UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: 2015

  • Lord Greaves – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Lord Greaves – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Greaves on 2015-09-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in considering whether to call in planning applications for schemes involving hydraulic fracturing that have taken longer than 16 weeks to be decided upon, they will count the 16 weeks from (1) the date the application was first received by the Minerals Planning Authority or (2) the date the application was registered; and whether, in either case, they will take into account (a) the timetable agreed between the applicant and the planning authority, even if that is for longer than 16 weeks, (b) delays caused by the failure of the applicant to provide the necessary information, (c) delays caused by defects in the application, (d) delays caused by amendments to the application, (e) an estimate of the additional costs likely to result from calling in the application, and (f) whether a call-in will result in a greater delay than allowing the planning authority to continue to deal with it.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    I refer the noble Lord to the written ministerial statements of 16 September, HLWS194 and HLWS195, which set out a number of measures to enable planning applications and appeals relating to shale gas and oil to be dealt with as quickly as possible.

    These include a commitment by the Secretary of State to actively consider calling-in shale planning applications. Separately, a scheme has been put in place to identify local planning authority underperformance in respect of their determination of oil and gas planning applications. The scheme uses the same threshold of underperformance set out in the document ‘Improving planning performance – Criteria for designation’, of 50% or fewer applications being made within the relevant statutory time limit, or such extended period as has been agreed in writing by the applicant. The statutory time limit applies once an application has been validated by the local planning authority. Where an authority is identified as underperforming under the scheme, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government will actively consider calling-in for his determination oil and gas planning applications that are validated by that authority, in accordance with existing policy.

    The decision on whether to call-in any application will be taken in line with current call-in policy. Any applications relating to shale gas that are called-in would be prioritised for urgent resolution.

    If the Secretary of State were to grant a planning permission in respect of a called-in application, then any details of the scheme that are the subject of planning conditions would need to be submitted to and approved by the relevant local planning authority.

  • Lord MacKenzie of Culkein – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord MacKenzie of Culkein – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord MacKenzie of Culkein on 2015-09-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review the regulations governing ship registration in the United Kingdom with a view to increasing the number of ships in the world fleet on the UK register without reducing standards.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    There are no specific plans yet.

    The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is currently recruiting a new Director of the UK Ship Register (UKSR) for whom an early task will be to review current regulations in light of the aspiration to grow the UKSR, and make any appropriate recommendations.

  • Baroness Tonge – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Baroness Tonge – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Tonge on 2015-09-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent discussions they have had with the government of Israel concerning the right of return for Palestinians.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    We continue to be clear with both sides that there must be a just, fair and agreed settlement for refugees as part of a negotiated two-state solution. On 10 September during the visit to London of Prime Minister Netanyahu, the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), raised the need for the parties to return to negotiations.

  • Stuart Blair Donaldson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Stuart Blair Donaldson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stuart Blair Donaldson on 2015-09-17.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of shell companies being used to invest corrupt money in the UK in each of the last 10 years; and what steps he plans to take to tighten related money laundering regulations.

    Harriett Baldwin

    The opaque nature of such structures means that we are unable to produce an accurate estimate of how many are used to invest corrupt money in the UK. That is one reason why the Prime Minister put beneficial ownership transparency at the heart of the UK’s G8 Presidency in 2013. The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act received Royal Assent earlier this year and established a public register of company beneficial ownership information. This register will be operational from June 2016. The Act also abolished bearer shares and introduced a requirement for all company directors to be natural persons.

    In Europe, we worked hard during the negotiation of the 4th Anti-Money Laundering Directive to encourage European partners to match our level of ambition to ensure that criminal activity would not simply be displaced. The Directive was formally adopted in June 2015 and requires all Member States to implement central registers of company beneficial ownership will access for competent authorities, obliged entities and those with a legitimate interest. Member states have until June 2017 to transpose these requirements.

