The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2016-06-24.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many pensioners pay income tax at the higher rate.
Mr David Gauke
For 2013-14 it is estimated that 558,000 individuals above State Pension Age were liable for Income Tax charged at or above the higher rate. This is based on the most recent Survey of Personal Incomes (2013-14)
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Holly Lynch on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of response officers (a) working as a single crew and (b) responding to 999 calls alone.
Brandon Lewis
Individual chief constables are best placed to assess the risks to their force and decisions about patrol policy must remain with them. Chief Constables, working with directly elected police and crime commissioners, have a duty to manage and support the police workforce effectively, ensuring the welfare of all officers and staff. Chief constables keep their patrol policies under regular review and decide how best to respond to their local circumstances.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Blomfield on 2016-01-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with motor neurone disease who have been awarded the daily living component of personal independence payment scored all of their points due to aid and appliances
Justin Tomlinson
For Motor Neurone Disease, the number of individuals awarded the Daily Living component of PIP who scored all of their points due to aids and appliances is 50.
This data relates to the period April 2013 to 30th September 2015, and includes Normal Rules awards only.
DWP are currently running a consultation to seek views on how support can best be provided to help meet the costs of disability which are faced by people who are currently awarded points due to aids and appliances. The department is keen to hear views from all interested parties, especially disabled people and disability organisations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jamie Reed on 2016-02-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many projects in West Cumbria have been (a) part-funded and (b) wholly-funded by the EU in each of the last 10 years.
James Wharton
The Department is unable to confirm how many projects in West Cumbria have been part-funded by the EU in the last ten years. DCLG is able to confirm that during the 2007-13 European Regional Development Fund programme 11 projects were funded in Cumbria. The regulatory requirement is for applicants to provide 50% of match-funding to support investment. No European Regional Development Fund projects were wholly-funded by the EU in the last 10 years.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by MiDavies on 2016-03-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of guidance issued to councils on budget transparency.
Mr Marcus Jones
DCLG published a plain English guide to open and accountable local government in August 2014. Ultimately it is for local decision makers to decide what information should be recorded and publicly available on the basis of the national rules and for local electors to hold them to account for this.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-04-11.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the (a) UK and (b) EU recommended minimum time is for government consultations.
Mr Oliver Letwin
The government published a revised set of government consultation principles in January 2016. These principles give clear guidance to government departments on conducting consultations. The consultation principles state that consultations should last for a proportionate amount of time, and that officials should judge the length of the consultation on the basis of legal advice and taking into account the nature and impact of the proposal. Information is not held on EU consultation recommendations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2016-05-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential contribution of innovation, research and development to the future viability of the British steel industry.
Anna Soubry
The UK is a world leader in advanced manufacturing sectors such as automotive and aerospace, which continue to grow rapidly. These industries all require high value, continually improving steel products in order to remain competitive, and therefore innovation will continue to play an important role in the future of the UK steel industry. The Steel Council recognises this; UK Steel are leading the Future Capacity and Capabilities working group which is currently undertaking work to better identify where innovation and R&D is needed to meet future requirements for steel products, and how industry and Government can work together to support this.
Since 2010 we have been supporting the steel sector by offering grants totalling £29 million and loans totalling £33 million towards projects including:
o The development of facilities, such as the R&D centre at Warwick University.
o Development of new products.
o And investment in training, skills and apprenticeships.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ronnie Cowan on 2016-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of linking the annual financial contribution of gambling licence holders for research into, prevention of and treatment for gambling addiction linked to their profit margins.
Tracey Crouch
I refer the Hon Member to the answer to PQ 40986.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve Reed on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department has given to Maximus to ensure that centres used for Fit for Work assessments are accessible to wheelchair users.
Penny Mordaunt
All Assessment Centres utilised by MAXIMUS to undertake Work Capability Assessments meet accessibility standards under the Equality Act 2010.
Before attending an assessment, claimants are given the opportunity to alert the assessment provider to any additional requirements they may have and the provider will endeavour to meet all reasonable requests.
If a claimant is unable to travel to or access an Assessment Centre as a result of their health condition or impairment, a home visit may be offered.
This is unconnected to Fit for Work, a website, telephone line and webchat service that does not involve participants travelling to an assessment centre. Fit for Work provides a supportive occupational health assessment and general health and work advice to employees, employers and General Practitioners (GPs) to help individuals stay in or return to work.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Pendry on 2016-01-20.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of recent allegations of match-fixing in top-level tennis, including at Wimbledon.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
These are serious accusations and they need to be looked into quickly.
The Secretary of State has spoken to the tennis authorities and we ar determined to do all we can to support them in ensuring that the game is absolutely clean, and we are assured they are committed to this aim too. We welcome the news that the Association of Tennis Professionals have announced a thorough independent review into the accusations and that they will be implementing its recommendations.
Primary responsibility for monitoring betting markets or sporting events rest with the betting operators and sports governing bodies respectively.