The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2016-02-24.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to further reform the Bank of England.
Harriett Baldwin
The Government has set out its plans for reform of the Bank of England in the Bank of England and Financial Services Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Glindon on 2016-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when she expects her Department’s updated drugs strategy to be published.
Karen Bradley
We are currently developing a new Drug Strategy, working across Government and with key partners. We will continue to build on the 2010 Drug Strategy to take a balanced approach to drugs (reducing demand, restricting supply and building recovery) and tackle drugs as a key driver of crime.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Liz Saville Roberts on 2016-05-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will review charges made by the (a) police and (b) NHS for obtaining official documentation when such papers are required for applications for legal aid in cases of domestic abuse.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The Government is absolutely clear that victims of domestic violence must have access to the help that they need, including access to legal aid.
As I updated the House on 21 April, the Ministry of Justice has begun work with domestic violence support groups, legal representative bodies and colleagues across government to gather data and further develop our understanding of the issues facing victims of domestic violence when applying for legal aid. The findings will be used to inform an evidence-based and sustainable solution, with the aim of drawing up replacement regulations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2016-07-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will publish a response to the recommendations in the report by Lord Heseltine, entitled Tees Valley: opportunity unlimited, published in June 2016.
Andrew Percy
This independent report is for consideration by the Tees Valley Combined Authority and wider stakeholders. Government will not issue a formal response, but is committed to supporting Tees Valley Combined Authority relationship with Government across the wide range of areas identified in the report. Local leaders are planning a formal update event for the report in the Autumn.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2016-10-11.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the potential effect of a change in the rate of VAT for tourism on employment creation in Northern Ireland.
Jane Ellison
The Chancellor regularly discusses a wide range of issues with other Ministers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2015-11-02.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of North Korea about the comments by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in North Korea that each year more than 50,000 North Koreans are sent abroad to work in conditions that amount to slavery.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We fully support the work of the Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). On 29 October, we delivered a statement in the UN which welcomed his efforts to improve the lives of ordinary North Koreans while also urging the DPRK authorities to grant him immediate and unhindered access to their country. We will continue to deliver these messages.
The Special Rapporteur’s comments on forced labour are deeply concerning and, if accurate, appear to provide further evidence of the DPRK’s lack of respect for international norms. It is important that any country hosting North Korean workers respect their rights. We continue to press the DPRK to make tangible progress on improving its appalling human rights record, most recently in meetings in October between senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials and DPRK counterparts in London and Pyongyang.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Martyn Day on 2015-11-30.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the standard of living of those military veterans who retired with fewer than 22 years’ service before 5 April 1975 of the provisions of the Social Security Acts 1973 and 1975.
Mark Lancaster
No estimate has been made of the cost of resolving legacy pension issues although it would likely cost the tax-payer billions of pounds; the issue of pre-1975 pensions does not just affect the Armed Forces, but is common to all other public service schemes in existence prior to the Social Security Act 1973.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Sharkey on 2016-01-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect the Migration Advisory Committee to publish the findings of the review of the Tier 2 route of the Points Based System, including their recommendations on the application of a skills levy to businesses recruiting from outside the EEA.
Lord Bates
In June last year, the Government commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to advise on how to restrict Tier 2 to roles where there are genuine skills shortages or which require highly-specialised experts, but with sufficient flexibility to include high value roles and key public service workers.
As part of that commission, the MAC was asked for advice on applying an immigration skills charge to businesses recruiting from outside the EEA. The MAC published its report on 19 January 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-02-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2016 to Question 24171, what funding the Illegal Money Lending Team received in each of the last five years; and how much it will receive in each year until it becomes funded through a levy.
Nick Boles
Annual funding for the Illegal Money Lending Teams as reported to the Department by National Trading Standards was:
|
Year |
England |
Wales |
|
2015/16 * |
£3,097,822 |
£546,674 |
|
2014/15 |
£3,605,286 |
£634,016 |
|
2013/14 |
£3,716,789 |
£673,625 |
|
2012/13 |
£3,716,789 |
£595,670 |
|
2011/12** |
£3,716,789 |
£653,625 |
* * Additionally, for 2015/16 the FCA agreed to outsource work to a maximum of £880,000, split £748,000 to the England Team and £132,000 to the Wales Team. The FCA will outsource work to a maximum of £500,000 for 2016/17.
** Until the creation of NTS in April 2012, the teams were funded directly by BIS.
BIS has committed to maintaining its funding of the teams at 2015/16 year levels for 2016/17. It is anticipated that levy funding will be in place from 2017/18.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Debbie Abrahams on 2016-02-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that people who have been convicted of a child sex offence cannot serve as a local authority or parish councillor.
Mr Marcus Jones
During the passage of the then Cities and Devolution Bill we undertook to review the legislation on the disqualification of local authority members and to consult on proposals for change to bring the legislative rules into line with modern sentencing guidelines. Our intention is to launch the consultation as soon as practicable this year.