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Tag: Alun Cairns

  • Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2013-05-08.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how his Department scrutinises the Fundraising Standards Board; when a review was last conducted; and what the outcome was of this review.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    Lord Hodgson assessed the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB) as part of his review of the Charities Act 2006 and concluded in his report ‘Trusted and Independent: Giving charity back to charities’ that it had broadly met 10 of the 12 success criteria set out when it was established in 2006. The FRSB and Cabinet Office are members of the Steering Committee established in response to Lord Hodgson’s recommendations to drive forward further progress in strengthening self-regulation.

  • Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2014-06-24.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, to which geographical areas the roll-out programme for smart meters will extend; and when their programme will happen in each area.

    Gregory Barker

    In Great Britain, we are adopting a supplier-led approach to the roll-out of smart meters. Energy suppliers are required to take ‘all reasonable steps’ to install smart meters to all of their domestic and smaller non-domestic customers in Wales, England and Scotland by 2020.

    There is no centralised roll-out strategy and suppliers are free to plan the roll-out in a way that suits their business and the needs of their customers, subject to the requirement to complete the roll-out by 2020. They are considering a range of factors in developing their strategies for this, such as the geographical location of their customers, the age of the current meter stock, and the extent to which they wish to respond to customer demand.

  • Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2014-03-06.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what funding her Department provided for staff to carry out trade union activities in each of the last three years; and how many days staff spent on those activities in those years.

    Karen Bradley

    [holding answer 20 March 2014]

    The Department did not provide specific funding for staff to carry out trade union activities in 2011, 2012 or 2013.

    Information on the amount of paid time spent on trade union activities by staff who are union representatives has only been centrally recorded since November 2012. Between November 2012 and September 2013 our central records show that 1,345 paid days were spent by union representatives on such activities. These central records are based on returns submitted by union representatives to account for the time they have spent on their union roles. Information on the amount of paid time spent on trade union activities prior to November 2012 could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

    Since October 2013 the Department has not permitted members of staff elected as union representatives to be granted paid facility time for any trade union activities and in future will only grant paid facility time for such activities in exceptional circumstances and with approval from the Secretary of State. In line with our legal obligations members of staff elected as union representatives are able to request time away from their work to undertake trade union activities but any time off granted for this purpose will be unpaid.

  • Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps he has taken to improve broadband coverage in rural areas.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    Phase one of the superfast roll-out programme is making good progress with all 44 projects in delivery.

    Two thirds of projects (29 out of 44) have live superfast cabinets making superfast broadband available to thousands of homes and businesses across the country.

    We are now investing the additional £250 million to take coverage of superfast broadband to 95% of UK premises

  • Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the performance of the Start Up Loan scheme in Wales to date; what the take-up has been under this scheme to date; and how much has been lent to which businesses in each constituency in Wales in each of the last three years.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Start-Up Loans Scheme was extended to Wales in October 2013. To date 249 loans have been committed with a value of over £1.52m.

    The table below sets the number of loans made in each constituency and their value:

    Welsh constituencies

    Number of loans

    Value of loans

    Aberavon

    6

    £38,700

    Aberconwy

    2

    £10,500

    Arfon

    2

    £24,000

    Blaenau Gwent

    5

    £12,000

    Brecon and Radnorshire

    2

    £7,500

    Bridgend

    9

    £58,000

    Caerphilly

    7

    £42,250

    Cardiff Central

    6

    £37,500

    Cardiff North

    5

    £41,500

    Cardiff South and Penarth

    12

    £83,600

    Cardiff West

    6

    £55,500

    Carmarthen East and Dinefwr

    9

    £49,250

    Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire

    12

    £35,000

    Ceredigion

    7

    £19,100

    Clwyd South

    7

    £54,500

    Clwyd West

    8

    £43,500

    Cynon Valley

    8

    £35,000

    Delyn

    1

    £5,000

    Dwyfor Meirionnydd

    2

    £22,000

    Gower

    13

    £50,500

    Islwyn

    5

    £35,550

    Llanelli

    7

    £27,000

    Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney

    7

    £53,000

    Monmouth

    10

    £75,284

    Montgomeryshire

    7

    £36,500

    Neath

    4

    £9,500

    Newport East

    11

    £77,470

    Newport West

    11

    £78,350

    Ogmore

    4

    £23,998

    Pontypridd

    6

    £36,000

    Preseli Pembrokeshire

    6

    £23,000

    Rhondda

    6

    £36,300

    Swansea East

    8

    £47,500

    Swansea West

    8

    £57,650

    Torfaen

    6

    £91,000

    Vale of Clwyd

    3

    £12,000

    Vale of Glamorgan

    5

    £21,000

    Wrexham

    2

    £12,500

    Ynys M“n

    4

    £47,500
  • Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when his Department plans to publish its response to the consultation on Streamlining Regulatory and Competition Appeals launched in June 2013; and on what timetable he intends to introduce reforms arising from that consultation.

    Jenny Willott

    We hope to publish the Government response before Summer. Any legislative changes we decide to make will be taken forward when Parliamentary time permits.

  • Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2014-04-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effect on industry of delays in the implementation of the Government’s proposals to streamline regulatory and competition appeals.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    No such assessment has been made. Ministers are currently considering the responses received to the consultation. They will then decide the scope and extent of proposals to be implemented.

  • Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2014-05-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of EU proposals to remove the right for network operators to block 18-plus content.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    We are aware that there some concerns that the European Parliament’s amendments to the draft Connected Continent regulation may restrict ISPs ability to block illegal content or to filter adult content at the request of customers. The UK Government supports the aims of the Connect Continent package, but let me clear that we will not agree to any proposals that restrict the ability of parents to protect their children from inappropriate content on line. We are confident that this was not the intention of the European Parliament and we are working with EU Member States, the European Commission and the European Parliament to deliver a final package that promotes an open, safe and secure internet.

  • Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2014-04-29.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential benefits and risks of commercial mobile networks providing the emergency services communications network.

    James Brokenshire

    The potential benefits and risks have been considered in detail as part of the
    Outline Business Case, which recommended this direction of travel and was
    approved by the emergency services, lead departments and the devolved
    governments of Wales and Scotland during March 2014. These risks and issues
    will be updated as the Full Business Case is developed during the procurement
    phase, which was launched on 14 April 14.

  • Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Alun Cairns – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alun Cairns on 2014-05-07.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies on voluntary restrictions by network providers of adult content of recent proposals from the European Parliament on a European single market for electronic communications.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    We are aware that there some concerns that the European Parliament’s amendments to the draft Connected Continent regulation may restrict ISPs ability to block illegal content or to filter adult content at the request of customers. The UK Government supports the aims of the Connect Continent package, but let me clear that we will not agree to any proposals that restrict the ability of parents to protect their children from inappropriate content on line. We are confident that this was not the intention of the European Parliament and we are working with EU Member States, the European Commission and the European Parliament to deliver a final package that promotes an open, safe and secure internet.