The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Redwood on 2016-06-20.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to respond to the EU Action Plan on VAT.
Mr David Gauke
At the Economic and Financial Affairs Council in May 2016 Ministers adopted Council Conclusions on the EU VAT Action Plan.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hugo Swire on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what evidence his Department has received which shows that using a hands-free kit while driving is any less dangerous than using a hand-held phone.
Andrew Jones
The Highway Code makes it clear that drivers need to be in control of their vehicles at all times. That means that drivers need to ensure that they use any device in their vehicles in a safe way when driving.
Driving while using a hands-free kit is legal and previously published research estimated that whilst a hands-free kit is distracting, it is safer than using a hand-held device.
Many cars now have built in hands-free kits and we are working with the industry to ensure that safety and legislation keeps pace with new technology as it develops.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2016-01-19.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure a reduction in the use of paper in departments.
Matthew Hancock
Individual Departments are responsible for making their own reductions to their use of paper, including as part of the Greening Government Commitments. The Cabinet Office’s own use of paper in 2015/16 to date has reduced by around 60% against the 2009/10 baseline. This reduction has been achieved including through the use of more flexible laptop-based IT and electronic records systems which means that printing requirements have reduced considerably.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2016-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with Ministers of the Welsh Government on strengthening financial accountability in government.
Alun Cairns
Wales Office Ministers have regular discussions with Welsh Ministers on a range of issues including how financial accountability can be strengthened by devolving tax raising powers. The Welsh Government will only become truly accountable when it takes responsibility for raising through taxation the money that it spends.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-03-02.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they will take to reduce the risk posed by civilian drones to aircraft.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Department for Transport (DfT) is currently working with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to develop consistent, EU-wide safety rules for drones.
The Department and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) work with a wide range of industry partners across the aviation sector, (including manufacturers, airports, and airlines), to ensure our understanding of potential hazards to aircraft remains up-to-date and mitigations effective.
This collaboration is also considering the need for other potential drone policies, such as geo-fencing. There are a number of drone models already sold in the UK with types of this technology installed and we are assessing the potential for solutions that could restrict drone operations around airports and other key infrastructure.
We are also in contact with other governments about the potential costs and benefits of registration systems, and, in particular, whether this improves the transparency of ownership.
The Cross Government Working Group has undertaken analysis of the use of drones for criminal purposes, including the potential use of drones for terrorist purposes, and the impacts of their negligent use near sensitive locations, such as airports. This work is kept under review and is being used to inform research and testing to improve mitigation techniques and strategies.
Guidance on tackling the risks of criminal drone use has been provided to constabularies across the UK.
Education of drone users is vital. The DfT is working with the CAA on raising awareness of responsible drone use. This includes the CAA’s ‘Drone Code’ safety awareness campaign and the issuing of safety leaflets at the point of sale.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-04-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment she has made of the potential economic effect in Northern Ireland of the imposition of border checks between that country and the Republic of Ireland in the event of a UK withdrawal from the EU.
Mr Ben Wallace
The Government’s position is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.
The UK and Ireland are part of the EU Customs Union, which means that there are no customs controls on the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Without this, goods being exported across the border could be subject to various forms of customs controls and their liability to duty determined according to complex Rules of Origin.
The absence of cross-border restrictions has both encouraged cooperation and increased trade over the last twenty years. Overall, around 60 per cent of Northern Ireland’s exports go to the EU, with 37 per cent going to Ireland alone. It is the Government’s view that if the UK left the EU these arrangements could be put at risk.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Lewis on 2016-05-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy that parents will retain the right to remain anonymous from the school in question when they object to a schools admission arrangements under the School Admissions Code after the forthcoming review of that code.
Nick Gibb
Regulations allow the Schools Adjudicator to withhold the name and address of a person making an objection to a school’s admission arrangements from the other parties to that objection. We have no plans to change this.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Heidi Alexander on 2016-07-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, (a) on how many occasions and (b) in relation to which schools since 2010 an Academy Order has been rescinded due to the inability of the Regional Schools Commissioner to secure a sponsor.
Edward Timpson
Since the Education and Adoption Act came into force in April 2016, the Secretary of State has been under a duty to make an Academy Order in respect of any maintained school that has been judged by Ofsted to be inadequate. Regional Schools Commissioners, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, ensure that the maintained school becomes a sponsored academy as swiftly as possible, after considering the circumstances in the school, and then identifying the most suitable sponsor.
No Academy Orders have been revoked to date.
143 Academy Orders have been made since the new duty came into force. It is too soon to give an annual average of how long it has taken to match a school to a sponsor under these new arrangements.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of the hospitality industry workforce in (a) Cumbria and (b) Westmorland and Lonsdale constituency was born in another EU country.
Chris Skidmore
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2016-01-19.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the likely change in the number of projects being funded through the Landfill Communities Fund if the Contributory Third Party element is removed.
Damian Hinds
The Landfill Communities Fund (LCF) is a tax credit scheme into which landfill operators contribute voluntarily. Since its introduction in 1996, the LCF has contributed over £1.4bn to community projects in areas affected by a local landfill site. However, as the LCF is a tax credit scheme, it reduces the Government’s tax revenues. We therefore have an ongoing responsibility to seek value for money for the taxpayer.
Our reforms aim to encourage LCF money to get to communities more quickly and use the savings to address other significant issues like waste crime. The LCF will provide £39.3 million of additional funding in 2016-17 alone. We also hope more unspent funds, which this year totalled £118 million, will reach projects as soon as possible.
The impact of the changes to the LCF announced at Autumn Statement 2015 is set out in Reform and value of the Landfill Communities Fund. This document can be found here:
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