The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Allen of Kensington on 2016-06-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which regulator will have responsibility and oversight of the planned Electronic Communications Code.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Under paragraphs 106 -119 of the Communications Act 2003 OFCOM are responsible for application of the Code to electronic communications providers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-09-02.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward proposals to ban the promotion of high-risk credit products through unsolicited direct marketing mail and telephone calls.
Simon Kirby
The Government has, as part of its action plan to address nuisance calls, made it easier for the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to take action against nuisance callers. The Government has removed the legal threshold requiring the ICO to prove a firm has caused ‘substantial damage or substantial distress’, and increased the level of fine available to punish rogue companies.
The Financial Conduct Authority is also committed to ensuring that cold calling by phone, text or email makes clear the identity of the firm, and the purpose of the communication, so the consumer can decide whether to proceed. Such promotions are also required to include a representative example or APR. Regulated firms must comply with data protection and Telephone and Mail Preference Service requirements.
In addition, the FCA has committed to review its rules on unsolicited marketing calls, emails and text messages from consumer credit firms, including payday lenders. The review will include specifically looking at whether these unsolicited communications should be banned, given the potential for causing significant distress to consumers. The FCA will publish the outcome of that review by the end of the year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if Ministers of his Department will meet with the European Investment Bank to discuss access to loan finance for local authorities after the UK leaves the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Mr Marcus Jones
Consideration of local authorities’ financial relationship with the European Investment Bank will form part of our approach to exiting the EU. As this government has already stated, we will not give a running commentary on Brexit negotiations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno on 2016-01-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much was paid in each of the last five years to assist failed asylum seekers who, on reaching the age of 18, were deported from the UK.
Lord Bates
Those who depart from the UK with the additional support of an assisted package may qualify for a combination of cash and in-kind support. Asylum seekers may qualify for assistance up to a maximum of £1,500, and families up to £2,000 per family member.
The approximate value of the overall returns assistance provided to people, who applied for asylum in the UK as a child and received an assisted return to support a voluntary return to their country of origin, is given in the table below.
It is not Home Office policy to deport asylum seeking children.
|
Year |
Value of assisted voluntary return packages, provided to (former) asylum seeking children. |
|
2011 |
£115,500 |
|
2012 |
£133,500 |
|
2013 |
£114,500 |
|
2014 |
£69,000 |
|
2015 |
£47,500 |
|
The figures quoted have been derived from management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols. |
*Removal data uses Removal historical data provided to end of September 2015 in line with Published Statistics.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian C. Lucas on 2016-02-03.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions have taken place between Ministers in his Department and Google on IT systems used by the Government in the last five years.
Matthew Hancock
As part of my Department’s transparency programme, details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on the Cabinet Office website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gordon Marsden on 2016-02-24.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2016 to Question 25976, what discussions his officials have had with their counterparts in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on the mechanisms for implementing the Prime Minister’s commitment of April 2015 to use the proceeds from the £227 million fine imposed on Deutsche Bank to create a new three-year fund to create 50,000 apprenticeships.
Greg Hands
As we have said previously, this government will be spending twice as much in cash terms on apprenticeships by 2020 compared to 2010. Spending on apprenticeships in England will be £2.5bn in 2019-20. The BIS spending review settlement for apprenticeships reflects the government’s commitment regarding the proceeds of the Libor fine the FCA announced in April 2015. Further announcements that support the government’s commitment to delivering employment opportunities for young people will be announced in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Lord Bishop of Leeds on 2016-03-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Iraq about Iraq becoming a signatory to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The UK coordinates with other EU member states to promote the universality of the Rome Statute. We offer support to any State that is in the process of ratifying the Rome Statute or needs assistance in adopting the national legislation needed to enact the full implementation of the statute.
Whether Iraq chooses to accede to the Rome Statute is a matter for the Government of Iraq.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gordon Marsden on 2016-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with the Association of Employment and Learning Providers on the nature of their involvement with and contribution to the Institute of Apprenticeships.
Nick Boles
I will be meeting with the incoming CEO of the Association of Employment and Learning Providers later this month. My officials have regular discussions with the Association on all aspects of apprenticeships policy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2016-06-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to speed up family reunions for refugees and migrants now in Europe, particularly in Greece, Italy and France; and whether special provision has been made for the 1,400 unaccompanied children in Greece, and households headed by women.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Goverment continues to work with key EU Member States to ensure the Dublin Regulation family reunification process works effectively.
Under the UK-France Joint Declaration of 20 August 2015, the UK and France have committed to ensuring that provisions of the Dublin III Regulation are used efficiently and effectively. To assist the handling of such cases, the two Governments have established a permanent official contact group, agree single points of contact within respective Dublin Units and a UK asylum expert was seconded to the French administration to faciliate the improvement of all stages of the process. The UK and France are running regular joint communication campaigns in northern France which inform unaccompanied children and others of their right to claim asylum in France and the family reunion process.
We are also providing support to the Dublin units in Greece and Italy, both bilaterally and through European Asylum Support Office (EASO).
On the 4 May the Prime Minister announced the Goverment will work with local authorities on plans to resettle unaccompanied refugee children from Europe. We are looking to transfer children who are already present in Europe before the EU-Turkey deal came into force on 20 March.
Ministers and senior officials are engaged in ongoing discussions with Greece, Italy, and France to identify and transfer to the UK unaccompanied refugee children where it is in their best interests. We are also consulting local authorities, non-governmental organsitations, UNICEF and UNHCR.
The UK is the largest bilateral contributor to the humanitarian response to the crisis in Europe and the Balkans with a total contribution of £65 million. This includes nearly £46 million to provide life saving aid to migrants and refugees including food, water, hygiene kits and infant packs, and protection for the most vunerable, as well as support to organisations helping goverments build their capacity to manage arrivals in Greece and the Balkans. The efforts of the partners we fund are targeted to reach the most vulnerable including children.
It also includes the £10 million Refugee Children Fund the Department for International Development (DFID) has created the needs to vulnerable refugee and migrant children specifically in Europe. The fund will support three specialist and mandated organisations the UNHCR, Save the Children and the International Rescue Committee to work with host authorities to care for and assist unaccompanied or separated children in Europe and the Balkans.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Hodge on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will publish a list of all secondees to his Department from (a) PwC, (b) Deloitte, (c) Ernst and Young, (d) KPMG and (e) other consulting firms in the last three financial years; and what the role was of each of those secondees.
Mr Marcus Jones
My department has not had any secondees in the last three financial years from any of the named companies requested.
However, my department has had a total of seven secondees from other consulting firms. Five of the seven roles were to help advise on specific housing and property issues, including three roles on the Private Rented Sector Taskforce. One other secondee is working in my Implementation Unit implementing reviews on housing and planning, and one secondee was working as a Crown Premises Fire Inspector. Only three of the seven secondees are still working in DCLG.