Tag: Craig Whittaker

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2016-07-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if the Government will take steps to work with local authorities and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to improve air quality in West Yorkshire.

Dr Thérèse Coffey

We are aware that local authorities have a crucial role to play in improving air quality across the UK. The Government is already taking a number of steps to support them in this role.

The national air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide, published in December 2015, sets out a comprehensive approach for meeting air quality challenges by implementing a new programme of Clean Air Zones in five cities in England, one of which is Leeds. The Plan combines targeted local and national measures, forming part of a wider approach that exploits new and clean technologies, such as electric and ultra-low emission vehicles.

We have allocated funding to help Leeds City Council implement the Clean Air Zone and are working closely with City officials on its development. Delivery of the Clean Air Zone will also take account of the need to work closely with related authorities and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Local authorities additionally have a duty to evaluate local air quality against standards set by the Government. They designate air quality management areas (AQMAs) at locations where these standards are not met and take remedial actions to improve air quality at these locations. Six local authorities in West Yorkshire – Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds, Wakefield and York – have declared AQMAs and are implementing remedial action plans to improve air quality in their areas.

Defra introduced regulatory and guidance changes in 2015 to provide better and clearer guidance to local authorities on local air quality management to enable them to improve air quality in their areas and achieve better health and environmental outcomes.

Defra supports local authorities through the Air Quality Grant Scheme, a competitive fund they can bid into to support local action to improve air quality. Details and criteria for this year’s scheme will be available later in the year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans to review the regulations and guidance governing taxi and private hire vehicles working outside their primary licensing authority area.

Andrew Jones

The Department for Transport’s Best Practice Guidance on taxi and private hire licensing was issued in 2010. It is expected that a consultation on revised guidance will be launched early next year. Subject to Royal Assent to the Policing and Crime Bill, this will be accompanied by draft Statutory Guidance in relation to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.

The Government is currently considering all the recommendations in the Law Commission’s report on taxi and private hire regulation in England and Wales and will formally respond to the Law Commission and announce its intentions once this scrutiny is completed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2015-10-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what account was taken of local transport links in Walsden, Portsmouth and Todmorden in the consultation on the Provision of Court and Tribunal Estate for both victims and those on trial.

Mr Shailesh Vara

The consultation proposals included information on approximate travel times for each regional consultation paper.

No decision has been taken to close any court. The consultation closed on 8 October and we are considering all responses carefully.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2015-10-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what risk assessments his Department has conducted on changes to court provision in Calder Valley.

Mr Shailesh Vara

An impact assessment was published alongside the consultation document, which can be found at: https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/proposal-on-the-provision-of-court-and-tribunal-es.

No decision has been taken to close any court. The consultation closed on 8 October and we are considering all responses carefully.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2015-10-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the Government plans to take into account proposals put forward that will save money in ways other than proposals for closures, when analysing feedback on its recent consultation on the Provision of Court and Tribunal Estate.

Mr Shailesh Vara

No decision has been taken to close any court. The consultation closed on 8 October and we will carefully consider all responses submitted.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2015-10-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to support small businesses in (a) West Yorkshire and (b) Yorkshire & Humber.

Anna Soubry

We are supporting small businesses in many ways and are committed to making sure the UK is the best place in Europe to start and grow a business. Businesses in West Yorkshire and the Yorkshire and Humber region are benefitting from Government support.

More than 900 Start Up Loans, worth over £5 million, have been issued across West Yorkshire. And more than 2,600 loans, worth over £14 million, have been issued in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

Almost 900 West Yorkshire businesses have secured loans worth £87 million under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme. And more than 2,000 businesses in the Yorkshire and Humber region have secured loans worth over £196 million.

There have been 48 Regional Growth Fund awards across the Yorkshire and Humber region totalling £268 million.

The Growth Deal programme is supporting growing businesses across the Yorkshire and Humber region, including £8m for growing SMEs across Leeds City Region. The Government is also funding the establishment of growth hubs which bring together local business support and advice into one place. The North Yorkshire & East Riding growth hub is now in place.

Ambitious, high growth businesses are also benefitting from the Business Growth Service: 369 in West Yorkshire and 900 in Yorkshire and Humber.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2015-10-22.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the UK economy of Greece leaving the Eurozone.

Mr David Gauke

The Greek government has been clear that they want to remain within the euro area. The Treasury continuously monitors global economic developments, including those in Greece, and their impact on the UK as part of the normal process of policy development.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2015-10-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will estimate the potential savings to local authorities of holding local council elections once every four years.

Mr Marcus Jones

On the assumptions that the cost of running local elections is £1.50 per elector and that all councils currently having elections more frequently than every 4 years were to move to whole council elections every fourth year, we estimate the savings across England over a four year period would be in the order of £50 million.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2015-10-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts about further expansion of the membership of the EU.

Mr David Lidington

The UK supports enlargement of the EU as a driver for peace, prosperity and reform, once countries have met in full the conditions and standards for membership. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend, the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), has made clear that there needs to be reform of the transitional controls on free movement of workers before any further countries join the EU. I discuss enlargement policy and developments in aspirant countries in the course of contacts with EU counterparts and in the context of annual autumn Council discussions on enlargement. Based on latest assessments and enlargement experiences to date, we don’t expect further enlargement before the early 2020s.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2015-10-22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what account was taken of the effect on access to justice in rural areas in his Department’s consultation on the Provision of the Court and Tribunal Estate.

Mr Shailesh Vara

Access to justice is not just about proximity to a court. We are committed to providing alternatives to travel, for example through making better use of technology, including video conferencing, and exploring whether we can appropriately make use of civic buildings for certain types of hearing.

No decision has been taken to close any court. The consultation closed on 8 October and we are considering all responses carefully.