The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-01-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that benefit claimants who are sanctioned receive a written notification of the sanction before their benefit payment is withdrawn.
Priti Patel
We recently reintroduced automated sanction notifications (from Monday 23rd November 2015) to ensure that all claimants who are sanctioned receive a written notification of the sanction.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Benyon on 2016-01-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to ban bio-degradable food processing and farm residues from disposal to landfill.
Rory Stewart
The EU revised Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC) requires Member States to apply the waste management hierarchy. Landfill sits at the bottom of the hierarchy and should be the last resort for most waste. Landfill tax is the main driver in diverting waste from landfill in the UK, and is currently £82.60 per tonne for the standard rate and £2.60 per tonne for inert waste. We believe this represents the correct solution to bio-degradable food waste.
The EU Landfill Directive includes targets to reduce the amount of biodegradable municipal waste (BMW) going to landfill. In 2013 the amount of BMW going to landfill in the UK reduced to 26% of the 1995 baseline, against a 35% target for 2020.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Benyon on 2016-01-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to support the development of small-scale on-site renewable solutions in the agri-food sector, based on residues from food factories and farm slurries and crop residues.
George Eustice
Small scale on-site renewables are supported through the Feed-in Tariffs and the Renewable Heat Incentive schemes. Defra and Department of Energy and Climate Change officials are currently working together on a review of the support for renewable energy schemes through both Feed in Tariffs and the Renewable Heat Incentive. This includes the support for anaerobic digestion of residues, wastes and slurries. Consultations on the schemes will be published in the coming months.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Benyon on 2016-01-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will discuss with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (a) providing more funding through and (b) improving the effectiveness of the feed-in tariff incentive regime for smaller on-site anaerobic digestion in order to encourage cost-effective on-site treatment of food and farming residues and to reduce carbon emissions from the production of food.
George Eustice
The Government is committed to cost-effective decarbonisation of our electricity supply as well as protecting consumer bills by controlling costs passed on to consumers through their energy bills. Officials in Defra and the Department of Energy and Climate Change are currently working closely together in considering levels of support for anaerobic digestion through the Feed-in Tariff scheme and a consultation will be published in the coming months.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2016-01-11.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of falling oil prices on the UK’s net international investment position.
Harriett Baldwin
The information requested is available in the latest Balance of Payments (2015 Q3) release from the ONS which can be found here: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_429314.pdf
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Pennycook on 2016-01-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times limited removal directions have been used since the policy of giving such directions came into effect on 6 April 2015.
James Brokenshire
The Immigration Act 2014 provides that where individuals are informed that they have no leave they are removable without the need for a further decision.
Following related process changes individuals being removed from the UK may receive a removal decision which provides limited information about their removal. In many cases the Home Office also provides further details to individuals out of courtesy – this may include details of the specific flight they will be removed on. Information on notice of removal is published in Chapter 60 of the Enforcement Instructions and Guidance, available on the gov.uk website.
Published data is available for the period 6 April – 30 September 2015. In that period, 26,159 removal decisions were served on individuals, but records do not show how many of these were full or limited notice.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-01-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many press and public relations staff are employed by his Department; how many of those employees are paid more than (a) £50,000 and (b) £100,000; and what the total expenditure was on press and public relations by his Department in the most recent year for which figures are available.
Justin Tomlinson
As of January 2016 there are 34 members of staff in the Press Office, this includes 11 members of the digital team. Seven are paid more than £50,000, and none are paid more than £100,000. In 2014/15 total Press Office staff costs were £1,316,780.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-01-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, how many press and public relations staff are employed by his Department; how many of these employees are paid more than (a) £50,000 and (b) £100,000; and what the total expenditure was on press and public relations by his Department in the most recent year for which figures are available.
Alun Cairns
Four staff members of the Wales Office communications team deal with press and public relations issues as part of their roles. Two staff are paid more than (a) £50,000 but none are paid more than (b) £100,000. The total expenditure on press and public relations for the full financial year 2014/15 was £306,526.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-01-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many press and public relations staff are employed by his Department; how many of those employees are paid more than (a) £50,000 and (b) £100,000; and what the total expenditure was on press and public relations by his Department in the most recent year for which figures are available.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The number of press and public relations staff employed in the central Department on 1 January 2016 was sixteen (all full-time employees). Four of those staff have annual salaries over £50,000 and none are over £100,000.
The total of 16 staff compares to an equivalent figure for the central Department in 2009/10 of 19.
The total expenditure on press and PR staff and related services in 2014-15 was £1,266,000.
Overall communications expenditure by the central Department in 2014-15 was £22 million lower than in 2009-10. Across Government the government communications profession reduced communications spending by a total of £1 billion during the last Parliament.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-01-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many press and public relations staff are employed by her Department; how many of those employees are paid more than (a) £50,000 and (b) £100,000; and what the total expenditure was on press and public relations by her Department in the most recent year for which figures are available.
Mrs Theresa Villiers
The Northern Ireland Office employs four communications officers who deal with press and public relations as part of their roles. One is paid more than (a) £50,000 and none are paid more than (b) £100,000 per year. Total expenditure for press and public relations for the current financial year is £255,230 which includes staff time.