Tag: Douglas Carswell

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2016-03-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many staff in his Department were in receipt of Continuity of Education Allowance in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15; and what the cost to his Department was of providing that allowance for staff based (i) in the UK and (ii) overseas in each such year.

Joseph Johnson

Continuity of Education Allowances are not paid to any staff in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills at present or in the past.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2016-04-11.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the press release, Government response to public desire for EU facts, published on 6 April 2016, how much and in what areas the Government has spent on the production of its leaflet on the EU referendum; and from which departmental budget that funding has been obtained.

John Penrose

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 14 April 2016, to the hon. Member for Harwich and North Essex.

All leaflets will be delivered in advance of the 28 day restricted period, beginning on 27 May 2016. The costs of the leaflet will be met from the Cabinet Office budget.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2016-04-27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make an assessment of the potential effect of the cessation of downstream steel operations at Llanwern on further redundancies in that region.

Anna Soubry

The Government recognises the considerable impact that a closure of Tata Steel UK’s facilities at Llanwern would have on its employees, their families and the communities in which they live. That is why we are working closely with Tata to find a credible buyer for their entire UK operation. Our interests are to support Tata Steel and the wider industry, secure as many jobs as we can and deliver a sustainable future.

On 21 April, my Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills announced that a package of support worth hundreds of millions of pounds would be made available to potential buyers on commercial terms to support the ongoing operation and deliver long term investment in the future of the business. We will also consider support in other areas such as plant, pensions and power supply, and any other areas that potential buyers believe the Government can provide support.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-11-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to improve parliamentary oversight of the Security Service.

Mr John Hayes

The Justice and Security Act 2013 has already significantly strengthened the Parliamentary oversight of the Security Service and the other intelligence agencies. The Act expanded the powers of the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) by enabling it to oversee operational activities of significant national interest retrospectively, and denying Agency heads the ability to withhold information from the Committee on the grounds of sensitivity. Significant additional resources have also been provided to the ISC.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2015-12-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 15 October 2015 to Question 11444, when the regeneration strategy for Jaywick will be fully implemented; and if his Department will (a) provide additional resources to improve the (i) standard of housing and (ii) quality of life and (b) liberalise planning rules for house building in Jaywick and Brooklands.

Brandon Lewis

The Jaywick Coastal Community Team are preparing their Economic Plan, to be completed by the end of January 2016. The Plan will outline the key economic issues facing Jaywick, setting out both the short term and longer term priorities for the Coastal Community Team.

The Chancellor confirmed at Autumn Statement last week that the Coastal Communities Fund will be extended from 2017-18 to 2020-21 with at least £90 million of new funding. Details of the next bidding round will be announced in the New Year. The focus of the Fund will remain on support for sustainable jobs and growth.

Tendring Council received £1.8 million in New Homes Bonus in 2015-16 and a total of £5.2 million since the scheme started in 2011-12. All new homes are constructed in accordance with Building Regulations, ensuring they meet minimum standards in respect of health, safety and sustainability.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2016-02-03.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the level of potential exposure to risk transferred to the public purse due to the introduction of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Harriett Baldwin

The Treasury publishes annually an assessment of risk from the Government’s financial interventions, including the risk borne by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) due to these interventions. This was most recently disclosed in the Treasury Group 2014/15 Annual Accounts published in July last year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2016-02-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, with reference to the Prime Minister’s Oral Statement of 22 February 2016, Official Report, column 35, on the European Council, whether his Department is undertaking planning in the eventuality of a majority leave vote in the EU referendum.

Stephen Crabb

At the February European Council, the Government negotiated a new settlement, giving the United Kingdom a special status in a reformed European Union. The Government’s position, as set out by the Prime Minister to the House on 22 February, is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2016-03-04.

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether Government spending in support of the remain campaign for the EU referendum is counted towards the total campaign spending for that campaign.

Mr Gary Streeter

During the referendum period ahead of the EU Referendum, which will run from 15 April to 23 June 2016, there are rules that campaigners must follow on spending, donations and reporting. These are set out under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA). Spending from public funds is not covered by these rules.

Section 125 of PPERA does place restrictions on the publication of promotional material by UK and devolved governments and Ministers during the 28 day period before a referendum. Publishing information and arguments for or against the UK remaining or leaving the EU or materials designed to encourage people to vote a certain way are covered by these restrictions. These restrictions will apply between 27 May and 23 June 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2016-03-23.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what advice he has received from the Office for Budget Responsibility on the effect on the economy in the event of the UK leaving the EU.

Mr David Gauke

A vote to leave the EU is identified as an economic risk in the OBR’s March 2016 Economic and Fiscal Outlook, which states that it “could usher in an extended period of uncertainty regarding the precise terms of the UK’s future relationship with the EU. This could have negative implications for activity via business and consumer confidence and might result in greater volatility in financial and other asset markets”.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2016-04-11.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the press release, Government response to public desire for EU facts, published on 6 April 2016, whether the Government plans to complete the delivery of the leaflets on the EU referendum and remove the website, eureferendum.gov.uk, prior to the start of the purdah period related to that referendum on 27 May 2016.

John Penrose

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 14 April 2016, to the hon. Member for Harwich and North Essex.

All leaflets will be delivered in advance of the 28 day restricted period, beginning on 27 May 2016. The costs of the leaflet will be met from the Cabinet Office budget.