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Tag: 2014

  • Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what agreement was sought from priority investors on the long-term holding of shares in Royal Mail.

    Matthew Hancock

    No agreement was sought from the priority investors ahead of the sale of shares in Royal Mail on the long term holding of shares.

    Any mechanism which requires a buyer to give up the rights normally associated with shares, such as a restriction on the right to sell those shares for a period of time, would be reflected in the price investors would be prepared to pay for those shares.

  • Luciana Berger – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Luciana Berger – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2014-07-15.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much HM Revenue and Customs has spent on Tackling Tobacco Smuggling strategy in each year since 2010-11; how many of his Department’s staff worked on implementing that strategy in each such year; and how many such staff were engaged in (a) detection, (b) intelligence-gathering and analysis, (c) investigations and (d) the provision of legal advice.

    Priti Patel

    It is not possible to provide the requested breakdown of the total HM Revenue and Customs spent on salaries for staff employed on tackling tobacco smuggling in the way requested. The total costs for each year are as follows:

    Salary Cost

    (millions)

    2010-11

    Salary cost

    (millions)

    2011-12

    Salary cost

    (millions)

    2012-13

    Salary cost

    (millions)

    2013-14

    Total

    £37.044

    £36.882

    £35.734

    £37.731

    HM Revenue and Customs does not operate any x-ray scanners. Border Force has responsibility for the operation of x-ray scanners as part of the joint strategy to tackle tobacco smuggling.

    HM Revenue and Customs total expenditure on tobacco work since 2010-11 is detailed in the table below. This includes administration and policy, as well as enforcement.

    HMRC Activity

    2010-11

    2011-12

    2012-13

    2013-14

    Total expenditure on tobacco work (millions)

    £65.750

    £68.918

    £67.641

    £76.000

    It is not possible to provide the staff information in the format requested. However, the total figures are set out below:

    HMRC Activity

    2010/11

    Full Time Equivalent

    2011/12

    Full Time Equivalent

    2012/13

    Full Time Equivalent

    2013/14

    Full Time Equivalent

    Total

    758

    777

    777

    832

    For the year 2012/13, the UK cigarette illicit market was reported at 9%, which is half the level seen a decade ago. The illicit market share for hand-rolling tobacco is 36%, lower than in 2010/11 and significantly lower than the level seen in 2008/09, when it was 50 per cent.

  • Lyn Brown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Lyn Brown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lyn Brown on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, for what reasons the actuarial reduction for a firefighter who retires earlier than normal pension age under the proposed new pension scheme for firefighters is calculated from the state pension age and not the scheme’s normal pension age.

    Penny Mordaunt

    Under the terms of the Proposed Final Agreement for the firefighters’ pension scheme 2015 in England the actuarial reduction for a firefighter who retired earlier than the scheme’s Normal Pension Age but at the age of 57 or above would have been calculated from the Normal Pension Age. The actuarial reduction for a firefighter who retired between the ages of 55 and 57 would have been calculated from their state pension age. However, in the light of responses received to the second consultation on the firefighters’ pension scheme 2015, the Government decided to reinstate its offer, first made in June 2013, under which all actuarial reductions in the case of early retirement are calculated from the Normal Pension Age. This decision was communicated in a letter to Chief Fire Officers and Chairs of fire authorities on 9 July 2014. The letter can be found at

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/firefighters-pension-scheme-reforms and I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.

    “

  • Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Stephen Barclay – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Barclay on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many (a) masts are operational and (b) premises receive a mobile signal as a result of the Mobile Infrastructure Project.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The first site to go live was Weaverthorpe in North Yorkshire in September 2013, providing coverage to over 200 premises in North Yorkshire. The second site has been built in North Molton in Devon and will be operational shortly, estimated to reach more than 200 premises. Once potential sites have been identified, network connections need to be found, sites need to be acquired and planning consent achieved. This work is underway and ongoing.

  • Andrew Rosindell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Andrew Rosindell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to ensure that service personnel are effectively reintegrated into society following active service duty.

    Anna Soubry

    The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has robust measures in place to prepare our Service personnel for civilian life. As Lord Ashcroft highlighted in his recent review of transition arrangements, the vast majority of Service leavers make a successful transition.

    All Service leavers are entitled to resettlement assistance from the Ministry of Defence funded Career Transition Partnership (CTP). We work with all industry sectors to offer Service leavers a range of employment options through the creation of partnerships with major organisations such as BAE Systems, Jaguar, Siemens and Google. The CTP helped 85% of Service leavers find sustainable employment within six months of leaving the Armed Forces in 2013-14.

    The MOD supports a range of schemes to help Service leavers secure appropriate accommodation, and provides briefings on housing and finance. The £200 million Forces Help to Buy scheme began on 1 April 2014, meaning that Servicemen and women can now borrow up to 50% of their salary, up to a maximum of £25,000, interest free, providing a boost to those needing to find a deposit to buy their own home. In February 2014, LIBOR funding of £40 million was announced to support charities which assist veterans with housing needs. Projects are expected to include hostels and half-way houses for veterans, supported housing for the wounded, injured and sick, and long-term care homes.

