Tag: 2016

  • Suella Fernandes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Suella Fernandes – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Suella Fernandes on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to (a) stop firearms, drugs and other contraband from entering the UK and (b) tackle human trafficking in UK waters.

    Mrs Theresa May

    The United Kingdom’s border controls are among the toughest in the world. Border Force works closely with other law enforcement agencies, including the National Crime Agency and Police, to combat suspected human trafficking and to target and disrupt those who would attempt to smuggle prohibited and restricted goods such as firearms and illegal drugs in to the UK.

  • Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2016-04-28.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many appeals lodged against initial asylum refusals by Eritrean nationals were lodged (1) within the UK, and (2) outside the UK, in (a) 2013, (b) 2014, and (c) 2015.

    Lord Faulks

    The numbers of Eritrean nationals who lodged an asylum appeal in the UK or from overseas in the three years up to December 2015 are:

    Total

    Within the UK

    Outside the UK

    2013

    122

    122

    0

    2014

    241

    240

    1

    2015

    1,856

    1,854

    2

    The numbers of Eritrean nationals who were required to pay a fee for their asylum appeal in the three years up to December 2015 are:

    Total

    2013

    1

    2014

    2

    2015

    23

    Notes to tables:

    1. Figures include Asylum, Protection and Revocation of Protection appeals.

    2. Figures provided are taken from internal management information and not subject to the same quality checks as Official Statistics.

  • Lord Allen of Kensington – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Lord Allen of Kensington – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Allen of Kensington on 2016-06-13.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the planned new Electronic Communications Code will be a statutory code.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    The existing Electronic Communications Code is already enshrined in primary legislation, it is currently set out at Schedule 2 of the Telecommunications Act 2003.

  • Jeremy Lefroy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Jeremy Lefroy – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Lefroy on 2016-09-02.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to lay secondary legislation on changes to the rate of interest on late payment of compensation under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 before Parliament.

    Mr David Gauke

    Government is committed to making the process of compulsory purchase orders clearer, fairer and faster. The Housing and Planning Act and the Neighbourhood Planning Bill, introduced last week (7th September) will enable us to lay legislation to set interest rates on payments of compensation that are paid late. The Regulations to set this level of interest will be laid at least 21 days before the substantive commencement of sections 192 to 198 of the Housing and Planning Act. This is likely to be in spring 2017.

  • Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Gareth Thomas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the potential level of volatility of local authority income once business rates income is fully retained by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    We recently conducted a consultation on our approach to the implementation of 100% Business Rates Retention. This consultation included questions on how to take account of changes in need over time, how to manage volatility in business rates income and how to distribute funding between different tiers of government. My officials are currently considering the 454 responses we have received to this consultation and we will publish a summary of the responses and our proposed way forward in due course. In the meantime, we will continue close collaboration with the Local Government Association, other groups representative of local government, and individual local authorities, in taking this work forward.

  • Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Lord Roberts of Llandudno – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno on 2016-01-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to transport food supplies by air into the town of Madaya in Syria to alleviate severe food shortages.

    Earl of Courtown

    The UK has pledged over £1.1 billion in response to the crisis in Syria and the region, making us the second largest bilateral donor after the US. By the end of June 2015, UK support inside Syria and in the surrounding region had, for example, delivered almost 20 million food rations that feed one person for a month; over 2.5 million medical consultations; and relief items for 4.6 million people. The UK co-sponsored and lobbied hard for the passage of UN Security Council Resolutions 2165, 2191 and 2258 which call on the parties to allow rapid, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian aid to besieged and hard to reach places.

    The UK will consider any option compliant with international law that might save lives in Syria. We rule nothing out. However, the use of air drops is high risk and should only be considered as a last resort when all other means have failed. Attempting air drops without the consent of the parties to the conflict may risk undermining negotiations on humanitarian access to the 4.5 million people in hard to reach areas across Syria. Even in uncontested space air drops poise significant challenges. There is a requirement to identify clear drop zones, ensure safe access for the intended recipients and to co-ordinate with authorities on the ground. Instead, the UN, the Red Cross Movement and NGO partners are best placed to deliver aid to vulnerable people in besieged and hard to reach areas.

    The most effective way to provide assistance to people who are starving is for all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law and to provide sustained, permanent and safe humanitarian access to humanitarian agencies.

  • Chris Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Chris Davies – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Davies on 2016-02-03.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost was of guidance published on the gov.uk website in each of the last five years; what the mean and range costs are of producing each piece of advice; and how many pieces of guidance were produced in each of the last five years.

    Matthew Hancock

    The costs for GOV.UK are accounted for with other costs for the Government Digital Service and published in the Cabinet Office Report and Accounts as part of the Efficiency and Reform Group.

    Departments also produce and publish their own material onto GOV.UK so some costs will rest with them.

  • Neil Coyle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Neil Coyle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-02-24.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to support the British gin industry.

    Damian Hinds

    The government is committed to supporting the British gin industry. The duty on gin was cut by 2% at March Budget 2015, building on the duty freeze at Budget 2014.

  • Peter Grant – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    Peter Grant – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Wales Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Grant on 2016-03-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what representations he has received from the Welsh Government on the fuel duty rebate scheme.

    Guto Bebb

    I have received no recent representations.

    All areas that met the strict criteria around pump price, population density and the cost of fuel transportation were included in the extension to the rural fuel rebate scheme introduced in April 2015.

    There are currently no plans to extend the scheme beyond the qualifying areas.

  • Peter Kyle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Peter Kyle – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2016-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the effect of the apprenticeship levy on employer sponsored degrees.

    Nick Boles

    We are committed to reforming higher and further education so that people are able to choose the next step that is right for them and employers get the skills they need.

    Employer-sponsored degrees have benefits for students, employers, institutions and the taxpayer. There are many excellent examples in our universities, which employers and universities may continue to develop alongside degree apprenticeships. Only apprenticeships training will be funded by the levy and it will be for employers to determine exactly how they use their levy funds.