The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevan Jones on 2016-10-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Defence Equipment and Support employees are over the age of 45.
Harriett Baldwin
Defence Equipment and Support currently employs 5,497 civilian staff and 604 military personnel over the age of 45.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by building a strong economy and maintaining a strong United Kingdom. Anglesey’s Energy Island can help ensure that north Wales plays a key part in this vision” on 2016-01-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the press release issued by the Welsh Office on 30 December 2015 entitled Wylfa a terrific success story” for Wales and key part of Northern Powerhouse vision
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
This Government has presided over a fundamental shift of power from Westminster to the people and communities of this country by promoting unprecedented decentralisation. North Wales is an integral part of the Government’s Northern Powerhouse vision. Businesses and Local Authorities in North Wales who Wales Office Ministers speak to are clear that North East Wales and North West England form one single economic entity and are best placed to drive economic development and deliver public services.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-02-03.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the (a) primary and (b) secondary policy purposes are of VAT exemption for supplies of commercial property.
Mr David Gauke
Supplies of commercial property are subject to a mandatory VAT exemption under the European VAT Directive.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Wendy Morton on 2016-02-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department’s spending was on Overseas Development Aid in (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15 and (c) the first 10 months of 2015-16; and what the recipient countries of that aid were.
Michael Fallon
Ministry of Defence spending on overseas development assistance was £3.0 million in calendar year 2013 and £2.2 million in calendar year 2014. The 2015 figure is currently undergoing assurance and is scheduled to be published on 1 April 2016. Recipients include Vanuatu, Nepal, refugees from Syria and Lebanon, nations in the Caribbean, Southern Africa and St Helena.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Tebbit on 2016-03-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the levels of pollution in (1) drinking water, (2) river water, and (3) coastal waters, caused by chemicals used in medications which are resistant to present purification techniques
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) published research in 2012 to assess the levels of pollution caused by a range of pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs found in source waters, such as rivers, abstracted for drinking water and the comparative levels after water treatment. Over a year, substances were measured at four sites. Results agreed with similar studies and concentrations in English surface waters are generally low and below 1 microgramme per litre (1 μg/L). Levels of pharmaceuticals and drugs in drinking waters after treatment were generally significantly lower than those found in surface waters. This indicates that the drinking water treatment systems used in England and Wales are effective at removing these contaminants. The study concluded that the presence of low levels of pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs in drinking waters in England and Wales do not pose an appreciable risk to human health.
There is evidence that widely used pharmaceuticals are detected at low concentrations in sewage effluent and receiving surface waters. Due to a lack of good quality toxicity data for many of these substances to assess reliably risks to aquatic wildlife that may be exposed to them, research is underway in the UK, at European level and by the pharmaceutical industry to characterise the risks better. This includes a Chemical Investigations Programme, undertaken by England’s water companies, where significant investment is being made to investigate around 20 substances from 2015-2017. Reported data will improve our understanding of the contamination of surface waters due to these chemicals and information will contribute to assessment of the risk posed to, or via the aquatic environment.
In addition, the UK is participating in a European monitoring network of surface water sites on a ‘watch list’ of contaminants and pharmaceuticals, including the active ingredient of the contraceptive pill, EE2. The Devolved Administrations are doing something similar. Data will inform the Commission’s selection of future priority substances requiring control, and the chemical status of the EU’s surface waters with respect to these chemicals.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl McCartney on 2016-04-28.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to exempt telematics car insurance policies from insurance premium tax or reduce that tax for those policies.
Harriett Baldwin
Insurance Premium Tax is a tax on insurance companies and it is up to them how they choose to pass it on to their customers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-06-13.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many women died as a result of breast cancer in England in (a) 2012, (b) 2013 and (c) 2014.
Mr Rob Wilson
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Danny Kinahan on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the appointment of a representative from Northern Ireland to the Armed Forces Covenant Reference Group.
Mark Lancaster
The Armed Forces Covenant is making a real difference in Northern Ireland, where it is enshrined in law. Funding bids have been more successful there than in any other part of the UK – grants include £450,000 to Combat Stress to provide mental health support to veterans.
There is an open invitation to the Northern Ireland Executive to join the Covenant Reference Group (CRG). The Government wishes them to take a full and active part in the group, alongside the other Devolved Administrations. Whilst the Northern Ireland Executive has not yet put forward a representative for the CRG, much useful and effective engagement takes place at Executive departmental level.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lucy Powell on 2016-10-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many and what proportion of children in receipt of free school meals (a) sat and (b) passed the 11-plus exam in each fully and partially-selective local education authority area in the most recent year for which data is available.
Nick Gibb
The Department for Education does not collect data on whether those pupils sitting the entrance exam for a selective school are eligible for free school meals; neither are local authorities required to provide this information to the Department.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Quirk on 2016-01-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the report Living with Difference published on 7 December 2015 by the Woolf Institute, following the work of the Institute’s Commission chaired by Baroness Butler-Sloss; and what action they plan to take on the recommendations made.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
The Government welcomes this report and its contribution to the debate on faith in Britain today. We continue to celebrate the role of faith in society, with a particular emphasis on cooperation between different faiths as a way of breaking down barriers and strengthening communities.
The report raises a number of questions for a range of organisations. I will ensure that all Government Departments consider the recommendations relevant to their individual policy areas.