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  • Lisa Cameron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Lisa Cameron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lisa Cameron on 2016-03-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will provide additional financial support for workers with disabilities who will be subject to a reduction in income as a result of the universal credit changes to be introduced in April 2016.

    Priti Patel

    Changes to the Universal Credit work allowances are part of a wider package of measures announced in the Summer Budget. This also includes the increase to the personal tax allowance, introduction of the national living wage, and an increase in childcare support to provide for an additional 15 hours free childcare for working parents of three and four year olds from September 2017. In addition, from April 2016, we are increasing childcare support under Universal Credit from 70% to 85% of eligible childcare costs paid, up to a maximum cap.

    We will be contacting Universal Credit claimants directly affected by the work allowance changes in advance to prepare them and let them know how they can access further advice and support. As well as additional work coach support, affected claimants may qualify for help from the Flexible Support Fund to help them retain work and increase their earnings.

  • Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-03-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to phase out the use of an 0345 number for the universal credit helpline and replace it with a freephone number.

    Priti Patel

    DWP have no plans to phase out the 0345 number. The Department is transforming the way it delivers its services embracing new digital channels and technology. The main route to access Universal Credit is online and research shows that around 90% of claimants make their claim online.

  • Angus Brendan MacNeil – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Angus Brendan MacNeil – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angus Brendan MacNeil on 2016-03-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost of state pensions to the Government as a proportion of GDP was over each of the last 30 years; and what the projected cost of state pensions as a proportion of GDP is over each of the next 30 years.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The requested information is available from 1991/92 to 2045/46 in the table below:

    UK expenditure on State Pension as a proportion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

    UK expenditure on State Pension as a proportion of GDP per million claimants of State Pension

    1991-92

    4.0%

    0.39%

    1992-93

    4.0%

    0.39%

    1993-94

    4.0%

    0.39%

    1994-95

    3.9%

    0.38%

    1995-96

    3.9%

    0.36%

    1996-97

    3.8%

    0.36%

    1997-98

    3.8%

    0.35%

    1998-99

    3.9%

    0.35%

    1999-00

    3.9%

    0.35%

    2000-01

    3.8%

    0.34%

    2001-02

    4.0%

    0.35%

    2002-03

    4.0%

    0.35%

    2003-04

    3.9%

    0.34%

    2004-05

    3.9%

    0.33%

    2005-06

    3.9%

    0.33%

    2006-07

    3.8%

    0.32%

    2007-08

    3.9%

    0.32%

    2008-09

    4.2%

    0.34%

    2009-10

    4.6%

    0.36%

    2010-11

    4.5%

    0.35%

    2011-12

    4.7%

    0.36%

    2012-13

    4.9%

    0.37%

    2013-14

    4.8%

    0.37%

    2014-15

    4.8%

    0.37%

    2015-16

    4.9%

    0.37%

    2016-17

    4.8%

    0.37%

    2017-18

    4.8%

    0.36%

    2018-19

    4.8%

    0.36%

    2019-20

    4.7%

    0.36%

    2020-21

    4.6%

    0.35%

    2021/22

    4.7%

    0.35%

    2022/23

    4.8%

    0.35%

    2023/24

    4.9%

    0.35%

    2024/25

    5.0%

    0.35%

    2025/26

    5.1%

    0.35%

    2026/27

    5.2%

    0.35%

    2027/28

    5.2%

    0.35%

    2028/29

    5.2%

    0.35%

    2029/30

    5.4%

    0.35%

    2030/31

    5.5%

    0.35%

    2031/32

    5.6%

    0.36%

    2032/33

    5.8%

    0.36%

    2033/34

    5.9%

    0.36%

    2034/35

    5.9%

    0.36%

    2035/36

    5.9%

    0.36%

    2036/37

    5.9%

    0.36%

    2037/38

    6.1%

    0.36%

    2038/39

    6.2%

    0.36%

    2039/40

    6.3%

    0.36%

    2040/41

    6.4%

    0.36%

    2041/42

    6.4%

    0.36%

    2042/43

    6.5%

    0.36%

    2043/44

    6.5%

    0.36%

    2044/45

    6.6%

    0.36%

    2045/46

    6.6%

    0.36%

    “

  • Tom Tugendhat – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Tom Tugendhat – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Tugendhat on 2016-03-02.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department plans to take to ensure full transparency of all charges relating to personal private pensions.

