Tag: Jessica Morden

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jessica Morden on 2015-11-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) standard and (b) fast-track passport applications were made in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire

I refer to the table below which provides the volume of (a) standard and (b) fast-track passport applications received by Her Majesty’s Passport Office in each of the last five years.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jessica Morden on 2016-03-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has made an estimate of the level of maintenance only toll on the Severn River Crossings.

Andrew Jones

The current tolls are set not just to cover maintenance and operation costs but also to repay the construction and financing costs of the Second Severn Crossing, plus the outstanding debt on the original Crossing.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jessica Morden on 2016-09-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what the current value is of Farepak unclaimed funds.

Margot James

The current value of Farepak unclaimed funds is £1,007,267.41.

The agency will hold the funds for the next six years, people can however continue to claim indefinitely. The Insolvency Service has liaised with media outlets and the matter has been covered by BBC Moneybox, MoneySaving Expert and BBC Watchdog, to draw attention to any unpaid creditor or has yet to come forward.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jessica Morden on 2016-01-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many vehicles were identified and impounded solely on the basis of non-payment of vehicle excise duty as part of the pilot enforcement action using automatic number plate recognition of illegal foreign-registered vehicles in the UK.

Andrew Jones

The pilot took place between 3 November 2014 and 8 February 2015. It was a joint initiative between the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the Central Motorway Police Group and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. The police forces involved were West Midlands, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Northamptonshire, Thames Valley and Hampshire.

A total of 703 foreign registered vehicles were identified and impounded for non-payment of vehicle excise duty as part of the pilot.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jessica Morden on 2016-03-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he plans that the toll level for Vehicle Category 1 and Vehicle Category 2 will be equal when the Severn Bridges return to public ownership.

Andrew Jones

The Chancellor announced at Budget 2015 that the Government will abolish Category 2 tolls (small goods vehicles and small buses) and include those vehicles in Category 1, to reduce costs for businesses once Severn River Crossings are in public ownership.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jessica Morden on 2016-10-20.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many outstanding applications for mandatory reconsideration of a tax credit decision by Concentrix there are in Wales; how many people in Wales have had a tax credit claim stopped by Concentrix; and how many such claims were subsequently reinstated by HM Revenue and Customs.

Jane Ellison

HM Revenue and Customs is currently focused on resolving the outstanding cases but will be preparing regional analysis, which will be available in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jessica Morden on 2016-01-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prohibit expiry dates on gift cards.

Nick Boles

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has no current plans to introduce legislation to prohibit the use of expiry dates on gift cards.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jessica Morden on 2016-03-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress her Department has made on the issues raised by the Sheep Dip Sufferers Support Group at the meeting of 19 November 2015 relating to (a) organophosphate sheep dip and (b) missing medical records from 1992; and if she will send the minutes of that meeting to the Sheep Dip Sufferers Support Group.

George Eustice

Defra officials have been investigating this issue since the meeting in November and are in the process of finalising the information mentioned above for the Sheep Dip Sufferers Group. This is expected to be completed and released shortly.

The information will answer the actions from the meeting and include news releases from MAFF and the Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) from 1992 and 1993. These explain why the decision was taken to end compulsory dipping and the conclusions of the VPC reviews of organophosphate sheep dips at the time.

A note of agreed actions from the meeting will be provided along with the information above.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jessica Morden on 2016-01-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2016 to Question 20831, when the DVLA plans to roll out the piloted scheme against non-payment of vehicle excise duty.

Andrew Jones

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) is continuing to work with police forces to address the issue of overstaying foreign registered vehicles.

The pilot that ran between November 2014 and February 2015 is now being taken forward as business as usual. A further seven police forces have requested the DVLA’s devolved powers to enable them to take action against non-compliant vehicles. On average around 100 foreign registered vehicles are impounded each month.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jessica Morden on 2016-03-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the Government plans to halve the level of the Severn Bridge tolls inclusive or exclusive of VAT following the return of the Severn Bridge to public ownership.

Andrew Jones

After the end of the concession, the tolls will be 50% lower than the toll level when the concession comes to an end. This isn’t on top of the removal of VAT.