The below Parliamentary question was asked by Pete Wishart on 2014-07-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of households in Perth and North Perthshire constituency whose incomes from benefit payments have reduced by (a) 10 per cent, (b) between 20 and 49 per cent and (c) 50 per cent or more since May 2010.
Esther McVey
The requested information is not available.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2014-07-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assistance the UK has given to the developments of the SESAME (Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East) project; and what collaborative scientific research projects the UK supports between Israel, Iran and the Palestinian Authority.
Greg Clark
The UK became an observer member of the SESAME Interim Council in 2001. Professor Samar Hasnain of Liverpool University has represented the UK Government at the SESAME Council, following his appointment in 2004. The Government has provided funding since 2008/9 to Professor Samar Hasnain to support his role as the UK’s representative on the SESAME council as follows:
– 2008/9 – 2013/14: £15k per annum
– Additional funding of £22k per annum was recently approved following a review of the project for the financial years 2014/15 – 2015/16
Professor Samar Hasnain in his role as an observer undertakes various activities on behalf of the Government for the progress of SESAME including:
– Representing the Government at the Interim Council meetings
– Producing an annual report on SESAME and its benefits to the UK; and
– Spreading awareness of the existence and desirability of SESAME to existing and potential SESAME member countries.
He is also an active member of the Science Advisory Committee which meets twice a year.
This Department does not currently fund any other collaborative scientific research projects between Israel, Iran and the Palestinian Authority.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ivan Lewis on 2014-07-15.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the direct financial benefit of the abolition of air passenger duty bands C and D to airports in Northern Ireland.
Priti Patel
The abolition of Air Passenger Duty bands C and D cuts up to £52 per passenger off the cost of a journey originating in Northern Ireland, including connecting flights.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Raynsford on 2014-07-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he plans to publish his Department’s review of the New Homes Bonus.
Brandon Lewis
Officials are currently finalising the evaluation report before submitting it to Ministers. The findings of the evaluation will then be published in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-07-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the value is of duplicate supplier payments identified by his Department since 2010; and what proportion of such payments have since been recovered in each of the last two financial years.
Mrs Helen Grant
The value of duplicate supplier payments detected by the Department in each financial year since 2010 was:
Financial Year £
2010-11 £38,815.22
2011-12 £17,976.00
2012-13 NIL
2013-14 £26,481.10
All of these duplicate payments were detected by the Departments own financial control processes and recovered in full in the same financial year at no cost to the Department.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2014-07-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he intends to lay before the House a Statutory Instrument to reflect the establishment of the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees; and if he will make statement.
Anna Soubry
It is our intention to change legislation to reflect the establishment of the Veterans Advisory and Pensions Committees. The Armed Forces Bill 2015 represents the most likely opportunity to make the change through primary legislation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-07-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, for what reason a Renewable Obligation Certificate banding review for cuts to the large-scale PV Renewable Obligation band in 2015 and 2016 was ruled out as an option in the recent Renewables Obligation consultation.
Amber Rudd
The Government may carry out a banding review of RO support in England and Wales for any technology at any time if certain legislative conditions are met. As indicated in our consultation document and impact assessment, it is not clear that any of the conditions are met to trigger a banding review of solar support at this time. These are available on DECC’s web page:
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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 assessment he has made of National Audit Office analysis indicating that £29 million will be available for Contracts for Difference contracts in 2015-16; and if he will make a statement.
Matthew Hancock
Indicative CfD budgets, including for Contracts for Difference contracts in 2015-16, will be published later this month.
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 assessment she has made of whether measures to achieve regulatory convergence under the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership may lead to a lower standard of food production in the UK in respect of (a) food safety, (b) food labelling and transparency, (c) animal welfare, (d) worker protections and (e) consumer protections; and if she will make a statement.
George Eustice
Regulatory coherence offers greater compatibility of EU and US systems and helps to reduce the costs of complying with duplicate procedures at our borders. Leaders on both sides of the Atlantic have been clear that this is not about reducing regulatory standards. Any agreement will need to take into account EU and US rules on food safety, food labelling, animal welfare, worker protection and consumer protection. Regulatory coherence between the EU and US is not therefore expected to lead to lower standards of food production in the UK.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2014-07-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the political stability of Egypt.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
We believe that a genuinely open political process, in which all political groups are able to participate, will lead to long-term stability in Egypt. We are concerned at restrictions on political freedoms, including freedom of expression and association, and the trials of journalists. We are also concerned at reports of the absence of a fair hearing in some recent trials. The UK encourages the Egyptian Government to implement the rights enshrined in Egypt’s constitution.
Prosperity will also be important for Egypt’s long-term stability. We welcome Egyptian Government starting to implement economic reforms. The UK supports the Egyptian people in their aspirations for greater economic opportunities, political participation, freedom and rights.