemption would be extremely challenging.
Instead, to help people with difficult situations, the Government has provided additional Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) funding. Since the introduction of this policy DHP funding has been as follows:
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Phillips on 2016-01-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether any aircraft of the Royal Air Force have exercised or sought to exercise freedom of navigation or passage rights over disputed areas of the South China Sea claimed by the government of the People’s Republic of China since 2010.
Penny Mordaunt
The RAF regularly flies in the vicinity of the South China Sea on transit to countries such as Brunei and Australia. Information on the exact route of every such flight area since 2010 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The UK strongly asserts its right, and supports that of all States, to exercise Freedom of Navigation in accordance with the International Rules Based System.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Teresa Pearce on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of railway stations that will be unstaffed in (a) 2020 and (b) 2025.
Claire Perry
Station staffing levels are a matter for operators. Whilst we regulate Ticket Office opening times through the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement station staffing levels are a matter for operators as we believe that railway operators themselves are best placed to determine how to meet the needs of their passengers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many orders for major surface warships have been made since the last General Election.
Earl Howe
None.