Tag: Grant Shapps

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grant Shapps on 2016-10-14.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the dangers of money laundering being undertaken by means of anonymous online crowdfunding investment platforms.

Simon Kirby

All crowdfunding platforms fall within the FCA’s definition of regulated investments and are therefore subject to FCA rules. These rules require companies to maintain effective systems and controls to address the risk that they might be exploited by criminals. Where a firm’s systems and controls are not adequate, the FCA can and does take enforcement action.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grant Shapps on 2016-10-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department plans to change its policy on the use of genetically modified organisms in farming after the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice

As part of the preparations for EU exit, the Government is considering possible future arrangements for the regulation of genetically modified organisms. The Government’s general view remains that policy and regulation in this area should be science-based and proportionate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grant Shapps on 2016-01-29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that social housing tenants who would like superfast broadband can access connections; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey

The Government is on target to deliver access to superfast broadband for 95% of all UK premises – including social housing – by December 2017, and to extend coverage beyond that as far as possible. We do not hold a breakdown of this information by housing tenure centrally, however this investment is benefiting all types of housing, as well as businesses, and we are proud to be delivering on this critical piece of infrastructure as set out in our manifesto.

Currently, superfast broadband is available to almost 90 per cent of homes and businesses in the UK – up from 45 per cent in 2010. Around 5 per cent of UK homes and business are currently experiencing connection speeds below 10 Mbit/s.

Having reduced the proportion of all UK premises with speeds less than 2 Mbit/s substantially from 11% in 2010 to around 1% in December last year, we have now implemented our commitment of having at least 2 Mbit/s per second basic broadband available to all homes and businesses.

All premises which are not currently scheduled to get an increase in speed to at least this level are eligible for a subsidised satellite broadband service that can deliver speeds of 10Mbps or more.

The Prime Minister has also announced the Government’s intention to implement a new broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) which is set at 10 Mbit/s. This new broadband USO will give people the legal right to request an affordable broadband connection, at a reasonable cost threshold, no matter where they live. We will be consulting on these proposals shortly.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grant Shapps on 2016-09-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on armed forces and civilian staff of the planned sale of RAF Henlow.

Mark Lancaster

Military personnel currently based at RAF Henlow will be relocated with their unit, the details of this relocation will be made clear later this year.

Civilian staff will be expected to honour the mobility obligations if their post is being relocated. Where an individual’s post is being relocated outside the scope of their personal mobility obligation they will be managed in accordance with normal Departmental policy and processes.

Trade Unions have been consulted and detailed discussions regarding civilian staff will take place well in advance of any closure.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grant Shapps on 2016-10-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress has been made on securing a suitable funding package for the Manchester Airport interchange on the High Speed 2 line.

Andrew Jones

Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Manchester Airports Group have made a commitment in principle to a local contribution to funding for the airport station and we continue to work with them on the details.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grant Shapps on 2016-10-14.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reducing taxes on e-cigarettes on health grounds.

Jane Ellison

E-cigarettes are not liable for excise duty as they do not include tobacco. However, they are still liable for VAT.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grant Shapps on 2016-10-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will ensure that at least half of the Board of HS2 Ltd are business professionals with exclusively private sector experience.

Andrew Jones

The HS2 Ltd Board contains a balance of public and private sector experience. The members are well qualified to provide the appropriate challenge and guidance to the HS2 Programme and include those with major project, construction and rail expertise. Ministerial appointments, extensions and exemptions to the HS2 Ltd Board, come under the remit of the Office for Commissioner for Public Appointments.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grant Shapps on 2016-03-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department plans to take to support recommendation 17 of the Mental Health Taskforce report of February 2016, on 24/7 access to mental health services by 2020-21.

Alistair Burt

The Department welcomed the publication of the independent Mental Health Taskforce report and we are working with our delivery partners to develop a programme of work to embed its recommendations in our policies. We will provide further details in the summer.

To support this programme, we announced in January that an additional £1 billion investment will help to transform mental health services by 2020. This investment includes over £400 million for crisis resolution and home treatment teams to deliver 24/7 treatment in communities and homes as a safe and effective alternative to hospitals and £247 million for liaison mental health services in every hospital emergency department.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grant Shapps on 2016-09-15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent estimate he has made of the total revenue expected to have been accrued upon the completion of the F35 Joint Strike Fighter programme.

Harriett Baldwin

Initial Operating Capability for the UK’s F-35B Lightning aircraft is scheduled for December 2018.

The most recent US Selected Acquisition Report (SAR 2015) estimates that the production, sustainment and support revenue generated by the global F-35 fleet through the life of the programme will be over one trillion US dollars. The UK manufactures approximately 15% of each F-35 aircraft, however as the F-35 programme is still determining its Global Support Solution footprint, we are not yet in a position to determine the potential revenue for UK industry.

The programme is expecting to procure over 3,000 aircraft across the F-35 Partner Nations. This will be further supplemented by Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. FMS engagement and future sales projections are managed by, and are a matter for, the US Government.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grant Shapps on 2016-10-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to substitute any funding for High Speed 2 that was part of an EU grant.

Andrew Jones

The funding envelope of £55.7 billion for delivering HS2 does not rely on EU grant funding. HS2 was awarded a grant of €39 million from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for ground investigation works. My Department will work with HM Treasury to see if this should be covered by the government’s commitment to provide continuity of funding for participants in EU programmes (announced by my Right Honourable Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the 13th August). I refer my Right Honourable Friend to my response of the 15th September, UIN 46680, (http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2clords&uin=46680).

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