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Tag: 2014

  • Lord Tyler – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Tyler – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Tyler on 2015-01-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have considered any scheme to provide inheritance tax relief on bequests which are specifically and solely in respect of paying off student loans; and, if so, what assessment they have made of the impact such a scheme might have on the overall amount of student debt which remains unpaid after 30 years.

    Lord Deighton

    The Government has no plans to provide a targeted inheritance tax relief in respect of paying off student loans. The current inheritance tax nil rate band and rules for lifetime gifts means the vast majority of individuals are able to make bequests or gifts for this purpose without inheritance tax being a consideration.

    The Government keeps all taxes under review.

  • Lord Bradshaw – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Bradshaw – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2015-01-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the impact on the taxpayer of the payment of the lower variable track access charge for the 17 per cent of long-distance train paths into and out of King’s Cross allocated to open access operators; and how much additional income would be generated for Network Rail if those operators paid the same level of access charge as franchised operators.

    Baroness Kramer

    The purpose of the charging regime for Control Period 5 (2014- 2019) is to be as cost reflective as possible, recognising that access charges must be set at a level which the market segment in question can bear. The Office of Rail Regulation as the independent regulator set out their proposals for access charges in their Final Determination following extensive consultation with industry stakeholders. It is not for the Department to determine how Open Access Operators should be charged for access to the network.

  • Lord Warner – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Warner – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Warner on 2015-01-14.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 6 January (HL3867), whether they will publish the list of non-exhaustive indicators of unacceptable behaviours that could lead to the exclusion of a foreign national from the United Kingdom.

    Lord Bates

    The list of unacceptable behaviours is indicative rather than exhaustive. It covers any non-UK national whether in the UK or abroad who uses any means or medium including:

    • writing, producing, publishing or distributing material;

    • public speaking including preaching

    • running a website; or

    • using a position of responsibility such as teacher, community or youth leader

    To express views which:

    • foment, justify or glorify terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs;

    • seek to provoke others to terrorist acts;

    • foment other serious criminal activity or seek to provoke others to serious criminal acts or;

    • foster hatred which might lead to inter-community violence in the UK

    The list was finalised in August 2005 following a consultation.

  • Roger Godsiff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Roger Godsiff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 2 January 2015 to Question 219648, what criteria will be used by the National Data Guardian to evaluate whether it is right and safe to collect care.data information from GP practices.

    Dr Daniel Poulter

    In November 2014, my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the establishment of a new National Data Guardian to be the patient’s champion when it comes to the security of personal medical information. Dame Fiona Caldicott will be the first National Guardian and she has agreed that it will be her responsibility to raise concerns publicly about improper data use.

    Dame Fiona Caldicott’s Independent Information Governance Oversight Panel’s report to the care.data Programme was published on 18 December 2014 and is available at:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/iigop-report-on-caredata

    The report outlined the evidence of readiness of the Pathfinder stage Dame Fiona would want to see before she would advise on the next stage of Pathfinder stage of the care.data programme.

    “

  • Ann Clwyd – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Ann Clwyd – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Clwyd on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations have been or will be made to relevant Bahraini government officials about the arrest and detention of the Al-Wefaq Secretary-General Sheikh Ali Salman.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    We are following closely the arrest and ongoing detention of Sheikh Ali Salman. My Rt Hon and noble Friend, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Baroness Anelay raised the case with the Minister for Justice on 14 January. We encourage the government of Bahrain to ensure that due process is followed. We urge all sides to remain calm and avoid any action that might escalate tensions.

  • Frank Dobson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Frank Dobson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Dobson on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff of HS2 Ltd are employed on personal service contracts.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    No staff are employed directly by HS2 Ltd on personal services contracts.

  • Hywel Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Hywel Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hywel Williams on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of (a) the initial extra and (b) the subsequent ongoing annual costs of putting the Welsh flag on the driving licence for drivers in Wales.

    Claire Perry

    Separate costs have not been estimated for putting the Welsh flag on the driving licence as these fall within the overall costs associated with providing any choices. The Government did consider giving motorists the choice of whether or not to have a licence showing the Union flag and offering a choice of national symbol. However, the costs involved in making the system and other changes required to offer such a choice were prohibitive.

  • David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    David Simpson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Northern Ireland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress the Government has made on its work to provide justice for the victims of the 1976 Kingsmill Massacre.

    Mrs Theresa Villiers

    The Kingsmill attack was a horrendous sectarian atrocity. I understand how the pain of such an attack never diminishes for the families of the victims. I hope that the ongoing Coroner’s inquests will help provide the answers the families are seeking about the deaths of their loved ones.

  • Kerry McCarthy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Kerry McCarthy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kerry McCarthy on 2015-01-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will extend the ban on the use of unenriched battery cages for laying hens, as set out in Schedule 3 to the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I., 2007, No. 2078), to quail egg production.

    George Eustice

    UK legislation prohibiting unenriched cages for laying hens implements EU Directive 99/74/EC which specifically protects birds of the species Gallus Gallus. There are no such requirements for quail set in EU law and we have no plans to introduce a similar measure for this or other species of egg-laying birds. Under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is an offence to fail to provide for the welfare needs of animals, including quail raised for egg production.

  • 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 the process and timetable is for implementation of emergency EU measures to manage sea bass stocks.

    George Eustice

    At the December Council we secured a statement that underlined the commitment of the European Commission and Member States involved in the bass fishery to take urgent action to reduce fishing pressure, protect spawning aggregations and so prevent a collapse of the stock. The Government followed up this commitment by formally requesting emergency measures to protect bass during the spawning season (January to April). The Commission has responded positively and has now tabled such a measure based on the UK request for consideration by the fisheries management committee. If adopted, the Commission regulation will come into effect on the day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.