The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2015-11-30.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the amount of the revenue element of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund in (1) 2014–15, and (2) 2015–16.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
In 2014-15, £64.9m revenue funding was provided through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund. A further £64.5m was provided in 2015-16.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Lucas on 2015-11-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of recent reports about VAT fraud by online traders operating from abroad, whether they plan to pursue (1) Amazon, and (2) eBay, for any UK VAT that has been evaded by traders using those online marketplaces; and if not, why not.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is actively targeting operational and intelligence activity to tackle this issue. However, HMRC is unable to give details of its plans in respect of any individual taxpayer because of taxpayer confidentiality.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Chidgey on 2015-11-30.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government in which countries the short wave radio transmission of BBC World Service programmes has been jammed in each year from 1999 to 2014.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The BBC World Service has advised that short wave radio transmission has been jammed in the following countries: 2004 to present – Uzbekistan 2010 – China (Mandarin) 2012 to 2013 – Iran 2013 to present –China, which has also affected parts of India, Bhutan and Bangladesh
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Empey on 2015-11-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many vessels belonging to people smugglers have been apprehended or destroyed in the Mediterranean in 2015.
Earl Howe
Since July 2015, the EU Naval Force Operation in the Mediterranean, Operation SOPHIA, has disposed of around 40 migrant boats. Her Majesty’s Government does not hold information on the total number of boats destroyed by other European actors operating in the Mediterranean. Figures are correct as at 10 November 2015.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Patten on 2015-11-30.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made representations either directly or via Commonwealth mechanisms to the government of Malaysia concerning the current prosecution of the cartoonist professionally known as Zunar.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have repeatedly lobbied for the repeal of this act at the highest levels, including by the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend, the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), when he visited Malaysia in July. Officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London and our High Commission in Malaysia have met Zunar a number of times, most recently in October. We continue to follow his case closely.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2015-11-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have asked, or will ask, the government of Turkey to hold an independent inquiry into the closures and curfews imposed on the districts of Cizre and Sur by the security forces in September; whether they plan to ask the government to ensure that full compensation is paid for civilians killed or wounded, and that responsibility be established for deaths and injuries; and if not, why not.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We welcome the visit on 15-16 October of Turkey’s national human rights body to Cizre and Sirnak to conduct analysis and research on the recent events there. We continue to monitor the human rights situation in Turkey closely and raise concerns regularly with the Turkish authorities. At the same time, we recognise Turkey has a right to act proportionately in response to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) violence. PKK attacks must stop and peace talks resume soon, in the interests of Turkey and the wider region. The UK stands ready to help in any way it can.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2015-11-30.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what (a) redundancy and (b) voluntary exit programmes for civil servants are currently in operation in each department.
Matthew Hancock
This information on the number of exit schemes currently in operation is not collated centrally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno on 2015-11-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 22 September (HL1905), what is their latest assessment of the financial costs faced by Kent County Council in supporting asylum-seeking children, and what additional funding they are offering that council to help it to do so.
Lord Bates
The Government recognises the outstanding work of Kent County Council in caring for unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC). Home Office officials have met Kent officers to understand the additional financial pressures they facing as a result of the high numbers of UASC in their care and we continue to work through the detail. The Immigration Minister has met the Leader of Kent County Council to discuss the situation.
As well as working with Kent, we believe a national response is required. We are working closely with the Local Government Association and Association of Directors of Children’s Services to finalise plans for a new scheme to disperse unaccompanied child asylum seekers to the care of other local authorities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bridget Phillipson on 2015-11-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to paragraph 40 of the North East Devolution Agreement, what progress he has made on developing an agreed implementation, monitoring and evaluation plan for evaluating the impact of north east devolution.
James Wharton
Implementation, monitoring, and evaluation are key parts of any Devolution Deal, and my officials are working closely with representatives of the North East Combined Authority to ensure that we have robust arrangements in place.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Marie Rimmer on 2015-11-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the building of homes for social rent.
Brandon Lewis
We have already allocated £1 billion towards our commitment to deliver 275,000 affordable homes by 2020. This will be the fastest rate of affordable housing building in the last 20 years.
Since April 2010 we have delivered over 260,000 affordable homes, with almost 60,000 delivered last year.