Tag: 2015

  • Alison Thewliss – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Alison Thewliss – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will increase the requirements placed on Network Rail to consult local communities on infrastructure planning.

    Claire Perry

    Network Rail has to comply with all relevant legislation in carrying out works on its network. It also has to comply with the terms of its Network Licence, enforced by the Office of Rail and Road, which includes provision on dealings with stakeholders and maintenance of long term plans for the network. Any changes to these licence requirements are a matter for the Office of Rail and Road.

    Network Rail works with over 60 Community Rail Partnerships (a government initiative). This involves local people in the development and promotion of local and rural routes, services and stations, aiming to increase passenger numbers and freight use and improve the revenue and efficiency of services.

  • Kirsten Oswald – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Kirsten Oswald – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kirsten Oswald on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what financial support is available to people earning less than £110 per week net who are the principal carers for elderly relatives with a disability.

    Justin Tomlinson

    This Government recognises and appreciates the vital contribution made by carers.

    A variety of support is available to both carers and the severely disabled people that they care for. Support is both financial, including through the benefit and Tax Credit systems and the Universal Credit service, and in other ways through local councils and health services.

    Carer’s Allowance is designed to provide a measure of financial support and recognition for people who give up the opportunity of full-time employment in order to provide regular and substantial care for a severely disabled person. For this reason it is not available to people earning more than £110 a week net of allowable deductions and expenses.

    Carers earning more than £110 a week may be entitled to other financial support, such as Universal Credit or Tax Credits if they satisfy the qualifying conditions.

    People with a disability can claim benefits in their own right in order to meet their needs. Depending on individual circumstances, such financial support can be through universal, extra costs benefits and/or means-tested benefits. Means-tested benefits, such as Pension Credit, include an additional amount for people with a severe disability (currently £61.85 a week for a single person) which can be paid to a disabled person to help meet the costs of caring if their carer is not receiving Carer’s Allowance.

  • Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Emily Thornberry – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-10-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people claiming income support (a) are pregnant and (b) gave birth within the last 15 weeks.

    Priti Patel

    The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  • The Lord Bishop of Derby – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The Lord Bishop of Derby – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Derby on 2015-10-13.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to require gangmasters to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check as part of their licence application process.

    Lord Bates

    The Government has no current plans to introduce a requirement for a Disclosure and Barring Service check in the Gangmasters Licensing Authority licence application. A public consultation on the role of the GLA in labour market enforcement was published on 13 October and invites views on operation of the licensing regime.

  • Baroness Scott of Needham Market – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Baroness Scott of Needham Market – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Scott of Needham Market on 2015-10-13.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they expect the cost of increasing public sector salaries to the level of the National Living Wage to be met from within the overall 1 per cent pay increase for such workers announced in the Budget.

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    At Summer Budget 2015, it was announced that the Government will fund public sector workforces for an average pay award of 1 per cent for 4 years from 2016-17.

    The impact of the new National Living Wage will be considered during the Spending Review as part of an overall assessment of spending pressures across the public sector.

  • Baroness Young of Old Scone – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Baroness Young of Old Scone – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Young of Old Scone on 2015-10-13.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to consult stakeholders on the further devolution of forestry, including the cross-border functions and shared services of the Forestry Commission.

    Lord Gardiner of Kimble

    The UK Government, after being approached by Scottish Ministers in June, have agreed that officials will work jointly to consider options for the transfer of Forestry Commissioners’ powers and duties, as they relate to Scotland, to Scottish Ministers.

    No decisions have been taken yet and any legislative reforms will be subject to the usual Parliamentary scrutiny.

  • Ms Margaret Ritchie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Ms Margaret Ritchie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ms Margaret Ritchie on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with Volkswagen and Renault on the recall of cars in Northern Ireland aged one to five years for refitting new computer and brake systems; and if he will make a statement.

    Anna Soubry

    My Rt hon Friends the Secretaries of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and Transport have jointly engaged in an exchange of correspondence with Paul Willis, Head of Volkswagen (VW) UK on VW’s plans for addressing consumer concerns over the fitting of defeat devices fitted to VW branded vehicles in the UK (including Northern Ireland). Both Ministers have urged VW UK to complete the refit/redress process as quickly as possible.

  • Graham Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Graham Jones – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2015-10-13.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Help to Buy mortgages have been refused by the Government despite being accepted by the participating bank.

    Harriett Baldwin

    The Government has established a criteria of eligibility for Help to Buy mortgages for participating banks to uphold. The responsibility of approving or rejecting a Help to Buy mortgage is given to participating banks.

    There are currently two existing Help to Buy schemes; the Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme and the Help to Buy: equity loan scheme. The eligibility criteria for each of these schemes can be found on the Help to Buy website: http://www.helptobuy.org.uk

    “

  • Ms Margaret Ritchie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Ms Margaret Ritchie – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ms Margaret Ritchie on 2015-10-13.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the Minister for Finance in the Republic of Ireland; and what subjects were raised at those discussions.

    Mr David Gauke

    Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As has been the practice adopted by previous administrations it is not Government policy to normally release details of such meetings.

  • Conor McGinn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Conor McGinn – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Conor McGinn on 2015-10-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department differentiates between private sector landlords and housing associations in the manner in which it makes direct payments to landlords on behalf of tenants who receive universal credit.

    Justin Tomlinson

    No. DWP does not differentiate between social and private landlords in the manner in which it makes direct payments of rent to landlords on behalf of tenants who receive universal credit.