Tag: Jeremy Lefroy

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Lefroy on 2015-11-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much the UK contributed to UN and African Union peacekeeping and stabilisation in low and middle income countries which (a) was not and (b) was classified as Official Development Assistance in (i) 2013-14 and (ii) 2014-15.

James Duddridge

The UK’s contribution to UN Peacekeeping for low and middle income countries for Financial Year 2014/15 was £319.2m of non Official Development Assistance and £23.6m of Official Development Assistance funding; and for 2013/14 was £295.9m of non Official Development Assistance and £20.5m of Official Development Assistance funding. The UK does not make a direct contribution to the African Union. However, the annual UN Peacekeeping payments include a contribution and support to the United Nations Support Office for the African Union Mission in Somalia.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Lefroy on 2016-02-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what arrangements are being made for public consultation on the draft environmental statement for Phase Two of High Speed 2 (Fradley to Crewe).

Mr Robert Goodwill

HS2 Ltd is already undertaking environmental surveys, meeting communities and carrying out ground investigation works on the planned line of route as part of its preparation for a Phase 2a hybrid Bill.

This early investigation and engagement will inform a draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, which we expect to publish for consultation in autumn 2016. The draft report will show the potential environmental impacts of the scheme and indicative steps to mitigate them.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Lefroy on 2016-05-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the trends in the level of crime in Stafford constituency in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Mike Penning

The Crime Survey statistics published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that crime in England and Wales fell by 7% in the year to the end of December 2015 (the latest period for which data is available), and has fallen by well over a quarter since 2010.

Over the same period, crimes recorded by the police have risen. The independent ONS has been clear that rises in police recorded crime are largely the result of more victims coming forward to report certain offences and improvements in police crime recording practices. Police recorded crime for the Stafford constituency for the last three years is shown in the attached table.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Lefroy on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department issues guidance on the proportion of a school’s annual budget it considers prudent for a school to hold as a cash balance.

Nick Gibb

For maintained schools, local authorities have devolved responsibility for their funding and determine locally their balance control mechanisms. For academies, the Trustees determine the appropriate level of reserves that the Trust should hold in accordance with their responsibilities under Charity Law. The Department monitors the overall level of balances across the sector and keeps this under review.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Lefroy on 2015-11-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what discussion she has had with the European Commission’s (a) Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department and (b) Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development on responding to humanitarian needs in Burundi.

Mr Nick Hurd

The UK Government is extremely concerned by the ongoing political unrest in Burundi and its humanitarian consequences, including internally displaced persons and the flow of Burundian refugees to neighbouring countries.

The Secretary of State attended the Foreign Affairs Council for Development on 26 October where it was agreed to launch Article 96 consultation procedures with Burundi. Senior Officials from DFID have raised Burundi with appropriate interlocutors, including in Brussels.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Lefroy on 2016-03-03.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 22 September 2015 to Question 10382, what guidance the Valuation Office Agency provides to help organisations in the events industry better understand when liability for business rates will arise.

Mr David Gauke

The Valuation Office Agency has held meetings with the Events Industry Forum and others representing the events industry. Additional written guidance, beyond the Rating Manual, on the factors that determine rateability has been provided through these channels. The Agency encourages direct contact if ratepayers wish to discuss any aspect of a rating assessment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Lefroy on 2016-05-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many offences involving the fraudulent use of personal information have been reported to Staffordshire Police in each year since 2006; and how many such reports led to a (a) prosecution and (b) conviction.

Mike Penning

The Home Office do not hold the information requested. The responsibility for recording fraud offences transferred to Action Fraud from individual police forces between April 2011 and March 2013. Therefore, no fraud offences should have been recorded by Staffordshire police since then.

The Ministry of Justice do not hold the information requested on prosecutions and convictions.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Lefroy on 2016-09-02.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to lay secondary legislation on changes to the rate of interest on late payment of compensation under the Housing and Planning Act 2016 before Parliament.

Mr David Gauke

Government is committed to making the process of compulsory purchase orders clearer, fairer and faster. The Housing and Planning Act and the Neighbourhood Planning Bill, introduced last week (7^th September) will enable us to lay legislation to set interest rates on payments of compensation that are paid late. The Regulations to set this level of interest will be laid at least 21 days before the substantive commencement of sections 192 to 198 of the Housing and Planning Act. This is likely to be in spring 2017.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Lefroy on 2015-11-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what plans her Department has to provide humanitarian funding to (a) refugees from and (b) internally displaced persons in Burundi.

Mr Nick Hurd

The UK Government is extremely concerned by the ongoing political unrest in Burundi and its humanitarian consequences, including internally displaced persons and the flow of Burundian refugees to neighbouring countries.

The UK is the second largest bilateral donor to the regional appeal, after the US. DFID offices across the region, including in Tanzania, DRC, Rwanda and Uganda, are working closely to monitor the situation, review preparedness activities and provide humanitarian support. £18.15 million has been committed by DFID for refugee response in the region through UN agencies, such as UNHCR, UNICEF and WFP, and international NGOs. This funding includes £14.25 million to support refugees in Tanzania and £3.9 million to support refugees in Rwanda. We are staying in close contact with these agencies about future funding needs. DFID has deployed a Humanitarian Advisor to the region in support of the response and to monitor funding provided so far.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Lefroy on 2016-03-03.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Answer of 22 September 2015 to Question 10382, which festival sites have now been assessed for business rates; and to which of those sites business rates will apply.

Mr David Gauke

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) has been reviewing the rating of festival sites for business rates. Due to taxpayer confidentiality, we are unable to provide the names of both the sites which have been assessed and, of these, which are now liable for business rates.