Tag: 2016

  • Graham Allen – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Graham Allen – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Allen on 2016-06-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what programmes her Department supports related to children and religious fundamentalism; and if she will make a statement.

    Justine Greening

    If there is a face of poverty, it is often a young face, and young people are at the heart of DFID’s agenda. We combat poverty, and religious fundamentalism, by investing in young people and their future, which is why our focus on education is so important.

  • David T. C. Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Trade

    David T. C. Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Trade

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David T. C. Davies on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what factors Ministers in his Department took into account when signing a memorandum of understanding with Aventa Capital in 2014.

    Greg Hands

    A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is a high-level arrangement, which is not legally binding, and enables the participants to work together toward a desired outcome. Between the period April 2014 to October 2015, the Regeneration Investment Organisation (RIO) negotiated MoUs with seven companies. Only one of those MoUs remains in place.

    Aventa is a regeneration investor and comprises a regulated asset management company and a vehicle for managing early stage development and construction risk. The Regeneration Investment Organisation and Aventa Capital MoU was developed in October 2014 to support Aventa’s work in seeking to develop a regeneration fund and thereby encourage institutional investment into UK regeneration projects. The Department felt the proposal covered by the MoU was viable given Aventa’s sector and management experience.

    There was no commitment on the part of RIO to provide any capital or resource in connection with the agreement. In addition, any recommendation from Aventa would have been reviewed and subjected to due diligence by the developer as a commercial partner. The MoU was concluded, by mutual agreement, following meetings with officials during December 2014.

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    Andrew Gwynne – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2016-01-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether it is his Department’s policy that Royal Marines are required to contribute towards the cost of their uniform or equipment.

    Mark Lancaster

    On joining and for deployments, Royal Marines are issued with the uniform and equipment required for their role and specific tasking.

    Officers, unlike Other Ranks, are required to pay for the maintenance of their uniforms for which Income Tax relief is provided automatically via salary.

  • Alistair Carmichael – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Alistair Carmichael – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alistair Carmichael on 2016-02-09.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how the Government determines the Scottish Government’s allocation of non-cash departmental expenditure budget for student loans.

    Greg Hands

    The Barnett Formula is applied in the normal way to calculate the Scottish Government’s allocation of non-cash departmental expenditure budget for student loans.

  • Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-03-01.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the technological capacity of small businesses to move to a quarterly digital tax reporting system by 2020.

    Mr David Gauke

    In the context of the Making Tax Digital programme, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has developed a strong understanding of the technological capability of small businesses.

    The vast majority of small businesses are already engaging with HMRC online. For example, 95% of VAT returns and 98% of Corporation Tax returns are submitted online, while a record 89% of self-assessment returns were submitted online in January 2016. In addition, many are already using digital tools to deal with their tax affairs.

    HMRC has additional research underway to further explore digital capability issues. The Department recognises that some people will need support to transition to dealing with their tax affairs digitally and will help those who may struggle to adapt.

    The Government will consult on the details of the Making Tax Digital proposals throughout 2016, including digital capability issues.

  • Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-04-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent representations she has received from local authorities about overprovision of school places in areas where a free school or schools are (a) established or (b) proposed.

    Edward Timpson

    Regional Schools Commissioners hold regular meetings with local authorities to determine where there is a need for additional school places that could be met through establishing a free school. In addition, the department seeks local authorities’ comments on each new application for a free school and, for applications approved into the pre-opening stage, we seek their views as part of our statutory duty under section 9 of the Academies Act 2010 to assess the impact of establishing a new school on existing schools and colleges.

  • Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Catherine West – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Catherine West on 2016-05-10.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many ambulances are currently in service in London; and how many ambulances were in service in London in each of the last five years.

    Jane Ellison

    This information is not held centrally.

  • Barry Gardiner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Barry Gardiner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Gardiner on 2016-06-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to implement the recommendations in the first report of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, published in April 2016.

    Anna Soubry

    The Extractives Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI) requires implementing countries to form a Multi-Stakeholder Group (MSG) consisting of industry, civil society and government, who work in partnership to implement EITI. The MSG meets every 2 months with the next meeting on 12 July.

    The UK MSG is currently reviewing the first year’s report and these recommendations form part of that review.

  • Michelle Thomson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Michelle Thomson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michelle Thomson on 2016-09-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to introduce a graduated driving licensing system for young drivers.

    Andrew Jones

    It is important that we strike the right balance between the safety and the freedom of young drivers. Many rely on their cars to get to work and education; so licensing restrictions could affect their ability to access these opportunities.

    Instead, we’re focussing our efforts on encouraging learner drivers to be better prepared for the wonderful freedoms a driving licence offers, but without compromising on safety, which is at the heart of what we do.

  • Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Will Quince – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Will Quince on 2016-01-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department plans to launch its consultation on amending the school admissions code to enable summer-born children to be admitted to reception class at the age of five.

    Nick Gibb

    Ministers have announced plans to change the admissions system to support the admission of siblings and of summer born children. Ministers are currently considering whether to make any additional changes to the admissions system alongside this.

    Any changes will be subject to a full public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny. The details of proposed changes and of the consultation will be announced in due course.