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  • Tom Elliott – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Tom Elliott – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what research her Department has conducted or commissioned on the effect of the early closure of the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation to new onshore wind projects in Northern Ireland.

    Andrea Leadsom

    With certain limited exceptions, Energy Policy is devolved to Northern Ireland. Closure of the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation is therefore a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the implications for her policy on the solar power industry are of the recent European Court of Justice decision on levels of VAT.

    Andrea Leadsom

    HMRC has consulted on removing solar technologies from the list of measures that are currently eligible for the lower (5%) rate of VAT. They are currently considering the responses to the consultation, which closed on 3rd February[1].

    If it is decided that a change to VAT is appropriate, we will consider options on how to maintain a suitable rate-of-return for investors.

    [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/vat-changes-to-the-reduced-rate-of-vat-for-the-installation-of-energy-saving-materials

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions she has had with (a) bodies in the Northern Ireland Assembly and (b) the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on the future of nuclear power in Northern Ireland.

    Andrea Leadsom

    None of the eight sites listed in the Nuclear National Policy Statement as potentially suitable for new nuclear power stations in the UK is in Northern Ireland. Since the General Election I have had no discussions with bodies in the Northern Ireland Assembly or the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on the future of nuclear power in Northern Ireland.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on assistance to elderly people to help them with increases in energy prices.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Providing direct help to vulnerable consumers, including the elderly to keep their energy bills down is a priority for the Department. For example, direct help is given to vulnerable consumers through energy efficiency schemes such as the Energy Company Obligation and through the Warm Home Discount scheme, where 2 million low income and vulnerable households per year receive rebates off their electricity bills. DECC officials regularly meet with other government departments to discuss helping vulnerable consumers.

  • Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-02-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to include single parents who are in full-time employment in the extension of free childcare to 30 hours per week.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    Single parents will be able to access the extended entitlement in the same way as two parent households. A single parent will need to earn a weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum wage or living wage. In addition, their income should not exceed £100,000. This will include employed and self-employed parents.

  • Tulip Siddiq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Tulip Siddiq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-02-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and which (a) academies and (b) free schools applied to the Secretary of State to have their funding arrangements changed to allow them to vary their school admissions requirements in each year since 2009-10; and which such applications were approved.

    Edward Timpson

    In total, between 2012 and 2016, three requests have been considered by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) to vary in-year admissions arrangements of academies and free schools outside of the normal admissions timeframe. One relates to an academy and two to free schools. The two applications from the free schools were approved. The EFA was established in April 2012. We do not hold figures relating to this question prior to this date.

    The table below sets out the number of requests from academies and free schools considered and approved by the EFA from 2012-13:

    Requests to vary admissions requirements

    Academies

    Free Schools

    Approved

    2012-13

    0

    0

    0

    2013-14

    0

    0

    0

    2014-15

    0

    1

    1

    2015-16 Current financial year to date i.e. April 15 to Jan 16

    1

    1

    1

    Total

    1

    2

    2

    “

  • Tulip Siddiq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Tulip Siddiq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-02-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many appeals were made by civil society organisations to the Education Funding Agency and Local Government Ombudsman in relation to admissions decisions made by (a) academies, (b) academies which were previously maintained schools and (c) free schools in each year since 2009-10.

    Edward Timpson

    Parents have the right to complain to an admission authority regarding its decision to refuse admission of a child. The admission authority must establish an independent appeals panel to hear the complaint. On behalf of the Secretary of State, the Education Funding Agency (EFA) will investigate complaints about the appeals process operated by independent appeal panels for academies and free schools.

    The table below provides information on admission appeals complaints assessed as being in scope for investigation by EFA since April 2012, when it was established. EFA has no record of admission appeal complaints in the last four financial years from any Civil Society Organisations.

    The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) handles the appeals process operated in respect of maintained schools. The Department does not hold information on the number of admission appeals complaints heard by the LGO. The LGO should hold this information.

