The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mary Creagh on 2015-11-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, how many complaints the Energy Ombudsman has received about post-installation delays for feed-in tariff payments to customers by energy companies.
Andrea Leadsom
This is a matter for the Energy Ombudsman. I have asked them to write directly to the hon. Member, and a copy of their response will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2015-11-27.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, with reference to paragraph 1.203 of the Spending Review and Autumn Statement 2015, when the energy intensive industry exemption from the cost of Renewable Obligation and Feed-in Tariff will come into effect.
Andrea Leadsom
Following consultation, state aid clearance and necessary amendments to Renewables Obligation and Feed in Tariff scheme legislation, we intend to switch from compensation to exemptions as soon as possible.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jessica Morden on 2016-01-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to prohibit expiry dates on gift cards.
Nick Boles
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has no current plans to introduce legislation to prohibit the use of expiry dates on gift cards.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2016-01-29.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, which recommendations from the (a) skills section and (b) other sections of the Maritime Skills Study the Government plans to implement; and what the timescale for implementation will be.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Government formally responded to the Study in December 2015 accepting all the recommendations directed to government and progress is already being made.
A new Ministerial Working Group for Maritime Growth has been established to drive growth and tackle issues affecting the sector. The Working Group, including representatives from industry, met for the first time in November 2015 and discussed a range of issues around maritime skills including expanding apprenticeships (recommendation 11).
In addition, the Government has issued an invitation to tender for the Seafarer Projections Review (recommendation 7). The review of SMarT – Support for Maritime Training (recommendation 9) will need to take account of the Seafarer Projections work and will follow in four to six weeks’ time.
Officials are also working with the Department for Education and the Ministry of Defence on the recommendations pertaining to increasing youth awareness of seafaring and better links to the Royal Navy and the wider maritime sector (recommendations 13 and 15).
The other recommendations concerning skills are directed primarily at industry.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Goodman on 2016-02-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of how many people in supported housing specifically designated for (a) disabled people, (b) victims of domestic violence, (c) people with substance misuse problems and (d) others will be affected by the change in housing benefit to the Shared Accommodation Rate.
Justin Tomlinson
The information requested is not available.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Byford on 2016-03-17.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they support Public Health England’s decision to reduce the dairy food group in the revised Eatwell Guide; whether the dairy industry was consulted before that change was made; and on what scientific basis that decision was taken.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The Government has adopted the refreshed Eatwell Guide which reflects updated government dietary recommendations based upon conclusions from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, robust modelling and consumer research. It shows the proportions of the different types of foods and drinks we should consume to have a healthy, balanced diet.
No individual organisation was consulted as part of this refresh. An external reference group informed the development of the Eatwell Guide. Representatives from the health sector, voluntary sector and industry groups including membership, trade and levy organisations (including ones representing agricultural sectors), were members and provided routes of engagement.
Outside of the reference group involvement, 25 individuals/organisations commented directly to Public Health England. Linear programming, considered the most objective and robust approach by the reference group, informed the sizes of the food group segments, ensuring all government dietary recommendations, including that for calcium, were met.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2016-04-25.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to ensure that they fulfil the pledge in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Human Rights and Democracy Report 2015 to continue to look at every available option to ensure accountability” for the crimes committed by Daesh.”
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We continue to look at every option to ensure accountability. In the meantime we are supporting the gathering and preservation of evidence that could in future be used in a court to hold Daesh to account.
The UK co-sponsored the UN Human Rights Council resolution of September 2014 mandating investigation of Daesh abuses in Iraq. Working with international partners, we are doing everything we can to assist in the gathering and preservation of evidence that could in future be used by judicial bodies to make a judgement on this matter. It is vital that this is done now, before evidence is lost or destroyed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2016-06-07.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the Office of Road and Rail has adequately evaluated the impact of inter-city trains on the East Coast Main Line sharing the tracks approaching London with Thameslink services providing 24 trains per hour through the core section.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
No such assessment has been made by the Government. However, in making its own assessment, the Office of Road and Rail were aware of the requirements of the planned Thameslink service.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lilian Greenwood on 2016-07-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much his Department has spent in addition to his Department’s obligations under franchise agreements on driver training or driver recruitment by each train operating company since May 2010.
Paul Maynard
None, as this falls under the franchise agreement and is for the Train Operating Companies to spend.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by George Howarth on 2016-10-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many NICE highly specialised technology evaluations are expected to take place over the next two years.
Nicola Blackwood
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently developing guidance on four drugs through the highly specialised technology (HST) evaluation programme which it expects to complete within the next year. NICE has capacity to develop guidance on three HST topics each year.