Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Eilidh Whiteford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Eilidh Whiteford – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Eilidh Whiteford on 2016-07-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of extending the Shared Accommodation Rate to social rented housing on the ability of single people under the age of 35 to access general needs social rented housing.

    Caroline Nokes

    Full impact and equality impact assessments will be undertaken in due course.

    Single people under 35 will be exempt from the Shared Accommodation Rate if they fall into one of the categories below:

    • They have children or a non-dependent living with them;
    • They qualify for a severe disability premium;
    • If they have left care and are under the age of 22;
    • If they have an extra bedroom for a non-resident carer providing overnight care;
    • If they are a foster carer;
    • They are aged 25 to 34 years old and have spent at least 3 months in a homeless hostel or hostel specialising in rehabilitation and resettlement;
    • They are aged 25 to 34 years old who are an ex-offender managed under a multi-agency MAPPA agreement.

    For those who are not covered by these exemptions, they will be able to apply for Discretionary Housing Payments if they need help meeting the shortfall in their rent.

  • Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Jim Cunningham – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-09-14.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have had their tax credits stopped and subsequently reinstated by Concentrix in each of the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

    Jane Ellison

    On 16th September I responded to a number of parliamentary questions on the number of mandatory reconsiderations requested by tax credit claimants this year.

    Where a discrepancy is detected, claimants are given 30 days to contact HMRC or provide the relevant information. If after 30 days HMRC has had no contact, tax credit payments are either suspended or reduced. HMRC then gives the claimant a further 30 days to contact HMRC before making a decision on the tax credits award using all the available information.

  • Seema Malhotra – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Seema Malhotra – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-11-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he expects to publish his review of the residential conversion threshold for agricultural buildings.

    Brandon Lewis

    We announced in the Rural Productivity Plan that we will review the planning constraints facing rural businesses. This will include a review of the current threshold for agricultural buildings to convert to residential buildings. A Call for Evidence will be published later in the autumn.

  • Michael Tomlinson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Michael Tomlinson – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michael Tomlinson on 2015-12-08.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what help his Department will provide to assist local authorities to resettle Syrian refugees over the next five years.

    Richard Harrington

    Local authorities have played a vital role in helping those Syrian refugees arriving here to settle into a new life in the UK. The Syrian Resettlement Team, made up of officials from Home Office, DCLG and DFID, is working closely with those local authorities that wish to participate in the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme, helping to manage the process of accepting refugees for resettlement, providing help and advice where appropriate.

    At the Spending Review the Government committed £129 million to assist with local authority costs over years 2-5 for those local authorities who are resettlling refugees under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. This is unringfenced funding and it will be for local authorities to decide how to use the funding to support the refugees they resettle.

  • Gregory Campbell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Gregory Campbell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2016-01-13.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ban the use of laser pen technology in proximity to aircraft and airports.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    Specific legislation prohibiting the use of laser pens against aircraft has been in place since 2009. Under Article 222 of the Air Navigation Order (2009), it is an offence to “direct or shine any light at any aircraft in flight so as to dazzle or distract the pilot of the aircraft”. Breaches of this article can be punished by a fine of up to £2500.

    In addition, under Article 137, it is an offence to “recklessly or negligently act in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft, or any person in an aircraft”. If convicted, offenders could face up to a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), as the independent safety regulator, has established a working group with relevant public and industry participants to consider what further measures may help counter the threat from the misuse of laser pens. The Government will continue to monitor closely the outcome of this work.

  • Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Alison Thewliss – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alison Thewliss on 2016-02-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to exempt supported accommodation from plans to cap social rents at local housing allowance rates.

    Justin Tomlinson

    I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave the Hon. Member for Dulwich and West Norwood on 3 February 2016 to Question UIN 24910

    “

  • Derek Twigg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Derek Twigg – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Derek Twigg on 2016-03-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which hospitals in Merseyside and Cheshire carry out planned surgical procedures at weekends.

    Jane Ellison

    The information is shown in the table below. An elective procedure is a non-urgent procedure that is planned in advance, not all elective procedures are surgical.

    The following National Health Service and independent sector hospitals in Merseyside and Cheshire1 reported elective procedures at weekends.

    Provider

    Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

    BMI – The South Cheshire Private Hospital

    Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    East Cheshire NHS Trust

    Fairfield Hospital

    Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust

    Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust

    Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Nuffield Health, The Grosvenor Hospital, Chester

    Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust

    Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust

    Spire Cheshire Hospital

    Spire Liverpool Hospital

    Spire Murrayfield Hospital

    Spire Regency Hospital

    St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust

    The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust

    The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust

    Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

    Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust

    Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, Health and Social Care Information Centre

    Notes:

    1. Merseyside and Cheshire has been interpreted as two Area Teams. This indicates the area team within which the organisation providing treatment was located. This data is limited to providers in the area teams:

    Q44 – Cheshire, Warrington and the Wirral Area Team

    Q48 – Merseyside Area Team

  • Andrew Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Andrew Smith – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Smith on 2016-04-12.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2016 to Question 20586, what discussions his Department has had with NHS England on achieving the aims of the draft Hepatitis C Improvement Framework and the decision to withdraw that draft framework.

    Jane Ellison

    The Department continues working with Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England to advance the public health ambitions set out in the initial framework to establish a strategic approach to tackle hepatitis C.

    Both PHE and NHS England are fully committed to improving hepatitis C outcomes including the long-term reduction in transmission of the virus in which treatment has a potentially major role to play.

    NHS England has been working on plans for access to treatment during 2016/17 and has committed to produce an operational framework for the treatment of hepatitis C during 2016/17. This will set out NHS England’s commitment to improving outcomes in hepatitis C across England.

  • Alistair Carmichael – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Alistair Carmichael – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alistair Carmichael on 2016-05-19.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will make it his policy that when revised UK Chief Medical Officers’ Guidelines on keeping health risks from drinking alcohol to a low level, published in January 2016, are communicated to the public they are placed in the context that moderate alcohol consumption can be part of a healthy lifestyle for people that choose to drink.

    Jane Ellison

    The UK Chief Medical Officers’ alcohol guidelines give the public the latest and most up to date scientific information so that they can make informed decisions about their own drinking.

    It is however important that the new guidelines are clear and understandable and take into account the responses to the consultation.

    We will publish the final guidelines and the government response to the consultation as soon as possible.

  • Richard Fuller – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Richard Fuller – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Fuller on 2016-07-13.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employee share ownership schemes were submitted to HM Revenue and Customs’ valuation check service in each tax year since 2010-11.

    Jane Ellison

    HM Revenue and Custom’s Shares and Assets Valuation office have dealt with the following employee share ownership scheme valuation checks:

    Year

    TOTAL

    2010 – 11

    4,052

    2011 – 12

    4,042

    2012 – 13

    4,494

    2013 – 14

    4,837

    2014 – 15

    5,396

    2015 – 16

    5,721