Tag: Christian Matheson

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2015-10-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many meetings he has held with businesses or industry associations in the (a) aerospace, (b) pharmaceutical, (c) automotive, (d) chemical and (e) financial services sectors since May 2015.

Joseph Johnson

Details of Ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published up to 31 March 2015 and can be accessed on Gov.uk at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?keywords=Ministers&publication.

Further publications of Ministerial meetings will be published in due course across Government in the usual way.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2015-10-09.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to respond to the Eleventh Report of the Treasury Committee, Conduct and competition in SME lending, Session 2014-15, HC 204, published on 10 March 2015.

Harriett Baldwin

The Parliament, and its then Treasury Select Committee, dissolved shortly after this report was published and HM Treasury was not able to prepare a response before dissolution.

HM Treasury is considering the Committee’s recommendations and will be responding to the new Committee in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2015-10-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the existing system for dual support for research in providing stability for research infrastructure and supporting competition of research grants; and what plans he has to review that system’s use.

Joseph Johnson

The Government’s Productivity plan – “Fixing the foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation” – reiterated our commitment to excellence in science and research, facilitated through a dual support system.

In 2013 the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills published a review of the dual funding system and research income across universities, including analysis of the ways in which UK academics can maximise their impact (available on Gov.uk).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2015-10-09.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Financial Conduct Authority in dealing with complaints relating to the misselling of interest rate swaps.

Harriett Baldwin

Treasury Ministers and officials meet with a wide range of organisations as part of the usual policy making process.

It might be useful to know that the Treasury publishes a list of ministerial meetings with external organisations. This is available online at: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm.

As you are aware, the FCA is an independent non-governmental body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry. Although the Treasury sets the legal framework for the regulation of financial services, it has strictly limited powers in relation to the FCA. In particular, the Treasury has no general power of direction over the FCA and cannot intervene in individual cases.

The independence of the FCA is vital to the role it provides as a safety net for consumers with complaints against financial services firms. Their credibility, authority and value to consumers would be undermined if it were possible for the Government to intervene in their decision-making.

The FCA regularly publishes information on the progress of the redress scheme. This can be found here: www.fca.org.uk/consumers/financial-services-products/banking/interest-rate-hedging-products.

You may be aware that the Treasury Select Committee’s report into SME lending, published on 10 March, recommended that the FCA collect the information necessary to establish whether there are systemic failures in the redress scheme. The FCA has responded and the Committee, which published this response on 12 October 2015. It can be found here: www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/treasury/Responses/Financial-Conduct-Authority-response-to-Conduct-and-Competition-in-SME.pdf

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2015-10-09.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the Financial Conduct Authority on the misselling of interest rate swaps.

Harriett Baldwin

Treasury Ministers and officials meet with a wide range of organisations as part of the usual policy making process.

It might be useful to know that the Treasury publishes a list of ministerial meetings with external organisations. This is available online at: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm.

As you are aware, the FCA is an independent non-governmental body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry. Although the Treasury sets the legal framework for the regulation of financial services, it has strictly limited powers in relation to the FCA. In particular, the Treasury has no general power of direction over the FCA and cannot intervene in individual cases.

The independence of the FCA is vital to the role it provides as a safety net for consumers with complaints against financial services firms. Their credibility, authority and value to consumers would be undermined if it were possible for the Government to intervene in their decision-making.

The FCA regularly publishes information on the progress of the redress scheme. This can be found here: www.fca.org.uk/consumers/financial-services-products/banking/interest-rate-hedging-products.

You may be aware that the Treasury Select Committee’s report into SME lending, published on 10 March, recommended that the FCA collect the information necessary to establish whether there are systemic failures in the redress scheme. The FCA has responded and the Committee, which published this response on 12 October 2015. It can be found here: www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/treasury/Responses/Financial-Conduct-Authority-response-to-Conduct-and-Competition-in-SME.pdf

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2015-10-09.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Serious Fraud Office on allegations relating to (a) systematic undervaluing of properties owned by small businesses and (b) misselling of interest rate swaps.

Harriett Baldwin

Treasury Ministers and officials meet with a wide range of organisations as part of the usual policy making process.

It might be useful to know that the Treasury publishes a list of ministerial meetings with external organisations. This is available online at: www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm.

As you are aware, the FCA is an independent non-governmental body responsible for regulating and supervising the financial services industry. Although the Treasury sets the legal framework for the regulation of financial services, it has strictly limited powers in relation to the FCA. In particular, the Treasury has no general power of direction over the FCA and cannot intervene in individual cases.

The independence of the FCA is vital to the role it provides as a safety net for consumers with complaints against financial services firms. Their credibility, authority and value to consumers would be undermined if it were possible for the Government to intervene in their decision-making.

The FCA regularly publishes information on the progress of the redress scheme. This can be found here: www.fca.org.uk/consumers/financial-services-products/banking/interest-rate-hedging-products.

You may be aware that the Treasury Select Committee’s report into SME lending, published on 10 March, recommended that the FCA collect the information necessary to establish whether there are systemic failures in the redress scheme. The FCA has responded and the Committee, which published this response on 12 October 2015. It can be found here: www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/treasury/Responses/Financial-Conduct-Authority-response-to-Conduct-and-Competition-in-SME.pdf

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2015-10-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of guidelines in national planning guidance on archaeology and heritage in managing heritage assets.

Tracey Crouch

Historic England is currently exploring ways of assessing the effectiveness of heritage-related planning policy and law in practice.Its assessment of nearly 200 heritage-related planning appeal decisions, its own experience, and its discussions with practitioners all suggest that the application of national policy in relation to the historic environment appears to be broadly effective, and maintains an appropriate degree of protection.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2015-10-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will amend the road traffic construction and use regulations to require dashboard warning lights for faulty brake lights to be mandatory.

Andrew Jones

Dash board warning lights are the subject of the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989. There are no specific requirements for brake light failure warning and there are no plans to amend them. The optional fitment of such a warning light is permitted.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christian Matheson on 2015-10-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of amending the road traffic construction and use regulations to prohibit blue lights on non-emergency vehicles.

Andrew Jones

The specification including colour and use of lamps on road vehicles are the subject of The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989. Only emergency vehicles are permitted by this legislation to have blue special warning lamps and warning beacons. No assessment has been made to amend these regulations for blue lamps or warning beacons on non-emergency vehicles, as the prohibitions already exist.