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  • Julian Sturdy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Julian Sturdy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Sturdy on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the effect of the fluctuation in the market price of crude oil on the continued operation of waste oil collection services.

    Rory Stewart

    The changes referred to do not amend the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010. The changes made are to the ‘Environmental Guidance On Waste Incineration’, which now clarifies that small waste oil burners used to burn waste oil must meet the requirements of Chapter IV of the Industrial Emissions Directive or switch to non-waste fuels. This guidance can be found on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/environmental-permitting-guidance-the-waste-incineration-directive/environmental-permitting-guidance-waste-incineration.

    A consultation on the changes to the guidance was undertaken between 14 September and 26 October last year. A summary of responses can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/487892/waste-incineration-consult-sum-resp.pdf.

    The impact assessment for the changes to this guidance considered some sensitivities on the price of crude oil with regard to collection fees only. The impact assessment can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/487895/waste-incineration-consult-ep-ia.pdf.

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  • Julian Sturdy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Julian Sturdy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Sturdy on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of proposals for changes to Government policy on community pharmacies.

    Alistair Burt

    Community pharmacy is a vital part of the National Health Service and can play an even greater role. In the Spending Review the Government re-affirmed the need for the NHS to deliver £22 billion in efficiency savings by 2020/21 as set out in the NHS’s own plan, the Five Year Forward View. Community pharmacy is a core part of NHS primary care and has an important contribution to make as the NHS rises to these challenges. The Government believes efficiencies can be made without compromising the quality of services or public access to them. Our aim is to ensure that those community pharmacies upon which people depend continue to thrive and so we are consulting on the introduction of a Pharmacy Access Scheme, which will provide more NHS funds to certain pharmacies compared to others, considering factors such as location and the health needs of the local population.

    The Government’s vision is for a more efficient, modern system that will free up pharmacists to spend more time delivering clinical and public health services to the benefit of patients and the public.

    Our proposals are about improving services for patients and the public and securing efficiencies and savings. A consequence may be the closure of some pharmacies but that is not our aim. We are not able to assess which pharmacies may close or the number of people who may lose their jobs, because we do not know the financial viability of individual businesses or the extent to which they derive income from services commissioned locally by the NHS or local authorities or have non-NHS related income.

    We are consulting the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and others, including patient and public representatives on our proposals. An impact assessment will be completed to inform final decisions and published in due course.

  • Julian Sturdy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Julian Sturdy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Sturdy on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has held with pharmacy patients on the closure of community pharmacies.

    Alistair Burt

    Community pharmacy is a vital part of the National Health Service and can play an even greater role. In the Spending Review the Government re-affirmed the need for the NHS to deliver £22 billion in efficiency savings by 2020/21 as set out in the NHS’s own plan, the Five Year Forward View. Community pharmacy is a core part of NHS primary care and has an important contribution to make as the NHS rises to these challenges. The Government believes efficiencies can be made without compromising the quality of services or public access to them. Our aim is to ensure that those community pharmacies upon which people depend continue to thrive and so we are consulting on the introduction of a Pharmacy Access Scheme, which will provide more NHS funds to certain pharmacies compared to others, considering factors such as location and the health needs of the local population.

    The Government’s vision is for a more efficient, modern system that will free up pharmacists to spend more time delivering clinical and public health services to the benefit of patients and the public.

    Our proposals are about improving services for patients and the public and securing efficiencies and savings. A consequence may be the closure of some pharmacies but that is not our aim. We are not able to assess which pharmacies may close or the number of people who may lose their jobs, because we do not know the financial viability of individual businesses or the extent to which they derive income from services commissioned locally by the NHS or local authorities or have non-NHS related income.

    We are consulting the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee and others, including patient and public representatives on our proposals. An impact assessment will be completed to inform final decisions and published in due course.

  • Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions a UK port was not manned by Border Force officials in 2015; and if she will make a statement.

    James Brokenshire

    There was 1 instance where a port with scheduled arrivals was unmanned by Border Force in 2015. In July 2015, Border Force Officers failed to meet a regular charter plane in Cambridge due to a road traffic accident preventing access to the airport. Checks on passengers were completed on the arrival of Border Force Officers.

    In exercising their functions, Border Force officers are mandated to carry out full checks on all individuals entering the UK. Border Force has an established intelligence led approach and risk assessments regarding non-scheduled arrivals. This allows Border Force to provide effective border controls throughout the UK.

  • Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-03-01.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with small businesses and small business associations on the proposal to move to a quarterly digital tax reporting system by 2020.

    Mr David Gauke

    Both I and officials from HM Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs have discussed the Making Tax Digital reforms with a wide range of professional bodies and advisory groups representing small businesses and the self-employed.

    The Government has recently concluded an initial 4 week consultation with businesses on the Making Tax Digital reforms. Further consultations will take place with all stakeholders throughout 2016.

  • Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-03-01.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether a manual reporting option will remain available to small businesses under the proposal to move to a quarterly digital tax reporting system by 2020.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government will consult on the details of the Making Tax Digital proposals throughout 2016, including digital exclusion issues.

    HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) vision is for everyone to deal with their tax affairs digitally by default, although the Department does of course recognise its responsibility and legal duty to ensure equal and fair access to services. For those who genuinely cannot get online, for example due to disability, geographical or other reasons, non-digital alternatives will be provided.

  • Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-03-01.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the technological capacity of small businesses to move to a quarterly digital tax reporting system by 2020.

    Mr David Gauke

    In the context of the Making Tax Digital programme, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has developed a strong understanding of the technological capability of small businesses.

    The vast majority of small businesses are already engaging with HMRC online. For example, 95% of VAT returns and 98% of Corporation Tax returns are submitted online, while a record 89% of self-assessment returns were submitted online in January 2016. In addition, many are already using digital tools to deal with their tax affairs.

    HMRC has additional research underway to further explore digital capability issues. The Department recognises that some people will need support to transition to dealing with their tax affairs digitally and will help those who may struggle to adapt.

    The Government will consult on the details of the Making Tax Digital proposals throughout 2016, including digital capability issues.

  • Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times the charge for probate has been increased since 2010.

    Caroline Dinenage

    The fees payable on application for a non-contentious grant of probate have been increased twice since 2010.

  • Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much accrued to the public purse in probate charges in (a) 2013-14 and (b) 2014-15.

    Caroline Dinenage

    The Ministry of Justice is responsible for administering probate.

    The amount of fee income accrued to the public purse in probate fee charges (after remission) increased from £19m in 2013/14 to £41.5m in 2014/15 following fee increases introduced in April 2014.

    The annual cost to the Ministry of Justice of administering probate in 2014/15 was £42.5m.

  • Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-03-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many core staff of his Department are based in each location in the North East of England.

    Joseph Johnson

    The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills has a total of 1,997 staff based in the North East Region of which 25 are HQ staff. Locations are set out in the table below.

    Location

    Number of people

    BIS HQ, Queensway House, Billingham

    1

    BIS HQ, Lingfield Point, Darlington

    8

    BIS HQ, St Georges House, Gateshead

    16

    BIS HQ Subtotal

    25

    ACAS

    73

    Insolvency Service

    44

    Land Registry

    428

    Skills Funding Agency

    51

    Student Loan Company

    1,370

    UK Trade & Investment

    6

    BIS Total

    1,997