The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kelvin Hopkins on 2016-03-16.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many bidders for central government contracts have been debarred in accordance with the promoting tax compliance and procurement rules introduced in 2013.
Matthew Hancock
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield Heeley on 22 February to UIN: 26788.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Allen on 2016-04-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with Ministerial colleagues in (a) her Department and (b) other Departments on establishing a new national centre of expertise on tackling child sexual abuse.
Karen Bradley
Tackling child sexual abuse is a top priority for this Government and good progress is being made on delivering the commitments made in “Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation” – the Government’s response to address on a national scale the failures that had been seen in Rotherham and elsewhere. We are working collaboratively across Whitehall to deliver on our commitments and will publish an update to the “Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation” report later this year. This will set out our progress to date on what we have achieved in tackling offending, reducing vulnerability and supporting victims and survivors of child sexual abuse. It will also set out what future steps the government plans to take.
As part of this work, we have prioritised child sexual abuse as a national threat, providing a clear mandate for police forces to safeguard children and to share intelligence and best practice. We have also rolled out to all UK police forces Child abuse image database (CAID) which provides law enforcement with effective tools to search seized devices. We have delivered a £7 million uplift in funding over the financial years 2014 – 15 and 2015 – 16 for non statutory organisations which support victims and survivors of sexual abuse and have announced that the same amount will be available in 2016 – 17.
In January this year we launched a new national whistle-blowing helpline, operated by the NSPCC, for any employee who wants to raise a concern about how their organisation is dealing with a concern about a child. The establishment of the Centre of Expertise has formed part of discussions held at the Inter Ministerial Group on Child Sexual Abuse, and we are currently working towards its procurement. In terms of the Centre working with the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, the Inquiry is independent of Government, but the Government is, and will, continue to fully co-operate with it.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-05-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Answer of 4 May 2016 to Question 36039, on fertility: medical treatments, which services NHS England commissions centrally.
George Freeman
NHS England is responsible for directly commissioned services which include not only specialised services, but also offender and military health services, as well as primary care services such as optometry and dentistry.
A complete list of Prescribed Specialised Services for 2016/17 can be found in the attached document.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2016-07-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to safeguard the status of UK nationals studying in other member states of the EEA as a result of the outcome of the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU.
Joseph Johnson
The EU referendum result has no immediate effect on students abroad or those applying for 2016/17. Payments will be made in the usual way. Access after we leave the EU is a matter for the forthcoming negotiations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alistair Carmichael on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on how many occasions Ministers in her Department have declined to disclose information to the Intelligence and Security Committee under Schedule 1 to the Justice and Security Act 2013; and if she will make a statement.
Mr Ben Wallace
The Home Office is unable to find any record of having declined to disclose information to the Intelligence and Security Committee under Schedule 1 of the Justice and Security Act 2013. The Home Office is unable to find any record of having delayed providing information to the Intelligence and Security Committee in order to make a determination as to whether to share that information, as set out in Schedule 1 of the Justice and Security Act 2013.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ferrier on 2015-11-23.
To ask the Prime Minister, what discussions he had with his Indian counterpart during his recent visit on the death of Sikh people at the Golden Temple in Amritsar in June 1984.
Mr David Cameron
The events between 5-7 June 1984 at the Golden Temple in Amritsar led to a tragic loss of life, and I understand the pain that they still cause to Sikh communities around the world, including in the UK.
During the visit of Prime Minister Modi we discussed a wide range of issues and in those conversations he emphasised his commitment to upholding the Gandhian traditions of diversity and religious tolerance. In his Wembley address, he underlined the important role that Indians of all faiths are playing in India’s economic and social development.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2015-12-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what transitional arrangements are being made for local authority employees who administer housing benefit when responsibility for that benefit moves to universal credit.
Priti Patel
Any transitional arrangements are the responsibility of the Local Authority, but we will work with them to manage the impact of these changes in a way which minimises the need for any redundancies. Where this does not prove possible, after the exercise of all reasonable efforts to redeploy people, the Department has given Local Authorities a commitment that we will meet their costs of any residual redundancies.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2016-01-25.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will publish monitoring his Department undertook on the impact on micro-businesses of the changes to dividend taxation included in the Finance Bill.
Mr David Gauke
At Summer Budget 2015, the Chancellor announced that the dividend tax credit will be replaced by a new £5,000 tax-free dividend allowance from April 2016, and that dividend tax rates would be amended from the same date.
A tax information and impact note setting out expected impacts was published on 9 December. This is available to view at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/income-tax-changes-to-dividend-taxation/income-tax-changes-to-dividend-taxation.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Coyle on 2016-02-22.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to reduce the productivity gap.
Greg Hands
The government has published “Fixing the foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation”, its plan for productivity growth in the UK. This plan outlines the steps the government is taking to encourage further investment in the drivers of productivity growth, including science, education, skills and infrastructure. It also sets out the ways the government is promoting a dynamic economy through reforming planning laws, boosting competition and creating a Northern Powerhouse.
These steps include: investing £6.9 billion in the UK’s research infrastructure up to 2021; introducing a levy on large employers to help deliver 3 million apprenticeships starts this Parliament; guaranteeing that all revenue raised from VED in England from 2020-21 will be allocated to a new Roads Fund and invested directly back into the strategic road network; and creating a new “zonal” system which will grant automatic permission in principle on brownfield sites.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anne Main on 2016-03-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much in VAT-based contributions the UK paid to the EU in each of the last 10 years; and if he will estimate the amount of such contributions in each of the next five years.
Mr David Gauke
The European Commission’s annual Financial Report provides calendar year historical contributions figures.