The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the time advisors from the Citizens Advice Bureau are placed on hold while making enquiries on behalf of clients for (a) employment and support allowance and (b) personal independence payments claims.
Damian Hinds
The information is not available and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how his Department will measure the progress of the roll-out of the broadband universal service obligation.
Mr Edward Vaizey
Once the new broadband USO is in place, Ofcom will monitor its implementation and feedback progress to Government.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-06-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she plans to respond to the request of the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey for an urgent meeting on behalf of his constituents as requested by that hon. Member on 30 May 2016.
James Brokenshire
I have arranged to meet the Honourable Gentleman.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-10-19.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the annual revenue raised from VAT on tourism and related services was; and what proportion of this revenue was generated in Scotland for each of the last five years.
Jane Ellison
The government does not hold data on the annual revenue raised from VAT on tourism and related services in the UK and in Scotland. This is because tourism does not follow the standard classification of sectors. For example, revenue raised from travel and hotel accommodation will be a mixture of tourism and non-tourism activity.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of satellite broadband for serving rural areas; and what steps his Department is taking to ensure parity of service and cost with other types of broadband supply.
Mr Edward Vaizey
Satellite broadband can deliver download speeds of 10Mbps and above and upload speeds of 5Mbps. The subsidised offer to meet the Universal Service Commitment gives a first year only cost for a basic package of up to £400. This will make available an affordable basic broadband service to those premises unable to get a speed of at least 2Mbps. The total number of premises eligible for the universal service commitment subsidy had been substantially reduced, from around 11% in 2010 to around 1% by the end of 2015, as a result of roll-out superfast broadband by the commercial sector and through publicly-funded programmes.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-09-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, how many premises are connected to exchange activated telephone exchanges; and if she will make funds available to upgrade such exchanges.
Matt Hancock
The information requested in not available. £121.73m has been made available by the UK Government to fund the roll out of superfast broadband in Scotland.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-10-19.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to review the levels of VAT paid by tourism and hospitality businesses.
Jane Ellison
The Government keeps all taxes under review, although there are no current plans to review the levels of VAT paid by tourism and hospitality businesses.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-01-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what preparations the Government is making for the auction of 5G spectrum.
Mr Edward Vaizey
Ofcom takes independent decisions on how to assign spectrum. The Government is making spectrum available – including future 5G – through its programme of public sector spectrum release.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-09-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what support her Department provides to rural communities to install their own fibre networks when commercial and other Government programmes have been unable to reach their premises.
Matt Hancock
Through the Government’s investment of over £780 million, superfast broadband is now available to over 90% of homes and businesses in the UK, compared to 45% in 2010. By the end of 2017 it will be available to 95% of homes and businesses. The Government welcomes initiatives taken by local communities and others to support community fibre broadband projects.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Drew Hendry on 2016-10-19.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when his Department plans to review the VAT threshold.
Jane Ellison
The Government keeps all tax rates and thresholds under review.