    Financial year 2012-13

    Financial year 2013-14

    Financial year 2014-15

    2015-16 Current financial year to date

    PQ25402 (A) Total number of admission appeal complaints about academies investigated by EFA

    127

    163

    144

    203

    PQ25402 (B) Total number of admission appeal complaints about academies which were previously maintained schools investigated by EFA

    115

    150

    130

    193

    PQ25402 (C) Total number of admission appeal complaints about free schools investigated by EFA

    Not recorded centrally for this financial year

    4

    8

    4

    Total number of admission appeal complaints fully upheld by EFA

    15

    13

    26

    15

    Name of schools where EFA has investigated an admission appeal complaint subject to appeals

    See attachment

    See attachment

    See attachment

    See attachment

    Total appeals complaints investigated, as a proportion of open academies and free schools

    5% (of 2,796)

    4% (of 3,874)

    3% (of 4,881)

    4% (of 5,447)
  • Tulip Siddiq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Tulip Siddiq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-02-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many appeals were heard by the Education Funding Agency and Local Government Ombudsman in relation to admissions decisions made by (a) academies, (b) academies which were previously maintained schools and (c) free schools in each year since 2009-10; how many such appeals were upheld; which schools were subject to those appeals; and what proportion of academies and free schools those schools represent.

    Edward Timpson

    Parents have the right to complain to an admission authority regarding its decision to refuse admission of a child. The admission authority must establish an independent appeals panel to hear the complaint. On behalf of the Secretary of State, the Education Funding Agency (EFA) will investigate complaints about the appeals process operated by independent appeal panels for academies and free schools.

    The table below provides information on admission appeals complaints assessed as being in scope for investigation by EFA since April 2012, when it was established. EFA has no record of admission appeal complaints in the last four financial years from any Civil Society Organisations.

    The Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) handles the appeals process operated in respect of maintained schools. The Department does not hold information on the number of admission appeals complaints heard by the LGO. The LGO should hold this information.

    Financial year 2012-13

    Financial year 2013-14

    Financial year 2014-15

    2015-16 Current financial year to date

    PQ25402 (A) Total number of admission appeal complaints about academies investigated by EFA

    127

    163

    144

    203

    PQ25402 (B) Total number of admission appeal complaints about academies which were previously maintained schools investigated by EFA

    115

    150

    130

    193

    PQ25402 (C) Total number of admission appeal complaints about free schools investigated by EFA

    Not recorded centrally for this financial year

    4

    8

    4

    Total number of admission appeal complaints fully upheld by EFA

    15

    13

    26

    15

    Name of schools where EFA has investigated an admission appeal complaint subject to appeals

    See attachment

    See attachment

    See attachment

    See attachment

    Total appeals complaints investigated, as a proportion of open academies and free schools

    5% (of 2,796)

    4% (of 3,874)

    3% (of 4,881)

    4% (of 5,447)
  • Graham Stuart – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Graham Stuart – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Stuart on 2016-02-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many students were enrolled in (a) school sixth forms, (b) academy sixth forms and (c) 16 to 19 years free schools which have been established since September 2011 in the most recent year for which figures are available.

    Nick Boles

    The 2014 to 2015 academic year is the most recent year for which full-year enrolment figures are available.

    The following enrolment figures are based on institutions that were established on or after 1 August 2011 as this is the start of the school allocation year.

    1. There were 5,825 students enrolled at 54 newly established School Sixth Form institutions

    2. There were 17,118 students enrolled at 159 newly established Academy Sixth Form Institutions (Including Studio School’s and UTC’s)

    3. There were 3,289 students enrolled at 29 newly established 16-19 Years Free School institutions

  • David Anderson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    David Anderson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2016-02-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2016 to Question 23290, what his Department’s policy is on (a) the application of the convention on giving Parliament the opportunity to debate military intervention abroad to armed drones and (b) informing the House of any exceptional operation on the grounds of self-defence of the UK.

    Michael Fallon

    The Government is committed to the convention that, before UK troops are committed to conflict, Parliament should have an opportunity to debate the matter except when there is an emergency. It is fitting to keep Parliament informed of major new developments and to answer questions on them.

    The Government will inform the House of any exceptional operation where there has not been prior debate in Parliament as the Prime Minister did on 7 September 2015 in relation to the precision airstrike that took place on 21 August 2015.