The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Luce on 2015-10-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether NATO has a policy concerning the access of Russian ships to NATO ports.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Access to ports in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Member countries is the responsibility of national authorities. NATO Allies can and do coordinate with NATO on the transit of ships but NATO does not set policy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-10-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the National Security Council has discussed the strategic implications of the closure of the Redcar steelworks to the long-term security interests of the United Kingdom.
Lord Bridges of Headley
Information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees is generally not disclosed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Coffey on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there were in (i) 2012-13, (ii) 2013-14 and (iii) 2014-15 under Section 49 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 where the victims were (A) under 16 years old and (B) between 16 and 19 years old.
Dominic Raab
The statutes concerned apply to victims aged under 18 years. A breakdown by age could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Data on justice outcomes for offences under sections 47, 48 and 49 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 are published at the following link under ‘71.1 Abuse of children through prostitution and pornography – indictable only’ and ‘71.2 Abuse of children through prostitution and pornography – triable either way’:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/428937/outcomes-by-offence-tables.xlsx
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Owen Smith on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment the Government has made of the potential effect on productivity of increasing the minimum wage.
Nick Boles
The Government will publish a full Impact Assessment alongside draft regulations to implement the National Living Wage.
As noted in Summer Budget 2015, at a firm level there is some evidence that previous increases in minimum wages in low paying firms may have been associated with increases in productivity.
Additionally, the Office for Budget Responsibility has published an estimate of the aggregate impact on productivity due to compositional change in the economy. They estimate an increase in hourly productivity in 2020 of 0.3 percentage points through this mechanism.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Garnier on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect on local councils of the revaluation of business rates levied on GP surgeries.
Mr Marcus Jones
Information on the business rates paid by GP surgeries is not held centrally. My Department continues to work with authorities affected by the business rates appeals on GP surgeries to understand the impact on local authority finances.
Under the business rates retention scheme, local authorities or pools of local authorities are protected against significant declines in business rates income through a safety net that guarantees income at 92.5% of baseline funding.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2015-10-13.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the reasons are for the timing of his Department’s sale of the remaining £2 billion of Lloyds’ shares.
Harriett Baldwin
The Chancellor of the Exchequer stated his intention to return Lloyds Banking Group to the private sector over the coming year in his Mansion House speech of June 2015. The proposal to launch a retail sale in Spring 2016 is consistent with this commitment.
The Government is determined to build a share-owning democracy and to continue to reduce the national debt by making Lloyds shares available to the public. Final decisions around the timing of a sale are dependent on market conditions, among other factors.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Adams on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that payment of royalties is made by platform providers to broadcasters as well as to the rights-holders of programmes.
Mr Edward Vaizey
The Government’s consultation on the balance of payments between pay TV platforms and Public Service Broadcasters (PSBs) closed on 30 June 2015. The consultation examined the flow of payments between PSBs and pay TV platforms, and whether regulations relating to these transactions are necessary to ensure broadcasters can deliver the highest quality content, at the best price, to the widest possible audience. Department for Culture, Media and Sport officials are now analysing with a view to publishing a Government response in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stewart Jackson on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with armed forces charities on the payment of lump sum compensation payments to veterans with mesothelioma; and if he will make a statement.
Mark Lancaster
The Government has continuously made compensation available under the War Pensions Scheme (WPS) for injuries, illness or disease caused by service before 6 April 2005, including mesothelioma. The scheme provides veterans who have mesothelioma with the maximum income stream and additional supplementary allowances, and, where appropriate, entitlement to dependent’s benefits.
During the last Central Advisory Committee on Compensation (CAC) Meeting on 17 June ex-Service organisations were updated on our consideration of whether any flexibility could be provided for future mesothelioma claimants under the WPS. Detailed consideration has continued, including discussion with other Government Departments, and we expect to update the charities at the forthcoming CAC Meeting in December.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the annual budget is for the UK’s Centre of Nuclear Excellence.
Andrea Leadsom
The Centre of Nuclear Excellence is a Cumbrian partnership of public and private organisations which aims to maximise the benefit of the region’s nuclear capability and expertise for the local economy and UK as a whole. The organisations involved support the initiative’s work with in-kind contributions of manpower.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Laurence Robertson on 2015-10-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the level of take-up of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme is; and if she will make a statement.
George Eustice
The application window for the Mid-Tier closed on 30 September. 2,314 agreement applications were received. 1,025 expressions of interest for the Higher Tier have also been received, together with 257 applications for forestry agreements. The level of interest is in line with our expectation.
Natural England and the Forestry Commission are now working to assess these to offer agreements to those applicants who have submitted high quality plans that will do most to improve our water quality and the farmed environment
Some elements of the scheme have been available earlier in 2015. 1,798 applications were received for 2015 water capital grants, of which 1,458 have been awarded. We also received 743 applications for woodland creation during a fixed application period and for tree health and woodland management plans, which continue to be applied for year round. To date, 288 agreements have been awarded.