The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2014-04-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2014, Official Report, column 221W, how many three and four year olds in each parliamentary constituency are accessing the free early years entitlement outside of reception classes.
Elizabeth Truss
This information is provided in the accompanying table, which will also be placed in the House Library.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Murray on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the budget for the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate is for 2014-15.
Jenny Willott
The budget for the Employment Agency Standards inspectorate is no longer devolved below branch level in the Labour Markets Directorate, and we are therefore unable to provide this information.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Katy Clark on 2014-04-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on (a) the trial in Bahrain of Mohammed Abdulla Al-Tajer and (b) his treatment in custody.
Hugh Robertson
We are aware of the case of Mohammad Al-Tajer. We understand he spent four months in detention in 2011 before his case was moved from the National State Safety Court to the civilian courts, as recommended by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, where he was sentenced to one month in prison. We understand that he appealed the verdict and was acquitted by the High Appeal Civilian court. We continue to encourage the Government of Bahrain to meet all of its human rights obligations, and adhere to international standards.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cathy Jamieson on 2014-06-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 11 June 2014, Official Report, column 160W, on venture capital, what steps he has taken to support crowdfunding and peer-to-peer (a) lending to and (b) investment in small businesses; and if he will assess the value of such forms of finance to the small and medium-size sector.
Andrea Leadsom
Crowdfunding and peer to peer lending are innovative new forms of finance that support competition in the business lending sector.
The Government has taken a number of steps to support their growth, including bringing peer to peer lending within the scope of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and announcing that the range of products that can be held in stocks and shares ISAs will be expanded to include loans made through peer to peer platforms.
The Government also operates two tax-advantaged venture capital schemes which are used by equity crowdfunding investors; the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) and the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS).
The Government has not made any assessment of the value of investment in small and medium sized businesses from peer to peer lending and crowdfunding platforms.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2014-04-03.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what proportion of contraband cigarettes entering the UK were originally manufactured in the UK.
Mr David Gauke
The information requested is not available. HM Revenue & Customs records data on seizures of illicit products but this does not include the country of manufacture.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.