Tag: Grant Shapps

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans the Government has to extend the period of time separating spouses of service personnel have to vacate his Department’s accommodation.

Mark Lancaster

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has no plans to extend the period of time in which separating spouses of Service personnel have to vacate MOD provided accommodation. However, the current 93-day period can be extended further according to individual circumstances, such as children’s schooling, relevant welfare and any medical considerations.

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

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support he is providing to Fintech after the vote to leave the EU.

Simon Kirby

The UK is recognised as the world’s leading FinTech capital, with recent reports such as EY’s ‘UK FinTech: on the cutting edge’ and Deloitte’s ‘Connecting Global FinTech: Hub Review 2016’ placing the UK and London as the number one location for FinTech in the world.

The government is determined to continue to help support UK FinTech firms as they innovate and grow, and wants to ensure that the UK remains the location of choice for FinTech firms. As such, we are continuing to implement a range of our previously announced policies which are designed to reduce barriers to entry for FinTechs, help industry accelerate the development of key FinTech initiatives and ease access to foreign markets. We are also assessing other initiatives which can further help support the growth of UK FinTech, in consultation with the industry.

In July, we launched our second FinTech Bridge with the Republic of Korea – increasing the opportunities for trade and investment between our two nations on FinTech, and deepening regulatory and government collaboration.

Following the vote to leave the European Union, the government is engaging extensively with the sector. I will be meeting with the sector this month to discuss what they are looking for out of the European negotiations, and what more the government can do in the short and medium term to support the sector.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the £55.7 billion agreed funding for the High Speed 2 project includes the costs of the recently proposed £70 million road safety and support fund for communities affected by the line.

Andrew Jones

Yes, the £70 million allocated to the Road Safety, Community and Environment, and Business and Local Economy Funds is included within the overall £55.7 billion funding envelope for HS2.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to impose fines on Volkswagen as a result of its manipulation of emissions tests in 2015.

Mr John Hayes

The Government continues to take the unacceptable actions of the Volkswagen Group extremely seriously.

We want to ensure that the Volkswagen Group faces appropriate legal consequences for its manipulation of emissions tests and are continuing to consider how best to do this. We continue to consider opening our own investigation and it would therefore be inappropriate and potentially damaging to any prosecution to discuss our plans publicly at this stage.

Prosecuting authorities from across Europe have met to discuss and coordinate their investigations. Department for Transport officials have been part of those coordinating efforts and continue to monitor the progress of those investigations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grant Shapps on 2016-10-20.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on moves to reduce Air Passenger Duty by 50 per cent in the near future.

Jane Ellison

Like all taxes Air Passenger Duty is kept under review with any changes being announced at fiscal events.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to ensure all frontline NHS staff are trained in suicide prevention; and whether such training will be compulsory.

Ben Gummer

It is the responsibility of the professional regulators to set the standards and outcomes for education and training and approve training curricula to ensure newly qualified healthcare professionals are equipped with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to provide high quality patient care. It is the responsibility of employers to ensure staff receive appropriate training to deliver high quality healthcare. This includes training in suicide prevention. There are no plans to make it compulsory.

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

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he plans to take to ensure that Britain’s financial services sector will stay competitive after the UK has left the EU.

Simon Kirby

As the Chancellor has set out, it is important Britain maintains its status as a great place for financial services and that is why the government stands ready to help the sector maximise the opportunities that leaving the EU presents. Britain has natural strengths, such as a central time zone and English language, alongside a globally respected regulatory system, world-class legal and professional services and a highly skilled financial services workforce, that will ensure it remains competitive after the UK has left the EU.

In addition, the government is committed to investing in home-grown talent, and will continue to welcome the best and brightest around the world to further contribute to the UK’s competitive position. Britain is already a world-leader in the global markets of the future including green and sustainable finance, FinTech, and renminbi and rupee products.

The government is maintaining an open dialogue with the financial services industry, including through the Financial Services Trade and Investment Board, as it prepares to withdraw from the EU.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he plans to hold a second phase of the Small Modular Reactor Competition; and if he will make a statement.

Jesse Norman

As the Government stated at the outset of the competition, the intention of Phase One was to gauge market interest among global market actors in developing, commercialising and financing Small Modular Reactor Competitions in the UK. The evidence gathered during Phase One is being used to inform policy decisions, including the design of any future stages of the competition. Given that Phase One is still continuing, I am not able to provide any further information at this stage.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of accelerating the Small Modular Reactor Competition process.

Jesse Norman

Since launching the first phase of the competition in March, we have been exploring the potential of different Small Modular Reactor (SMR) designs and routes to commercialisation. In doing so we have drawn on the findings of the independent Techno-Economic Assessment, the Phase One expressions of interest documents, the meetings held by officials over the summer with 32 technology vendors, service providers and potential investors, and our continuing discussions with regulators. This evidence is being used to inform the future of the competition. The timings for any future competition phases is being kept under review, in line with wider SMR policy development.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grant Shapps on 2016-10-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been spent from the public purse on purchasing (a) wearable fitness tracking technology and (b) diet pills for soldiers deemed to be overweight in the last financial year.

Harriett Baldwin

Wearable fitness tracking technology equipment is purchased by individual military units. Records of the cost of these purchases are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

In accordance with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines, the Ministry of Defence prescribes the medication Orlistat for the management of obesity. The drug is prescribed to both UK military personnel and their dependants. In financial year 2015-16 the total purchase cost of Orlistat was £6,300.