Tag: 2014

  • Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Caroline Lucas – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has for reviewing the conduct of and representation on Local Liaison Committees for defence nuclear sites.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    There are no plans for the Ministry of Defence to review the conduct of, nor representation at, Local Liaison Committees relating to Defence nuclear sites. The operation of such committees is a matter for agreement between the individual site operator (the Licensee and/or Authorisee) and the appropriate local authorities.

  • Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Simon Kirby on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to promote innovation within industry; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr David Willetts

    This Government is fully committed to improving the UK’s innovation performance as an essential component of its growth plan. Innovation has long been, and will continue to be, a key driver of UK growth and economic prosperity, accounting for up to 70% of economic growth in the long-term.

    The UK’s Industrial Strategy, a new long-term partnership between business and all parts of Government, has identified a range of opportunities to help create growth for the future, from developing new skills and securing critical investment, to commercialising our scientific research and inventions.

    Support for technologies is one of five core themes of the Industrial Strategy. The Government has identified "Eight Great Technologies" where the UK’s science strengths and business capabilities combine to give us world-leading potential and announced an additional £600M investment to help support their development from laboratory to marketplace.

    We have made the Technology Strategy Board the Government’s prime channel for supporting business-led technology innovation, which delivers a range of interventions in support of innovative businesses, such as the network of Catapult Centres and collaborative research and development competitions.

    We have also put in place a range of wider policies to support innovation which include a tax regime that supports innovation, investment and enterprise that enables the UK to be internationally competitive, as the increasingly international nature of innovation means that it is crucial for the UK and its businesses and universities to remain active in the global innovation ecosystem.

    We know that other leading innovators and the emerging economies are increasing their investment in science and innovation and that we need to strengthen our own performance in some areas and build on our acknowledged strengths to retain our position as one of the world’s leading innovation countries.

    This is why we will be developing a new Science and Innovation Strategy to be published this Autumn. This will set out the future shape and scale of the UK’s science and innovation system and look at how we measure the system’s performance and the key challenges that the UK needs to address to maintain its global leadership position.

  • Madeleine Moon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Madeleine Moon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) male and (b) female recruits who completed phase two training at Catterick Infantry Training Centre in each year since 2006 went on to join the trained strength; how many such recruits in those categories were aged under 18 years when they enlisted; how many had undertaken phase one training at Harrogate Army Foundation College; and if he will make a statement.

    Anna Soubry

    On 8 May 2014 my right hon. on Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence (Philip Hammond) announced that a review of the exclusion of women in ground close combat roles, including the Infantry, Royal Armoured Corps and Household Cavalry would begin immediately, and report by the end of this year.

    No female recruits currently undergo infantry training and therefore figures shown for the Infantry Training Centre relate to males only.

    The information requested is shown in the table. Completion of phase 2 training is the point at which recruits are deemed to have joined the trained strength:

    Year

    Phase 2 Completions (Male)

    Under 18 on entry (Male)

    Army Foundation College Starts (Male)

    2006-07

    2,300

    950

    230

    2007-08

    2,210

    890

    260

    2008-09

    2,610

    860

    270

    2009-10

    3,370

    980

    310

    2010-11

    1,920

    540

    300

    2011-12

    2,790

    620

    390

    2012-13

    2,760

    740

    520

    2013-14

    2,450

    560

    320

    Figures have been rounded to 10; numbers ending in ‘5′ are rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias.

  • Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Chuka Umunna – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chuka Umunna on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much funding allocated under the Regional Growth Fund in each (a) holding and (b) region has not yet been drawn down by winning bidders.

    Michael Fallon

    Regional breakdown of RGF allocations for each bidding round (Rounds 1-4) including the amount drawn down and remaining to be drawn down are provided in the attached tables. This data is as at 2 April. The RGF not drawn down for Rounds 1 to 4 totals £1,238 million. Of this, currently, £1,152 million is budgeted to be drawn down in 2014/15 and later years. Payments schedules are agreed with companies and payments are made when they need them.

