Tag: Mark Hendrick

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-12-08.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to obtain a reduction or removal of VAT on children’s headstones and planters in cemeteries; and if he will donate the proceeds of such VAT to charities aiding parents and other family members of children who have died.

Mr David Gauke

The goods and services to which the government may apply a reduced rate of VAT are set out in Annex III of the Principal VAT Directive.

When the UK joined the European Community, the government successfully negotiated for zero rates on certain goods and services such as children’s clothing, most foods and the construction of new housing. However, EU VAT rules do not provide for the introduction of any new zero rates, or the extension of our existing ones, without the unanimous agreement of all 28 Member States.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will set up a flood partnership group for Lancaster, chaired by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with membership from local authorities, the Environment Agency and community flood defence groups.

Rory Stewart

There are currently no plans to set up a flood partnership group for Lancaster chaired by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. The Environment Agency, however, will be leading in Lancashire to ensure that robust partnership working mechanisms are established to protect communities in the future.

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

To ask the right hon. Member for Meriden, representing the Church Commissioners, on how many occasions buildings or parts of buildings have been made available by the Diocese of Blackburn and churches within its boundaries to (a) Christians Against Poverty and (b) other organisations providing debt counselling and employment services or campaigning against poverty.

Mrs Caroline Spelman

The Diocese of Blackburn and the National Church Institutions of the Church of England do not hold these details and obtaining the information would incur disproportionate cost.

The Church of England works with a wide variety of debt advice charities at a national and local level. Many parishes will offer space in buildings or allow debt advice surgeries to be held in their churches. Parish clergy often are the first port of call for people in need and regularly signpost individuals to where the most appropriate help and support can be found.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to require manufacturers to display the calorific content of alcoholic drinks on labels.

Jane Ellison

The Government has no plans to require manufacturers to display the calorific contents of alcoholic drinks on labels. However, some businesses do choose to do so voluntarily.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what activities have been undertaken by (a) Ministers and (b) officials of his Department at (i) Richmond House, London and (ii) Quarry House, Leeds to promote breastfeeding during World Breastfeeding Week 2016.

Mr Philip Dunne

The Government is committed to supporting breastfeeding through the Healthy Child Programme.

No specific activities were undertaken in either Richmond House or Quarry House by Ministers or officials in relation to World Breastfeeding Week.

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

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what processes his Department has in place to review decisions made by Concentrix which resulted in the suspension of tax credits.

Jane Ellison

Information about the assurance review process can be found within the Concentrix contract at: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/85d1b730-5e4e-4be8-ae4c-3ac1f359afc7

HM Revenue and Customs monitors the financial accuracy of Concentrix decisions using the Quality Assurance Framework as part of the contract. This assures the delegation of Commissioner’s Powers is discharged correctly by Concentrix to provide customers with the correct tax credit awards. This involves HMRC reviewing a monthly sample of 500 cases where a decision has been made by Concentrix to amend a tax credit award and assuring the accuracy level of those decisions. The assurance approach is set out within sections A38 and A39 of the contract.

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

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his Answer of 30 October 2015 to Question 13346, if he will make it his policy to introduce a dedicated team at the tax credit office in Preston constituency to deal with tax credit cases referred to them by hon. Members.

Mr David Gauke

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) already has three units which deal specifically with representations from hon. Members in relation to their constituents’ concerns: a dedicated MP hotline for Tax Credits, an MP complaints team that deals with tax credit complaints, and an HMRC Ministerial correspondence team.

The dedicated MP hotline is a telephone helpline to assist MPs, MEPs, MSPs, Welsh Assembly Members and their staff when dealing with constituents’ Tax Credit issues. Advisors deal with around 11,500 calls per year.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many households in Preston constituency have gained income under the feed-in tariff in the last four years for which figures are available.

Andrea Leadsom

The table below provides the cumulative total number of domestic installations in the Preston Constituency that are confirmed on the Central Feed-in Tariff Register and marked as being domestic installations. The latest figures for 2015 go up to the end of September, with previous years’ data provided to the end of each calendar year.

Data taken from Sub-regional Feed-in Tariffs statistics, with the latest figures published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/sub-regional-feed-in-tariffs-confirmed-on-the-cfr-statistics.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2015-12-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, which Ministers of his Department attended events to celebrate Chanukah in (a) 2014 and (b) 2015.

Mr Marcus Jones

My hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, (Baroness Williams of Trafford) attended Chanukah reception at No. 10 in 2015. The former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities andLocal Government, the former hon. Member for Bristol West (Stephen Williams) attended the Deputy Prime Minister’s Chanukah reception on 18 December 2014 at Admiralty House.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2016-01-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many £500 grants were provided to help households affected by flooding in each district and unitary authority in Lancashire between 5 December 2015 and 7 January 2016; and how much funding has been received by each of those councils to provide such grants up to 7 January 2016.

James Wharton

To help local authorities in Lancashire and their community’s recovery from the impacts of Storms Desmond and Eva, between the 5 December 2015 and 8 January 2016, my Department has provided eligible local authorities in Lancashire with a total of £5,620,652. Further payments will be made in due course where appropriate.

This funding includes in advance payments in the form of Communities and Business Recovery Scheme, business rate relief and council tax discount payments. Disbursement of this funding will be a matter for local authorities to determine.