Tag: 2016

  • David Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    David Morris – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Morris on 2016-03-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many Government-sponsored new social and council houses were built between (a) 1997 and 2010 and (b) 2010 and 2016.

    Brandon Lewis

    The numbers of dwellings completed by houisng associations and local authorities in England between 1997 and 2015 were as follows:

    Year

    Housing associations

    Local authorities

    1997

    20,970

    290

    1998

    19,900

    240

    1999

    17,780

    50

    2000

    16.680

    90

    2001

    14,500

    160

    2002

    13,310

    180

    2003

    12,820

    180

    2004

    16.600

    130

    2005

    17,540

    180

    2006

    20,660

    280

    2007

    22,180

    250

    2008

    26,470

    430

    2009

    26,990

    360

    2010

    22,650

    790

    2011

    25,940

    2,230

    2012

    25,440

    1,410

    2013

    21,590

    840

    2014

    23,780

    1,180

    2015

    30,200

    1,640

    Statistics on new build housing starts and completions in England, and in each local authority district, are published on the Department’s website at:

    http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building

  • Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Greg Mulholland – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-04-11.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what relevant qualifications the official from his Department who was seconded to oversee the appointment panel for the recruitment of the Pubs Code Adjudicator held; and what methodology was used by the Department to choose who would be seconded into that role.

    Anna Soubry

    No official from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills was seconded to oversee the appointment panel for the recruitment of the Pubs Code Adjudicator.

    In line with the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) guidance the recruitment panel was chaired by a Public Appointments Assessor. The Panel also included the relevant Director from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and an independent panel member.

  • Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb on 2016-05-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many pregnant women are currently held in detention under the Immigration Act 2014.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    The Home Office will not necessarily be aware that a woman is pregnant unless she chooses to make this known to us and a woman may not know herself that she is pregnant when she is detained. It may not always be appropriate for healthcare professionals to disclose information that the patient has asked not to be disclosed.

    As of 19 May 2016 there were no pregnant women detained under Immigration Act powers in an immigration removal centre or residential short-term holding facility, subject to these conditions.

  • Nicholas Brown – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Nicholas Brown – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2016-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, in what circumstances he plans to exercise his power to issue a directive to a local government pension scheme on the investment of their funds.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    The draft regulations published for consultation in November proposed that the power of intervention may be exercised in cases where, on the basis of evidence and after consultation with relevant bodies, we believe that an administering authority is failing to act in accordance with any guidance issued under the draft regulations. For example, the power could be used where an administering authority did not follow the guidance and criteria on pooling of assets, also published in November.

    No final decision has been taken on the draft regulations. The Govenrment’s response to the consultation will be published shortly.

  • Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Stephen Doughty – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Doughty on 2016-09-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what meetings she has had with the Prime Minister on the status of the 0.7 per cent gross national income to be used as Overseas Development Assistance funding since taking up office.

    Rory Stewart

    The Secretary of State meets regularly with the Prime Minister. Both the Secretary of State and the Prime Minister have stated that they are committed to the Government’s policy of spending 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income on Official Development Assistance.

  • Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Alton of Liverpool – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2016-01-20.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for providing unmonitored mobile and internet communications to the people of North Korea as a contribution to breaking that country’s information blockade.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The provision of mobile and electronic communications are strictly controlled by the North Korean government. Supplying the population with mobile and internet equipment would require the consent and cooperation of the regime. Establishing an alternative system without the agreement of the North Korea government could be viewed as a violation of local laws; all our Missions overseas must abide by the law of their host countries and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We regularly raise human rights concerns and freedom of expression.

  • Ian C. Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Ian C. Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian C. Lucas on 2016-02-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if officials in his Department will have discussions with officials in the Department of Health on the establishment of a ring-fenced fund for local authorities to be able to disregard military compensation payments in financial assessments for social care.

    Mr Marcus Jones

    Armed forces veterans injured in service receive payments through the War Disablement Pension or the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. The latter applies to veterans injured from 6 April 2005. These payments are divided into a personal injury compensation element and other payments. Traditionally, only the personal injury compensation payment has been fully disregarded.

    Since October 2012, Guaranteed Income Payments made to veterans under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme have been disregarded. The Department of Health has been in discussion with the Royal British Legion about how War Disablement Pension payments are treated. Currently, the first £10 per week of these payments is disregarded. The Government is considering how these payments to veterans should be treated in the financial assessment for social care charging in future.

    It is not the policy of this Government to ring-fence funding for particular purposes. This is to allow local authorities the flexibility to manage their own resources in the most efficient manner.

  • Clive Efford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    Clive Efford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Clive Efford on 2016-03-03.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has had discussions with (a) Cabinet colleagues and (b) sporting stakeholders on setting up an independent body to fund research into anti-doping in sport; and if he will make a statement.

    David Evennett

    The World Anti-Doping Agency, to which the UK pays an annual fee, conducts research into anti-doping in sport that is utilised by national anti-doping organisations including UK Anti-Doping.

  • Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Tom Brake – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-04-11.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans the Government has to make its leaflet on continuing membership of the EU accessible to people with (a) learning, (b) visual and (c) other disabilities.

    John Penrose

    The leaflet has been made available on Gov.uk and is compatible with assistive technology, and in hard copy in English and Welsh. An audio version and large print version are also available on Gov.uk. CDs of the audio version are being sent to those that are not able to access the website. A braille version will be available on request.

  • Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Caroline Lucas – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2016-05-18.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make it his policy to oppose the provisional implementation of the EU-Canada trade agreement when it is discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in June 2016.

    Anna Soubry

    The EU–Canada Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement (CETA) will deliver jobs and growth for the UK, with independent analysis suggesting the deal could be worth up to £1.3 billion per year to the UK economy.

    We expect CETA to be a “mixed” agreement, covering areas of both EU and Member State competence. In this case, the EU Council could decide to provisionally apply the parts of CETA which fall within EU competence. The Government supports this approach as it will allow the UK to benefit from provisions such as reduced duties on imports and exports as soon as possible. This has been discussed with the European Commission on a number of occasions, most at the Trade Foreign Affairs Council that took place in Brussels this month. The Council will negotiate which provisions of CETA should be applied provisionally by the EU once the final text has been received.