The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2015-11-26.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many special advisers were employed on 1 November 2009, and at what total annual cost, and what were the figures on 1 November for each year thereafter.
Lord Bridges of Headley
Information on the number and cost of special advisers for 2009 and subsequent years is available in the Libraries of the House. Information for 2015 will be published shortly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2016-01-28.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they have labelled the national minimum wage of £7.20 an hour as the national living wage” when it falls below the UK Living Wage and London Living Wage set by the Living Wage Foundation.”
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
The National Living Wage will come into force on 1 April 2016. We estimate that a full-time National Minimum Wage worker will earn over £4,400 more by 2020 from the National Living Wage in cash terms.
This Government is committed to improving living standards, particularly for the low paid. Guided by a proportion of median earnings which leading experts recommend, the National Living Wage recognizes the balance needed of an affordable rate for businesses with achieving a significant increase in minimum pay.
The Low Pay Commission will continue to make recommendations on the appropriate rate for the National Living Wage going forward, to make sure that wages rise to reward workers while considering the impact on the economy.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2016-05-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in accordance with the advice of the Senior Presiding Judge and the Sentencing Council, it is permissible for magistrates to use their own technology in court, and what assessment they have made of whether consistent advice is being given in all magistrates’ courts about that issue.
Lord Faulks
HM Courts and Tribunals Service has provided secure bench devices to enable magistrates to view sensitive case information, and other material, digitally in court. Magistrates may use their own equipment to access public and non-sensitive material in accordance with guidance issued by the Senior Presiding Judge.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2016-10-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made enquiries of, or representations to, the government of Syria in relation to its claim that the passport of Zaina Erhaim produced at Heathrow on her arrival in the UK had been stolen.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We have made no enquiries of, or representations to, the Syrian regime on this matter. The UK Government has no contact with the Asad regime due to the atrocities it has committed against the Syrian people.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2015-11-26.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many families with household incomes (1) over £50,000, and (2) over £100,000, per annum they estimate will benefit from free childcare and at what cost.
Lord Nash
The Spending Review announced the largest ever investment in free childcare which will give working families the help they need. From September 2017 we are introducing 30 hours of free childcare a week for the working parents of three- and four-year olds, alongside the existing universal early education entitlement.
We have introduced an income cap so that, when at least one parent has an income of £100,000 or more, that family will not be eligible to take up the extra free 15 hours. This means that the extra 15 hours of childcare are therefore focused on those working families that most need help with their childcare costs.
We do not hold information on the household income of the families entitled to free childcare.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2016-02-01.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to minimise the risk to aircraft from the use of drones, and whether those steps include a system of registration of ownership.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Drones are becoming increasingly popular and have the potential to bring significant economic benefits, but it is vital that they are operated safely, in a way that does not put members of the public and other aircraft at risk. There are existing regulations in place that require users of drones to maintain direct, unaided visual contact with their vehicle and to not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property. Work is underway to better understand the level of risk posed by flying drones close to commercial planes. We are talking to both the Civil Aviation Authority and airports to find technical solutions to the problems around airport, these include mandated geo-fencing or frequency jammers.
The department is leading efforts with international bodies to develop a stringent regulatory framework focusing on safety. We are currently undertaking public dialogues ahead of a public consultation which will help to inform a government strategy to be published this year. The consultation will look at a range of options including regulation, registration and licensing options and a database to increase transparency on the use of drones for the general public.
The Civil Aviation Authority is undertaking activities to raise awareness of the basic safety requirements, including an ongoing ‘Dronecode’ safety awareness campaign, issuing safety leaflets at the point of sale, publishing an animated video on their website, and running ‘small UAS’ Risk and Hazard workshops with industry as part of the Mid Air Collision Programme.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2016-05-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether VAT paid by EU migrants is included in the recently announced figures of taxes paid by EU migrants, and if not what is the estimate of such payments.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
The analysis on recently arrived non-UK EEA nationals subject to income tax and National Insurance contributions or receiving HMRC administered benefits became available on 12 May 2016 when it was published on HMRC’s publications page on GOV.UK.
No estimate of VAT paid by EU Nationals is held. VAT is levied on most goods and services, with the person’s nationality not generally recorded.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2016-10-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in developing a new formula for school funding; and when the new formula will be applied.
Lord Nash
In July, the Secretary of State committed to introduce national funding formulae for schools and high needs from financial year 2018-19. We are considering the options carefully, taking into account the need to give schools and local authorities stability, and the importance of getting these historic reforms right. We will set out detailed proposals later in the autumn, and make decisions early next year, for the new system to be in place from April 2018.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2015-12-01.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the latest Bank of England figures showing elevated levels of personal indebtedness, what assessment they have made of what is an acceptable and safe level of such borrowing.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
Household debt as a proportion of income has fallen to 144 per cent in Q2 2015, from a peak of 168 per cent in Q1 2008. To avoid repeating the mistakes of the past we have created the independent Financial Policy Committee (FPC) within the Bank of England, to ensure emerging risks and vulnerabilities across the financial system as a whole are identified, monitored and effectively addressed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Beecham on 2016-02-04.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of (1) the annual benefits paid to EU migrants in the UK, and (2) the contribution of those individuals to the public purse through income tax receipts and VAT.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
The information is not available.