The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nick Clegg on 2016-03-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of people using cannabis in the UK for medicinal purposes; and if she will make a statement.
Karen Bradley
The Home Office does not collect data on this.
Decisions on disposal options for those who possess cannabis for any reason are an operational matter for the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-04-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will outline the decision-making process following their expected announcement on airport expansion in the South East, and at what stage in that process there will be a vote in Parliament.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
On 14 December 2015, the Government formally announced that it accepted the Airports Commission’s case for new runway capacity in the South East, as well as the Commission’s three shortlisted schemes. At the same time, it was also announced that the Department for Transport would undertake a package of further work which it anticipates will conclude over the summer. Alongside this, they would prepare an airports national policy statement as the framework for implementing decisions on airport capacity in line with the Planning Act 2008. National policy statements are designated in Parliament, at which point there can be a vote.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Storey on 2016-06-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government further to the Written Answer by Lord O’Neill of Gatley on 12 May (HL8031), how many times in (1) 2014, and (2) 2015, HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) specialist embassy team carried out risk assessment activities and identified individuals who had not notified their employment to HMRC, and subsequently took action to ensure they paid the tax that was due.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
The Embassy team in 2014 and 2015 didn’t undertake any specific risk assessment activities with regards to individuals who had not notified their employment. However the team arranged for one of our Central Compliance Teams to undertake a project to review the National Insurance Contributions (NICs) position of various embassies employees using our Risk Profiling system. We reviewed 697 cases and opened checks into 258 of these. Of these 150 were found to be compliant. The checks covered the tax years 2009/10 to 2014/15.
In the current year we are expecting to open further checks in relation to both tax and NICs on a number of employees.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Diana Johnson on 2016-07-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether the Government plans to continue its participation in the negotiations towards the 2030 EU Climate Framework; and whether the UK plans to commit to meeting the requirements of that framework after the UK leaves the EU.
Mr Nick Hurd
The UK’s commitment to tackling global climate change remains firm. We are committed to the UK Climate Change Act and the Paris Agreement, and have accepted the recommendation of the Committee on Climate Change on the fifth carbon budget.
Until we leave the EU, the UK remains a Member State, with all of the rights and obligations this entails. We will therefore continue to participate in EU negotiations, including those on the EU’s climate framework up to 2030.
It is not appropriate at this point to speculate about arrangements for after the UK ceases to be a Member State.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Brendan O’Hara on 2016-10-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if the Government will take steps to ensure that UK aid to Malawi funds long-term transport infrastructure, irrigation, diversification of farming and food products projects.
James Wharton
The UK’s development programme in Malawi works to grow the economy and eradicate extreme poverty. Improvements in the agriculture sector are essential for Malawi’s growth. DFID prosperity programmes aim to deliver increased agricultural production and productivity, including through the expansion of land under irrigation; a diversified economic base and increased investment in inclusive agri-business. DFID has also provided some support to rehabilitating rural roads, and undertaken feasibility work for rail and road corridors.
We will continue to make transformative investments to help Malawi to move up the agricultural supply chain, improve regional trade and create more jobs. This will contribute to increased food security and agricultural production, helping to boost growth and create off-farm jobs.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-01-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many passengers use Stratford station annually; and how this number is expected to change following completion of Crossrail.
Claire Perry
On 15th December 2015, the Office for Rail and Road published the latest in a series of Estimates of Station Usage for 2014/15, for all stations in Great Britain.
They estimate that in 2014/15, 30,974,204 people travelled to or from Stratford and 3,053,317 people interchanged at Stratford.
By 2026, Transport for London’s forecasts indicate that passenger movements at Stratford – including those resulting from Crossrail services stopping there – will see an increase of around 20% on the 2014 passenger numbers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-01-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the effect on the number of teaching assistants of the Government’s policy to consider for deportation after five years non-EU migrants earning less than £35,000 per annum.
Nick Gibb
The Department does not collect data on the nationality or immigration status of the school workforce.
This is a local matter for schools and all schools must employ members of the school workforce in accordance with employment law.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-02-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department was informed of plans by Clearsprings to expand asylum accommodation into East Cardiff.
James Brokenshire
The Home Office works with its contractors, local authorities and the Strategic Migration Partnerships to ensure that impact of the dispersal of asylum seekers to local authorities is reviewed regularly. The Home Office was aware of the expansion of existing accommodation in East Cardiff. Decisions on the use of accommodation including which premises are used are made by the individual contractors, who bear the cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2016-03-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the Prime Minister’s policy is on moving to an insurance or user-funded NHS; and if he will make a statement.
Alistair Burt
The pressures faced by the National Health Service are common to most developed health systems, regardless of how the system is funded. The Government believes that the answer to these challenges lies in changing the way services are delivered and keeping people well and independent for longer, not in altering the fundamental principles that underpin the NHS.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Phil Boswell on 2016-04-22.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the (a) Prudential Regulation Authority and (b) Financial Conduct Authority on collateralised loan obligations containing high-yield energy debt and the default rate of companies in the oil and gas sector on high-yield loans.
Harriett Baldwin
Treasury Ministers and officials meet regularly with the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority to discuss relevant regulatory issues.
As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Treasury’s practice to provide details of all such discussions.