Tag: Chris Elmore

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Elmore on 2016-09-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to encourage the construction of new railway stations along the England-Wales border.

Paul Maynard

We launched the second round of our New Stations Fund on 26 August, with up to £20 million available to promoters of new stations throughout England and Wales. Successful bids may be awarded up to 75% towards the capital expenditure on the station.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Elmore on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to promote investment in former coalfield communities.

Andrew Percy

In England, local investment is mainly determined by Local Enterprise Partnerships based on their local economic growth priorities and funded through programmes such as City Deals, Devolution Deals, the Local Growth Fund and Enterprise Zones.

My officials continue to work with the Coalfields Regeneration Trust to support former coalfields communities.

Local growth is a devolved issue in the rest of the UK.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Elmore on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what plans he has to involve representatives from the Welsh Government in negotiations for exiting the EU.

Mr David Jones

The Prime Minister has committed to full engagement with the Devolved Administrations to get the best possible deal for all parts of our United Kingdom as we leave the EU. We will give the Welsh Government every opportunity to have their say as we form our negotiating strategy and we will look at any suggestions they put forward.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Elmore on 2016-10-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she plans to facilitate the learning of the Welsh language by pupils in England.

Nick Gibb

Primary and secondary schools can choose to teach the Welsh language to pupils if there is sufficient demand. It is possible for a pupil in England to take privately a Welsh language GCSE offered in Wales if an examination centre is willing to enter them. This will include a revised Welsh Second Language GCSE available for first teaching from September 2017.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Elmore on 2016-07-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps her Department has taken to support agriculture in South Wales since May 2015.

George Eustice

Agricultural policy is devolved. Support for agriculture in South Wales is the responsibility of the Welsh Government.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Elmore on 2016-10-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps are being taken to improve television reception in the South Wales valleys.

Matt Hancock

Under a 2006 agreement, digital terrestrial, cable and satellite digital television services together cover practically all UK households, so that in all but the most exceptional of cases, everyone should be able to get free-to-air digital television, by one means or another.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Elmore on 2016-07-13.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many spoilt ballots were counted in the 2016 Police and Crime Commissioner elections.

Chris Skidmore

Provisional analysis undertaken by the Government has identified that a total of 311,509 ballot papers were rejected at the elections of Police and Crime Commissioners held on 5 May 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Elmore on 2016-10-24.

To ask the Attorney General, what recent steps the Serious Fraud Office has taken to prevent serious fraud and other economic crimes.

Robert Buckland

Over the past two years the Serious Fraud Office has secured:

• the first contested convictions for rate rigging,
• its first contested conviction of a corporate for offences involving bribery of foreign officials,
• the first two Deferred Prosecution Agreements in the UK, and
• the first conviction of a corporate for an offence under s7 of the Bribery Act.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Elmore on 2016-07-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure the long-term future of S4C.

Matt Hancock

We are strong supporters of S4C and Welsh language broadcasting . We have committed to a comprehensive review of S4C in 2017 which will look at a range of issues including funding arrangements, remit, accountability and governance.

In order for S4C to continue to provide a first-class service and have a sustainable future, we announced (on Wednesday 3rd February) an extra £400,000 funding for 2016/17.

As set out in the BBC White Paper, the BBC will maintain a commitment to Welsh language broadcasting services – we expect the BBC to continue its partnership with S4C to deliver TV services in Wales during the next Charter period.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Elmore on 2016-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will meet representatives of the Women Against State Pension Inequality campaign.

Richard Harrington

I am responding on behalf of the Secretary of State (SoS), as Minister for Pensions with overall responsibility on this issue.

The previous Minister Baroness Altmann and Minister Shailesh Vara (the previous Under-Secretary of State for DWP) met with representatives of the WASPI group on 29th June 2016 to listen to their concerns. Although WASPI’s ask was unclear, at the time, Ministers indicated that the DWP did not have the available funds to deliver further concessions.

One other outcome from that meeting was that WASPI agreed to explore options with the relevant All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG). A meeting between APPG representatives, the SoS and myself is being taken forward, and consequently there is nothing further to be gained from meeting WASPI representatives directly.

I should add that I have been quite clear that the Government will make no further changes to the pension age or pay financial redress in lieu of a pension.