Tag: Mark Hendrick

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-11-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what facilities are available to enable staff based at the Carer’s Allowance Unit in Preston to pay money from their wages into the Guild Money credit union.

Justin Tomlinson

The department has a confirmed list of approved organisations for which Consolidated Voluntary Deductions (CVD’s) may be made. However, this does not include the Guild Money Credit Union. Carer’s Allowance staff entering into arrangements with the Guild Money Credit Union should therefore arrange their payments through other methods such as direct debit through their bank or building society.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which scheduled bus journeys have had subsidies (a) withdrawn and (b) introduced in each (i) county and (ii) unitary council in the North West of England since June 2010.

Andrew Jones

My Department does not hold this data, as decisions about the provision of bus services that require subsidy are a matter for individual English local authorities, in the light of their other spending priorities. Latest figures (2013-14) show that almost £74 million was spent by local authorities in the North West of England doing so.

The majority of public funding for local bus services is via block grant provided to local authorities in England from the Department for Communities and Local Government. However, my Department also provides around £40m of Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) funding directly to English local authorities to help deliver bus services.

Moreover, in the recent Spending Review, the Chancellor confirmed that the total spending on BSOG of around £250 million a year will be protected for the Parliament, effectively preserving over 80 million bus passenger journeys – totalling over 50 million miles – in England every year.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-12-02.

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 30 November 2015 to Question 17720, if he will take steps to ensure that magistrates’ courts seek confirmation of income by means of P60s, payslips, certified accounts or letters confirming benefit entitlement when assessing the level of fines on the basis of income.

Andrew Selous

Defendants before the magistrates’ court are already required to complete a “Statement of Assets and other Financial Circumstances” form which the court takes into account when deciding the amount of any fine or other financial imposition. Defendants are also advised to bring copies of any supporting documentation with them on the day of their hearing, as the court may ask to see evidence of their financial circumstances. The form makes it clear that it is an offence to make a false statement or withhold information.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2016-01-08.

To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, what steps Anglican congregations within the Diocese of Blackburn have taken to help people affected by flooding that took place over Christmas 2015.

Mrs Caroline Spelman

The Diocese of Blackburn has been coordinating with its local Gold Command support centre and with Churches Together. Within Preston the Diocese and local churches have set up an emergency centre at the railway station. An additional emergency centre was also set up in Morecambe alongside smaller centres supported by the Diocese in Ribchester and Walton le Dale. In St Michael’s on Wyre the church has also been offering support to the army who were deployed in the parish.

These centres have been an invaluable support to local communities as a central hub for information and support. In addition local communities have been providing hot food and warm clothing to those who have been flooded out and to relief workers. Churches Together in Lancashire have been coordinating a wider response amongst local denominations and this has enabled many local churches to respond quickly and in those places where their help is most needed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2016-02-02.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effect of individual electoral registration on jury selection and composition.

John Penrose

The rules governing jury selection and composition are unaffected by the introduction of Individual Electoral Registration (IER). Potential jurors’ names are still selected at random from the electoral register.

IER means that we can prove electors are genuine for the first time and is crucial in ensuring the registers used for jury selection are as accurate as possible.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2016-07-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what facilities are available for (a) lactating mothers and (b) baby changing at (i) Richmond House, London, and (ii) Quarry House, Leeds.

Jane Ellison

Richmond House and Quarry House both have a nursing mothers room and no facilities for the changing of babies. The Department also has a Parents’ Network which aims to support staff, both men and women, with their parental responsibilities.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2016-09-06.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to retain the Valuation Office Agency office at Preston.

Jane Ellison

The Valuation Office Agency is undertaking a complex transformation programme, which will deliver more digital services and require a smaller estate.

Preston is not one of the locations the Valuation Office Agency will be operating from in the future and the office will close by March 2021. Staff in the Preston office were made aware of these plans in October 2014. However, a date has not yet been set for closure of the office.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2016-09-14.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people in Preston constituency have their tax credits suspended.

Jane Ellison

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not hold data broken down specifically by constituency areas.

HMRC is currently focussed 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 Mark Hendrick on 2015-11-05.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 23 October 2015 to Question 12551, if he will invite the hon. Member for Preston to visit the tax credit office in that constituency.

Mr David Gauke

HM Revenue and Customs is happy to facilitate visits to their offices from MPs. In the first instance they would ask for the MP’s office to send a formal request to communications.corporate@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.

“

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-11-26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many inspections were carried out under section 97 of the Education and Skills Act 2008 in each of the last 24 calendar months; which schools were so inspected; and whether each such inspection found that the institution breached section 96 of that Act.

Nick Gibb

This is a matter for Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw. I have asked him to write to you and a copy of his reply will be placed in the libraries of the House.