The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ben Howlett on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many responses have been received to his Department’s consultation on business rate relief for local newspapers; and if he will extend that relief to local magazine publishers.
Mr Edward Vaizey
We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation with the Department forCommunities and Local Government.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if the Government will take steps to increase support for UK-based renewable energy companies to invest in developing country markets through export credit guarantees.
Anna Soubry
UK Export Finance (UKEF) has risk capacity available to support UK based businesses in the renewable energy industry looking to export to, and invest in, developing countries, through the provision of export credit guarantees, financing and insurance.
UKEF continues to promote its products and services to companies in the renewable sector so they are aware of the support that is available if it is required.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Imran Hussain on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps her Department is taking to use the Paris Climate Summit in December 2015 to promote support for developing countries to help tackle climate change.
Grant Shapps
DFID is working closely with DECC, the lead department for the climate negotiations, on preparations for the Paris Climate Summit to ensure that poverty reduction and development priorities are reflected to help the poorest and most vulnerable, including girls and women, respond to a changing climate.
Last month the Prime Minister announced that the UK would provide £5.8bn in climate finance over the next 5 years.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dr Sarah Wollaston on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans he has to provide financial support to help children under the age of three who are eligible for a disabled parking badge but are not eligible for the mobility component of the disability living allowance.
Justin Tomlinson
The principle underpinning Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is that payments are made to families who incur extra costs as a result of meeting the additional care and/or mobility needs of a disabled child.
In deciding to set the lower age limit for entitlement to the higher rate mobility component at 3 years of age, the department considered views of medical advisors and independent research that the majority of children could walk at the age of 2½. By the age of 3 it was realistically possible in the majority of cases to make an informed decision as to whether an inability to walk was the result of disability.
We have no plans to make changes to DLA for children under the age of 3.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many British Transport Police officers were working night shifts in London on each day of September 2015.
Claire Perry
The table below sets out the number of British Transport Police (BTP) officers working in Greater London (all London boroughs) on 1 October in each year between 2010 and 2015:
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
1,715 |
1,638 |
1,643 |
1,608 |
1,592 |
1,732 |
The table below sets out the number of officers in Greater London (all London boroughs) which were contracted to work night shifts as at 1 October in each year between 2010 and 2015:
|
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
46 |
49 |
53 |
55 |
52 |
57 |
All BTP officers could potentially be rostered on to night shifts if necessary.
The table below sets out the number of BTP officers that were working night shifts in Greater London (all London Boroughs) on each day of September 2015:
|
01 September 2015 |
49 |
|
02 September 2015 |
62 |
|
03 September 2015 |
64 |
|
04 September 2015 |
61 |
|
05 September 2015 |
62 |
|
06 September 2015 |
59 |
|
07 September 2015 |
62 |
|
08 September 2015 |
61 |
|
09 September 2015 |
59 |
|
10 September 2015 |
57 |
|
11 September 2015 |
60 |
|
12 September 2015 |
61 |
|
13 September 2015 |
61 |
|
14 September 2015 |
57 |
|
15 September 2015 |
50 |
|
16 September 2015 |
60 |
|
17 September 2015 |
59 |
|
18 September 2015 |
59 |
|
19 September 2015 |
58 |
|
20 September 2015 |
57 |
|
21 September 2015 |
58 |
|
22 September 2015 |
57 |
|
23 September 2015 |
61 |
|
24 September 2015 |
62 |
|
25 September 2015 |
63 |
|
26 September 2015 |
60 |
|
27 September 2015 |
61 |
|
28 September 2015 |
58 |
|
29 September 2015 |
61 |
|
30 September 2015 |
55 |
It is important to note that the number of officers contracted and due to work night shifts would have increased if the night tube had not been deferred.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Osamor on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will discuss with his international counterpart the possibility of setting up a judicial mechanism to independently and impartially investigate reports of violations of international humanitarian law in Yemen.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
We take seriously the reports of alleged violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) and abuses of human rights in Yemen, by all sides to the conflict. We have raised our concerns with Saudi Arabia and other members of the Coalition, and have received repeated assurances of compliance with IHL. We continue to engage with them on those assurances. We are also concerned by reports of alleged IHL violations by Houthi-Saleh forces. We have raised our concerns with the Houthis on the importance of compliance with IHL.
The UK supported the resolution adopted at the recent session of the Human Rights Council which, inter alia, called upon all parties in Yemen to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, and requested that the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights assist the Yemeni national independent commission of inquiry. This assistance should help the government of Yemen to meet its international obligations in investigating reports of violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2015-10-26.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many former members of each branch of the armed forces are in receipt of (a) child and (b) working tax credits.
Damian Hinds
The information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Blackman on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to minimise the extent and length of road works on the motorway network at times when work is not taking place.
Andrew Jones
Highways England combine maintenance and improvement schemes to maximise activity within roadworks. However, lane closures are sometimes left in place through the day and then work undertaken overnight. Removing these completely each day would be time consuming and would delay projects and motorists for longer.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Suttie on 2015-10-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what role in the Director of Labour Market Enforcement, as set out in the Immigration Bill, will play in setting the operational priorities of and in allocating resources to (1) the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, (2) the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, and (3) HM Revenue and Customs National Minimum Wage enforcement teams.
Lord Bates
The consultation we have recently published on tackling labour exploitation sets out the role envisaged for the Director of Labour Market Enforcement. The measures we have introduced in the Immigration Bill require the Director to set the priorities for the three enforcement bodies: the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, National Minimum Wage enforcement function of HMRC and the Gangmasters Licensing Authority. These will be set out in an annual strategic plan, subject to the approval of the Secretaries of State at the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and the Home Office. This will set out the clear priorities for tackling serious exploitation and the role of the agencies in delivering them.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Stewart on 2015-10-23.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which psychiatric disorder had the highest mortality rate in each of the last five years.
Mr Rob Wilson
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.