The below Parliamentary question was asked by Keir Starmer on 2015-11-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how the extension of office to residential permitted development rights will be set out in legislative proposals.
Brandon Lewis
The extension of the office to residential permitted development rights will be brought forward as amendments to The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Blackford on 2015-12-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance and advice his Department provides for pensioners who exhaust their pension pots.
Justin Tomlinson
Government has created the foundation for saving via automatic enrolment and the State Pension reforms. The new State pension is there to provide a good basic level of income in retirement. The Government is encouraging saving and allowing people to access their pensions in a way that suits them.
DWP is committed to providing security for working people at every stage of their lives, and that includes giving people the chance to plan for a financially secure retirement.
The Government recognises that people need support which is why it set up Pension wise. Pension Wise is the Government’s free, impartial retirement guidance service which helps members by giving guidance on different options available to them. Part of the Pension wise guidance is stressing the need to consider the need for lifetime income to minimise the risk of running out. This service is not intended to replicate or replace the need for professional financial advice which some people should take.
People can also turn to Money Advisory Service (MAS) and Citizens Advice Bureau for support if they are struggling with debt and need help to manage their finances.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-11-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Answer of 1 December 2014 to Question 216015, what criteria her Department sets for eligibility for free school meals for households in receipt of universal credit.
Mr Sam Gyimah
Universal Credit is being rolled out in stages and the vast majority of households with children whose parents who are receiving in-work benefits will not transfer to Universal Credit until late 2016. The Department for Education is currently considering how the eligibility rules should change, and will consult on proposals ahead of their introduction.
While this work is on-going, any child whose parent or guardian is receiving Universal Credit will continue to be entitled to free school meals.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burgon on 2015-12-03.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he took the National Crime Agency investigation into the Project Eagle loan sale by Ireland’s National Asset Management Agency to Cerberus into account in decisions on the sale of UK Asset Resolutions’ Granite Portfolio to Cerberus.
Harriett Baldwin
Cerberus was selected as the successful bidder for UK Asset Resolution (UKAR)’s Granite portfolio following a thorough due diligence process. Cerberus have confirmed to UKAR that their involvement in the Project Eagle loan sale was conducted with the utmost integrity; and have separately provided a detailed submission to the Northern Ireland Committee on Finance and Personnel, which conducted a full enquiry into the sale.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2015-11-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to encourage more retailers to sell milk brands that best support the domestic dairy industry.
George Eustice
The Secretary of State has written to all major supermarkets asking them to consider what more they might be able to do to increase their sourcing of UK dairy products and I am holding discussions with individual retailers, to encourage them to do more, particularly on processed dairy products.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mike Kane on 2015-12-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of derelict and abandoned buildings.
Brandon Lewis
The number of empty homes is at its lowest since records began. Local authorities have powers and strong incentives to tackle empty homes. Through the New Homes Bonus they earn the same financial reward for bringing an empty home back into use as building a new one. Councils may also charge up to 150% council tax for homes empty for over two years. In addition, we have reformed permitted development rights to free up the planning system and encourage the conversion of existing commercial buildings into residential units
A local authority can also serve a notice under section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to make good land and buildings that are not being properly maintained where the public amenity the area is being adversely affected. Where a section 215 notice has not been complied with, the local planning authorities can carry out the works and seek to recover the costs. Additionally local authorities also have powers under sections 76-79 of the Building Act to dealing with defective premises, dangerous buildings, ruinous/dilapidated buildings and neglected sites; section 29 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 for works on unoccupied buildings; and sections 79-82 of the Environmental Protection Act for abatement or prohibition of a nuisance.
Advice to local planning authorities on how to make the best use of their powers under Section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/town-and-country-planning-act-1990-section-215-best-practice-guidance
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-11-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions the Department has had with its counterparts in countries where trading dog meat is legal about that trade.
Mr Hugo Swire
We are committed to raising standards of animal welfare in the UK and abroad. While there are no international norms, laws or agreements governing the trade and consumption of dog meat, we believe it is necessary to work with governments to gain agreement on animal welfare standards and to stop cruel and inhumane farming practices. As the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (Mr Duddridge), outlined in the House of Commons on 5 November, we raise our concerns with those countries where the trade in dog meat is legal and work alongside them to improve animal welfare. I am writing to our Ambassadors in relevant countries to review what appropriate action may be taken on this issue. The British Government will also consider a review of our engagement with relevant international organisations regarding health and welfare issues in the dog meat trade.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2015-12-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many new entrants there were in undergraduate programmes by subject for Initial Teacher Training for 2015-16.
Nick Gibb
In the academic year 2015 to 2016 there were 5,440 first year undergraduate trainees.
The 2015 to 2016 Teacher Supply Model sets the target for postgraduate trainees and takes account of the number of undergraduate trainees completing a course in 2016 when meeting future teacher requirements. We allocated places for undergraduate courses using criteria as set out in the published guidance.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Henry Smith on 2015-11-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to improve children and young people’s mental health services.
Alistair Burt
Children and young people’s mental health is a priority area for this Government. We are committed to delivering the vision set out in Future in mind through the launch of a major system-wide transformation programme working alongside our partners in Government and arm’s length bodies. This will improve access and make services more widely available across the country.
To support this transformation, an additional£1.4 billion funding has been made available over the course of this Parliament for spending on children and young people’s mental health, of which we are spending £173 million this year, including £30 million on eating disorders. This will be used to improve community-based services so that young people are helped earlier and are less likely to need to go into hospital. It will also enable the expansion and extension of the Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme so that a wider range of those who need it are able to access high quality and evidence-based interventions wherever they may live. All clinical commissioning groups have been asked to work with their partners to develop Local Transformation Plans to transform their local offer to improve children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
A national programme of work will support local areas, including the extension and expansion of the use of evidence- based interventions, tackling stigma, improving data and information to inform greater transparency and accountability and developing a specialist and stronger workforce.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Callum McCaig on 2015-12-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the potential effect on (a) the supply chain and (b) existing infrastructure of the Government’s decision to cancel the carbon capture and storage competition.
Andrea Leadsom
The provision of ring-fenced capital support for CCS was judged against other Government funding priorities as part of the Spending Review. We are engaging closely with the two bidders and wider industry on the implications of the decision. The Government’s view remains that CCS has a potential role in the long term decarbonisation of the UK’s power and industrial sectors.