The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Hertfordshire Constabulary’s reserves have been subject to CIFPA auditing for the 2014-15 financial year.
Mike Penning
Hertfordshire Constabulary’s final 2014/15 Statement of Accounts are published on the force website. The accounts have been independently audited and include the force’s level of reserves for 2014/15.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2015-10-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of annual income has been held in reserve by Herefordshire Constabulary in each of the past five years.
Mike Penning
It is up to Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and Chief Constables to decide how to allocate their resources, including the efficient use of reserves, based on local priorities.
Herefordshire is covered by the West Mercia police force area. The total amount of revenue funding received by the West Mercia PCC (formerly West Mercia Police Authority) and the total amounts of usable reserves, taken from publically available force area accounts are included in the following table.
This includes total core Government funding area from the Home Office, Legacy Council Tax Grants and locally raised precept income. It excludes specific grants such as the Innovation Fund and other locally raised income.
|
Year |
Reserves £m |
Revenue funding (government grant+precept) £m |
Reserves as % of total revenue funding |
|
31 Mar 2011 |
43.8 |
212.6 |
20.6% |
|
31 Mar 2012 |
37.8 |
206.9 |
18.3% |
|
31 Mar 2013 |
46.1 |
204.6 |
22.5% |
|
31 Mar 2014 |
53.1 |
201.6 |
26.4% |
|
31 Mar 2015 |
63.9 |
198.5 |
32.2% |
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2015-10-13.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Help to Buy mortgages have been refused by the Government despite being accepted by the participating bank.
Harriett Baldwin
The Government has established a criteria of eligibility for Help to Buy mortgages for participating banks to uphold. The responsibility of approving or rejecting a Help to Buy mortgage is given to participating banks.
There are currently two existing Help to Buy schemes; the Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme and the Help to Buy: equity loan scheme. The eligibility criteria for each of these schemes can be found on the Help to Buy website: http://www.helptobuy.org.uk
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2015-10-13.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Help to Buy mortgages have been declined on the basis of a poor credit rating.
Harriett Baldwin
The Government does not collect information on the number of Help to Buy mortgage applications declined on the basis of a poor credit rating.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what factors he took into account in deciding not to adopt a pure provider payment model in reform of apprenticeship funding.
Matthew Hancock
The 2013 consultation on Apprenticeship funding reform sought evidence on the feasibility and impact of three different mechanisms for giving employers more control over the funding. Following consideration of the responses to this consultation, the pure provider payment model was ruled out on the basis that it was the least likely to deliver the intended aim of giving employers true purchasing power.
The subsequent Technical Consultation published in March 2014 sought views on two models – a PAYE model and an apprenticeship credit model which are consistent with an employer-led Apprenticeships system. We are currently evaluating the responses to this consultation and will announce which payment mechanism we plan to pursue in the autumn.
We have established a ministerial advisory panel on Apprenticeship standards, made up of experts to advise the Secretary of State on the approval or rejection of employer designed Apprenticeship standards and assessment approaches.
We will refresh the Skills Funding Agency register of approved Apprenticeship training providers to ensure that only reputable providers are able to offer Apprenticeship training and organisations doing so will be subject to Ofsted inspection.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2014-06-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure Ofsted is able to undertake the proposed increase in inspections of apprenticeship providers.
Matthew Hancock
Our apprenticeship reforms will improve quality by involving employers in defining the new standards and assessment and by controlling the funding of apprenticeships. Ofsted will continue to play an important role in ensuring the quality of teaching and learning in registered training providers. We are discussing the arrangements with Ofsted as part of the Trailblazer project.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2014-06-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, for what reason allowing employers which wish to continue with current apprenticeship funding arrangements to do so was not listed as an option in his Department’s recent consultation on the future of apprenticeships.
Matthew Hancock
The Apprenticeships Funding Reform Technical Consultation sought evidence on the practical implications for employers of two new systems for routing apprenticeship funding: the PAYE model and the Apprenticeship Credit. The practical implications of the current system are already well understood, therefore we did not include this in the technical consultation. We are giving careful consideration to all feedback received, before announcing our next steps in the autumn.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2014-06-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, to which locations pending applications for hydraulic fraturing relate.
Michael Fallon
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 30 June 2014, Official Report, Column 426W:
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2014-06-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many hydraulic fracturing licences are pending approval in (a) England, (b) Lancashire and (c) Hyndburn constituency.
Michael Fallon
There is no “hydraulic fracturing licence”. DECC issues Petroleum Exploration and Development Licences (PEDLs). However, PEDLs are not specific to shale gas and do not give permission for operations, but grant exclusivity to licensees in relation to hydrocarbons (including shale gas but also other forms) within a particular area. All operations, such as drilling, hydraulic fracturing or production, however require planning permission, and applications are subject to public consultation. They also require access agreement with relevant landowner(s), Environment Agency permits, HSE scrutiny, and DECC consent before operations can commence. DECC is not currently considering any applications for hydraulic fracturing in the UK.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2015-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will hold discussions with the English Premier League on increased investment in grassroots football, in response to the recent sale of broadcasting rights.
Mrs Helen Grant
I have regular discussions with the Premier League and will continue to press the importance that this huge investment needs to benefit the game as a whole. This includes benefiting clubs lower down the football pyramid, supporters, and the grassroots of the game, through increased investment in facilities, community programmes and other schemes.