Tag: Jim Cunningham

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-07-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the Government’s proposed reforms to A-levels, if she will bring forward safeguards to prevent students making uninformed decisions about their subject choices and being limited as to the degree they can apply for at university as a result of having to make subject decisions at the beginning of Year 12.

Mr Nick Gibb

Schools have a duty to secure independent careers guidance for students in years 8 to 13 [1]. This should include supporting students to make informed choices about the subjects and qualifications that will support progression to university.

New A levels will become linear from 2015. Students will still be able to take stand-alone AS qualifications at the end of year 12. This flexibility will help those who are unsure at the start of year 12 which subjects they wish to continue to A level. We expect teachers to help students decide whether it is right to take an AS qualification.

Universities set their own admission requirements and are best placed to advise students on the A level subjects needed for particular degree courses. The Russell Group has published a guide to post-16 subject choices called ‘Informed Choices’[2]. This includes advice on the best subject combinations for a wide range of university courses. The guide also identifies the A level ‘facilitating subjects’ that are required more often than others, and which can help students to keep more options open.

The Department for Education recently announced that this year’s key stage 5 performance tables would include a measure showing the percentage of A level students attaining AAB or higher in two or more ‘facilitating subjects’, as a standard of academic rigour [3].

[1] www.gov.uk/government/publications/careers-guidance-for-young-people-in-schools

[2] www.russellgroup.ac.uk/informed-choices/

[3] http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/download/Statement_of_Intent_2014.pdf

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-09-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many meetings he has had with (a) Israeli and (b) Palestinian officials in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

In the last year, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), has held three meetings with Israel officials and two meetings with Palestinian officials. He also visited Israel and the OPTs in July 2015. I have also held numerous meetings with Israeli and Palestinian officials, and visited the region last October.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-01-14.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of government financial support to business through grants and tax forgone.

Mr David Gauke

The Government offers a wide range of financial support to business through different grants and tax reliefs. For example the Regional Growth Fund has so far committed £2.6 billion of support to over 400 awards which are expected to deliver £16 billion of private sector investment and 573,000 jobs.

Overall Government grants and reliefs serve to support UK businesses to invest and grow, generating jobs and economic growth. Business investment has grown 26% since early 2010, there are more people in work now than ever before, and the IMF have forecast the UK as having the fastest growing economy in the G7 in 2014.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-07-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will publish a list of all free schools that are planned to open in September 2014 that still have places available before they reach their planned admission number; and how many places at each such school are currently available.

Mr Edward Timpson

Information about the number of children on roll in free schools will be collected during the January school census and published in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-09-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent representations he has received from charities and patients’ groups on the future of the Cancer Drugs Fund; and if he will make a statement.

George Freeman

The Department has received a number of representations on this issue from a wide range of interested parties including hon. Members, noble Lords, patient representative groups and charities, the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare professionals.

This Government is committed to continuing to invest in the Cancer Drugs Fund which has helped over 72,000 people in England to receive the life-extending cancer drugs that would not otherwise have been routinely available to them.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-01-14.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of tax relief to businesses since 2010.

Mr David Gauke

Tax reliefs are administered by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) as part of the tax system. HMRC publishes estimated costs of the principal tax expenditure and structural reliefs. The latest estimates are published on the HMRC website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tax-expenditures-and-ready-reckoners

There are some tax reliefs which businesses can claim where estimates are not yet included in the published estimates above. These reliefs include:

Patent Box: Estimates on the cost of this relief are available within Budget 2013 documentation: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/221895/budget2013_policy_costings.pdf

Theatre Productions Tax Relief: Estimates on the cost of this relief are available within Budget 2014 documentation:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/295067/PU1638_policy_costings_bud_2014_with_correction_slip.pdf

Children’s TV Tax Relief: Estimates on the cost of this relief are available within Autumn Statement documentation: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/384071/AS2014_policy_costings_final.pdf

Oil and Gas Field allowances: The ring fence tax regime for oil and gas does include a number of field allowances, which reduce the tax burden on specific challenging field types, ensuring otherwise economic developments are not uncommercial. Companies continue to pay Ring Fence Corporation Tax (which is higher than the main CT rate) even where income is covered by the field allowance

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-07-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which free school projects pre-approved to open in September 2014 have since been (a) cancelled or withdrawn and (b) delayed; and what the pre-opening expenditure was for each such project.

Mr Edward Timpson

Since 2011, 174 new free schools have opened across the country and around a further 80 are on course to open in September 2014. While free school proposers will have a preferred date for opening their school, the Department for Education does not approve projects to open in any specific year.

The projects aiming to open in September 2014 or beyond that have been withdrawn are:

1. Inspirar Academy

2. Marco Polo Academy

3. Oasis Community School Walthamstow

4. On Track Chiltern

5. Phoenix Free School of Oldham

6. The Advance School

7. Transforming Lives for Good

No project was specifically approved to open in September 2014.

Once the costs are finalised, the Department publishes the pre-opening expenditure for each free school project on the Departmental website.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how often he reviews the cost effectiveness of corporate welfare schemes; and what the criteria are for such schemes to be continued.

Matthew Hancock

The Government does not support any corporate welfare schemes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2014-07-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the size is of the (a) external and (b) internal play area on the (i) temporary and (ii) permanent site of each free school that is (A) open and (B) planning to open in September 2014.

Mr Edward Timpson

The Department for Education does not collect this information and it could only be collated at disproportionate cost.

The Department ensures that every free school has access to sufficient play and sports space either on- or off-site.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-02-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what representations his Department has received from NHS trusts on difficulties experienced in recruiting breast radiologists.

Dr Daniel Poulter

The Secretary of State has not received any representation from National Health Service trusts on difficulties experienced in recruiting breast radiologists.