Tag: 2014

  • Ben Wallace – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Ben Wallace – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ben Wallace on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will take steps to review the boundaries of the county of Lancashire.

    Brandon Lewis

    It is not possible to make changes to county areas other than as a consequence of local government structural or boundary changes recommended by the independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England. We have no intention of seeking such change. We are however keen to recognise and acknowledge the continuing role of England’s traditional counties in the public and cultural life of the nation and the Government has sought to encourage the marking and continued use of traditional county names and areas irrespective of current tiers of local administration.

  • Paul Flynn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Paul Flynn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effects of congestion charging on traffic movements in London in each year since the introduction of such charging.

    Stephen Hammond

    Under the terms of the Greater London Authority Act 1999, transport in London, including the Congestion Charge scheme, is the responsibility of Transport for London and the Mayor. Therefore, the Department for Transport has not made an assessment specifically about traffic movements in London in each year since the introduction of congestion charging.

  • Lisa Nandy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lisa Nandy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lisa Nandy on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will release all email correspondence between officials, Ministers and special advisers in his Department and Dominic Cummings since Mr Cummings left the Department.

    Matthew Hancock

    Mr Cummings is an ex-employee of the Department for Education. It is not uncommon for ex-employees to be in contact with Ministers and the Department. As the Secretary of State for Education explained to the House on Monday 16 June, many people seek to visit and contact the Department for Education to exchange ideas with old friends and colleagues.

  • Baroness Tonge – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Baroness Tonge – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2014-04-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel concerning the reported armed ambush and killing of Yusef a-Shawamreh in the West Bank in March.

    Baroness Warsi

    The Government has not had any discussions with the Israeli authorities over this specific case. We have, however, raised our concerns over the increasing number of deaths of Palestinians by the Israel Defence Forces.

  • Paul Flynn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Paul Flynn – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what research his Department has co-sponsored with its US, French and German counterparts at the Sandia National Laboratory into the safety and security of spent nuclear fuel casks; and if he will publish details of the reports arising from such research.

    Michael Fallon

    The Department of Energy and Climate Change has not funded any co-sponsored research with US, French and German counterparts, at the US Sandia National Laboratories into the safety and security of spent nuclear fuel casks.

  • Baroness Stern – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Baroness Stern – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Stern on 2014-04-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken to respond to the recommendation by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons in his recent report on HMP Belmarsh that not all cells in the High Security Unit and Special Security Unit were equipped with furniture and furnishings in line with the Prison Service’s operating standards for such units.

    Lord Newby

    1. The prisoner regime includes a programme to allow access to the library once a week for those not attending education. The implementation of New Ways of Working, which includes the introduction of a new Core Day, will increase the opportunity for prisoners to access the library.

    2. All in use cells on the High Security Unit / Special Secure Unit are appropriately furnished in compliance with national guidelines, which are also included as part of the unit’s operating standards. The cells are also equipped to the specification required for accommodating Category A prisoners. The accommodation on the unit is inspected monthly, to ensure compliance and to maintain decency; this system is audited.

    3. The Governor has a programme of visits throughout the establishment; this includes visits to the HSU / SSU. The requirement for a weekly visit is completed by the Governor or the Deputy Governor, and the visits will ensure that all prisoners and staff are frequently seen and any emerging issues are heard and noted. These visits are now recorded for audit and inspection purposes.

  • Stephen Phillips – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Stephen Phillips – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Phillips on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to work with his international counterparts on ensuring that the Afghanistan government continues to maintain security in sparsely populated areas of that country following the withdrawal of international troops.

    Mr Mark Francois

    The International Security Assistance Force’s (ISAF) combat mission will end this year and the Afghan National Security Force (ANSF) will assume full responsibility for security across Afghanistan. The UK and our international partners have committed to providing long-term support to the Afghan Government, including continued development of the ANSF, as part of the follow-on Resolute Support Mission. This is subject to the necessary legal permissions being in place before the end of this year. The UK is also contributing an additional £70 million per year until 2017 towards ANSF sustainment.