    Harriett Baldwin

    This question has been passed on to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA will reply to directly to the Honourable member by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

  • Nigel Huddleston – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Nigel Huddleston – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Huddleston on 2016-03-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on individual cold weather payment notifications in (a) 2011, (b) 2012, (c) 2013, (d) 2014 and (e) 2015.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  • Derek Twigg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Derek Twigg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Derek Twigg on 2016-03-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress has been made on reopening the Halton Curve railway line.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Following its inclusion in the Liverpool City Region Growth Deal, Merseytravel is managing the development and delivery of this devolved scheme on behalf of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. I understand that the business case for the scheme is expected to be considered by the Combined Authority at its meeting in April. If approved, work is expected to begin in June 2017 and be complete by May 2018.

  • Derek Twigg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Derek Twigg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Derek Twigg on 2016-03-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles late licensing penalties have been issued in each year since 2010.

    Andrew Jones

    The table below shows the number of late licensing penalties that have been issued in each calendar year since 2010:

    Year

    Number of late licensing penalties issued

    2010

    665,258

    2011

    514,106

    2012

    568,224

    2013

    575,032

    2014

    478,133

    2015

    480,790
  • Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-03-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when he plans to announce the award of the next East Anglia rail franchise.

    Claire Perry

    The announcement of the award of the East Anglia rail franchise is planned for June 2016.

  • Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lilian Greenwood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-03-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many miles on what sections of the motorway network have been converted to Managed Motorways-All Lane Running (MM-ALR) status; and how many additional miles on which sections of the network Highways England plans to convert to MM-ALR by 2020.

    Andrew Jones

    The information requested is in the table below:

    All Lane Running Scheme – Open for Traffic

    Scheme Name

    Scheme Length (miles)

    Additional
    lane miles

    M25 J5-6/7

    12.4

    18.6

    M25 J23-27

    16.0

    33.3

    M1 J39-42

    6.7

    13.0

    M6 J10a-13

    9.6

    19.0

    All Lane Running Schemes – To be added by 2020

    Scheme Name

    Scheme Length (miles)

    Additional
    lane miles

    M1 J28-31

    18.9

    38.5

    M1 J32-35a

    9.1

    17.9

    M62 J18-20

    5.1

    9.0

    M3 J2-4a

    13.4

    26.8

    M23 J8-10

    10.4

    20.8

    M1 J24-25

    5.2

    10.4

    M6 J16-19

    18.2

    36.4

    M5 J4a-6

    8.8

    17.6

    M60 J24-27 and J1-4

    7.4

    14.9

    M6 J21a-26

    9.9

    19.8

    M6 J2-4

    11.8

    23.6

    M20 J3-5

    5.6

    11.2

    “

  • Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-03-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will expedite the work of the cross-governmental working group on drones; and if he will bring forward legislative proposals to mitigate the safety risks posed by civilian drones.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Government’s primary responsibility is the safety and security of our citizens. That is why we apply the highest regulatory safety standards for commercial aviation in the world.

    There is legislation in place that requires users of small drones to maintain direct, unaided visual contact with their vehicle, and that requires users to not recklessly or negligently cause or permit their vehicle to endanger any person or property.

    It is already illegal to operate a drone recklessly or negligently, and the Crown Prosecution Service has successfully prosecuted where there has been persistent reckless behaviour.

    Education of drone users is vital. The DfT is working with the CAA on raising awareness of responsible drone use. This includes the CAA’s ‘Drone Code’ safety awareness campaign and the issuing of safety leaflets at the point of sale.

    We will continue to keep our policies and regulation under review to ensure public safety remains paramount. This currently includes working with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to develop consistent, EU-wide safety rules for drones.