The below Parliamentary question was asked by Maria Caulfield on 2016-04-13.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to reform the valuation of business rates.
Greg Hands
The Budget confirmed that the government will aim to deliver more frequent revaluations. A discussion paper setting out options to deliver this was published last month and can be found on gov.uk. I would encourage those who may be effected to make their views known.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Scriven on 2016-05-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action has been taken, by whom, and when, to ensure that Network Rail deals with the slippage of the start date of the South Yorkshire Tram Train service.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Department for Transport and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, the joint funders of the tram train pilot project, have been advised that Network Rail has initiated a review of the current programme of works needed to adapt their infrastructure to operate the tram train vehicles between Meadowhall South and Rotherham Parkgate.
The Department understands that Network Rail has encountered significant issues with the approval of new bespoke electrification equipment needed to operate the tram train vehicles. The joint funders are clearly disappointed by this further delay.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hollins on 2016-07-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made, or are planning to make, of the cost to the health service of poverty-related ill health.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The Department has not made, and is not planning to make, an estimate of the cost to the health service of poverty related ill health. However, in 2008 the Department commissioned Professor Michael Marmot of University College London to chair an independent strategic review of health inequalities in England from 2010. The Review, Fair Society, Healthy Lives, estimated that, in 2010, direct NHS healthcare costs in England associated with treating the consequences of inequality amounted to £5.5 billion per year for treating acute illness, mental illness and prescriptions. This estimate does not cover all health service activity, including primary care costs.
The review also estimated the wider costs of health inequalities, with £31-33 billion worth of productivity losses resulting from inequalities in illness, and between £20-32 billion in lost taxes and higher welfare payments. A copy of the review has been placed in the Library.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-09-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2016 to Question 44394, what assessment his Department has made of the implications for its policies of the finding in the NSPCC report, entitled Transforming mental health services for children who have experienced abuse, published in June 2016, that 14 per cent of Local Transformation Plans contained an adequate needs assessment for children who have been abused or neglected; and if he will issue further guidance to clinical commissioning groups on ensuring such plans include such an assessment.
Nicola Blackwood
The published Children and Young People’s Local Transformation Plans (LTPs) for mental health set out how local areas intend to implement the proposals detailed in “Future in Mind” published in March 2015. These plans are jointly produced by clinical commissioning groups working with key partners across the National Health Service, local authority, education, youth justice and voluntary sectors, and crucially, involving young people and their families in their design. LTPs should cover the full spectrum of service provision, addressing the mental health needs of all children and young people including the most vulnerable, making it easier for them to access the support they need when and where they need it.
NHS England published a quantitative review of LTPs in January 2016 and a further thematic review of LTPs in August 2016 which includes detailed analysis of developing models and approaches to identification and management of children and young people with extra vulnerability to mental health problems including those who have experienced abuse or neglect.
NHS England has issued further guidance regarding the refresh of LTPs which includes a reminder regarding meeting the needs of children and young people who have extra vulnerabilities, such as those who have been abused.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Truscott on 2015-11-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the recent atrocities committed by ISIL in France, Egypt and the Lebanon, whether they have reconsidered the statement by the Foreign Secretary on 10 March that Russia represented the single greatest threat to UK Security”.”
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
As the Strategic Defence and Security Review makes clear, Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and destabilising activities in Ukraine directly challenge European security and the rules-based international order. We have long been clear that Russia’s actions are unacceptable. Nevertheless we need to work with Russia on key areas of shared interest: in particular to end fighting in Syria, and to focus on the shared aim of destroying the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. That was the basis on which the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), met President Putin at the G20 Summit in Antalya on 16 November.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adam Holloway on 2015-12-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to help reduce traffic congestion on the northbound approaches to the Dartford Tunnel.
Andrew Jones
Removing the need to pay at barriers has already reduced congestion and eased traffic flow. Latest data shows that Dart Charge has successfully improved journeys through the Crossing with average journey times northbound almost 5 minutes quicker than before the charge was introduced.
A new road layout has been introduced at the Crossing including a new Traffic Safety System on the northbound carriageway on the approach to the tunnels. This improves the way oversized vehicles or those carrying dangerous goods are prevented from entering the tunnels and holds traffic to allow the safe escort of hazardous goods vehicles or in the event of an incident or congestion in the tunnels.
However, Highways England recognises that there is still more work to do. Planned improvements include:
I have written to Highways England requesting an update on their progress.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Anderson on 2016-01-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference his oral evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights of 16 December 2015, Question 20, HC 574, whether his Department’s position was that the UK was in an armed conflict (a) before, (b) on the date of or (c) as a result of the drone strike that killed Reyaad Khan of 21 August 2015.
Michael Fallon
An armed conflict was occuring in Syria at the time of the air strike on 21 August 2015.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Cat Smith on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what proportion of funding to the new northern rail franchise will be provided by (a) subsidies to Northern Rail, (b) investment by Network Rail, (c) passenger revenue and (d) investment by Arriva.
Andrew Jones
We are unable to disaggregate the proportion of funding on the new Northern Rail franchise.
I refer the hon Member to my answer of 11 January to the Hon Member for Nottingham South, Lilian Greenwood, (UIN 21124) where the level of subsidies to the Northern franchise was provided and which gives the biggest transformation in decades. These will achieve an unprecedented package of improvements unlike the last Northern franchise in 2004 which included limited plans to invest in services or meet demand, offers better value for the taxpayer and reduces the amount of annual government subsidy required by the Northern franchise by £160 million over nine years (http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2clords&uin=21124).
Network Rail investment is not allocated per franchise. Investment is made on the infrastructure which multiple franchises use and so it is not possible to disaggregate.
Predicted Passenger revenue and investment by Arriva are commercially confidentially information that we are unable to provide. Actual Passenger revenue is published retrospectively through annual financial statements.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Prime Minister has been involved in discussions about how many F35B aircraft should routinely deploy on HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales.
Earl Howe
The Prime Minister is briefed regularly on the development of our carrier strike capability. The composition and size of the embarked air group will be tailored to meet the required task, as directed by the Strategic Headquarters in the Ministry of Defence and reflecting national priorities set by the Government.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2016-04-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the productivity level was in (a) manufacturing and (b) non-manufacturing jobs in each year for which data is available.
Anna Soubry
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) provides data on the labour productivity of the Manufacturing, Production and Service sectors between 1990 and 2015. These are presented as levels relative to 2012 and offer both output per worker and output per hour measures.
The ONS data is copied below and can also be found on the ONS website.