Tag: 2015

Lilian Greenwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2015-11-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2015 to Question 4759, if he will update the benefit-cost ratio for Great Western electrification given in that Answer to reflect the revised cost estimate for that electrification project confirmed in oral evidence by Mark Carne of the Committee of Public Accounts, on Network Rail: planning and delivery of 2014-19 rail investment programme, HC473, Q1, on 21 October 2015.

Claire Perry

The Department and Network Rail are updating business cases as part of the Hendy Review Process. Network Rail is continuing to examine the deliverability and potential scheduling of Great Western works following which the benefit cost ratio for the programme will be updated.

January 1, 2023
Nicola Blackwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicola Blackwood on 2015-11-26.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much of his Department’s funding allocated in the Spending Review 2015 will be for research and development expenditure up to 2020.

Harriett Baldwin

Spending Review 2015 set out settlements for departments and showed how the government will deliver on its priorities, eliminate the deficit, and deliver security and opportunity for working people.

Final decisions on internal departmental funding allocations for future years, including for research and development, have not yet been made.

January 1, 2023
Jamie Reed – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2015-10-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of the Government’s proposal to freeze the earnings threshold for plan 2 student loans on the cost of attending university.

Joseph Johnson

Freezing the repayment threshold will not affect the cost of attending university. It will mean that students, once earning, will on average meet a greater share of these costs over their working life through loan repayments, helping ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the system. Lower earning graduates below the repayment threshold will not be affected by the proposed changes.

Estimates of the impact of freezing the repayment thresholds are illustrated in the consultation document, which has been published here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/freezing-the-student-loan-repayment-threshold

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January 1, 2023
Julie Cooper – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Cooper on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many first-time house buyers there were in (a) Burnley, (b) Lancashire and (c) the North West in each of the last six years.

Brandon Lewis

Statistics on the numbers of first-time house buyers are published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and can be found at:

https://www.cml.org.uk/home/

January 1, 2023
Seema Malhotra – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-10-30.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish an update on the delivery of the National Infrastructure Plan.

Greg Hands

The Government continues to track the status of nationally significant infrastructure projects and programmes in the National Infrastructure Pipeline, which underpins the National Infrastructure Plan. In July 2015, the Government published a refresh of the National Infrastructure Pipeline containing details on the status of UK infrastructure projects.

Over 2,650 projects were completed in the last Parliament and a number of priority projects have been completed since the last National Infrastructure Plan was published, including Manchester Victoria station and Nottingham Express Transit Phase 2.

January 1, 2023
Maria Eagle – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of UK-based jobs in each region likely to be sustained by his Department’s decision to procure the Boeing P8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft fleet.

Mr Philip Dunne

The UK is in negotiations with Boeing on the route to contract for P-8, which will determine how the programme will affect UK-based jobs. It is expected the P-8 will have a significant impact on the UK economy: P-8 is based on the Boeing 737, the supply chain for which already includes UK industry, and the UK also manufactures subsystems of the P-8. Purchase of the aircraft will also create opportunities for UK industry to bid for training and support contracts, and basing of this fleet at RAF Lossiemouth will bring significant economic benefits to Scotland. Boeing estimates that in total, its entire P-8 programme could generate over US$1 billion to the UK supply chain and economy.

January 1, 2023
Tom Brake – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2015-10-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make it his policy to transfer responsibility for military graves maintained by his Department to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Mark Lancaster

Discussions between Ministry Of Defence (MOD) and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) are continuing regarding the transfer of maintenance responsibility for the graves of military personnel buried in the UK since 1948.

Annual costs for the maintenance of each grave for which MOD is responsible are estimated to be between £65 and £205 depending on the location and condition of the grave. The MOD’s annual grant to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in respect of the graves they maintain is in excess of £47 million.

January 1, 2023
Maria Eagle – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the operational capabilities are of the Type 26 frigates announced in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Type 26 Global Combat Ship, designed to provide an anti-submarine warfare capability, will be a multi-mission warship designed for joint and multinational operations across the full spectrum of warfare, including complex combat operations, counter piracy, humanitarian and disaster relief work.

It will be capable of operating independently for significant periods, or as part of a task group. Its design is inherently flexible, allowing greater choice in operational tasking through the incorporation of modular systems, to allow incremental upgrades to its systems through the life-time of the class. These include the flexible strike silo (able to host anti-submarine, anti-ship and, if required, land attack strike missiles) and the modular mission bay (able to host unmanned air, surface or sub-surface systems, boats for an embarked force, further command facilities or humanitarian relief stores).

I am withholding further detail as its disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

January 1, 2023
Nicholas Soames – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2015-10-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the most significant key risks to the UK’s food security; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice

Food supply is one of the UK’s critical national infrastructures and Defra produces an annual sector resilience plan as lead Government Department.

The UK food sector has a highly effective and resilient food supply chain, owing to the size, geographic diversity and competitive nature of the industry. The resilience of the sector has been demonstrated by the response to potentially disruptive challenges in recent years, although it is dependent on other critical services such as fuel, energy, transport and communications. The Government and industry work together closely to identify and mitigate risks and ensure the continued resilience of food supply.

The Government is developing a 25 year food and farming plan to further grow our food and farming industry. We want to export more and produce more for the domestic market. We aim to improve productivity and profitability through greater efficiency, the deployment of new technology and by building on the strong international reputation of British food at home and abroad.

January 1, 2023
Maria Eagle – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Eagle on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the cost of recapitalising the Command Support Air Transport fleet.

Mr Philip Dunne

A full assessment phase will be undertaken to ensure that any recapitalisation decisions provide the most efficient way of delivering capability and offer best value for money.

January 1, 2023