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  • Katy Clark – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Katy Clark – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Katy Clark on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what estimate he has made of the change in the level of real wages in Scotland since May 2010.

    David Mundell

    Our economy is recovering from the deepest recession since ONS records began in 1948.

    Thanks to this government’s long-term economic plan we have seen average regular pay rising faster over the last year than inflation. Furthermore, business surveys expect the steady rise in real wages to continue.

  • Iain Stewart – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Iain Stewart – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Stewart on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what progress has been made on implementation of the Smith Commission recommendations.

    Mr Alistair Carmichael

    We promised draft clauses on new powers for the Scottish Parliament and we published that legislation ahead of the Burns’ Night deadline.

    The main UK parties have all committed to bring forward a Bill in the next Parliament. Scotland will get more powers.


  • Jesse Norman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Jesse Norman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jesse Norman on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of savings related to PFI contracts in the NHS since 2010.

    Mr Jeremy Hunt

    Since May 2010, £179 million of signed savings on National Health Service private finance initiative (PFI) contracts has been reported by the Department of Health to HM Treasury.

    Our reforms have made it illegal for any government to drive the private sector into the NHS as Labour did, as Labour’s PFI deals are costing the NHS more than £1 billion a year.

  • Edward Leigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Edward Leigh – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Edward Leigh on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent progress he has made on recruitment to the Army Reserve.

    Mr Julian Brazier

    In the quarter to December 2014 the Army Reserve has seen 1,490 join its strength, an increase of 147% compared to the same quarter in 2013.

    We have unblocked the enlistment pipeline and are engaged in national and local marketing. Employers are signing up for awards for supporting their reservist employees.

    The upturn is gathering speed.

  • Russell Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Russell Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Russell Brown on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he expects that a final decision will be made on the final pension age for the Ministry of Defence Police and Defence Fire and Rescue Services.

    Anna Soubry

    Discussions on the future arrangements for Ministry of Defence Police and Defence Fire and Rescue Service personnel pensions are still ongoing.

    I recognise that this is an important issue for both communities and I am therefore seeking to resolve it as soon as possible. This is however a complex matter which raises a number of cross-Departmental issues.

    Although no final decision has yet been taken, I hope to conclude this issue in the near future.

  • Gerry Sutcliffe – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Gerry Sutcliffe – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gerry Sutcliffe on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what terms and conditions the contract of the Chief of Defence Materiel has been extended.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    I am pleased to confirm that the Chief of Defence Materiel’s contract has been extended for a further year on the existing terms and conditions. He will therefore have served a total of five years in post, in line with existing guidelines for senior civil servants of his rank.

    As a member of the Defence Board, details of Mr Gray’s salary and bonus payments are published annually in the Department’s accounts.

  • Stephen Mosley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Stephen Mosley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Mosley on 2015-02-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to assist people affected by the Ebola outbbreak.

    Mr Mark Francois

    The Ministry of Defence supports the Department for International Development led effort in Sierra Leone. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, has just returned from Sierra Leone where he has seen for himself the great work being undertaken by the Ministry of Defence to assist those affected by the outbreak.

    We have deployed around 1,200 personnel over the last six months which represents our largest current overseas deployment and the second largest contribution to the fight against Ebola after the US.

    We have overseen the construction of six Treatment Centres to deliver specialist care to Ebola patients, one of which – Kerrytown – includes a specialist unit staffed and managed by UK military personnel; we have constructed an Ebola Training Academy and trained over 4,000 local nationals in a variety of Ebola related roles; we have deployed the extremely capable RFA ARGUS and its three Merlin helicopters to increase our logistical capability; and we have engaged widely with our international partners to ensure the response in West Africa is – as it should be – a global effort.

  • Lord Myners – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Myners – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Myners on 2015-02-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether copies of HM Revenue and Customs Board papers and minutes of Board meetings are provided to HM Treasury and the Board of HM Treasury or its Council of Economic Advisers.

    Lord Deighton

    Information provided to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) by the French tax authorities in respect of individuals indicated to hold accounts at the Geneva branch of HSBC Suisse and understood to be UK residents was supplied to HMRC under the terms of both the Mutual Assistance Directive 77/799/EEC[1] and the Double Taxation Convention in force between France and the United Kingdom at that time[2].

    The Mutual Assistance Directive had been in force since 23 December 1977. The Double Taxation Convention has been in force since 18 December 2009, replacing an earlier convention which had been in force since 1969.

