UKPOL.CO.UK

Tag: 2015

  • Margaret Ferrier – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Margaret Ferrier – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with Ministers from the Scottish Government on the steel industry in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

    David Mundell

    I have regular discussions with Scottish Government ministers on a range of issues. I wrote to the Deputy First Minister on 20 October to extend the Scotland Office’s full support for the Scottish Government’s Task Force to address the recent issues with the steel industry in Scotland.

  • Rupa Huq – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Rupa Huq – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rupa Huq on 2015-10-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to support British Airways pensioners since 14 September 2015; and what steps he has taken to encourage British Airways to fulfil its undertakings to pay RPI increases to both British Airways and New Airways Pension Schemes.

    Justin Tomlinson

    The Government appreciates the strength of feeling among British Airways Pensioners regarding increases to their pensions. However, the level of pension increases provided by the British Airways Pension Schemes mean that the schemes are meeting the minimum increases required by law. Anything above this level is a matter for the trustees.

    In responding to the motion to adjourn on 14 September, the Government made it clear that it is not appropriate for Ministers to comment on, or intervene in, the decisions of individual pension schemes.

  • Lord Black of Brentwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Lord Black of Brentwood – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Black of Brentwood on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bridges of Headley on 21 September (HL2088), what part of the total remuneration paid to members of the Chilcot Inquiry has been paid to Sir John Chilcot in both attendance allowances and expenses.

    Lord Bridges of Headley

    The Inquiry will account for its costs after the completion of its report.

  • Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Baroness Jones of Whitchurch – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what additional resources will be made available to enable local authorities to introduce clean air zones.

    Lord Gardiner of Kimble

    The Government is currently consulting on draft plans to address nitrogen dioxide levels in the UK, including proposals for a framework for Clean Air Zones in England. The principal responsibility for deciding whether to introduce a Clean Air Zone, or other appropriate measures to tackle air quality, will rest with relevant local authorities. The Government is considering the appropriate incentives required to help secure the delivery of the air quality plans.

  • Lord Falconer of Thoroton – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Lord Falconer of Thoroton – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many immigration and asylum cases in the years 2013–14 and 2014–15 have involved children as claimants in their own right; of those, how many received funding for legal help or representation; and in what percentage of these cases was the child represented.

    Lord Faulks

    The First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) received 15,134 in 2013-14 and 13,981 appeals in 2014-15 where the appellant stated they were below the age of 18 when their appeal was lodged.

    Data on the number of child appellants who are in receipt of funding are not held centrally by HMCTS.

  • Baroness Kennedy of Cradley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Baroness Kennedy of Cradley – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kennedy of Cradley on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the obstacles people will encounter when searching for company statements on supply chains, which are required to be produced by all companies that have a turnover of £36 million or more.

    Lord Bates

    The Government wants to ensure that ‘slavery and human trafficking statements’ are accessible and easy to find. That is why the Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires organisations to place a link to their statement in a prominent place on their website. This should ensure that people do not encounter undue obstacles when searching for company statements.

  • Angela Eagle – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Angela Eagle – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Eagle on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to promote local procurement targets for public projects; and what guidance he has issued to promote the adoption of the BES 6001 BRE standard in procurement decisions to ensure responsible sourcing of materials.

    Matthew Hancock

    Following the steel summit held on 16 October, we have set up a working group which I chair to look specifically at the public procurement related issues facing the steel industry, and to drive forward solutions.

    This group has representation from government and industry, andamongst the topics for discussion will behow steel standards could be integrated into procurement processes.

  • Nicholas Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Nicholas Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2015-10-20.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of which are the principal methods of tax evasion; and what proposals he has for tackling each such method.

    Mr David Gauke

    HMRC’s latest estimates of thetax gap, which covers the tax lost due to all forms of non-compliance, including evasion was published on 22 October 2015. The tax gap in the 2013 to 2014 financial year (the latest year) was estimated to be £34billion – 6.4% of the total tax that HMRC estimates was due. Tax evasion accounted for £4.4 billion of this. Tax evaders employ a wide range of methods, ranging from simply not recording taxable transactions to sophisticated sales suppression. HMRC continually reviews its approach to tackling different methods of evasion in the light of operational experience.

    Since 2010 HMRC has delivered record compliance yield from tackling all forms of non-compliance, including evasion, avoidance and fraud.

  • Mark Williams – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Mark Williams – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Williams on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of the introduction of the Government’s living wage on unincorporated businesses.

    Nick Boles

    The Government believes that the new National Living Wage is affordable given the strength of the UK economy and labour market.

    The Government will publish a full impact assessment for the introduction of the National Living Wage alongside the implementing regulations. This will contain a section on the impact on small businesses which includes many unincorporated businesses.

    The Government is reducing Corporation Tax to 19% from 2017-18 and then to 18% from 2020-21; setting the Annual Investment Allowance at a new permanent level of £200,000; and increasing the Employment Allowance by £1,000 to £3,000 from 2016-17. The increase in the employment allowance means a business could employ four people on the National Living Wage and pay no National Insurance Contributions.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Chi Onwurah – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-10-20.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to address the rise in behavioural scamming.

    Mike Penning

    Fraudsters use a variety of methods to extract personal data from the public. This includes calling or emailing individuals, claiming to be from a trusted authority figure or organisation. Any person who believes they have been affected by telephone or email scams should report to Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime. Action Fraud is operated by the City of London Police.

    Through our Cyber Streetwise campaign we are helping the public understand how to protect themselves from fraud and cybercrime. This includes notifying them of the key threats and highlighting simple security measures to take.

    Ofcom, the communications regulator in the UK, has worked closely with the Metropolitan Police Service, Action Fraud and landline providers to prevent criminals exploiting phone lines to trick and defraud members of the public. All landline providers have now reduced the time a call remains open after one party hangs up down to two seconds. This makes it much more difficult for criminals to exploit phone lines in this way.