Blog

  • Mark Menzies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Mark Menzies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Menzies on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he is taking to promote golfing holidays in the (a) North West and (b) UK.

    Mrs Helen Grant

    Golfing holidays in both the North West and the rest of the UK are promoted by VisitEngland and VisitBritain. Liverpool is using £62,500 from VisitEngland’s Growing Tourism Locally programme, funded through the Regional Growth fund, to promote ‘England’s Golf Coast’ in the golfing press, using the staging of the Open Championship at Royal Liverpool to encourage visits to the region. VisitBritain’s consumer website highlights golf courses across the whole of the UK including the Golf Coast, which also features in their Sport is GREAT pillar guide. In advance of the Ryder Cup in Gleneagles, VisitBritain has organised familiarisation trips taking American and European journalists to the course. Previous experience tells us that hosting the Ryder Cup is worth tens of millions of pounds to the UK and to the local economy.

  • Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what types of premises will be excluded from the wider retail use class announced in the Budget 2014.

    Nick Boles

    We will consult in due course. The consultation will include proposals on the wider retail use class announced in the Budget 2014.

  • Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many apprentices aged (a) 16 to 18, (b) 19 to 24 and (c) 25 years or over are employed in (i) his Department and (ii) each of his Department’s executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies.

    Brandon Lewis

    My Department currently has six apprentices. Two are aged 16 to 18, and four are aged 19 to 24. We are due to get a further 4 apprentices in September 2014.

    Of our Arms Length Bodies, the Planning Inspectorate currently has seven apprentices. Six are aged 19 to 24, and one is aged 25 or over. Homes and Communities Agency currently has three apprentices, all of whom are aged 19 to 24.

    6 apprentices were appointed to permanent roles in the Department of the 10 employed last year. The Department is committed to bringing in apprentices and promoting fresh perspectives and ideas. They are enthusiastic in their approach to work and committed to learning and developing the skills needed to make a positive contribution, both within and outside the Department.

  • Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many expressions of interest in response to the Locally-led Garden Cities Prospectus have been (a) received and (b) considered to date.

    Kris Hopkins

    Garden cities are not just housing developments: they are extremely complex infrastructure projects, and high quality proposals will take time to develop. We have had a number of positive informal discussions with localities in response to our locally led garden cities prospectus, published in April. We expect Expressions of Interest to be made formally once proposals are properly worked up.

  • Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he expects to consult on the review of the General Permitted Development Order announced in Budget 2014.

    Nick Boles

    We will consult in due course. The consultation will include proposals on the wider retail use class announced in the Budget 2014.

  • Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Hilary Benn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2014, Official Report, column 578W, on rent, what his policy is on developing rent review clauses which are index-linked to inflation in a model for longer-term tenancies in the private rented sector.

    Kris Hopkins

    I refer the rt. hon. Member to my answer to him of 17 June 2014, Official Report, Column 578W, which outlines the Government’s policy and our opposition to the Labour Party calls for rent controls.

  • Stephen O’Brien – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Stephen O’Brien – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen O’Brien on 2014-06-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the explicit monetary value per quality-adjusted life was in the context of the Fire and Resilience Directorate, as quoted as part his Department’s submission to the Inter-departmental Group for the Valuation of Life and Health review in 2008.

    Brandon Lewis

    The information requested is not held by my Department. I refer my rt. hon. Friend to the answer given by my rt. hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Care and Support (Norman Lamb) on 26 June, Official Report, Column 283W, which explains the historical context to this Review under the last Administration.

  • Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2014, Official Report, columns 600-601W, on the self-employed, what proportion of the working age population in each region are classed as individuals with self-employment sources.

    Mr David Gauke

    As provided in my answer on 17th June 2014, estimates of the numbers of individuals with self employment sources for each region of the UK in the year 2011-12 are provided in the table below.

    Region

    Number of Self-employed
    (thousands)

    North East

    158

    North West and Merseyside

    497

    Yorkshire and the Humber

    402

    East Midlands

    352

    West Midlands

    418

    East of England

    556

    London

    883

    South East

    844

    South West

    559

    Wales

    240

    Scotland

    368

    Northern Ireland

    177

    Address abroad

    34

    All UK

    5,490

    These estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes for 2011-12 which is the latest year available.

    Estimates of the UK population by country, region and age are published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Information at country level is published at the following address:

    http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-318453

    Information for each region within England is published at the following address:

    http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/publications/re-reference-tables.html?edition=tcm%3A77-335242

    “

  • Charlie Elphicke – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Charlie Elphicke – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlie Elphicke on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 June 2014, Official Report, column 39W, on Tax Avoidance, what recent assessment the Government has made of the prevalance of public sector organisations being engaged in tax evasion or tax avoidance.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) resources to risk and has a continuous programme of work assuring tax compliance in the public (and private) sector. Since 2008 there has been a dedicated operational unit whose aim is to treat the public sector in the same way as HMRC treats similar customers, including taking a tough line in dealing with any avoidance or evasion.

  • Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Adrian Sanders – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adrian Sanders on 2014-06-25.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has held with his counterpart in the British Virgin Islands on tax evasion and avoidance in that country; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Treasury engages in regular discussions with the British Virgin Islands on tax issues, including avoidance and evasion.

    Following the commitments made at the G8 the British Virgin Islands, along with all of the UK’s Overseas Territories with financial centres and the Crown Dependencies have taken significant steps forward on tax transparency putting them at the forefront of this agenda globally.