The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Chapman on 2016-01-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what information he holds on whether the purchase of P-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft through the US foreign military sales procedure will require US Congressional approval.
Mr Philip Dunne
All US foreign military sales cases are subject to normal US processes and procedures. As such, this will require congressional approval.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Collins of Highbury on 2016-02-01.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they made in their recent Evaluation of Gaming Machine (Circumstances of Use) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 of the evidence from the Gambling Commission that 633 cases of suspected money laundering were reported last year in the use of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals; and what conclusions they reached.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Government takes the issue of money laundering in gambling very seriously, including these cases. The Gambling Commission already requires operators to take measures to prevent money laundering through its Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice – and it is currently consulting on proposed regulatory changes to strengthen the fight against crime linked to gambling. In additon, the Treasury is planning to consult on the EU’s forth Directive on Money Laundering, which brings all gambling services within scope of the money laundering requirements.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rebecca Long Bailey on 2016-02-25.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the Government’s memorandum submitted to the Lords Secondary Legislation Committee on 28 January 2016, what the evidential basis is for the statement that there will be no cash losers from the reduction of the income rise disregards for tax credits.
Damian Hinds
As announced in the combined Autumn Statement and Spending Review, the amount by which a tax credit claimant’s income can increase within the year before their tax credit award is adjusted (the income rise disregard), will be reduced from £5,000 to £2,500. The reduction to the income rise disregard will stop one family receiving a higher tax credit award over another family with precisely the same income and the same circumstances, which makes the system fairer. The household income of families before it rises will inform how they might be effected by a reduction in the income rise disregard.
The only people who will be affected are those who will see an income increase of more than £2,500 in-year.
Due to the way that tax credits are calculated, the amount an award will be adjusted by – because of an increase in income – will depend upon a claimant’s individual circumstances, such as the household’s income before it rises. No one will be a cash loser because their income will have increased. As an example, for an individual with a wage of £12,000, an income increase of £2,501 would lead to an adjustment in their tax credit award of just 41 pence. An increase of less than £2,500 would see no change at all.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sue Hayman on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much subsidy was paid to the operators of the Northern rail franchise in each financial year between December 2004 and April 2016.
Andrew Jones
Subsidies paid from 2004 to 2008:
2004/05 – 81.0 million (part year – December 2004 to March 2005)
2005/06 – 278.2 million
2006/07 – 168.5 million
2007/08 – 119.3 million
Figures from 2008 onwards are published on the Office of Rail and Road’s (‘ORR’) website at: http://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/displayreport/report/html/95218cca-408d-4047-83ce-a542c53b59e6. 2015-16 financial information will be made available following publication of Audited Statutory Accounts.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2016-03-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he expects the UK-China human rights dialogue to take place.
Mr Hugo Swire
The next round of the annual UK-China Human Rights Dialogue will take place in London. The date is still being agreed with the Chinese Government.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2016-05-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many work capability assessments have been cancelled or rearranged in each of the last five years; and what the (a) shortest, (b) average and (c) longest period of time was before such an appointment was rearranged.
Priti Patel
Around 55% of all cancelled appointments are customer instigated cancellations.
On 1 March 2015, a new provider took over the Work Capability Assessment contract in which the Department had set a far higher target for face-to-face assessments than that for the previous contract holder. In order to achieve its target the new provider increased the number of assessments undertaken by 29% over that undertaken in the previous year. This led to more people being seen more quickly but with a subsequent rise in the number of cancellations.
Cancelled/Re-arranged Work Capability Assessments in the last five years are shown in the table below:
|
Period |
Number of Cancelled Appointments |
|
1 May 2011 to 30 Apr 2012 |
377,122 |
|
1 May 2012 to 30 Apr 2013 |
509,653 |
|
1 May 2013 to 30 Apr 2014 |
398,133 |
|
1 May 2014 to 30 Apr 2015 |
333,990 |
|
1 May 2015 to 30 Apr 2016 |
505,950 |
(Source: Centre for Health Disability Assessments)
Information on the shortest, average and longest period of time before appointments are re-arranged is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gareth Thomas on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many overstayers have (a) been removed and (b) voluntarily deported as a result of action taken by Capita in each month since October 2012; and if she will make a statement.
James Brokenshire
Capita do not remove individuals from the UK. The scope of the contract is one of contact management, where Capita encourage individuals to depart voluntarily and in compliance with the immigration rules.
Since the beginning of the contract in 2012 to Quarter 1 2016, Capita has recorded 143,400 departures.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what account his Department plans to take of alleged human rights abuses in Bangladesh in advising on any future trade deal with that country; and what assessment he has made of the potential merits of imposing sanctions on Bangladesh in order to improve that country’s respect for political and other rights.
Alok Sharma
The Prime Minister, my Rt Hon. Friend the member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) has established the Department for International Trade to promote British trade across the world and ensure the United Kingdom takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us. The Government is currently reviewing its trade policy. We will engage fully with a broad range of stakeholders, including both governments and business over the coming weeks and months, taking a large number of political and economic factors into consideration.
We are concerned about protection of human rights in Bangladesh, but believe that engagement, not sanctions, is the correct course of action. Sanctions would isolate Bangladesh at a time when it is, like so many, facing the global threat of terrorism. Trade sanctions would have a damaging effect on Bangladesh’s development and on efforts to bring people out of poverty.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alasdair McDonnell on 2016-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which chronic illnesses and severe conditions exempt employment and support allowance claimants from regular medical reassessments.
Penny Mordaunt
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 20 October 2016 to Question UIN 48978.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2015-11-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what average time his Department took to respond to freedom of information requests in each year since 2005.
Jane Ellison
The Government publishes statistics on the operation of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 within central government, including on timeliness. These can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/government-foi-statistics.
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