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Tag: 2015

  • Christian Matheson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Christian Matheson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2015-10-09.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Financial Conduct Authority in dealing with complaints relating to the misselling of interest rate swaps.

    Harriett Baldwin

    Treasury Ministers and officials meet with a wide range of organisations as part of the usual policy making process.

    It might be useful to know that the Treasury publishes a list of ministerial meetings with external organisations. This is available online at: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm.

    As you are aware, the FCA is an independent non-governmental body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry. Although the Treasury sets the legal framework for the regulation of financial services, it has strictly limited powers in relation to the FCA. In particular, the Treasury has no general power of direction over the FCA and cannot intervene in individual cases.

    The independence of the FCA is vital to the role it provides as a safety net for consumers with complaints against financial services firms. Their credibility, authority and value to consumers would be undermined if it were possible for the Government to intervene in their decision-making.

    The FCA regularly publishes information on the progress of the redress scheme. This can be found here: www.fca.org.uk/consumers/financial-services-products/banking/interest-rate-hedging-products.

    You may be aware that the Treasury Select Committee’s report into SME lending, published on 10 March, recommended that the FCA collect the information necessary to establish whether there are systemic failures in the redress scheme. The FCA has responded and the Committee, which published this response on 12 October 2015. It can be found here: www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/treasury/Responses/Financial-Conduct-Authority-response-to-Conduct-and-Competition-in-SME.pdf

  • Chris Stephens – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Chris Stephens – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Stephens on 2015-10-09.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people under 25 years old in (a) Glasgow South West constituency, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK receive tax credits.

    Damian Hinds

    The latest information on the number of tax credit recipients under 25 in the UK can be found in table 3.1 of the April 2015 Personal Tax Credits published statistics, found here:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-tax-credits-provisional-statistics-2013-to-2009

    These statistics are published in April and December each year.

    “

  • Chris White – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Chris White – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris White on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with local government representatives on ensuring social value is taken into account in proposals for greater devolution; and what his policy is on the recommendation of the Local Government Association’s National Procurement Strategy for Local Government on the wider adoption of Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    The Government is looking at the full costs and benefits of devolution proposals in line with Government guidance. This is supported by detailed conversations with areas to help them refine their work such as guidance about onward devolution to neighbourhoods.

    The Government fully supports local authorities applying the concept of social value more widely than required by the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 and this is reflected in the Revised Best Value Statutory Guidance which was published in March of this year and can be viewed at the link below:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/revised-best-value-statutory-guidance

  • Frank Field – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Frank Field – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he has taken to encourage Premier League football clubs to pay all staff, including those employed via external contractors, at least the Living Wage as defined by the Living Wage Foundation.

    Tracey Crouch

    I welcome the fact that Chelsea Football Club have signed up to be an accredited living wage employee, not just paying their direct staff but contractors too. That is a big step forward, and one that I expect all Premier clubs to follow. I will press home that message to the Premier League’s Executive Chairman as part of the regular dialogue we have on a range of football matters.

  • Catherine West – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Catherine West – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the legal basis was for the RAF drone attack carried out in Syria on 21 August 2015; and if he will publish the original legal guidance on which the decision to carry out the attack was made.

    Michael Fallon

    The Prime Minister made clear that the Attorney General had advised that the action we took would be lawful in self-defence of the UK. By long-standing convention, reflected in the Cabinet Manual, the content of the Law Officers’ advice is not disclosed outside government without the consent of the Law Officers. As the Attorney General explained in his oral evidence to the Justice Select Committee on 15 September 2015, the convention should be adhered to in this case.

  • Ian Austin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Ian Austin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the case for enabling schools to pay an allowance to school governors in recognition of their time, expertise and service.

    Nick Gibb

    The government recognises the crucial role of governors and values their expertise and dedication. As we move towards an increasingly school-led system, governance will need to be more effective with more highly skilled people governing groups of individual schools. The government, however, remains committed to the principle of voluntary service for governors and we have no plans to enable governors to be paid beyond the specific circumstances set out in section 7.6 of the Governors’ Handbook. This handbook can be found online at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/governors-handbook–3

    Academy trusts are independent charities. Their governors are therefore also charity trustees who must comply with Charity Law. This means that they can only receive payment for carrying out trustee duties if this payment is specifically allowed by the academy’s governing document or has express authorisation from the Charity Commission. Any change to allow payment to trustees would need Charity Commission authorisation.

    Governors in maintained schools and academies can receive allowances or expenses to cover costs they have incurred because of serving as a governor.

    “

  • Ian Austin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Ian Austin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of GCSE A to C grades achieved in each of the last three years were C grades.

    Nick Gibb

    The information requested is published in Table 11 of the “Revised GCSE and equivalent results in England: statistical first release” series [1], [2], [3].

    [1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/revised-gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2013-to-2014

    [2] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2012-to-2013-revised

    [3] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/revised-gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-academic-year-2011-to-2012

    “

  • Conor McGinn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Conor McGinn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Conor McGinn on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the effect of proposed changes to the feed-in-tariff on solar firms and small businesses in (a) St Helens North constituency, (b) the North West and (c) the UK.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Our consultation on the feed-in tariff review reflects the need to balance sector support whilst keeping bills down for consumers.

    We strongly welcome evidence from the sector during this review consultation, which ends on 23 October.

  • Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Madeleine Moon – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Madeleine Moon on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the effect on carbon emissions of the reduction on feed-in tariffs; and if she will make a statement.

    Andrea Leadsom

    In order to meet the 2050 target, we know we will need significant cuts in emissions across all parts of the economy.

    This will not depend on any single technology, but rather will need a balanced mix of low carbon technologies, including nuclear, renewables, and carbon capture and storage (CCS) in order to help tackle the threat of climate change while keeping the lights on and ensuring the best value for consumers.

    The feed-in tariff scheme has been extremely successful in deploying small-scale renewables. The scheme has already exceeded our 2020/21 projections for hydro, wind, and anaerobic digestion and is within the projected range for solar PV. Given this, alongside the risk of rising costs to consumers, it is right to consider cost control measures.

  • Catherine McKinnell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Catherine McKinnell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine McKinnell on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many expressions of interest have been received for the (a) Mid Tier and (b) Higher Tier of the new Countryside Stewardship scheme.

    George Eustice

    Expressions of interest were not invited for the Mid-Tier of the new Countryside Stewardship scheme, however:

    a) 5,640 requests for Mid-Tier application packs were received, resulting in 2,314 agreement applications; and

    b) 1,025 expressions of interest were received for the Higher Tier of the new Countryside Stewardship scheme, together with 257 applications for forestry agreements.