Tag: Daniel Zeichner

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-09-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to remove international students from the Government’s migration targets following the decision to leave the EU.

Mr Robert Goodwill

International students are included in net migration statistics that are produced by the independent Office for National Statistics (ONS). In line with the internationally agreed UN definition, these statistics define a migrant as someone changing their normal place of residence for more than a year. Students are therefore included in the same way as other migrants. Other countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia also include students in their net migration figures.

Like other migrants, students who stay for longer than 12 months have an impact on communities, infrastructure and services while they are here, so it is right that they are included in the net migration count.

We are committed to reducing non-EU migration across all visa routes in order to bring net migration down to sustainable levels as soon as possible.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-09-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will increase investment in decentralised renewable energy to benefit the world’s poorest people.

James Wharton

The UK Government is playing a leading role in improving energy access in developing countries, including through our Energy Africa campaign which is working with solar firms to help them access the finance they need to expand their businesses, create jobs and help reach millions of people in Africa without electricity access.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-11-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the reduction was in his Department’s support for bus funding in England in 2014-15.

Andrew Jones

The majority of public funding for local bus services is via block grant provided to local authorities in England from the Department for Communities and Local Government.

In 2014-15 my Department provided funding of around £250 million in Bus Service Operators Grant, of which over £40 million per year is now paid direct to authorities to help support bus services. This figure excludes some £93 million a year previously paid to bus operators for running bus services under franchise to Transport for London (TfL) in London, which is now incorporated into the general grant paid to TfL and the Greater London Authority.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-11-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of progress on Total Transport pilots.

Andrew Jones

In March this year 37 rural local authorities in England were allocated £7.6m funding to pilot Total Transport Schemes in their areas. This initiative is examining how existing resources can be allocated and co-ordinated more efficiently.

The pilots are being run over a two-year period and individual schemes are currently in progress. There will be a review around April next year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-11-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer to Question 15214, what assessment his Department has made of reference in the Quality Contract Scheme Board’s report to bus operators being compensated by the Government for future losses that might be incurred as a result of franchising.

Andrew Jones

The Quality Contract Scheme Board’s report concerns a proposal under existing legislation. The intention is to introduce the Buses Bill later in this Parliamentary session, so proposals are still in development. We will of course consider the thoughts presented by the Quality Contract Scheme Board alongside a range of other perspectives.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-11-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress he has made on achieving the target of 55 per cent of primary school children walking to school by 2025.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Government is developing new ambitions for walking as part of its legal obligation, as set out in the Infrastructure Act 2015, to have in place a Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS). The target for walking set out in the Cycling Delivery Plan, to increase the percentage of primary school children walking to school to 55 per cent by 2025, will be considered as part of that process.

My Department intends to publish the first CWIS in summer 2016 and will be announcing a series of supporting documents leading up to this, including an Ambition document.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-12-01.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the reasons for changes in the number of Blue Badges held in England since 2014.

Andrew Jones

No assessment has been made. The number of valid Blue Badges held in England is published in table DIS0101, available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/478972/dis0101.xls.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-12-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish his Department’s contingency plans for provider failure in the social care market.

Alistair Burt

Local authorities retain responsibility for managing provider failure in the social care market. The Government has worked with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services and partners to publish guidance to support local authorities to develop contingency plans for managing the failure of a social care provider in their local area. The guidance can be found at:

http://www.lgiu.org.uk/report/care-and-continuity-guide/

The Care Act also gave the Care Quality Commission a new function to oversee the finances of care providers which are either large or whose provision is geographically concentrated as their financial failure would make it difficult for local authorities to discharge their statutory responsibilities.

The oversight function will provide early warning to relevant local authorities in the event that one of these providers is likely to fail and their services cease. This will allow local authorities time to implement contingency plans.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2015-12-15.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2015 to Question 15349, if HM Revenue and Customs will expand the tax exemption associated with the Cycle to Work scheme to provide employees with access to tax-free physical activity accessories and personalised activity plans for themselves and their families.

Mr David Gauke

The tax exemption associated with the Cycle to Work scheme is for the loan or hire by an employer to an employee of a cycle or cyclist’s safety equipment. It was established to promote healthier journeys to work and to reduce environmental pollution. This and all other tax exemptions are kept under review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-01-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will set standards for the implementation of a low emission strategy in those areas currently exceeding EU nitrogen dioxide emissions limits which will not be part of the five Clean Air Zones.

Rory Stewart

In the UK plan for improving air quality, published on 17 December 2015, we set out that as a minimum we expect all Local Authorities with areas currently exceeding the required NO₂ levels, to consider putting in place a Low Emission Strategy. Such a Strategy could be used to set out a range of commitments and actions to tackle pollution as part of a coherent multi-year programme.

Defra, in collaboration with the Low Emissions Strategies Partnership of Local Authorities, published the Low Emissions Strategies Guidance Document in 2010. This guidance provides an outline of the principles of Low Emission Strategies and examples of good practice.