The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grant Shapps on 2016-10-20.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to reduce VAT on the purchase of new solar panels as part of home renovations once the UK has left the EU.
Jane Ellison
While all taxes are kept under review, there are no plans to reduce the rate of VAT applied to sales of solar panels.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Hilary Benn on 2016-01-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent bilateral discussions he has had with members of the International Syria Support Group on achieving a ceasefire in Syria.
Mr Philip Hammond
Since the last meeting of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) on 18 December in New York I have spoken personally to my French, US, Saudi Arabian, Turkish, Chinese and German counterparts about our common goal of achieving an end to the Syrian crisis. British officials continue to engage with their counterparts from the full range of ISSG countries and organisations over Syria. Next month we are co-hosting an international conference in London to address the appalling situation in Syria and the impact on neighbouring countries. This event will provide a further opportunity to engage with ISSG counterparts.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Eagle on 2016-02-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the change to Sunday trading laws proposed in the Enterprise Bill on employment in each region.
Anna Soubry
The Government has been considering the costs and benefits of changes to Sunday trading and we will be publishing the Impact Assessment shortly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Jones on 2016-03-02.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions (a) he and (b) ministers of his Department have had with their Welsh Government counterparts on the potential benefits to North Wales of the Northern Powerhouse.
Greg Hands
Ministers from the Treasury and Wales Office regularly meet with members of the Welsh Government. The Rt. Honourable Member is right to recognise that north Wales is well positioned to play an integral role in the Northern Powerhouse. The UK Government wants to work with the Welsh Government and partners like the Economic Ambition Board to improve productivity and drive further growth in the region.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Earl of Clancarty on 2016-03-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many individuals took Art and Design GCE AS/A level in each year since 2011 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland combined, and what percentage of the total number of GCE AS/A levels this constitutes.
Lord Nash
The Department for Education produces statistics on England only.
Information on the number of entries of art and design GCE AS/A level and the percentage of the total number of all GCE AS/A level entries for the 2010/11 to 2014/15 academic years is provided in the table below. This information is published in the “A level and other level 3 results: 2014 to 2015 (revised)” Statistical First Release available on GOV.UK.
|
GCE/A level[1] entries |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Art and Design |
42,633 |
43,236 |
41,388 |
40,763 |
40,747 |
|
Percentage of all A level entries that were in A level art and design |
5.4 |
5.5 |
5.3 |
5.5 |
5.4 |
|
GCE/AS level[2] entries |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Art and Design |
64,945 |
60,179 |
59,457 |
58,460 |
55,430 |
|
Percentage of all AS level entries that were in AS level art and design |
5.5 |
5.3 |
5.3 |
5.2 |
5.1 |
[1] A level only.
[2] AS level only.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2016-05-04.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the link on the DVLA website to information on the EU referendum will be removed when the purdah period comes into force.
John Penrose
All links to the eureferendum.gov.uk website will be removed from government channels such as GOV.UK at the start of the 28 day restricted period ahead of the EU Referendum.
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-06-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the reasons for recent reductions in the number of cases brought by women in employment tribunals.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The review we are currently undertaking on Employment Tribunals fees is assessing the impact that the introduction of fees has had on proceedings in the Employment Tribunals, including in relation to characteristics protected under the Equality Act 2010.
We expect to announce the conclusion of the review in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ouseley on 2016-09-05.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many youth service staff posts have been removed since 2010 and what assessment have they made of the affect of the reduced provision for young people.
Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen
It is the responsibility of local authorities to decide how to allocate funding for youth services and as part of this, youth service staff posts, according to local need. There is an existing statutory duty on local authorities through Education Act 2006 (Section 507B) to secure, as far as is practicable, sufficient services and activities to improve the wellbeing of young people. Individual local authorities would be best placed to advise on any changes there have been to the number of youth service staff posts in their local area.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent representations she has received on fixed odds betting terminals.
Tracey Crouch
The Government announced a review of Gaming Machines on 24 October which will look at evidence in regards to stakes and prizes of gaming machines; the number and location of gaming machines; and social responsibility measures to protect players and communities from gambling-related harm, including gambling advertising.
This review will include a close look at the issue of sub-category B2 gaming machines (more commonly known as Fixed Odds Betting Terminals – FOBTs) and specific concerns about the harm they cause, be that to the players themselves or the local communities in which they are located. This is the correct mechanism in which to look again at this issue.
There is now an opportunity for anyone with an interest in this matter to submit evidence for consideration. The Call for Evidence period ends on 4 December 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Barron on 2016-01-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to substitute the prescribing of high volume branded medicine with generic equivalents.
George Freeman
Generic substitution has happened in secondary care for many years, but is not currently permitted in primary care. The Department consulted on introducing primary care generic substitution in 2010, but did not progress the proposals following concerns about the potential impact on patient safety.
Most general practitioner practices and clinical commissioning groups, formerly primary care trusts, have been pursuing and supporting policies of increasing generic prescribing for 15 years or more. Generic prescribing rates are already relatively high in England at 84.1% in 2014, as reported in the Health and Social Care Information Centre report: Prescriptions dispensed in the community: England 2004-14.