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Tag: 2014

  • Pamela Nash – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Pamela Nash – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Pamela Nash on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how much his Department spent on (a) recruitment agency fees, (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and (c) staff training in each of the last five years.

    Amber Rudd

    The majority of expenditure with recruitment agencies represents payment to the individuals employed. We are unable to separately identify the element retained by the recruitment agency as fees. This varies from case to case and the Department contracts on the basis of a total hourly or daily fee. The recruitment principles published by the Civil Service Commission specify the circumstances when appointments may be made otherwise. Further information about the work of the Civil Service Commissioners can be found at www.civilservicecommissioners.org

    The Department made payment to an outplacement agency in 2014-15 only. Prior to using the outplacement agency, the Department used the Civil Service Transition Service to provide career counselling redeployment support with no associated costs to the Department.

    Figures for 2009 -10 to 2013-14 for staff training are published in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts.

  • Nicholas Brown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Nicholas Brown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the environmental effect of the Government’s road investment strategy announced on 1 December 2014.

    Mr John Hayes

    Environmental appraisals of each individual scheme announced on 1 December will be brought forward as part of the standard scheme development process. Separate to this, the Road Investment Strategy also includes commitments to over £500m of environmental spending through a series of ring-fenced ‘designated funds’, which will bring about real improvements to the existing network.

  • Barry Sheerman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Barry Sheerman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on the sale of arms by UK companies to countries with governments which consistently violate the human rights of their citizens.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    This Government supports a responsible defence and security industry that helps meet the legitimate defence needs of other states, and contributes to their security and law and order.

    We take our arms export responsibilities very seriously and aim to operate one of the most rigorous and transparent arms export control regimes in the world. All defence and dual-use exports are required to meet the UK’s strict export control legislation and adhere to the UK international commitments including international treaties and obligations.

    Each application for an export licence is subject to rigorous case-by-case assessment against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria. Risks around human rights violations are a key part of our assessment. We do not issue an export licence if there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression.

  • George Hollingbery – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    George Hollingbery – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Hollingbery on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions she has had with the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea since the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council meeting on 15 December 2014; and if she will make a statement.

    George Eustice

    At the meeting of the EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council on 15-16 December 2014 the UK took fully into account the scientific advice provided beforehand by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea.

  • Meg Munn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Meg Munn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Meg Munn on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many fatal road traffic accidents were caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel in each of the last three years.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Department does not collect information specifically on drivers falling asleep at the wheel. However, the Department does hold information on the number of accidents where the attending police officer judged that driver fatigue contributed to the cause of the accident. The table below provides the number of fatal road traffic accidents that were reported to the police in which at least one driver was allocated the contributory factor of fatigue for 2011 to 2013.

    Year

    Number of fatal accidents

    2011

    80

    2012

    59

    2013

    68
  • Mary Creagh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Mary Creagh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Creagh on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what budget was allocated by her Department to the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund in each financial year from 2009-10; and what budget is allocated to that organisation for 2015-16.

    Justine Greening

    Information on previous budget allocations is available at http://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/. 2015-16 allocations remain subject to ministerial approval.

    “

  • Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Jim Cunningham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-01-14.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of tax relief to businesses since 2010.

    Mr David Gauke

    Tax reliefs are administered by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as part of the tax system. HMRC publishes estimated costs of the principal tax expenditure and structural reliefs. The latest estimates are published on the HMRC website:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tax-expenditures-and-ready-reckoners

    There are some tax reliefs which businesses can claim where estimates are not yet included in the published estimates above. These reliefs include:

    Patent Box: Estimates on the cost of this relief are available within Budget 2013 documentation: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/221895/budget2013_policy_costings.pdf

    Theatre Productions Tax Relief: Estimates on the cost of this relief are available within Budget 2014 documentation:
    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/295067/PU1638_policy_costings_bud_2014_with_correction_slip.pdf

    Children’s TV Tax Relief: Estimates on the cost of this relief are available within Autumn Statement documentation: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/384071/AS2014_policy_costings_final.pdf

    Oil and Gas Field allowances: The ring fence tax regime for oil and gas does include a number of field allowances, which reduce the tax burden on specific challenging field types, ensuring otherwise economic developments are not uncommercial. Companies continue to pay Ring Fence Corporation Tax (which is higher than the main CT rate) even where income is covered by the field allowance

  • Rosie Cooper – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Rosie Cooper – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rosie Cooper on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the extent of persecution of Christian communities in the Middle East.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    We are deeply concerned by the difficulties facing many Christians and religious minorities in the Middle East and deplore all discrimination and constraints on freedom of religion.

    We are committed to supporting the fundamental human right to freedom of religion or belief. We support this right for Christian communities in the Middle East by regularly urging governments at senior levels to uphold the rights of all minorities; building international consensus on freedom of religion or belief; and supporting practical projects on community dialogue with civil society and faith groups.

  • Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Stephen Timms – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-01-13.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Department’s guidance on delivering public value from spending proposals, under what circumstances procuring a system precedes completion of the full business case.

    Danny Alexander

    As set out in HM Treasury’s “The Green Book — appraisal and evaluation in Central Government”, all new policies, programmes and projects should be subject to comprehensive but proportionate assessment, where it is practicable, so as best to promote the public interest. The nature of this assessment will vary according to the nature of the proposal, and is likely to be influenced by factors such as the scale and complexity of the proposed procurement.

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

    Andrew Griffiths – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Griffiths on 2015-01-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many children live on (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy, (c) Marines and (d) Royal Air Force bases (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad.

    Anna Soubry

    The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.