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Tag: 2015

  • 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 his Department has made of the proposal by the RSPB for the creation of a Restoration Investment Fund in areas with orphaned open-cast mines.

    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 Culture, Media and Sport

    George Howarth – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

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

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what representations his Department has received from Ofcom on that body’s powers to mandate a gaining provider-led switching regime in the mobile sector.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Government is committed to working with Ofcom to support quick and easy switching in communications markets and we will do all we can to move towards a system of gaining provider-led (GPL) switching across the board. Ofcom is currently consulting on process reforms for switching mobile services, including proposals for a GPL model. Under its existing powers, it has already introduced GPL processes for customers switching broadband and fixed-line services. It is apparent from my officials’ ongoing discussions with Ofcom – and from its recent work and current proposals to improve switching processes – that Ofcom has powers to introduce a GPL switching regime for mobile services, should it determine following its consultation that such a reform would be proportionate.

  • Thangam Debbonaire – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Thangam Debbonaire – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thangam Debbonaire on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if she will bring forward proposals to change Ofgem regulations to allow distribution network operator companies to upgrade grid infrastructure speculatively, in order that they may plan ahead for new renewable energy.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Ofgem, as the independent regulator, has consulted on allowing greater anticipatory investment in electricity distribution networks. It expects to publish its views and next steps by the end of September. The consultation and responses are available at:

    https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/quicker-and-more-efficient-distribution-connections.

    “

  • Harry Harpham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Harry Harpham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Harry Harpham on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the Government will make representations to all parties in the conflict in Yemen to ensure humanitarian access.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    We have made clear to all parties to the conflict that they must take all reasonable steps to facilitate access for humanitarian aid, and have emphasised the importance of non-politicisation of aid, as well as the need to facilitate access for commercial goods. The UK is also supporting the UN in working with the Saudi-led military coalition and Government of Yemen to make the system for verifying shipping more efficient, which should further ease access for aid. The Foreign Secretary met President Hadi on 28 September and spoke to Saudi Foreign Minister Al Jubeir on 29 September in the margins of the UN General Assembly, and underlined the importance the UK attaches to finding a political solution to the current crisis as soon as possible. The Foreign Secretary also reinforced the necessity of full compliance with international humanitarian law and of facilitating access humanitarian and commercial shipping to the Saudi Foreign Minister. The Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Justine Greening) co-chaired an international meeting on the Yemen humanitarian crisis on 28 September in the margins of the UN General Assembly. This was attended by representatives of the military coalition governments and by the government of Yemen. In this meeting, she reiterated that it was critical for all parties to the conflict to facilitate immediate humanitarian access into and within Yemen, and lift any restrictions on commercial and humanitarian shipping. To tackle the humanitarian crisis, the UK has so far announced £75 million – through UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs – to support Yemenis affected by the crisis, including those forced to flee their homes, with emergency shelter, healthcare, water and food assistance, as well as supporting UN work to co-ordinate the humanitarian response.

  • Peter Bone – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Peter Bone – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Bone on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on the availability of drugs not yet approved by NICE.

    George Freeman

    Where a drug or treatment has not been appraised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, funding decisions should be made by the relevant commissioner, based on an assessment of the available evidence and on the basis of an individual patient’s clinical circumstances.

  • Jonathan Edwards – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Jonathan Edwards – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Edwards on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the annual running costs were of (a) Carmarthen Law Courts (The Guildhall) and (b) Carmarthen Civil, Family, Tribunal and Probate Hearing Centre in each financial year from 2008-09 to date.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    Annual running costs for Carmarthen Law Courts (The Guildhall) and Carmarthen Civil, Family, Tribunal and Probate Hearing Centre are provided below. The figures provided do not include staff or judicial costs as it is not possible to attribute all of these costs to a particular site.

    Financial Year

    Carmarthen Civil, Family, Tribunal and Probate Hearing Centre

    Carmarthen Law Courts (The Guildhall)

    2014-15

    £17,935.21

    £160,408.51

    2013-14

    Not available

    £133,576.47

    2012-13

    Not available

    £238,197.71

    The Ministry of Justice does not hold comparable annual running costs data for the years 2008/9 to 2011/12.

    For Carmarthen Civil, Family, Tribunal and Probate Hearing Centre prior to 2014-15 running costs were not allocated to this building and were distributed across a number of sites. It is therefore not possible to provide consistent running cost data for previous years.

  • Laurence Robertson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Laurence Robertson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Laurence Robertson on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to help UK nationals access pensions which have been earned abroad.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The UK participates in EU regulations which allow a person to submit a single claim to pension in the EEA country where they last worked or the country of residence if it is different. That country will then coordinate with all the EEA countries where the claimant has a right to a pension so that each country can determine entitlement under its national legislation.

    Respecting the right of other countries to determine their own pension rules, the UK has also entered into a number of bilateral social security agreements with countries outside the EEA which allow people to protect the pension entitlements they may have earned in each country.

  • Neil Carmichael – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Neil Carmichael – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Carmichael on 2015-09-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the progress of police inquiries into historic child abuse cases.

