The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Thomas-Symonds on 2016-05-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive on pro-active inspection of the management of work-related psychosocial risk.
Justin Tomlinson
I have regular meetings with senior HSE officials where key priorities are discussed, including tackling work related ill-health.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Deidre Brock on 2016-07-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she plans to take to reduce the concentration of microplastics in the marine environment.
Dr Thérèse Coffey
On 3 September 2016 the Government announced plans to ban the sale and manufacture of cosmetics and personal care products containing microbeads where these are capable of harming the marine environment. Our plans will be informed by a formal consultation later this year. At the same time, evidence will be gathered on the extent of the environmental impacts of microbeads found in other products before considering what more can be done in future to tackle other plastics, for example microfibres, which enter the marine environment.
Given the trans-boundary nature of marine litter, we will also continue to work with other countries in the Oslo and Paris Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic (OSPAR) to address marine litter, including microplastics.
In December 2015, the UK published its Marine Strategy Part Three: UK programme of measures. This sets out a comprehensive set of measures to address marine litter. Some measures address microplastics directly; others contribute indirectly by removing, or avoiding the release of, larger plastic particles, preventing their degradation into microplastics.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Pugh on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Rt. hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington representing the House of Commons Commission, what proportion of people who have security clearance for catering and cleaning purposes in the Palace of Westminster are not UK nationals.
Tom Brake
The Pass Office database shows that the Palace of Westminster holds security clearance and passes for a total of 779 pass holders whose jobs relate to catering and cleaning purposes. 330 of these are not UK nationals. This equates to 42.36%.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2016-01-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he plans to publish the Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015.
Mr Philip Hammond
The FCO plans to publish the 2015 Human Rights and Democracy Report in April 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-02-22.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord O’Neill of Gatley on 12 February (HL5642), how they describe the recent settlement of the payment of tax by Google if not as a special arrangement”.”
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) collects the tax due under the law. It does not enter into special arrangements with taxpayers. In accordance with its published guidelines on resolving disputes, HMRC has taxed all of Google’s profits chargeable to tax in the UK for the period in question at the full statutory rate of tax.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2016-03-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people using the Chorlton Benefit Delivery Centre required a mandatory reconsideration of funeral payments in each month in 2015; and how many of the decisions on those reconsiderations were in the claimant’s favour.
Justin Tomlinson
The information requested is not available.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-04-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what estimate he has made of potential savings to his Department’s budget that will arise from the closure of its Sheffield office at St Paul’s Place other than by reduction in headcount.
Joseph Johnson
The proposed closure of the Sheffield office would result in permanent savings from reduced travel, rents and overnight accommodation. The Department estimates the current annual cost of these at £500k (travel), £890k (rent) and £150k (hotel stays). These savings would be independent of any decision on headcount reductions, on which we are still consulting. All savings would be net of any one-off transitional costs. There would also be non-cashable efficiency savings resulting from closer working, and more collaborative and flexible teams.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Greaves on 2016-05-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the levels of community infrastructure levy levied by each local planning authority in England.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
This information is not centrally collected by Government. Community Infrastructure Levy charging authorities are required to publish their levy rates in a Charging Schedule and make this available on their website. Community Infrastructure Levy rates must be based on local viability evidence and are subject to two public consultations and independent examination. Draft charging schedules, relevant evidence and the recommendations of the independent examiner are also published.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-07-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the options for new forms of economic relationships with countries outside the EU.
Greg Hands
Leaving the EU offers us an opportunity to forge a new role for ourselves in the world: to negotiate our own trade agreements and to be a positive and powerful force for free trade.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has established the Department for International Trade to promote British trade across the world and ensure the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us. We are exploring a range of options to maximise the opportunities for the UK’s future trading relations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 19 September 2016 to Question 45930, on the Palestinian Authority, if she will place a copy of her Department’s formal assessment of the Palestinian Authority’s commitment to the Partnership Principles in the Library.
Rory Stewart
DFID does not routinely publish Partnership Principles assessments. These assessments are used to inform the annual dialogue between DFID and the Palestinian Authority (PA). Our assessment is that the PA continues to deliver on the Partnership Principles.