Tag: Kevin Hollinrake

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Hollinrake on 2016-03-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will estimate the number of new private rented homes that will be needed to meet demand in the next five years.

Brandon Lewis

It is difficult to determine the number of new private rented homes needed to meet demand as this is affected by a variety of outside impacts, including the affordability of home ownership, household formation rates and prospective sharing arrangements. The Government is committed to delivering 1 million new homes by the end of this parliament.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Hollinrake on 2015-12-16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether training is given to work capability assessors in the symptoms and effects of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

Priti Patel

All healthcare professionals receive comprehensive training in disability analysis which includes a functional evaluation as to how medical conditions affect their ability to perform day-to-day activities. Prior to carrying-out an assessment they routinely refresh their knowledge of any condition with which they are not fully familiar.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Hollinrake on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will consider extending the exemptions that exist in the sea fishing industry to self-employed workers seeking Skills Funding Agency support for apprenticeships in the construction industry.

Nick Boles

Under Apprenticeship Frameworks, there are very specific instances where an apprentice is able to undertake an apprenticeship without being employed; where they are made redundant and where they are in an occupation that does not traditionally have an employer. In order to facilitate apprenticeships under these circumstances, specifically where employers do not exist, Government has provided funding to cover training and support. Fewer than 2000 apprenticeship starts fall under these conditions each year, of which fewer than 40 are in the sea fishing industry.

The role of an employer in an apprenticeship, where possible, is considered vital and ensures the apprentice receives appropriate training, pay and support during their apprenticeship programme. The Government is therefore not considering widening exemptions that exist into other sectors at this time.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Hollinrake on 2016-01-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what account is taken of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome in assessing health conditions as part of work capability assessments.

Priti Patel

Entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is based not on what health conditions a claimant has, but on the functional impact of those conditions. During the Work Capability Assessment claimants are assessed against a number of descriptors covering physical, mental, cognitive and intellectual functions. The healthcare professional makes a recommendation on the individual’s functional capability to the DWP Decision Maker, who makes the decision on benefit entitlement by considering all available evidence, including the assessment report and any additional clinical information.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Hollinrake on 2016-03-24.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the proposed 36 month stamp duty grace period for people transitioning from one property to another will apply retrospectively.

Mr David Gauke

The Government appreciates that there may be circumstances where an individual sells a property which was a main residence and then experiences a delay before purchasing a new main residence. Where an individual is replacing a main residence, the higher rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax should not apply to the purchase of a new main residence within 36 months of the disposal of a previous main residence.

In addition to this, the 36 month time period will commence from 25 November 2015 for those who had sold a previous main residence prior to the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, in order to provide additional transitional support.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Hollinrake on 2016-01-08.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy to provide tax reliefs similar to those provided to businesses that contribute to flood defence schemes to landowners and farmers who assist in managing flood risk through soil management, investment in flood defences and water storage.

Mr David Gauke

The Government keeps all tax policy under review. Any changes in tax policy are announced by the Chancellor at the Budget or Autumn Statement.

At the Spending Review the Government confirmed that Defra’s £2.3bn, six-year flood defence capital programme will be protected, which will invest in over 1,500 schemes by 2021 to better protect 300,000 homes. The programme will also deliver economic benefits of £30bn in avoided damage over the next 50 years, and reduce overall flood risk in England by 5%.

Following Storm Desmond and Storm Eva the Government has announced over £200m of funding to support households and businesses, and repair damaged flood defences and roads. Council tax and business rate relief has also been announced for affected households and firms.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Hollinrake on 2016-03-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will estimate the number of new private rented homes that will be needed to meet demand in the next five years.

Brandon Lewis

It is difficult to determine the number of new private rented homes needed to meet demand as this is affected by a variety of outside impacts, including the affordability of home ownership, household formation rates and prospective sharing arrangements. The Government is committed to delivering 1 million new homes by the end of this parliament.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Hollinrake on 2016-01-19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2016 to Question 20185, on what date his Department plans to publish the consultation and make an announcement on payment schemes for people affected by contaminated blood products.

Jane Ellison

The consultation on payment schemes for people given infected blood products was launched on 21 January 2016, on the same day I made an oral statement to the House, Official Report, columns 1583-85. The consultation is available at gov.uk.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Hollinrake on 2016-04-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential effect of the UK leaving the EU on farmers in receipt of payments from the Common Agricultural Policy.

Rory Stewart

At the February European Council, the Government negotiated a new settlement, giving the United Kingdom a special status in a reformed European Union. The Government’s position is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Hollinrake on 2016-01-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the continued delivery of essential mobile telephone infrastructure to rural areas after the completion of the Mobile Infrastructure Project on 31 March 2016.

Mr Edward Vaizey

Improving mobile coverage remains a priority for the Government, and our landmark agreement in December 2014 with the four mobile network operators (MNOs) to provide voice and SMS text coverage to at least 90% of the UK landmass by 2017 will significantly improve coverage in the UK. It guarantees £5 billion of investment in mobile infrastructure, and as a result mobile services will come to some areas for the first time. It will halve partial not-spots (where the is coverage from at least one MNO, but not all four), and cut total not spots by two thirds by end 2017. Additionally, Telefonica has a licence obligation to deliver indoor 4G coverage to 98% of premises in the UK by 2017. Other MNOs have indicated that they will match this commitment.