The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-01-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applicants for Universal Credit have requested split payments on the grounds of domestic abuse since the launch of universal credit in the pilot areas; and what proportion of the total number of applicants have so claimed.
Priti Patel
The information requested is not currently available.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz Kendall on 2016-01-05.
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many people of each gender work in the Government Equalities Office.
Caroline Dinenage
35 female and 20 male members of staff currently work in the Government Equalities Office.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz Kendall on 2016-01-05.
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what the highest salary is of a (a) woman and (b) man in the Government Equalities Office.
Caroline Dinenage
The highest salary for a woman in the Government Equalities Office (GEO) is between £90,000 and £94,999.
The highest salary for a man in GEO is between £75,000 and £79,999.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-01-05.
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to promote opportunities for women in rural areas to participate in public life.
Caroline Dinenage
The Government believes that public life is strengthened by the participation of people with different skills, backgrounds and experiences, from right across the country. As a country we cannot afford to waste the talents of half our population and that is why we must ensurewomenare better representedacross all walks of life, including those from rural areas.
The 2015 General Election was a great step forward for women’s representation. We now have the highest number of female MPs in Parliament and a third of our Cabinet is made up of women. We know women continue to be under-represented on local councils; that is why schemes such as the Be a Councillor campaign, which has been run by the Local Government Association since 2012, are so important. The Government is also committed to increasing the diversity of public appointments and has set the aspiration that 50% of new appointments should go to women.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Bone on 2016-01-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what assessment he has made of the effect on Wales if the UK voted to leave the EU.
Stephen Crabb
The Prime Minister believes Britain’s best future lies within a reformed European Union. He is focused on addressing the concerns of the British people and is confident that the right agreement can be reached.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-01-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will press rail companies to use increases in revenue to invest and upgrade rail infrastructure.
Claire Perry
The railway is funded by both taxpayers and passengers. Network Rail own the infrastructure, not the train operators. The government is using the increased revenue, which is paid in franchise premiums to the Department for Transport, to help fund Network Rail’s investment programme. This will see them spend over £38 billion in the period 2014-19 on maintaining and improving rail infrastructure, in the biggest and most comprehensive programme of railway modernisation since the Victorians.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-01-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, where repairs to (a) the Strategic Road Network and (b) other key local roads are required in each region following recent flooding; and what estimate he has made of those repairs.
Andrew Jones
The flood recovery envoy for Yorkshire, the Minister of State for Transport (Mr Goodwill), convened a meeting on January 7 2016 with North Yorkshire County Council, wider local representatives, the military and Highways England experts to finalise a plan for reconstructing Tadcaster Bridge. The Government is providing £3.3m of funding immediately to repair the bridge. It has incurred substantial damage and the current estimate is that it will take up to a year to repair.
The Department for Transport is working closely with affected local highway authorities following the recent storms encountered in some areas of the country. As part of this work, local highway authorities are assessing the damage caused and likely estimated costs. It is too early to provide an estimate of the repairs or likely timescales until all waters have receded.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-01-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many claims for grants have been made under the electric vehicle homecharge scheme in each year since its introduction.
Andrew Jones
The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme was introduced in August 2014. In the period from September to December of that year there were 3,744 claims for grants. In the period January to November 2015 there were 12,435 claims for grants. The Office for Low Emission Vehicles is currently processing claims for grants made in December 2015.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-01-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable is for (a) reconstructing Tadcaster bridge and (b) other areas of road infrastructure damaged by recent flooding identified as national priorities.
Andrew Jones
The flood recovery envoy for Yorkshire, the Minister of State for Transport (Mr Goodwill), convened a meeting on January 7 2016 with North Yorkshire County Council, wider local representatives, the military and Highways England experts to finalise a plan for reconstructing Tadcaster Bridge. The Government is providing £3.3m of funding immediately to repair the bridge. It has incurred substantial damage and the current estimate is that it will take up to a year to repair.
The Department for Transport is working closely with affected local highway authorities following the recent storms encountered in some areas of the country. As part of this work, local highway authorities are assessing the damage caused and likely estimated costs. It is too early to provide an estimate of the repairs or likely timescales until all waters have receded.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian C. Lucas on 2016-01-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2016 to Question 20298, if he will publish the letter the Department wrote to the Office of Rail and Road in connection with the application from Arriva Trains Wales for additional train paths to and from Manchester Airport.
Claire Perry
A copy of the letter is attached. Please note that names and details of officials below the level of Senior Civil Servant, and those of non-government officials, have been redacted.