Tag: 2016

  • 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, how many times and on what dates the Business Rates Review Steering Group has met; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    The Local Government Association and Department for Communities and Local Government jointly chair the Business Rates Retention Steering Group which was established to consider the mechanisms needed to set up and run the new business rates system, as well as the timetable and implementation of the reforms. It oversees the work of a set of technical working groups, each looking at particular aspects of the reforms. The Group usually meets on a monthly basis and has done so on 6 occasions since April 2016. All papers for meetings are published here: http://www.local.gov.uk/business-rates

  • Lord Sharkey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Sharkey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Sharkey on 2016-01-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what dates ministers or officials had discussions with officials at (1) the Bank of England, (2) the Prudential Regulation Authority, and (3) the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), about not publishing the FCA’s report on banking culture outlined in its Business Plan 2015–16; and which ministers and officials were involved in each of those discussions.

    Lord O’Neill of Gatley

    No Treasury Minister or official had any discussions with the FCA before the FCA took its decision to discontinue the review of banking culture included in its 2015-16 Business Plan.

    The FCA has published (in response to the Noble Lord’s Freedom of Information request) the dates when it communicated its decision to discontinue this review to other organisations. This response is available on the FCA website.

  • Julie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Julie Cooper – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Cooper on 2016-02-03.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information will report its findings.

    Matthew Hancock

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West on 3 February 2016 to UIN: 24662.

  • Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Church Commissioners

    Frank Field – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Church Commissioners

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-02-24.

    To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, how many people involved in investigating allegations of child abuse made against George Bell consulted his papers and diaries in Lambeth Palace Library in the last three years.

    Mrs Caroline Spelman

    In 2013 and 2015 three staff members viewed various sections of the bishop’s personal papers held at Lambeth Palace Library on two separate occasions. has no record in the last three years of any of the individuals involved in these investigations making an application to view the papers and diaries of George Bell that are held in the Library.

  • Lord Moynihan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Lord Moynihan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Moynihan on 2016-03-23.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of Germany’s Anti-Doping Law passed on 13 November 2015 and what plans they have either to use the Fraud Act 2006, or to introduce primary legislation, to enable the prosecution of those who conduct sports fraud through the use of banned performance-enhancing drugs.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    The case for legislation including criminal powers is currently being reviewed by the Department.

  • Andrea Jenkyns – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Andrea Jenkyns – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrea Jenkyns on 2016-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to ensure that nationals of other EU member states who have taken out student loans but do not reside or work in the UK make their loan repayments.

    Joseph Johnson

    The Student Loans Company (SLC) has arrangements in place to collect repayments from borrowers who move away from the UK. SLC establishes a 12 month repayment schedule based on the borrower’s income and provides information on the methods of repayment available.

    SLC sets up fixed repayment schedules for borrowers who do not remain in contact and will place those borrowers in arrears. Further action, including legal action, can then be taken to secure recovery. EC regulations allow the SLC to obtain judgments in UK courts, which can be enforced by courts in other EU countries.

    The Department published a Joint Repayment Strategy in February 2016, which sets out how action will be taken to trace borrowers and act to recover loans where avoidance or evasion is identified. This publication can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/student-loan-repayment-strategy

  • Baroness Manzoor – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Baroness Manzoor – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Manzoor on 2016-06-13.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many of the Universal Credit claimants currently in rent arrears did not have a record of being behind with their payments before moving to Universal Credit.

    Lord Freud

    The Department holds a range of information relating to Universal Credit and housing but do not hold the information you have requested.

  • Charlotte Leslie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Charlotte Leslie – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Charlotte Leslie on 2016-09-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of helping to provide a legal address at which homeless people can register better to enable them to apply for jobs.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    One person without a home is one too many. That is why the Government has increased central investment to tackle homelessness over the next four years to £139 million, including a new £10 million fund to support innovative ways to prevent and reduce rough sleeping, and a new £10 million Social Impact Bond to support rough sleepers with the most complex needs. This will build on the success of the world’s first homelessness Social Impact Bond in London, which aimed to turn around the lives of 830 entrenched rough sleepers. So far, over half have achieved positive outcomes, including employment outcomes.

    Employment can be an important part of an individual’s recovery from a homelessness crisis, and homeless people can use addresses at hostels and day centres to make job applications.

  • Tulip Siddiq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Tulip Siddiq – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-10-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether her Department has made an assessment of the implications for its policies of the recommendations on improving digital accessibility for disabled people of the Extra Costs Commission, initiated by the disability charity Scope in July 2014.

    Matt Hancock

    Government is committed to increasing digital inclusion for all, and are taking steps to increase web accessibility for disabled people. The DCMS-led Council for Digital Inclusion includes members who represent the interests of disabled people. The Government has also published guidance on Gov.UK on making digital services accessible for Government departments, local authorities and anyone else who wants to prepare accessible communications.

  • threat levels and theatre of operations.” – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    threat levels and theatre of operations.” – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by threat levels and theatre of operations.” on 2016-01-11.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 18 December 2015 (HL4511), how they define command” in that answer; and whether command of helicopters in all Royal Navy warships will be dependent on a variety of factors such as

    Earl Howe

    Command and control definitions are outlined in Joint Defence Publication 3-00. As with most other capabilities, command of all Carrier Enabled Power Projection assets would be dependent on a variety of factors, such as, but not limited to, the specific task, whether it is a national or coalition commitment, threat levels and theatre of operations. Any deviation from this default command and control position will continue to be considered over the course of the programme, utilising experience and military judgement from a broad range of sources.