Tag: Iain Stewart

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Stewart on 2015-11-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what contribution the New Stations Fund has made towards increasing the housing supply.

Claire Perry

The New Station Fund has already delivered two new stations at Pye Corner in Wales and Newcourt in Devon. Three more new stations will be delivered as part of the fund at Ilkeston in Derbyshire, Lea Bridge in London and Kenilworth in Warwickshire. All of these new stations will be a catalyst for new housing as they make transport easier between communities and employment. Specifically the stations at:

• Newcourt will serve thousands of new dwellings (originally estimated as 3,500) as part of the Masterplan for the area;
• Ilkeston will support plans for significant house building around the town;
• Lea Bridge is within one of Waltham Forest’s key regeneration areas. The Council tell us that a significant number of housing sites are coming forward near the station and the population is forecast to increase.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Stewart on 2015-11-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what contribution the Local Pinch Point Fund has made towards increasing the housing supply.

Andrew Jones

The Department is providing £263 million through the Local Pinch Point Fund, targeted at traffic congestion hot-spots, which when combined with local authority and developer contributions is funding schemes costing around £500 million.

Based on estimates from the promoting authorities, many of the schemes awarded funding encourage housing and commercial development around them, with the potential to support around 150,000 new homes and 200,000 jobs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Stewart on 2016-03-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what meetings he has had with Network Rail in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Patrick McLoughlin

I and my ministerial team regularly meet with senior officials of Network Rail to discuss a wide range of key issues facing the company.

We recently discussed progress against the recommendations made by Dame Colette Bowe. In my letter to her on 25 November 2015, I committed to publishing a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department and Network Rail. This is the formal framework which resets the rail enhancements framework. It will improve and strengthen the governance and day-to-day management of the process for planning and overseeing rail enhancements, providing clearer accountability for associated costs and project management. It is deposited in the libraries of the House and available on the GOV.UK website.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Stewart on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether the fund to increase the number of degree apprenticeships that he announced on 24 March 2016 will also apply to masters-level apprenticeships.

Nick Boles

The fund to increase the number of degree apprenticeships announced on 24 March 2016 applies to developing degree apprenticeships at both level 6 (bachelor’s) and level 7 (master’s).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Stewart on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Minister for Social Care’s oral contribution of 3 December 2015, Official Report, column 608, what progress his Department has made on putting in place a national ambition to reduce the number of adults sent out-of-area for acute inpatient mental health care.

Alistair Burt

In-line with the recommendations of the Independent Mental Health Taskforce published in February 2016, we have set a national ambition to eliminate inappropriate out of area treatments for adult acute inpatient care as a result of local acute bed pressures by 2020/21 at the latest. To achieve this ambition we expect areas to put in place local action plans and achieve year on year reductions from 2016/17.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Stewart on 2016-04-12.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what amount of corporation tax was paid by soft drinks manufacturers in the latest financial year for which figures are available.

Mr David Gauke

Corporation Tax payable for accounting periods ending in the financial year 2013-14 for companies manufacturing soft drinks, and producing mineral water is estimated to be about £70 million. This estimate is based on those classified under the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 2007 code 11070 (Manufacture of soft drinks; production of mineral waters and other bottled waters) plus those manufacturing soft drinks who are classified elsewhere. This is the latest year available.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Stewart on 2015-10-21.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to allow local authorities to retain business rate revenues.

Mr David Gauke

The Chancellor set out a radical devolution reform package for local government in his conference speech. This included plans to allow local government to retain 100 per cent of revenue from business rates to spend on local services, as well as giving local authorities the power to lower business rates to boost growth and support jobs.

While there will still be redistribution between Local Authorities to ensure those with a lower tax base do not lose out, local areas will be able to keep all local growth in their business rates.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Iain Stewart on 2015-02-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what progress has been made on implementation of the Smith Commission recommendations.

Mr Alistair Carmichael

We promised draft clauses on new powers for the Scottish Parliament and we published that legislation ahead of the Burns’ Night deadline.

The main UK parties have all committed to bring forward a Bill in the next Parliament. Scotland will get more powers.