  • Lord Rooker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Rooker – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Rooker on 2014-04-03.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there is any evidence that income tax and corporate tax revenues have increased as the rates of income and corporate taxes have decreased since 2010.

    Lord Deighton

    The table below sets out the Corporation Tax rates from 2009-10 to 2014-15.

    Small Profits Rate

    Main Rate

    2009-10

    21%

    28%

    2010-11

    21%

    28%

    2011-12

    20%

    26%

    2012-13

    20%

    24%

    2013-14

    20%

    23%

    2014-15

    20%

    21%

    At Budget 2013 it was announced that from 2015-16 the rates would be unified to a single Corporation Tax rate of 20%.

    The latest year for which full data is available is 2011-12. Total onshore Corporation Tax liabilities fell slightly from £35.6bn in 2010-11 to £35.4bn in 2011-12. HMRC publishes annual National Statistics on Corporation Tax liabilities. Table 11.1B is attached[1].

    The table below sets out the Income Tax rates from 2000-10 to 2014-15.

    Basic Rate

    Higher Rate

    Additional Rate

    2009-10

    20%

    40%

    –

    2010-11

    20%

    40%

    50%

    2011-12

    20%

    40%

    50%

    2012-13

    20%

    40%

    50%

    2013-14

    20%

    40%

    45%

    2014-15

    20%

    40%

    45%

    The Starting Rate of tax for savings is currently 10%. This is applied only to savings income which falls within the starting rate band above the personal allowance.

    In 2014-15 the personal allowance is £10,000 and the starting rate band is £2,880. At Budget 2014 the Government announced that from 2015-16 that band would be increased to £5000 and the rate set to 0%.

    The latest available income tax liability statistics held by HMRC relate to the tax year 2011-12. These statistics are attached[2].

    Other more timely published information is available in tax receipts statistics which are published on a monthly basis and could be considered as a leading indicator of liabilities. These statistics are also attached[3].

    To estimate the exchequer impact of policy changes it is necessary to estimate the change in tax liabilities after taking into account the behavioural response. At each fiscal event where the tax rates have been changed these estimates have been made and certified by the Office for Budget Responsibility. These estimates are published in table 2.1of the corresponding Budget and Autumn Statement reports.

    There are significant behavioural responses associated with changes in the top marginal rate of income tax. The HMRC report ‘The Exchequer effect of the 50 per cent additional rate of income tax'[4] outlines these behavioural responses.

    HM Treasury and HMRC jointly published the report ‘Analysis of the dynamic effects of corporation tax reductions’ at Autumn Statement 2013[5].

    [1]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/256886/table11-1b.pdf

    [2]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277459/Table_2.6.pdf

    [3]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/294267/20140312_Feb_v0.2.pdf

    [4]http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2012/excheq-income-tax-2042.pdf

    [5]https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/analysis-of-the-dynamic-effects-of-corporation-tax-reductions

    “

  • Kate Green – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Kate Green – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department plans to take to take to ensure that Trafford Commissioning Group provides the full treatment for IVF as recommended by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in 2004.

    Jane Ellison

    The level of provision of infertility treatment, as for all health services they commission, is decided by local clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and will take into account the needs of the population overall. The CCG’s decisions are underpinned by clinical insight and knowledge of local healthcare needs. As such, provision of services will be tailored to local requirements.

    NHS England expects all those involved in commissioning infertility treatment services to be fully aware of the importance of having regard to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence fertility guidelines. In February 2013, NHS England issued a factsheet to support CCGs in taking on those responsibilities.

  • Zac Goldsmith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Zac Goldsmith – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Zac Goldsmith on 2014-04-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2014, Official Report, columns 595-6W, on public sector: food, whether the Manufacturing Advisory Service is unable to give grant aid to the farming industry due to state aid restrictions relating to existing Common Agricultural Policy payments.

    Michael Fallon

    The criteria for support from the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) do not include any reference to state aid restrictions related to Common Agricultural Policy payments. MAS delivers support to manufacturers, and is able to support land based enterprises such as farmers, which have formally diversified their agricultural business from their product manufacturing activities.