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Tag: 2015

  • Phil Boswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Phil Boswell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Phil Boswell on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps the Government (a) has taken and (b) plans to take in response to the finding in the Institute for Public Policy Research’s report, Why Interns Need a Fair Wage, published in July 2010, that the system of unpaid internships excludes young people who come from less well-off families and ensures that certain industries and professions continue to be dominated from particular backgrounds, perpetuating inequality and dampening opportunities for social mobility.

    Nick Boles

    The Government believes in fair wages for fair work and opportunity for all. When an intern meets the legal definition of a worker they must be paid at least the National Minimum Wage. We actively promote fair and open access to paid internships through the BIS-funded Graduate Talent Pool, and our Social Mobility Business Compact and Common Best Practice Code for High Quality Internships ask employers to ensure that any internships they offer are advertised openly and transparently and are paid fairly. We have also made it simpler to name and shame employers that do not comply with national minimum wage regulations and, in addition, complaints from interns are now fast-tracked by HMRC.

  • Graham Allen – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Graham Allen – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Allen on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will extend the successful Schools Initiative in Northern Ireland established to increase voter registration among 16 to 18 year olds to other parts of the UK before the next 2015 deadline for electoral registration.

    John Penrose

    The most recent report by the Electoral Commission (November 2012) on completeness and accuracy of the register in Northern Ireland showed that 51% of 18 – 19 year olds were registered to vote compared to 76% in Great Britain. The Government has no current plans to extend the Northern Ireland Schools Initiative to the rest of the United Kingdom.

  • Paul Blomfield – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Paul Blomfield – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2015-10-09.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will collect data on the number of enforcement actions undertaken by HM Revenue and Customs involving victims of modern slavery.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Revenue and Customs has collated data on its enforcement actions involving modern slavery since February 2015.

  • Cat Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Cat Smith – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure that women’s refuges have a sustainable source of funding after the current funding arrangements end on 31 March 2016.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    The Government is committed to a secure future for refuge provision, as set out in our Manifesto, and is determined to ensure that no victim is turned away from the support they need. At Budget the Chancellor announced an additional £3.2 million to increase specialist accommodation support for victims, including refuges, and provide more help for victims to access that support. This is in addition to the £10 million announced in 2014 to enable local authorities to strengthen refuge services. Our significant investment shows our clear commitment to maintaining and boosting refuge provision. Future funding arrangements are a matter for the Spending Review.

  • John Howell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    John Howell – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Howell on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the percentage change in Oxfordshire County Council’s spending power is in 2015-16.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    Spending power figures for 2015-16 are published at the link below:

    https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/400629/Spending_Power_per_Dwelling.xlsx

    “

  • Brendan O’Hara – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Brendan O’Hara – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Brendan O’Hara on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the press release of 31 August 2015, £500 million for Faslane, announced by the Chancellor, what provision has been made within that funding for investment in (a) roads, signage and communication links and (b) other surrounding infrastructure to support increased vehicular and personnel traffic on (i) the A814 and other roads leading to and from the Glen Douglas Munitions Depot and (ii) other roads in and around HM Naval Base Clyde.

    Mr Philip Dunne

    The project to make the necessary infrastructure adaptations to update the facilities at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde and Royal Naval Armament Depot Coulport to support all Royal Navy submarines is in its Assessment Phase. Until the assessments are completed it is not possible to give the level of detail requested.

  • Mark Menzies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Mark Menzies – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Menzies on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to adequately resource schools to meet the increased demand for school places from new residents of large housing developments in Fylde.

    Edward Timpson

    Local authorities are responsible for planning and securing sufficient school places in their area, and supporting them to do so is one of this Government’s top priorities.

    Basic need funding is allocated to local authorities to support them in creating new school places. We use data provided by local authorities to ensure funding is targeted according to levels of need in each area. This Government has committed to investing a further £7 billion to create new school places between 2015 and 2021. Lancashire will receive £46 million of basic need funding from 2015-2018.

    Where place pressure is created by future housing developments, we expect local authorities to seek contributions from developers as they are an important way of helping to meet the cost of future places. It is for the local planning authority to negotiate developer contributions through section 106 agreements or Community Infrastructure Levies, and to decide on the local infrastructure needs that this contribution should support.

  • Grahame Morris – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Grahame Morris – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools have renovated, replaced or installed new kitchen equipment in order to comply with the universal infant free school meals programme.

    Mr Sam Gyimah

    The Government has provided significant support for schools to improve kitchen and dining room facilities for their infant pupils. We have allocated £184.5 million capital funding in total specifically for this purpose, and an additional £32.5 million UIFSM funding to support small schools in improving their infant meal provision, which can be used to purchase equipment or fund minor capital works.

  • Alan Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Alan Brown – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate she has made of the National Grid transmission charges likely to be applied to Hinkley Point C when that power station is operational.

    Andrea Leadsom

    It is the Generator who has estimated the transmission charges applicable to Hinkley Point C during operation. The Strike Price has been calculated on the basis of NNBG’s projected construction and operating costs, including a non-guaranteed reasonable profit, with NNBG’s costs having been substantiated and independently verified.

  • Barry Sheerman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Barry Sheerman – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2015-10-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment her Department has made of the safety, sustainability and absence of risk to the environment of methods available for disposing of radioactive waste.

    Andrea Leadsom

    Government policy on disposing of higher activity radioactive waste is based on a comprehensive review of all the available options for existing wastes originally carried out by the independent Committee on Radioactive Waste Management between 2003 and 2006. Based on their consideration of all the evidence, including international best practice and scientific advice, they recommended geological disposal in an engineered facility at least 200m below ground as the best available option.

    The independent nuclear safety, security and environmental regulators will only allow a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) to be built and operated if they are satisfied it will meet their demanding regulatory requirements. The developer of any GDF will be required to present a detailed set of safety arguments for all aspects of a proposed facility. This includes everything from transporting the waste to the facility, to its design, construction and operation and safety in the long term, following closure.

    Disposal routes for low level waste are already in operation in the UK. All proposals for radioactive waste disposals, including existing low level waste disposals, are subject to permitting by the Environment Agency who require operators to demonstrate that they are applying the best available techniques.