    Mrs Theresa May

    The day-to-day investigation into cases of child sexual abuse, including abuse that has taken place in the past, is an operational matter for the police. The Home Office has funded Operation Hydrant, which is the national policing response to the oversight and co-ordination of all child abuse investigations concerning persons of public prominence or those offences which have taken place in institutional settings

  • Gloria De Piero – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Gloria De Piero – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gloria De Piero on 2015-09-16.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Written Statement of 16 July 2015, on Individual Electoral Registration (IER), HCWS 127, which local authorities have received any of the additional £3 million funding; and how much such additional funding each local authority has received so far to target their non IER registered carry-forward electors.

    John Penrose

    The following table shows the local authorities who have received funding to target non IER registered carry-forward electors. We are currently in the process of agreeing funding to a further 57 local authorities.

    Local Authority

    Allocation

    Birmingham City Council

    £75,939.20

    Lambeth, London Borough of

    £42,500.00

    Bristol City Council

    £39,425.00

    Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council

    £30,025.60

    Sheffield City Council

    £22,693.60

    Brent, London Borough of

    £17,603.20

    Newham, London Borough of

    £15,116.80

    Kensington and Chelsea, Royal Borough of

    £14,128.00

    Bury Metropolitan Borough Council

    £13,612.80

    Cheshire West and Chester Council

    £12,000.00

    Sevenoaks District

    £11,357.00

    Harrow, London Borough of

    £10,792.00

    Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council

    £10,699.20

    Wandsworth, London Borough of

    £10,677.60

    Cheshire East Borough Council

    £10,292.00

    Nottingham City Council

    £9,845.60

    Ealing, London Borough of

    £9,611.70

    Barking and Dagenham, London Borough of

    £8,885.60

    Southampton City Council

    £8,244.80

    Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

    £8,234.40

    Camden, London Borough of

    £8,056.00

    Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council

    £7,785.00

    Islington, London Borough of

    £7,619.20

    Plymouth City Council

    £7,572.00

    Windsor and Maidenhead, Royal Borough of

    £7,518.40

    Cornwall Council

    £6,380.72

    Portsmouth City Council

    £6,252.00

    Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council

    £6,216.00

    Maidstone Borough Council

    £5,892.00

    Oxford City Council

    £5,881.60

    South Somerset District Council

    £5,801.60

    Greenwich, London Borough of

    £5,492.00

    Vale of White Horse District Council

    £5,252.80

    Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

    £5,200.00

    West Lancashire Borough Council

    £5,000.00

    Winchester City Council

    £5,000.00

    Salford City Council

    £4,841.35

    Swindon Borough Council

    £4,612.00

    Mendip District Council

    £3,917.60

    Crawley Borough Council

    £3,751.20

    Allerdale Borough Council

    £3,566.60

    Peterborough City COuncil

    £3,019.00

    Kettering Borough Council

    £3,000.00

    Isle of Wight County Council

    £2,306.90

    Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council

    £2,150.00

    Rugby Borough Council

    £2,006.10

    Lewes District Council

    £2,000.00

    Swale Borough Council

    £2,000.00

    South Kesteven District Council

    £1,987.15

    Preston City Council

    £1,970.00

    St Albans District Council

    £1,580.00

    Derbyshire Dales District Council

    £1,500.00

    Rutland County Council

    £1,464.80

    Gloucester City Council

    £1,450.00

    Dover District Council

    £1,428.20

    Rother District Council

    £1,247.64

    Bracknell Forest Borough Council

    £1,209.90
  • Matthew Offord – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Matthew Offord – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2015-09-16.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to ensure remittances flow through secure and accessible channels to Somalia.

    Harriett Baldwin

    The Treasury has worked closely with industry and regulators to ensure that remittances continue to flow from the UK to Somalia.

    The Treasury plays a leading role in the Action Group on Cross-Border Remittances, which brings together participants from industry, Government, regulators and international partners to maintain a continued dialogue on the withdrawal of banking services from the money service business sector, in order to develop a shared understanding of the expectations of all parties and help support remittance flows.

    Over the past two years, the Action Group has overseen a number of initiatives to boost compliance in the Money Service Business (MSB) sector, and to give greater confidence to banks offering services to this sector:

    • The group has worked closely with the supervisors to develop revised guidance for the MSB sector, and for those offering banking services to the sector, including a statement from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in April 2015 clarifying the FCA’s expectations with regards to Banks’ management of money-laundering risk.

    • The National Crime Agency has worked collaboratively with the banking and MSB sectors to improve understanding and manage risk.

    • Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the supervisor of MSBs, more than doubled the number of compliance visits to MSBs in 2014, and launched an e-learning product to improve MSBs’ understanding of their obligations under the Money Laundering Regulations.

      Alongside this work in the UK, the Government is also supporting targeted capacity building in Somalia, delivered through the World Bank. This includes a specific focus on improving regulation of the Somali remittance sector and supporting the drafting and introduction of necessary financial crime legislation. This goes hand-in-hand with our longer term programme to support the formalisation of the financial sector in Somalia.

      These actions both in the UK and Somalia are intended to safeguard the vital remittances that flow between the two countries. The Action Group continues to monitor UK-Somalia remittance corridor closely and is reassured that there is currently no evidence to date of an interruption in the flow of remittances between the UK and Somalia, or any significant increase in remittance costs. This is a resilient and responsive market and the Government remains committed to supporting it and the diaspora communities that rely on these services.

      Updates on the work of the Action Group can be found on the gov.uk website:

      https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/action-group-on-cross-border-remittances