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  • Diane Abbott – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Diane Abbott – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diane Abbott on 2016-02-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of establishment of safe and legal routes for asylum seekers wishing to enter the UK on the frequency of migrant deaths at sea.

    James Brokenshire

    Any migrant death is a tragedy and the international community must act to reduce the likelihood of more migrants losing their lives in this way or falling victim to smuggling and trafficking.

    The Government believes it is better to prioritise interventions upstream in countries of origin and transit in ways that reduce the need of migrants to leave their country of origin or move on from a safe third country. The UK is at the forefront of the response to the crisis in Syria and the region. On 4 February 2016, the Prime Minister announced that the UK will more than double our total pledge to the Syria crisis from £1.12 billion to over £2.3 billion. This is our largest ever response to a single humanitarian crisis.

    Furthermore, more than $11 billion was pledged at the Supporting Syria Conference the UK co-hosted in London on 4th February, the largest amount raised in one day for a humanitarian crisis. The international community has pledged nearly $6 billion for 2016; with a further $5 billion for the coming years until 2020.

    However, for those individuals who cannot be supported in the region, the UK operates three resettlement programmes: Gateway, Mandate and the Syrian Resettlement Scheme. These provide a safe and direct route to the UK for the most vulnerable UNHCR recognised refugees.

  • John Mann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    John Mann – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Mann on 2016-02-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what projections his Department has made of the effect on business rates receipts of plans for devolved city region authorities.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    The Government has announced that, by the end of the Parliament, we will give all local councils, including city regions, new responsibilities in return for keeping 100% of locally raised business rates. We will also give city regions powers over setting local business rates, strengthening their link with their local business communities and allowing them to tailor local taxes to the needs of their local economies. We will be working out the details of the reform in the coming months in consultation with local government.

  • Steven Paterson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Steven Paterson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steven Paterson on 2016-02-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to help small and medium-sized enterprises protect themselves against cyber-attack.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Government’s National Cyber Security Programme (NCSP) aims to tackle cyber crime and make the UK the safest place in the world to do business in the world. This includes the Cyber Essentials Scheme to protect businesses against common cyber threats and the cyber streetwise campaign which offers simple cyber security advice to small businesses and consumers. In addition to the £860 million investment under the NCSP between 2011-2016, in November 2015 the Chancellor announced a new five year £1.9 billion investment in cyber security to make the UK one of the best protected countries in cyber space.

  • Steven Paterson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Steven Paterson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steven Paterson on 2016-02-09.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions his Department has held with local authorities on cyber-security.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Office of Cyber Security and Information Assurance (OCSIA) in the National Security Secretariat in the Cabinet Office works with a range of government partners to deliver the National Cyber Security Programme (NCSP). OCSIA has been working closely with the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to support local government cyber security. This includes working with individual councils, the Society of IT Management (SOCITM), the Society of Local Authority Chief Executive (SOLACE) and the Local Government Association (LGA). This financial year the NSCP funded team within DCLG has delivered regional workshops for local government leaders with further workshops planned later this year.

  • Steven Paterson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Steven Paterson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steven Paterson on 2016-02-09.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been spent by the National Cyber Security Programme in each of the last five years.

    Matthew Hancock

    Since the UK’s first Cyber Security Strategy was published in 2011, we have invested £860m in a National Cyber Security Programme to support the UK’s economic prosperity, protect our national security and safeguard the public’s way of life by building a more trusted and resilient digital environment. The National Cyber Security Programme’s budget breaks down annually as follows: 2011/12 – £105m 2012/13 – £155m 2013/14 – £180m 2014/15 – £210m 2015/16 – £210m We are investing £1.9bn in the next Cyber Security Programme, from financial years 2016/17 until 2020/21, which will give the UK the next generation of cyber security and make our country one of the safest places to do business online.

  • Jim McMahon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Jim McMahon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim McMahon on 2016-02-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which electoral wards in England have exceeded a one in 200 saturation level for asylum placements; and by what percentage each such ward has exceeded that level.

    James Brokenshire

    As part of the regional dispersal policy for asylum seekers established in 2000, the advisory cluster limit of 1 asylum seeker for every 200 of the settled population, applies to local authority area level only. Data on the numbers of asylum seekers in local authority areas is published and can be found at (Asylum Vol 4. Table 16q). https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-july-to-september-2015/asylum.

    Data is not collated at ward or constituency level and to do so would incur disproportionate costs, it may also be precluded by the provisions of the Data Protection Act, given that individuals could reasonably be identified through the release of such data.

  • Jim McMahon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Jim McMahon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim McMahon on 2016-02-09.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what land and property in Oldham his Department has identified for disposal as part of the One Public Estate programme over the next five years.

    Matthew Hancock

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 5 February 2016 to UIN: 25342.

  • Jim McMahon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Jim McMahon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim McMahon on 2016-02-09.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he was made aware of HM Revenue and Customs’ original estimate of tax due by Google prior to the recent tax settlement with that company.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Revenue and Customs is responsible for the conduct of tax enquiries, and Ministers are not informed of the progress of enquiries and play no part in agreeing the amount of tax to be paid by any taxpayer.

  • Jim McMahon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Jim McMahon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim McMahon on 2016-02-09.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with which local authorities and combined authorities his Department is in discussions on retention of Stamp Duty income by local bodies.

    Greg Hands

    Proposals are developed by and belong to local areas, therefore publication of proposals is a matter for individual places. Agreed devolution deal documents are published on the gov.uk website.

  • Jim McMahon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Jim McMahon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim McMahon on 2016-02-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of the withdrawal of the Housing Market Renewal Initiative.

    Brandon Lewis

    The Housing Market Renewal Pathfinders programme ran from 2002 to 2011 and created large-scale Whitehall targets for demolition and clearance across the Midlands and the North of England. The programme was cancelled under the last Government.