    The Veterans UK Helpline can provide advice on a wide range of issues, including healthcare, accommodation, training and benefits. The helpline can be reached on 0808 1914 218.

  • Tom Greatrex – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Tom Greatrex – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Greatrex on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the total amount of gas consumed in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each month since June 2010.

    Matthew Hancock

    Gas consumption estimates for Great Britain are based on annualised meter consumption readings supplied to DECC by energy companies. Monthly estimates are not available.

    Annual data is also available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sub-national-gas-consumption-data.

    “

  • Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the annual saving to the Levy Control Framework budget from closure of the Renewables Obligation to large-scale solar from April 2015; what that saving is as a proportion of that budget in (a) 2016, (b) 2017, (c) 2018, (d) 2019 and (e) 2020; and if he will make a statement.

    Amber Rudd

    In its consultation issued on 13th May 2014, DECC has proposed closing the Renewables Obligation (RO) to new solar PV capacity above 5MW from 31 March 2015. We consider this to be necessary because large-scale solar PV is deploying more rapidly than expected. This poses a substantial risk to our ability to manage the levy control framework budget, and therefore our ability to minimise costs of renewables deployment for consumers.

    The impact assessment published alongside the consultation set out the projected impact of proposed intervention on deployment and spend. Option 1 below assumes no action; option 2 is the proposed intervention:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-changes-to-financial-support-for-solar-pv.

    “

  • Huw Irranca-Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Huw Irranca-Davies – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Huw Irranca-Davies on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the Government’s position is in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations on poultry treated with hyper-chlorinated water entering the UK food chain; and if she will make a statement.

    George Eustice

    This issue has yet to be discussed in detail within the framework of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership TTIP negotiations and is unlikely to be until the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) delivers an opinion on the public health, safety and environmental impact of this treatment process. The Government will consider its position when the EFSA opinion becomes available.

  • Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Nigel Dodds – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to encourage freedom of religion in Burma and other South-East Asian countries.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    I made very clear during my visit to Burma in January that respect for freedom of religion and belief must be guaranteed. Our Ambassador and officials regularly discuss the importance of freedom of religion, which is guaranteed in the constitution, with the Burmese government, and also regularly meet representatives of all faith communities. The UK is also providing funding to train journalists on responsible coverage of religious freedom and conflict, and supporting a project to enhance the capacity of civil society groups to advocate freedom of religion. We have previously provided funding for interfaith dialogue and peace building amongst young people.

    Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials across South-East Asia regularly discuss these issues with local governments and faith communities, and Ministers also raise specific issues and concerns as they arise. Recently, for example, I raised our concerns about the introduction of a sharia criminal code in Brunei with Deputy Foreign Minister Pehin Lim; our Ambassador in Jakarta has discussed the protection of religious minority groups in Indonesia; and my noble Friend, the right hon. Baroness Warsi, has stressed the importance of tolerance and mutual respect with senior ministers in Malaysia. We will also continue to support projects across South-East Asia designed to bolster and protect freedom of religion and belief.

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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2014-07-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if his Department will bring forward legislation to outlaw the sale of stolen conflict antiquities in the UK.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    I have no current plans to hold discussions with the major auction houses, nor has the Government recently discussed the sale of conflict antiquities with them. The Government believes that regulating trade in antiquities is primarily the responsibility of the art and antiquities trade itself. The established trade associations possess codes of ethics by which they expect their members to abide and we expect the associations to strictly enforce those codes. The DCMS has produced advice and guidance to help UK dealers and auction houses consider the relevant issues such as ensuring the secure provenance of cultural objects in which they deal.

    The UK takes the issue of illicit trade in cultural goods very seriously and is continuously working to combat this type of trafficking.

    The UK has legislation in place, the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979, which makes it an offence to import or export objects if that is prohibited under any enactment. Once an EU Regulation prohibiting such import or export comes into force, the act becomes a UK offence. Accordingly, prohibitions on export and import of certain Syrian cultural property under Council Regulation (EU) 1332/2013 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria, have been backed up by UK offences since December 2013. These are complemented by a statutory instrument (The Export Control (Syria Sanctions) (Amendment) Order 2014) which was laid before Parliament on 18 July 2014. The prohibitions relate to the trade in certain Syrian cultural goods where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the goods were removed from Syria on or after 9 May 2011 without consent of the legitimate owner or in breach of Syrian or international law.

    The import, export and dealing in illegally removed Iraqi cultural property is prohibited under The Iraq (United Nations Sanctions) Order 2003. While not specific to war situations, the Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act 2003 prohibits dealing in cultural objects illegally excavated or illegally removed from monuments or structures of historical, architectural or archaeological interest.