Tag: 2016

  • Andrew Bridgen – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Andrew Bridgen – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Bridgen on 2016-10-07.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will introduce an interim threshold in the VAT rules on digital supplies for micro-businesses.

    Jane Ellison

    While we remain in the EU our rights and obligations as a Member State apply and as such we cannot introduce laws that conflict with existing EU law.

    The UK government has pushed for change and the European Commission has confirmed proposals expected by the end of this year will include a VAT threshold in order to help small start-up e-commerce businesses.

  • Baroness King of Bow – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Baroness King of Bow – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness King of Bow on 2015-12-17.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many candidates were interviewed for the post of chair of the independent review of the localisation of Council Tax support schemes.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    The position is a Ministerial appointment based on the provisions in the Local Government Finance Act 2012. A range of potential candidates were considered by Ministers. Ministers selected the chair on the basis of:

    • interest and expertise in local government and/or welfare;
    • their background and understanding local government; and
    • their willingness and availability to conduct the review within the timescale.
  • Kate Green – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Kate Green – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Green on 2016-01-27.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the implications are for his policies on encouraging the recruitment and development of BAME and women at senior staffing levels in the NHS of the findings of the Interim Report in the Review of Operational Productivity in NHS providers, undertaken by Lord Carter of Coles and published in June 2015.

    George Freeman

    The interim report ‘Review of Operational Productivity in NHS providers’ does not make recommendations on recruitment and development and should have no impact on policies relating to the recruitment and development of Black Asian and Minority Ethnic Groups and women at senior staffing levels in the National Health Service.

  • Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Helen Goodman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-02-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many housing providers made representations to his Department about the proposed change of social sector housing benefit to the level of local housing allowance.

    Justin Tomlinson

    So far representations have been made by 93 individuals and 16 housing providers about the proposed change of social sector housing benefit to the level of local housing allowance.

    DWP Ministers and officials will continue to have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.

  • Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Stephen Timms – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-03-15.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his policy is on maintaining the social work bursary; and if he will make a statement.

    Alistair Burt

    The Government is committed to ensuring a good supply of high quality social workers. This ambition will be achieved through a range of different training initiatives.

    There is room for standards of training and the quality of intake to be improved, however, no final decision has been taken on the future of the social work bursary. Any changes would be subject to public consultation.

  • Richard Graham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Richard Graham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Graham on 2016-04-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress his Department has made on steps to ease the blockade of Gaza, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 25 February 2015, Official Report, columns 155-8WH.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    We remain deeply concerned by the situation in Gaza. Officials from our Embassy and Consulate General regularly raise the need to make progress towards a durable solution for Gaza, and press for practical steps to advance reconstruction and economic development with both the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority (PA).

    We have urged the PA to make progress on resuming control in Gaza. We are also urging Egypt to show maximum flexibility in opening the Rafah crossing.

    We have welcomed the steps that Israel has taken to ease some restrictions, including extension of the fishing zone to nine nautical miles, extension of agricultural exports beyond the shmita year, increase of water supply and support for energy and desolation projects. We urge Israel to take further action to ease restrictions.

    We are concerned about recent reports of diversion of cement entering Gaza through the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM). While we understand Israeli security concerns, new restrictions on the import of cement have resulted in a slowdown in reconstruction activity and will have a significant impact on employment. The Department for International Development support to the Materials Monitoring Unit of the GRM also helps provide monitoring to ensure construction materials are used for civilian purposes.

  • Thangam Debbonaire – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    Thangam Debbonaire – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Women and Equalities

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thangam Debbonaire on 2016-05-26.

    To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, whether she has discussed with the Prison Service and probation services the recommendations of the Women and Equalities Committee in its First Report of Session 2015-16, on Transgender Equality, HC390, relating to the criminal justice system and prisons.

    Caroline Dinenage

    The Government welcomes the report from the Women and Equalities Select Committee into transgender equality.

    The report provides a number of recommendations, including ones on hate crime and prison and probation services. Government (including the Ministry of Justice) is carefully considering these recommendations.

    In addition, on 8 December 2015 as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Women, Equalities and Family Justice I announced a review of the care and management of transgender offenders. The review is being coordinated by the Ministry of Justice who are engaging with others to ensure that staff in prisons and probation are provided with the best possible guidance. The National Offender Management Service, the Youth Justice Board, the NHS and the Government Equalities Office are providing professional and operational expertise. The revised guidelines will be published in due course.

    Further information on the review can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/review-into-the-care-and-management-of-transgender-offenders.

    “

  • Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Daniel Zeichner – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-07-21.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will take steps to ensure that ARM’s headquarters remain in Cambridge.

    Margot James

    SoftBank has made a legally-binding undertaking to maintain ARM’s headquarters in Cambridge. The undertaking is enforceable by the Takeover Panel for five years.

  • Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Steve McCabe – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-10-07.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of staff employed by his Department are non-UK nationals.

    Simon Kirby

    All Government Departments are bound by legal requirements concerning the right to work in the UK and, in addition, the Civil Service Nationality Rules. Evidence of nationality is checked at the point of recruitment into the Civil Service as part of wider pre-employment checks, but there is no requirement on departments to retain this information beyond the point at which it has served its purpose. More broadly, the Government will be consulting in due course on how we work with business to ensure that workers in this country have the skills that they need to get a job. But there are no proposals to publish lists of the number or proportion of foreign workers.

  • Alex Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    Alex Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Scotland Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2015-12-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the welfare measures announced in the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015 on the incidence of food poverty in Scotland.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Spending Review and Autumn Statement set out a plan to move Britain to a higher wage, lower tax and lower welfare society. This will ensure that work always pays while continuing to provide a safety net to protect those who need extra support.

    This will benefit people across the country, including in Scotland.