The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-09-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much the Government donated to the UN Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan in 2015-16; and how much the Government plans to donate to that Plan in 2016-17.
Rory Stewart
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I provided on 15 September to Question number 45832.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2015-11-18.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of people in (a) Scotland and (b) the UK aged 18 to 20 earning £5.30 per hour.
Mr Rob Wilson
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-03-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many initially rejected visa applications have been reconsidered as a result of changes in circumstances during the assessment process.
James Brokenshire
The Home Office does not hold the information requested.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-04-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will review the financial requirements for tier 1 Entrepreneur visas.
James Brokenshire
In March 2015, the Government commissioned the Independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to assess the economic benefit of the UK’s provisions for non-EEA entrepreneurs. The MAC made a number of recommendations for reform of the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) route. On financial requirements they recommended that:
• the Government consider setting the lower investment threshold in the range of £40,000 to £50,000; and
• the higher investment threshold of £200,000 should apply to each applicant (currently, two applicants can share the funding i.e. £100,000 each), and that there may be a case for an inflationary uplift.
The Government is currently considering the MAC’s advice, and will announce its response in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-05-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps the Financial Conduct Authority is taking to enforce rules which prevent misleading advertisement by credit brokers.
Mr Edward Vaizey
This Government supports the system of co-regulation and self-regulation, overseen by the independent Advertising Standards Authority and underpinned by consumer protection legislation. This regulatory system is independent of the Government and is ultimately responsible for setting the standards in advertising, ensuring that all adverts, wherever they appear, are legal, decent, honest and truthful. The Government believes the system has worked well, suitably serving consumers and is sufficiently flexible to deal with both technological advances and new evidence.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-09-02.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made by the Financial Conduct Authority in its review of nuisance calls relating to consumer credit.
Simon Kirby
The FCA has committed to review its rules on unsolicited marketing calls, emails and text messages from consumer credit firms, including payday lenders. The review includes specifically looking at whether these unsolicited communications should be banned.
The FCA will publish the results of this review before the end of this year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that consumers are adequately informed about the option to switch to gas and electricity tariffs with zero standing charge.
Jesse Norman
Tariffs with zero standing charge generally have a higher unit charge than tariffs with a standing charge, as the cost to supply is only recovered when energy is used. This tariff may benefit low energy using households but not others. Under the terms in the supply licence, suppliers must provide individual customers with details of their cheapest tariff and an estimate of annual savings. Customers can shop around for the best energy deal that suits their needs by using a price comparison company that operates in accordance with the Confidence Code, a code of practice managed by Ofgem for accredited price comparison companies.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2015-11-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review the application allocation of winter fuel payments criteria to ensure that all eligible people living in buildings with a high number of occupants in separate homes receive such payments.
Justin Tomlinson
There are already procedures in place to try and ensure that the correct amount of Winter Fuel Payment is paid in this situation, using data that is available to the Department, to minimise the need for individual notifications of circumstances. The Department seeks to act quickly to resolve any errors that are brought to its attention.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-03-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 33 of the Budget 2016, whether flavoured milks will be exempt from the sugar levy.
Mr David Gauke
Milk-based drinks, including flavoured milks, are not in scope of the levy. Milk contains calcium and other nutrients which are vital to children’s health.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-04-18.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward proposals for tighter regulation of companies that carry out payment processing on behalf of payday loan companies.
Harriett Baldwin
The Government has fundamentally reformed regulation of the consumer credit market, transferring regulatory responsibility from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on 1 April 2014. This more robust regulatory system is helping to deliver the Government’s vision for a well-functioning and sustainable consumer credit market which is able to meet consumers’ needs.
The FCA has incorporated key elements of OFT guidance on continuous payment authorities (CPAs) into its rules. In particular, firms are required not to use CPA if there is reason to believe that there are insufficient funds in the borrower’s account, or that this will leave insufficient funds for priority debts or other essential living expenses. Lenders must also show forbearance if there is evidence of financial difficulty.
The FCA have introduced rules to limit payday lenders’ use of CPAs to two unsuccessful attempts to withdraw funds from the customer’s account. The FCA has also banned CPA part payment, so that a lender can only take payment if the whole owed sum is available in the customer’s account. The FCA can use its flexible rule-making powers to take further action where it deems necessary to protect consumers.