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Tag: 2015

  • Jeremy Lefroy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Jeremy Lefroy – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Lefroy on 2015-11-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussion she has had with the European Commission’s (a) Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department and (b) Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development on responding to humanitarian needs in Burundi.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    The UK Government is extremely concerned by the ongoing political unrest in Burundi and its humanitarian consequences, including internally displaced persons and the flow of Burundian refugees to neighbouring countries.

    The Secretary of State attended the Foreign Affairs Council for Development on 26 October where it was agreed to launch Article 96 consultation procedures with Burundi. Senior Officials from DFID have raised Burundi with appropriate interlocutors, including in Brussels.

  • Lord Browne of Belmont – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Browne of Belmont – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Browne of Belmont on 2015-11-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to help home owners in negative equity.

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    If homeowners are in negative equity, or worried about meeting payments in the future, it is vital to make early contact with their lender.

    There are a number of organisations available that provide free, impartial advice on money and debt management, including the Money Advice Service, which Government has set up to promote understanding of Financial Systems.

    The Government is working to mitigate the impact of Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) activity on those in negative equity and following consultation government released a response document on the 29th October, which is available on the gov.uk website.

  • Craig Whittaker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Craig Whittaker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2015-11-30.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to create additional airport capacity in the north of England.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    It is for individual airports to put forward proposals for capacity expansion, taking careful account of all relevant considerations, particularly economic and environmental impacts. We therefore welcome the investment airports in the north of England are already making to increase capacity and improve terminals and passenger facilities.

  • Lord Greaves – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Greaves – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Greaves on 2015-11-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government  what measures they are taking to help to prevent sexual predators taking advantage of refugees, including children, (1) in the UK, and (2) in the rest of Europe.

    Lord Bates

    Any child who arrives in the UK unaccompanied, either as a result of resettlement or via another route, would be expected to receive the same protection and support as a child who is resident in the UK, under the provisions set out in the Children Act 1989, as amended, and related statutory guidance.

    In Europe, the UK, through the Department for International Development, has committed funding to humanitarian organisations which are working to assist and protect vulnerable people, including children.

    This includes funding to the Red Cross, UNHCR, the International Organisation for Migration, as well as humanitarian NGOs working in southern Europe and the Balkans. These programmes have specific activities which identify unaccompanied children to ensure that they are referred to appropriate services, including psychosocial support and child-friendly safe spaces.

  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-12-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress his Department has made on the motor vehicle emissions retesting programme.

    Mr Patrick McLoughlin

    The Secretary of State for Transport’s written statement of 10 Nov 2015 advised that the programme was underway and that he would keep the House informed of progress.

    The Vehicle Certification Agency has tested 7 independently sourced vehicles at a commercial laboratory. Two more laboratories will increase the volume of tests in the New Year. We intend to test approximately 40 vehicles and a report will be published next spring.

  • Baroness Walmsley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Baroness Walmsley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Walmsley on 2015-11-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they define commercial confidentiality” and “exceptional circumstances” in relation to restrictions on FOI requests relating to private companies that provide public services.”

    Lord Bridges of Headley

    Requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 are considered on a case by case basis. Section 43 of the Act sets out the circumstances in which information is exempt from disclosure on grounds of commercial interests.

  • Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2015-12-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether his Department plans to retain or to return to the Consolidated Fund receipts from the sale of land and property assets over the Spending Review period.

    Mark Lancaster

    The Ministry of Defence plans to retain all receipts from the sale of land and property assets.

  • Anna Turley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Anna Turley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anna Turley on 2015-11-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what correspondence his Department has had with PwC regarding SSI Redcar in the last three years; and how many meetings his Department has had with PwC in that period.

    Anna Soubry

    My officials had a number of telephone calls and one meeting with PwC between 28 August 2015 and 1 October 2015 to discuss SSI.

  • Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Paul Flynn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-12-04.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether she plans to review the assessment principles on imperative reasons of overriding public interest in big energy planning projects.

    Andrea Leadsom

    These are requirements under European Law. There are no plans to review the assessment principles on imperative reasons of overriding public interest in big energy planning projects.

  • Andrew Stephenson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Andrew Stephenson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Stephenson on 2015-11-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that people eligible to join the Class 3A voluntary contribution scheme are made aware of it.

    Justin Tomlinson

    1. A nationwide communications campaign, called ‘State Pension top up’, has been in place since 2014 to raise awareness of the Class 3A voluntary contribution scheme both before and after its launch on 12 October 2015. This campaign has included the creation of dedicated webpages on GOV.UK, including a calculator tool which has been used over 82,000 times since scheme launch. Printed and digital leaflets have been produced alongside advertising both online, and through national and regional press.

    For over a year prior to launch, individuals were able to register by phone or email for scheme updates.

    The scheme has also achieved widespread coverage, particularly around its launch, in the national and specialist press read by the scheme’s target audience. DWP has worked directly with financial advisory bodies and key pensions industry experts to raise awareness of the scheme.

    DWP officials have attended conferences around the country with IFAs to explain the scheme and Ministers have written articles and conducted interviews on national, regional and international broadcast channels.

    As of 8 November 2015, the scheme had attracted 3460 applications.