    Since their entry into force each of these agreements has been a matter of public record.

    There was, therefore, no new agreement for the Board of HMRC to negotiate or consider in connection with the provision of the information by the French tax authorities.

    HMRC does not share copies of Board papers and minutes with HM Treasury. However, senior HM Treasury officials are standing invitees to HMRC’s monthly Executive Committee meeting, which is the Department’s main executive forum and the primary place where decisions are taken with regards to setting and delivering strategy and improving performance in key areas, and as such they have routine access to relevant committee meeting papers and minutes.

    Each HMRC Executive Committee member also takes responsibility for the management of activities within a specific portfolio, including enforcement and compliance and business or personal tax customer services; HM Treasury officials do not have access to this level of information which ‎contains operational compliance and taxpayer confidential information.

    [1] http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:31977L0799

    [2] http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxtreaties/in-force/france.pdf

    “

  • Lord Myners – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Myners – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Myners on 2015-02-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the terms of the agreement between HM Revenue and Customs and its French equivalent relating to HSBC Suisse was shown to the Board of HM Revenue and Customs or discussed at a HM Revenue and Customs Board meeting.

    Lord Deighton

    Information provided to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) by the French tax authorities in respect of individuals indicated to hold accounts at the Geneva branch of HSBC Suisse and understood to be UK residents was supplied to HMRC under the terms of both the Mutual Assistance Directive 77/799/EEC[1] and the Double Taxation Convention in force between France and the United Kingdom at that time[2].

    The Mutual Assistance Directive had been in force since 23 December 1977. The Double Taxation Convention has been in force since 18 December 2009, replacing an earlier convention which had been in force since 1969.

    Since their entry into force each of these agreements has been a matter of public record.

    There was, therefore, no new agreement for the Board of HMRC to negotiate or consider in connection with the provision of the information by the French tax authorities.

    HMRC does not share copies of Board papers and minutes with HM Treasury. However, senior HM Treasury officials are standing invitees to HMRC’s monthly Executive Committee meeting, which is the Department’s main executive forum and the primary place where decisions are taken with regards to setting and delivering strategy and improving performance in key areas, and as such they have routine access to relevant committee meeting papers and minutes.

    Each HMRC Executive Committee member also takes responsibility for the management of activities within a specific portfolio, including enforcement and compliance and business or personal tax customer services; HM Treasury officials do not have access to this level of information which ‎contains operational compliance and taxpayer confidential information.

    [1] http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:31977L0799

    [2] http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxtreaties/in-force/france.pdf

    “

  • Lord Myners – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Myners – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Myners on 2015-02-12.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish or place in the Library of the House the agreement under which HM Revenue and Customs received from its French equivalent details of accounts allegedly held at HSBC Suisse; whether the terms of that agreement were negotiated by HM Revenue and Customs and advised to ministers; whether HM Revenue and Customs took legal advice and sought the views of ministers on the agreement before its signing; and under which legal jurisdiction the agreement is enforceable.

    Lord Deighton

    Information provided to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) by the French tax authorities in respect of individuals indicated to hold accounts at the Geneva branch of HSBC Suisse and understood to be UK residents was supplied to HMRC under the terms of both the Mutual Assistance Directive 77/799/EEC[1] and the Double Taxation Convention in force between France and the United Kingdom at that time[2].

    The Mutual Assistance Directive had been in force since 23 December 1977. The Double Taxation Convention has been in force since 18 December 2009, replacing an earlier convention which had been in force since 1969.

    Since their entry into force each of these agreements has been a matter of public record.

    There was, therefore, no new agreement for the Board of HMRC to negotiate or consider in connection with the provision of the information by the French tax authorities.

    HMRC does not share copies of Board papers and minutes with HM Treasury. However, senior HM Treasury officials are standing invitees to HMRC’s monthly Executive Committee meeting, which is the Department’s main executive forum and the primary place where decisions are taken with regards to setting and delivering strategy and improving performance in key areas, and as such they have routine access to relevant committee meeting papers and minutes.

    Each HMRC Executive Committee member also takes responsibility for the management of activities within a specific portfolio, including enforcement and compliance and business or personal tax customer services; HM Treasury officials do not have access to this level of information which ‎contains operational compliance and taxpayer confidential information.

    [1] http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:31977L0799

    [2] http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxtreaties/in-force/france.pdf

    “