Tag: Gareth Thomas

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-06-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the programme managed by Capita to identify and remove overstayers; when the contract with Capita for that programme is due for renewal; whether she plans to make any amendments to the terms of that contract; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire

Capita was appointed to progress cases in the Migration Refusal Pool (MRP), which consists of those people who have received a negative decision on their cases, but have not left the country. The purpose of these arrangements is to contact manage cases and encourage voluntary departure and compliance. Capita does not remove anyone from the UK.

Capita’s work on the Migration Refusal Pool has enabled a substantial reduction in the size of the MRP during the lifetime of the contract and has included the assessment of 659,400 cases and the identification of 143,400 departures. More statistics on the contract can be found in the Immigration Enforcement transparency data, available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-enforcement-data-may-2016

The contract was signed in 2012 to run for four years and is due to expire this October.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-07-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what progress he has made on establishing a credit union for members of the armed forces; what steps he is taking to make military personnel aware of that service; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Lancaster

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 March 2016 to Question 29059 to the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon).

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2016-03-01/29059/

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-11.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, which agreed EU directives have not yet been transposed directly into UK law; and if he will make a statement.

Mr David Gauke

Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. During this period the Government will continue to negotiate, implement and apply EU legislation.

EU Directives related to HM Treasury responsibilities awaiting transposition into UK law are as follows: The Fourth Anti-Money Laundering Directive, The Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive, VAT Vouchers Directive, Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II, the Payment Services Directive II, the Insurance Distribution Directive and amendment to the Directive on Administrative Assistance and Mutual Cooperation.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will make it his policy to devolve further fiscal powers to local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Percy

Devolution Deals have awarded Mayoral Combined Authorities with greater flexibilities over investment funding through the Single Pot. Some have also committed to pilots for the retention of growth in business rates above a base and further, to pilot the 100% retention system that will be in operation nationally by the end of this parliament. These policies fundamentally change the way local government operates, through the localisation of business rates to fund local government functions.

We continue to welcome Devolution Deal proposals from all areas of the country and have been clear that the most ambitious deals will require ambitious governance reform.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which agreed EU directives have not yet been transposed directly into UK law; and if he will make a statement.

Kris Hopkins

Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a full member of the European Union and all the rights and obligations of EU membership remain in force. During this period the Government will continue to negotiate, implement and apply EU legislation.

There are no EU directives related to the Department’s responsibilities awaiting transposition into UK law.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-10-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what information his Department holds on how many businesses appealed against the amount demanded from them in business rates (a) in each English local authority area and (b) by region of England in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Marcus Jones

Information on the number of appeals in relation to business rates is held by the Valuation Office Agency. Data on appeals, including a breakdown by local authority area, are published online and are available at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/valuation-office-agency/about/statistics.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-11-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2015 to Question 13499, when the Civil Aviation Authority began its review of certain aspects of the safety of operations at RAF Northolt; if he will publish the full remit of the review and its conclusions; when he expects to receive the conclusions of the review; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Robert Goodwill

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) began its review in July in order to respond to several points raised in a letter from Biggin Hill Airport dated 8 July 2015.

The CAA has now concluded the review and I understand, will communicate the results directly to Biggin Hill Airport shortly.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2015-12-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions Ministers of his Department have had with Harrow Clinical Commissioning Group about providing a polyclinic in the eastern part of the London Borough of Harrow; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman

There have been no discussions between Health Ministers and Harrow Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) on this matter.

NHS England has advised us that there are already two practices offering walk-in appointments in the west of the Harrow CCG area. We understand that the CCG is planning to establish a third primary care hub with the same service specification in the east of the Borough.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-01-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish his Department’s reasons for installing an Engineered Material Arresting System at RAF Northolt; how much he expects that installation to cost; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Engineered Material Arresting System (EMAS) is being scoped as a military infrastructure requirement commensurate with safety cases for military aircraft operating at RAF Northolt and the associated military aerodrome design standards utilised at the Station. I am withholding estimated costs for the EMAS project as it is at the pre-tender stage and disclosure would or would be likely to prejudice commercial interests.

The Mott McDonald report has no opinion or relevance against the military aerodrome design criteria and safety cases in place at the Station or the current operation of RAF Northolt. Any infrastructure investment for military operational requirements will continue to be undertaken as necessary to support military and Government outputs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-02-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take in response to increases in the cost to the NHS of Liothyronine; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman

The Government’s policy on generic medicines is to allow manufacturers freedom of pricing for their products, relying on competition to deliver value for money. Any potential pricing abuses are a matter for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The Department is in regular contact with the CMA.