The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-03-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many times the charge for probate has been increased since 2010.
Caroline Dinenage
The fees payable on application for a non-contentious grant of probate have been increased twice since 2010.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-04-21.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent discussions he has had with the newspaper industry on ad-blocking and platform regulation.
Mr Edward Vaizey
The Secretary of State hold regular discussions with the newspaper industry on a wide range of issues. As he said in his speech to the Oxford Media Convention on 2 March 2016, he will shortly be hosting roundtable meetings with a wide range of relevant stakeholders, including newspaper industry representatives, to discuss ad-blocking and its impact.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-06-08.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government’s anti-poverty objectives in (a) Malawi, (b) Ghana and (c) Nepal are being taken into account when negotiating tax treaties with those countries.
Mr David Gauke
The Government recognises that developing countries may have different preferences from those of the UK and is willing to accommodate these preferences as part of a balanced agreement that is acceptable to both sides.
By governing the taxation of cross-border income flows in a predictable manner and eliminating double taxation and excessive taxation, tax treaties promote international trade and investment, leading to sustainable tax revenues, which are vital in financing for development.
Treasury Ministers decide the UK’s treaty negotiation programme following consultation with a number of interested parties, including the Department for International Development.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-09-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what child protection steps have been taken to prevent self-employed adults with violent or sexual convictions providing extracurricular activities for children when no governing body exists for that sport or activity.
Edward Timpson
Schools are aware of their responsibilities in ensuring that any self-employed individual who is providing extra-curricular classes or sessions on their behalf has been subject to the necessary and appropriate checks, which could include checking individual status with the relevant sports or activity governing body.
If those checks reveal convictions for violence the school will then determine the appropriateness or otherwise of allowing that individual to continue to provide classes or sessions.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-09-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what security-related sales and services the UK is (a) contracted to provide and (b) plans to provide to other countries in (i) 2017, (ii) 2018 and (iii) 2019.
Harriett Baldwin
The UK does not have commercial contracts with other countries for arms and security related sales and services. Through bilateral government-to-government arrangements the UK works closely with its international partners and allies to support the development of their defence and security capabilities across a broad range of areas.
To produce the information would involve collecting data from all branches and services involved in international defence engagement activity which could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Home Secretary on work permits and immigration rules for EU citizens working in the NHS, health and pharmaceutical industries after the UK leaves the EU.
David Mowat
My Rt. hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Health and the Home Secretary meet regularly.
Department of Health officials and Home Office officials are working together with officials at the Department for Exiting the European Union to ensure that the workforce implications for the National Health Service and care sectors are considered as part of the discussions around leaving the EU.
The Secretary of State for Health and the Prime Minister have made it clear that they wish for EU citizens, including those working in the NHS, health and pharmaceutical industries to remain in the United Kingdom post-Brexit.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-10-10.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to protect families paying debts over time from bailiff fees, court charges and interest rates; and if he will consider a statutory breathing space for families in debt.
Simon Kirby
The Government noted the report with interest and is grateful for the important work that The Children’s Society does. The Government is committed to supporting individuals in problem debt.
The Government is exploring whether some form of “breathing space” would be a useful and viable addition to the range of formal and informal debt solutions available to consumers and creditors. Officials in HM Treasury and the Insolvency Service have been asked to discuss this issue with stakeholders and the Government will report back this autumn.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2015-10-30.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will (a) incorporate natural capital into the national infrastructure plan, (b) take steps to ensure that new man-made infrastructure projects do not deplete the UK’s natural capital asset base and (c) prioritise investment in natural capital.
Greg Hands
The government recognises the value of natural capital to the country’s long-term economic growth. We do not currently agree that an investment programme for natural capital should explicitly feature in the National Infrastructure Plan. We do, however, strive for all publically funded infrastructure investments to make a positive contribution to protecting and enhancing our natural environment. For example, the Roads Investment Strategy has ring-fenced £225 million in an Environment Fund and £75 million in an Air Quality Fund to ensure more is done to limit the impact of the Strategic Roads Network on the environment.
As specific decisions on spending allocations in this Parliament will be set out following the Spending Review later this month, I cannot yet comment on future investment in natural capital. However, the government takes natural capital very seriously. We have set long term-goals to stop the decades of decline in wildlife and habitats, and have already seen some improvements. Since 2010 we have helped to create over 150,000 acres of field margins, wetlands and woodlands, and woodland cover is at its highest level in 700 years.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-01-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether his Department has an official statement of the UK’s relationship with Bahrain and the Bahraini government.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
We have a long and shared history with Bahrain. Our relationship with Bahrain is important for our respective security and prosperity. We will continue to work with Bahrain to support their reform agenda. Bahrain has made progress but we are clear more needs to be done.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-01-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department has made an assessment of the number of secondary school pupils who have been unable to participate in a school trip directly related to a statutory aspect of the national curriculum in each of the last three years.
Nick Gibb
The Department does not collect data on the number of pupils who are unable to participate in school trips related to a statutory aspect of the national curriculum. All schools have a duty to teach a balanced and broadly based curriculum which, for maintained schools includes the national curriculum. It is the responsibility of schools to decide how best to teach the curriculum and this includes whether school trips could help enhance pupils’ experience and education and allow pupils to achieve better outcomes.