Blog

  • Ian Blackford – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Ian Blackford – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Blackford on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reasons his Department has not conducted economic impact assessments on proposed by-law changes (a) in general and (b) regarding the Raasay ranges.

    Mark Lancaster

    Under the byelaws review process there is no specific requirement to carry out an economic impact assessment.

    Following input received as part of the recent byelaw consultation process and due to local concerns, an economic impact assessment is currently being undertaken regarding Raasay Ranges. Its scope will reflect the MOD policy for such reports.

  • Caroline Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Caroline Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 2 July 2014, Official Report, column 676W on AWE, what his most recent estimate is of the (a) anticipated out-turn cost and (b) projected in-service date of each of the new build projects in the Atomic Weapons Establishment Site Development Context Plan.

    Michael Fallon

    The approved costs and in-service dates of the current new build projects at the Atomic Weapons Establishment, are shown below.

    In-service dates are shown in bandings to avoid prejudice to national security and defence. No costs are attributed to projects detailed in Table 2 as these have yet to be formally approved.

    Table 1 – Approved new-build projects

    Ongoing projects

    Function

    In-Service Period

    Approved cost £million

    Warhead assembly/disassembly – Mensa

    Manufacturing/production

    2016-20

    734

    Uranium components – Pegasus

    Manufacturing/production

    2016-20

    634

    Table 2 – Planned projects not yet approved

    Ongoing projects

    Function

    In-Service Period

    Salts Processing – Octans

    Testing/research

    2020-25

    Initiator system manufacture-Taurus

    Manufacturing/production

    2020-25

    Large Scale formulations-Scorpius

    Manufacturing/production

    2025-30

    Small Scale formulations-Cepheus

    Manufacturing/production

    2025-30

    New Plutonium (Pu) Facility – not yet named

    Manufacturing/production

    2025-30

    New depleted Uranium Facility

    Manufacturing/production

    2025-30

    Assembly for Trials-Columba

    Testing/research

    2025-30

    High Explosive Climatic Trials

    Testing/research

    2025-30

    Non-Metallics & materials R&D-Libra

    Testing/research

    2025-30

    Chemical processing-Astra

    Manufacturing/production

    2025-30
  • Calum Kerr – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Calum Kerr – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Calum Kerr on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on the timetable for and potential effects of the introduction of a Horserace Betting Right.

    Tracey Crouch

    A 2013 report from Deloitte for the British Horseracing Authority estimated that British racing has a Great Britain wide economic impact of £3.45 billion. Lastyear a public consultation on the potential structure and operation of the Horserace Betting Right was held, inviting views from across Great Britain. To inform our work to replace the current levy system and require offshore operators to make a fair financial contribution to racing alongside those based in Great Britain, I have commissioned an independent economic analysis of the costs and funding of racing. This will draw on information provided by betting and racing.

  • Ian C. Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Ian C. Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian C. Lucas on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2015 to Question 12762, on broadband, how the £129 million to be repaid to local authorities and the devolved administrations will be divided between those bodies; and how the allocation of that funding will be calculated.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The clawback funding identified by BT remains available for investment by the local authorities and devolved administrations in further broadband coverage within their respective project areas. The funding amounts are based on an assumption by BT that take-up will reach 30% of the premises covered to date.

  • Ian C. Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Ian C. Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian C. Lucas on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2015 to Question 12762, on broadband, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of repaying a proportion of the returned funds to the BBC which made an initial contribution to the project.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The clawback funding identified by BT remains available for investment by the local authorities and devolved administrations in further broadband coverage within their respective project areas. This funding has not been returned to DCMS.

  • Ian C. Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Ian C. Lucas – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian C. Lucas on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 28 October 2015 to Question 12762, on broadband, whether the sum to be paid to local authorities and devolved administrations from the funding returned by BT will be linked to the take-up of broadband within that authority or administration’s area.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The £129m funding returned by BT to each project is based on an assumption by BT that take-up will reach 30% of premises passed to date in each respective project area.

  • Calum Kerr – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Calum Kerr – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Calum Kerr on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate his Department has made of the contribution of the horseracing industry to the economy in Scotland.

    Tracey Crouch

    A 2013 report from Deloitte for the British Horseracing Authority estimated that British racing has a Great Britain wide economic impact of £3.45 billion. Lastyear a public consultation on the potential structure and operation of the Horserace Betting Right was held, inviting views from across Great Britain. To inform our work to replace the current levy system and require offshore operators to make a fair financial contribution to racing alongside those based in Great Britain, I have commissioned an independent economic analysis of the costs and funding of racing. This will draw on information provided by betting and racing.

  • Vernon Coaker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Vernon Coaker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how public investment infrastructure in superfast broadband is calculated by his Department.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The funding allocations published by DCMS in February 2014 were based on maximising the numbers of premises that could be covered by superfast broadband, in addition to ensuring that each of the devolved nations had an allocation in line with the Barnett funding formula.

  • Vernon Coaker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Vernon Coaker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Vernon Coaker on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many homes in Northern Ireland do not have broadband coverage.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Ofcom connected Nations report published in December 2015 reported 100% broadband coverage for all UK premises, including in Northern Ireland.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-12-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2015 to Question 12142, if his Department will publish any expert advice it has received to inform its policy on the safety of safe-standing facilities at higher tier sports stadia.

    Tracey Crouch

    Government is not, at present, persuaded by the case put forward to re-introduce standing accommodation in grounds covered by the all-seater requirement. We will, however, monitor its introduction in Scotland closely and reassess this position once evidence from the Scottish experience is available and the Hillsborough Inquests have concluded, taking into account any recommendations made by the coroner on stadium safety.