    The Government is continuing to take strong action to make the UK a hostile environment for corrupt money and to make it increasingly difficult for criminals to abuse corporate structures. We will shortly publish the UK’s first National Risk Assessment of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing and have committed to publishing an Anti-Money Laundering Action Plan to address those issues which are highlighted by the National Risk Assessment.

  • Alan Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Alan Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2015-09-17.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on employment in (a) Kilmarnock and Loudoun constituency and (b) Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock constituency of his Department’s decision to not offer assistance with restoration proposals.

    Damian Hinds

    Environmental protection is a devolved matter, and outstanding land restoration liabilities lie with the relevant local authorities and ultimately with the Scottish Government. The Treasury has fully considered the two proposals put to them for addressing the shortfall of land restoration on abandoned Scottish coal mines: an exemption from the Carbon Price Support (CPS) tax and a direct grant from the Exchequer. Following discussions with Hargreaves, the UK Coal Authority, the Scotland Office, the Scottish Government and DECC, the Treasury has had to decline both proposals after thorough consideration. The reasons for this include: – Addressing the shortfall in land restoration is not the responsibility of the UK Government. Environmental protection is a devolved matter, and outstanding land restoration liabilities lie with the relevant local authorities. – The proposals are unaffordable in the current fiscal climate. They would also set a precedent that would risk discouraging companies and local authorities from making proper financial provision for the cost of site restoration and future environmental liabilities. – A CPS exemption would be an inefficient means of addressing the shortfall of land restoration, as the money would not go directly towards this aim and it would incur significant administration costs. – A CPS exemption would distort the market by making non-exempt coal less competitive, and by discouraging investment in low carbon power generation. I have written to the Scottish Government’s Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism informing him of this decision and I would be happy to consider any other options put forward.

  • George Howarth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    George Howarth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Howarth on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to permitted development rights in 2013 on the roll-out of 4G mobile services; and what plans he has to assess whether further reforms of such rights would facilitate further roll-out of such services.

    Brandon Lewis

    On 10 July, the Government’s Productivity Plan set out its ambitions for mobile connectivity in England and launched the Review of ‘How the Planning System in England Can Support the Delivery of Mobile Connectivity’. We sought views on the ability of the planning system to deliver and support mobile connectivity, the effectiveness of the changes made in 2013, and evidence on technical and operational factors, which may be limiting deployment.

    We received responses from mobile network operators and associated industry, local authorities, countryside groups and others. We are considering the evidence submitted and will announce the outcome of the planning review in due course.

  • Andrew Griffiths – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Andrew Griffiths – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Griffiths on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many pupils who attended schools assessed as outstanding at their most recent inspection (a) achieved and (b) did not achieve five A* to C grades including English and mathematics, broken down by eligibility for (i) free school meals, (ii) ethnicity, (iii) children in need and (iv) children in care in the most recent year for which figures are available.

    Nick Gibb

    The requested information is not held in the correct format.

  • Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Angela Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Smith on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason the Government withdrew the draft Hunting Act 2004 (Exempt Hunting) (Amendment) Order 2015.

    Rory Stewart

    While the debate on the Statutory Instrument did not take place, the Government has not withdrawn the Draft Hunting Act 2004 (Amendment) Order 2015.

  • Liz McInnes – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Liz McInnes – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz McInnes on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when Public Health England and NHS England’s improvement framework for hepatitis C will be published.

    Jane Ellison

    A publication date for the hepatitis C framework has not yet been confirmed. While NHS England is progressing the hepatitis C framework, Public Health England continues working with NHS England and Operational Development Networks to establish a process of monitoring of treatment access and uptake.

  • Gavin Newlands – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Gavin Newlands – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Newlands on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of why those asylum seekers detained at the Dungavel facility had their applications refused in the last year; and what reasons were given in each case for that refusal.

    Mr John Hayes

    There were 222 asylum claimants who received a refusal decision on their asylum claim whilst held in detention at Dungavel Removal Centre over the past 12 months. Each asylum claim is considered on its individual merits and where an individual is found to be in genuine need of our protection, asylum is granted.