The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Patten on 2016-09-15.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 4 July (HL761), by what date they expect the draft regulations seeking to amend the Local Authorities (Recovery of Costs for Public Path Orders) Regulations 1993 to be laid before Parliament.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
I am unable to confirm a precise date at present but I expect to publish the draft regulations later in the session.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2016-01-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what criteria were used in the selection process for members of the Apprenticeship Delivery Board announced by the Prime Minister on 18 January 2016.
Nick Boles
Members invited to join the Apprenticeship Delivery Board will be high profile representatives of business sectors with a high potential for growth and representatives of organisations with a key role to play in supporting an expansion in apprenticeship starts.
The membership will rotate with members being asked to join the Board for time limited period, before relinquishing their seat to a new member.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Healey on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2016 to Question 23605, whether he plans to publish the thresholds for council homes to be taken into account when calculating the levy on councils contained in Part 4 of the Housing and Planning Bill before the relevant part of that Bill is debated at Committee Stage in the House of Lords.
Brandon Lewis
The high value threshold will be informed by the data that local authorities have supplied regarding their council housing. This data is currently being validated. Further details will be available shortly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2016-03-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to support small and medium-sized businesses in areas that have recently been affected by flooding.
Anna Soubry
Following this winter’s severe flooding across northern England, including Calderdale, this Government put in place a comprehensive response and Calderdale has already received over £9.8 million in funding for business and community support.
Specifically for small and medium sized businesses there are three ways we are helping:
– giving flooded businesses business rates relief (£1.6 million for Calderdale)
– providing business recovery grants to help deal with exceptional costs borne by flooded businesses (£1.55 million paid out to businesses to date); and
– grants to incorporate greater flood resilience into any repairs undertaken by flooded businesses, helping to reduce the future impacts of flooding (£52,000 paid out to date to homes and businesses in Calderdale).
Other measures such as getting roads, bridges and rail services back working again and repairing and improving flood defences are also clearly a significant help. This includes the £5.5 m to repair Elland Bridge and to provide a temporary footbridge in the interim.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2016-04-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what consultation there has been with the Scottish Government on the implementation of the Polar Code from 1 January 2017.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Government has not yet implemented the Polar Code which is due to enter into force next year. However, we will formally consult all stakeholders, including the Scottish Government, before we introduce the UK Regulations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-05-23.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 18 of the Motoring Services Strategy consultation, what (a) criteria, (b) process and (c) timeframe his Department plans to use to explore the possible privatisation of practical driving tests.
Andrew Jones
The Motoring Services Strategy was published on 12 May. As this document explains, we are exploring whether other models of service delivery might offer a better and more flexible range of services to road users, either as alternatives to the current arrangements or to complement them, including involving the private sector in delivering some or all of the services.
This is in line with the Government’s wider agenda to ensure that the driver testing and training regime prepares new drivers for a wide range of real life driving conditions and situations.
No decision has been taken about the preferred option or range of options, and we are committed to ensuring that, whatever model may eventually be chosen (including the option of retaining the present system), current standards of propriety and testing will be maintained. We are clear that road safety is our top priority and therefore the high quality and integrity of the UK’s driver testing regime must not be compromised by any changes to the delivery model.
We will work with DVSA, stakeholders and customer groups to assess the viability of those options with the aim of improving road safety.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Evans on 2016-07-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to reduce the likelihood of future flooding in Whalley, Ribchester and surrounding areas.
Rory Stewart
The Environment Agency (EA) has spent approximately £750,000 on flood defence schemes in the villages of Slaidburn and Bolton by Bowland over the last decade.
Since the December 2015 flooding, the EA has given one-to-one help and advice to over 100 residents. As part of the works to repair bank erosion at Whalley Bridge, the EA is contributing £20,000 to reduce flood risk by removing gravel from the river channel.
Currently there is a review of flood risk in the Lower Calder which will develop options and predicted costs to address the Main River flooding. The EA aims to report at the end of the year. In 2017, a review of flood risk in Ribchester will commence.
Lancashire County Council is currently bidding for £2 million in Grant in Aid to address surface water flooding in Whalley and Billington. The Environment Agency’s flood and coastal erosion risk management investment programme is refreshed annually to accommodate change, maximise opportunities and integrate new projects. The Regional Flood and Coastal Committee will endorse changes and new additions to the programme, which are then prioritised nationally according to the partnership funding process.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Redfern on 2016-09-15.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to revise the boundaries of Clinical Commissioning Groups in the light of regional devolution deals.
Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen
NHS England has no plans to revise the boundaries of clinical commissioning groups in light of regional devolution deals.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2016-01-21.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department issues on conducting public consultations during the summer recess.
Mr Oliver Letwin
Cabinet Office publishes Consultation Principles, which it expects all government departments to follow. They were most recently updated on 14 January in response to feedback from the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee.
Principle G includes the line:
‘When the consultation spans all or part of a holiday period, consider how this may affect consultation and take appropriate mitigating action, such as prior discussion with key interested parties or extension of the consultation deadline beyond the holiday period’.
The Principles also make clear that formal consultation should only form part of the engagement process and that departments should make use of new digital tools and consider whether an iterative approach is appropriate.
The Principles can be found online on gov.uk and a copy can be found in the House of Commons Library.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2016 to Question 20554, when he plans to carry out a post-implementation review of the Localism Act 2011.
Mr Marcus Jones
As indicated in my earlier answer, the review will be completed by November 2016, the 5th anniversary of the Act receiving royal assent