The below Parliamentary question was asked by Emily Thornberry on 2015-11-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many new claims for housing benefit were made by people who lost their homes to repossession in each of the last 10 years.
Justin Tomlinson
The information requested regarding the number of new claims for housing benefit were made by people who lost their homes due to repossessions in each of the last 10 years is not available.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Pritchard on 2015-12-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will introduce regulations to monitor the sale of drones for private and commercial use.
Mr Robert Goodwill
The Civil Aviation Authority keeps a record of all the permissions they have issued to fly commercial drones in UK airspace. However this does not extend to leisure users of drones. To address this the Department for Transportis currently looking at a range of options including regulation, registration and licensing options and a database to increase transparency on the use of drones for the general public. We will be looking to address these issue without placing unnecessary bureaucratic burden on this emerging industry. We intend to consult on all of these issues and other possible solutions in 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-01-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, if he will ask Ofcom to compare the predicted and actual proportion of BT’s ducts that are able to have fibre blown through them without further civil works.
Mr Edward Vaizey
All ducts and poles in BT’s network beyond the telephone exchange are open to other providers, under the Passive Infrastructure Access obligation imposed by Ofcom, to provide primarily residential broadband services. In its Digital Communications Review. Ofcom is looking at the future role of passive infrastructure access in facilitating competition and innovation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2016-02-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to announce a decision on access to Translarna after the NICE Highly Specialised Technology Committee meeting on 17 February 2016.
George Freeman
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently evaluating Translarna (ataluren) for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy through its highly specialised technology programme. The publication date for NICE’s final guidance is to be confirmed.
NHS England has advised that it is in constructive discussions with the pharmaceutical company about the development of a managed access agreement for Translarna and a progress update will be given at the next NICE Evaluation Committee meeting on 17 February 2016.
In the absence of guidance from NICE, it is for commissioners to make decisions on whether to fund medicines based on an assessment of the available evidence.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Reynolds on 2016-03-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether he has discussed with the Football Association the introduction of a fit-and-proper-person test for owners of non-league football clubs.
David Evennett
The Owners and Directors Test, formerly the fit and Proper Persons Test, is already applied to National League clubs at Steps 1 to 4. The FA are also in the process of introducing a licensing system for those clubs from 2016–17, which will ensure clubs can only compete if they meet a set of legal, ownership, integrity, stadia, insolvency and sustainability criteria.
Any plans for a licensing system or the Owners and Directors Test to be introduced to non-league sides further down the football pyramid are a matter for the FA.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Grahame Morris on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to encourage the combination of electoral registration of 16 and 17 year olds with related (a) programmes of study and (b) extra-curricular activities in all English educational establishments.
John Penrose
The Government helps promote democratic participation in schools through the Citizenship curriculum. This part of the national curriculum is statutory at Key Stage 3 & 4 and helps to prepare pupils to play a full and active part in society. Pupils learn about democracy, government and how laws are made and upheld. The Government has also developed a number of learning resources, including Rock Enrol! This includes activities that discuss the importance of democratic engagement and can be used with young people in formal and informal educational environments.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Carolyn Harris on 2016-05-03.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when she plans to publish the recommendations of the Bonfield Review of consumer advice, protection, standards and enforcement for energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Andrea Leadsom
The Bonfield Review is due to report back its findings later this year.
We are confident that the Bonfield Review will provide a real opportunity to put energy efficiency and renewable energy on a more consumer-focussed and sustainable long-term path for the future.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Joan Ryan on 2016-06-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling of 26 April 2016 on religious discrimination against the Alevi community in Turkey.
Mr David Lidington
We have noted the European Court of Human Rights’ ruling and regularly discuss issues concerning freedom of religion and belief, including those of the Alevi community, with our Turkish interlocutors. We will continue to do so. The Turkish government continues to improve protections for all religious minorities in Turkey. We welcome the continuing implementation of the Law on Foundations which has seen a number of properties returned to minority community foundations or the payment of compensation. As we highlighted to Turkey through the 2015 UN Universal Periodic Review of human rights, we would like to see Turkey implement legislation that increases protection of the rights of persons belonging to all minority religious groups, including the status of their places of worship.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-09-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions the Government has had with the Iraqi government on steps to tackle drug abuse in Iraq.
Mr Tobias Ellwood
We are aware of reports of drug abuse in Iraq but we have not had discussions with the Government of Iraq on this subject. We continue to support vulnerable communities through our humanitarian assistance. Since June 2014 the Department for International Development has committed £129.5 million to the humanitarian effort in Iraq. That assistance reaches hundreds of thousands of people across the country and includes essential medicine, emergency kits and psychological support.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gordon Marsden on 2016-10-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions she has had with employers and providers of apprenticeships on the effect on take-up of the new funding arrangements proposed for apprenticeships for 16 to 18 year olds, published on 12 August 2016.
Robert Halfon
Department for Education officials have held regular discussions with employers, training providers and representative organisations since the publication of the funding proposals in August. We will be publishing details of our final funding policy for apprenticeships in England from May 2017 shortly.