The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Austin on 2016-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of Dame Louise Casey’s review; and if she will make a statement.
Sarah Newton
Dame Louise Casey’s independent review on boosting opportunity and integration in isolated and vulnerable communities will report to the Prime Minister and be published in due course.
The Government’s response will be a decision for the Prime Minister.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Gethins on 2016-01-06.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to prepare for the outcome of the EU referendum.
Jane Ellison
The Government is fighting hard to fix the aspects of our European Union membership that cause so much frustration in Britain – so we get a better deal for Britain and secure our future. The Government is focused on delivering a successful renegotiation: it believes it can and will succeed in reforming and renegotiating our relationship with the EU.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett on 2015-11-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the median amount of (1) child benefit, and (2) child tax credit, received by working families with children whose family earnings are at least £23,000 in Greater London, or £20,000 outside Greater London.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
The government is committed to achieving a higher wage, lower tax, lower welfare economy. That means more emphasis on support to working families on low incomes through reducing tax and increasing wages, than on topping up low wages through tax credits.
The Chancellor is listening to concerns raised by colleagues and will announce in his Autumn Statement how he plans to achieve the same goal of reforming tax credits and saving the money we need to secure our economy, while at the same time helping in the transition.
HM Revenue & Customs publish statistics about individuals and households claiming tax credits and child benefits, which are available on the gov.uk website.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Cooper on 2015-11-30.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the benefit to the public purse of the closing of tax loopholes in each of the next five years.
Mr David Gauke
Revenue protected in connection with avoidance measures is scored in relevant documentation published by HM Treasury.
However, for convenience on 19 March 2015 the coalition government published a document detailing the action taken over the course of the last Parliament to tackle tax evasion and avoidance. That document can be found at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/tackling-tax-evasion-and-avoidance
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 2016-01-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to respond to North Korea’s most recent nuclear test.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The nuclear test conducted by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on 6 January was a serious violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Following the test, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), issued a Written Ministerial Statement on 13 January strongly condemning the nuclear test as a grave breach of UN Security Council resolutions. The Foreign Secretary is also in close contact with our key allies and partners to press for a robust international response. The UK, in conjunction with other members, is currently working on a new UN Security Council Resolution to include further significant measures.
On 7 January, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), summoned the DPRK Ambassador to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. During this meeting, Mr Swire made clear to the Ambassador the UK’s firm condemnation of his country’s nuclear test and instructed him to make clear to the authorities in Pyongyang that the DPRK risked increasing isolation and further action by the international community unless it followed a different path.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2016-02-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many weapons of which type have been confiscated from visitors to prisons in each year since 2010.
Andrew Selous
The information requested could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Phil Boswell on 2016-02-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his Department’s practice in consulting manufacturers on policy of the findings by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in its report, Engineered in Britain, on the proportion of manufacturers who consider that the Government is performing well on manufacturing policy.
Anna Soubry
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers report “Engineered in Britain” states that the proportion of manufacturers who consider that the Government is performing well on manufacturing policy rose from 12% in 2011 to 24% in 2015. BIS Ministers and officials hold regular discussions with manufacturing companies and their representatives, including the Sector Councils, to develop a clear understanding of the capabilities and needs of UK manufacturing. Most recently, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills spoke at the EEF National Manufacturing Conference on 24 February 2016 and I attended and spoke at the EEF National Manufacturing Dinner on the same date.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2016-03-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on how many occasions his Department’s cyber strike capability was used in (a) 2014 and (b) 2015.
Penny Mordaunt
We continue to develop the ability of our Armed Forces to deploy a broad range of offensive cyber capabilities as an integrated part of military operations. As with other sensitive defence capabilities, we do not reveal specific details in order to safeguard national security. As we have previously made clear in the context of the war powers convention, we do not propose to define the circumstances in which we would consult Parliament about the use of particular military capabilities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Patrick Grady on 2016-05-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will issue a response to Early Day Motion 660, Legal recognition for people who do not associate with a particular gender.
James Brokenshire
UK passports currently recognise only male and female genders. To introduce a third category, such a denoted by an ‘X’ in the passport, would require a change in UK primary legislation.
The Government is currently considering this issue as part of its response to the report on Transgender Equality by the Women and Equalities Select Committee.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Justin Madders on 2016-06-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the legal status of a Sustainability and Transformation Plan will be.
George Freeman
The Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP) has no legal basis. Any plans submitted will be proposals that will form the basis for discussion. Depending on the level of local and national agreement, they may form the basis for further plans and actions that will be subject to the same legal and best practice requirements that govern the National Health Service.
The local, statutory architecture for health and care remains, as do the existing accountabilities for Chief Executives of provider organisations and Accountable Officers of clinical commissioning groups. Organisations are still accountable for their individual organisational plans, which should form part of the first year of their footprint’s STP.
The June STP submissions will be work-in-progress, and as such we do not anticipate the requirement for formal approval from boards and/or consultation at this early stage. Plans have no status until they are agreed. When plans are ready, normal rules around engagement and public consultation will apply.