    Round 1

    Region

    RGF Allocation (£m)

    RGF Drawdown (£m)

    RGF not drawn down

    (£m)

    North West

    21

    19

    2

    Yorkshire & Humber

    47

    39

    8

    North East

    34

    34

    0

    West Midlands

    89

    22

    67

    East Midlands

    2

    2

    0

    East of England

    16

    10

    6

    South East & London

    0

    0

    0

    South West

    4

    4

    0

    National

    175

    175

    0

    TOTAL

    388

    305

    83

    Round 2

    Region

    RGF Allocation (£m)

    RGF Drawdown (£m)

    RGF not drawn down (£m)

    North West

    189

    123

    66

    Yorkshire & Humber

    68

    45

    23

    North East

    64

    56

    8

    West Midlands

    91

    87

    4

    East Midlands

    80

    49

    31

    East of England

    35

    20

    15

    South East & London

    60

    45

    15

    South West

    71

    69

    2

    National

    90

    80

    10

    TOTAL

    748

    574

    174

    Round 3

    Region

    RGF Allocation (£m)

    RGF Drawdown (£m)

    RGF not drawn down (£m)

    North West

    113

    43

    70

    Yorkshire & Humber

    63

    28

    35

    North East

    113

    44

    69

    West Midlands

    158

    24

    134

    East Midlands

    57

    14

    43

    East of England

    25

    8

    17

    South East & London

    48

    18

    30

    South West

    82

    8

    74

    National

    177

    75

    102

    TOTAL

    836

    262

    574

    Round 4

    Region

    RGF Allocation (£m)

    RGF Drawdown (£m)

    RGF not drawn down (£m)

    North West

    96

    5

    91

    Yorkshire & Humber

    30

    2

    28

    North East

    33

    1

    32

    West Midlands

    65

    1

    64

    East Midlands

    41

    1

    40

    East of England

    15

    3

    12

    South East & London

    25

    2

    23

    South West

    14

    0

    14

    National

    115

    12

    103

    TOTAL

    434

    27

    407

  • Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-06-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 12 September 2013, Official Report, column 798W, on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, whether changes to the Reaper Agreement pertaining to the UK Reaper Force Squadron have been finalised; and whether this Agreement will remain in force following the cessation of NATO International Security Force missions in Afghanistan.

    Mr Mark Francois

    The Memorandum of Understanding is still undergoing the review process. However, it will cover both the ISAF mission and any future wider NATO missions.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Chi Onwurah – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2014-04-03.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the digital inclusion implications of requiring online accounts for new childcare proposals announced in Budget 2014.

    Nicky Morgan

    Tax-Free Childcare will be hosted on the Government Digital Service (GDS) Gov.uk website alongside other Government digital services. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have overall responsibility for the implementation of these services, in partnership with National Savings and Investments (NS&I) who will operate the accounts.

    The GDS are leading the Government’s work to link digital inclusion into policy programmes and digital services. HMRC have directly consulted with GDS who have been involved in the design of the process and the creation of the solution for Tax-Free Childcare.

    The Government will continue to talk with a wide variety of internal and external stakeholders to ensure that Tax-Free Childcare is as simple and secure as possible for parents to access and use.

  • Lord Stoddart of Swindon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Stoddart of Swindon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2014-06-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the event of Jean-Claude Juncker being appointed President of the European Commission, they plan to review their policy concerning continuing membership of the European Union.

    Baroness Warsi

    This Government is clear that membership of a reformed EU is in the UK’s interest. The EU must reform to become more competitive, flexible and democratically accountable, and work fairly for those in and outside the Eurozone.

  • Margaret Curran – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Margaret Curran – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Curran on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, which companies have been awarded sub-contracts for construction of HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales since June 2013; at which sites he expects work under each such contracts to be carried out; and what the monetary value is of each such contract.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 6 June 2013 (Official Report, column 1279W).

  • Naomi Long – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Naomi Long – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Naomi Long on 2014-06-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the proposed beneficial ownership registry identifies the real controlling parties of all companies listed.

    Jenny Willott

    The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Bill will make provision for the implementation of a central registry of company beneficial ownership information. The legislation will set out the obligations and sanctions that will apply to companies and others to ensure that the central registry contains information on the ultimate owners and controllers of UK companies.

  • Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Lucy Powell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-04-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2014, Official Report, column 35W on nurseries, whether his Department claims tax relief against the cost of such workplace nurseries.

    Dan Rogerson

    Defra does not claim tax relief against the cost of running workplace nurseries as it does not pay corporation tax.