The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many businesses have signed agreements with the Business Growth Service in (a) the UK and (b) Kirklees.
Anna Soubry
9,111 businesses in the UK, and 90 businesses in Kirklees, signed agreements with the Business Growth Service since the launch of the service in December 2014.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Shinkwin on 2016-03-16.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what (1) recent discussions they have had, and (2) consultation they have conducted, with (a) people with Down’s Syndrome, (b) families of people with Down’s Syndrome, and (c) Down’s Syndrome advocacy groups, about the National Screening Council’s recommendation that the NHS should offer a non-invasive prenatal testing technique, which could result in more abortions on the grounds of a Down’s Syndrome diagnosis; and whether they will publish any such consultation responses, and if so, when.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) commissioned a full review of the published scientific and cost evidence (systematic review) relating to Non Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT). Based on the evidence from the systematic review and the pilot study, the UK NSC ran a three month consultation that closed on 30 October 2015 seeking views on whether NIPT be offered as an additional test to women identified with a higher risk of carrying a baby with a chromosomal condition.
The consultation was sent directly to 38 organisations and responses were received from 30 stakeholders. Details of the evidence recommendation can be found in the document titled, ‘cfDNA Systematic Review Final Report.’ Details of the organisations contacted can be found in Annex A of the document titled, ‘cfDNA Cover Sheet’ and consultation responses can be found in the document titled, ‘Screening for cfDNA Compiled Comments.’ All three documents were published on the UK NSC website and copies are attached.
The UK NSC review included the early findings from the Reliable Accurate Prenatal non-Invasive Diagnosis study. However, the possible introduction of NIPT for Down’s, Patau’s and Edwards’ syndromes to the National Health Service foetal anomaly screening programme does not fundamentally alter the choices presented to prospective parents regarding entering the foetal anomaly screening programme or not, or in options and choices available when testing identifies a foetus with a syndrome. Therefore, no assessment was made of the impact of NIPT on the number of abortions, Down’s Syndrome community and medical professional and society’s attitudes towards people with Down’s syndrome.
As NIPT for Down’s, Patau’s and Edward’s syndromes is giving more accurate information than women already get, the UK NSC does not consider it to raise any new ethical issues. However, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics held a workshop in January 2016 to consider the ethical aspects of introducing NIPT.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nia Griffith on 2016-04-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on the Government’s review of the case for a Swansea Bay tidal lagoon.
Alun Cairns
My office remains in close contact with the Department of Energy and Climate Change on both the independent review of tidal lagoons and the potential development of a tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay. Talks between the UK Government and the developer are continuing on a possible Contract for Difference and the conclusion of these discussions will be fed into the independent review for consideration.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-05-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK nationals have been on the staff of (a) each of the Directorates-General and (b) other services of the European Commission in each year since 2010.
Mr David Lidington
The European Commission publishes data on its permanent EU officials (excluding seconded national experts) broken down by nationality and by each of its Directorates-General and services at the following link: http://ec.europa.eu/civil_service/about/figures/index_en.htm
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2016-07-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of trends in construction of affordable homes within Calderdale since 2010.
Gavin Barwell
The department publishes statistics on affordable housing supply in each English local authority area in Live Table 1008, which is available to download from https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supply
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2016-10-10.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to promote trade between the UK and countries in Central America.
Greg Hands
This Department has identified opportunities and resourced campaigns to access high value sectors including automotive, defence, technology, mining, oil & gas and financial services across the region.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mrs Anne Main on 2015-12-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of (a) the efficacy of the third badger pilot cull in Somerset and (b) the humaneness of the badger pilot culls to date.
George Eustice
The UK Chief Veterinary Officer has advised that (a) the outcome of this year’s culls indicates that industry-led culling can deliver the level of effectiveness required to be confident of achieving disease control benefits; and (b) that the humaneness of controlled shooting is comparable with the range of outcomes reported when other culling activities, currently accepted by society, have been assessed, such as deer shooting.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Heather Wheeler on 2016-01-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the relative competitiveness of the UK automotive industry.
Anna Soubry
In November last year the Automotive Council published a comprehensive report called The International Competitiveness of the UK Automotive Industry.
The report is intended to illustrate where the UK has a competitive advantage over other countries, and to identify where additional attention from government and industry is needed. It will assist the Automotive Council in ensuring it focuses its resources on the areas that will offer the greatest return for the UK automotive sector, and in ensuring that the UK remains one of the most attractive places for investment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Philip Davies on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether she has made an assessment of the potential effect on UK GDP of the National Grid using its demand side balancing reserve powers; and if she will make a statement.
Andrea Leadsom
Demand Side Balancing Response (DSBR) is part of National Grid’s Contingency Balancing Reserve. Under the DSBR, firms bid for contracts to reduce their demand from the grid when instructed by National Grid in return for an agreed utilisation fee.
DECC has not made an assessment of the impact of DSBR on GDP; DSBR is small (133 MW in 15/16), runs infrequently and is entirely voluntary.
Since the service commenced in winter 14/15, National Grid has only instructed on one occasion, instructing a total of 42.9MW, for which participants were paid a pre-contracted utilisation fee.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-03-16.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the risk of civilian drones being used to carry out terrorist attacks and of accidental collisions, whether they are considering (1) introducing a mandatory registration system for civilian drones, and (2) introducing mandatory geo-fencing technology to prevent drones from flying over high-risk areas.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
I refer my Noble Baroness to my answer of the 16 March, UIN HL6659.