The below Parliamentary question was asked by Christopher Pincher on 2016-04-13.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to support (a) people with savings and (b) home ownership.
Harriett Baldwin
400,000 people have already opened a Help to Buy: ISA to buy their first home. At Budget 2016 the Chancellor also announced a Lifetime ISA which can be used by people under 40 to save for their first home and retirement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Scriven on 2016-05-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the reasons are for the delay in the start of operation of the South Yorkshire Tram Train service.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The Department for Transport and South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, the joint funders of the tram train pilot project, have been advised that Network Rail has initiated a review of the current programme of works needed to adapt their infrastructure to operate the tram train vehicles between Meadowhall South and Rotherham Parkgate.
The Department understands that Network Rail has encountered significant issues with the approval of new bespoke electrification equipment needed to operate the tram train vehicles. The joint funders are clearly disappointed by this further delay.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hollins on 2016-07-13.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the cumulative impact of housing benefit cuts, benefit caps and council tax on the health of benefit claimants, both those in work and unemployed, since 2008, taking into account the impact of debt on mental health and the need for women to receive a healthy diet before they conceive and while they are pregnant if they are to give birth to healthy babies.
Lord Freud
Impact assessments published for welfare changes, for example those relating to the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016, are available on www.gov.uk.
Published impact assessments not available on www.gov.uk may be available at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk.
We already have cumulative distributional analysis published by HMT that is the most comprehensive available covering not only the effects of direct cash transfers between households and government but also the effects of frontline public service provision.
Our welfare reforms since 2010 are intended to incentivise work and make work pay. There is a strong evidence base showing that work is generally good for physical and mental health and wellbeing. We recognise that not everyone can work and therefore we provide financial assistance.
The employment rate remains is at 74.4 per cent which is the highest since comparable records began. In addition the number and rate of workless households are both at a record low.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jenny Chapman on 2016-09-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the performance of the North East Ambulance Service.
Mr Philip Dunne
Assessment of the performance of the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) is the responsibility of its commissioners, and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as the regulator of health services in England. The CQC carried out a comprehensive inspection at NEAS in April 2016. The inspection reports will be published in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Oates on 2015-11-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the cost to (1) small businesses, and (2) personal taxpayers, of HMRC’s delays in answering telephone enquiries in terms of lost productivity.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
HM Revenue and Customs has not made such an assessment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Adam Holloway on 2015-12-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential arrangements for compensation required for people living in Thurrock and Dartford or Gravesend in the event of another river crossing being constructed at Dartford or to the east of Gravesend.
Andrew Jones
The route of the new Lower Thames crossing will be subject to public consultation early this year, and local people will be given their chance to express their views. Until the route is decided upon, it is too early to say what arrangements for compensation may be appropriate.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Brake on 2016-01-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what analysis his Department has commissioned of the potential effect of a British withdrawal from the EU on Anglo-French defence projects.
Mr Julian Brazier
None.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Teresa Pearce on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of railway stations that will be unstaffed in (a) 2020 and (b) 2025.
Claire Perry
Station staffing levels are a matter for operators. Whilst we regulate Ticket Office opening times through the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement station staffing levels are a matter for operators as we believe that railway operators themselves are best placed to determine how to meet the needs of their passengers.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what factors led to the change of plans about keeping a warship building capability in Portsmouth as discussed prior to the last General Election.
Earl Howe
Following a review of its business needs, Magma Structures, the company considering commercial use of shiphall A in HM Naval Base Portsmouth, has decided it does not want to proceed with a lease. It has confirmed its intention to lease office space within the naval base in order to develop a centre of excellence for composite materials on site and to develop a broad range of composite projects within the defence and other sectors.
Instead, the shiphall will be used by the Royal Navy (supported by BAE Systems (BAES) as part of contracts that are already in place) for maintenance works that support wider frigate and destroyer maintenance programmes on the base. It provides the ideal under cover facility to support the BAES/RN Centre of Excellence by providing a weather-protected maintenance area immediately adjacent to the operational repair facilities.
Shiphall B will be used to create a centre of excellence for minehunter maintenance. Royal Navy minehunter HMS Brocklesby moved into the hall for a year-long comprehensive maintenance programme on 9 March, marking the return of engineering to the site which has been vacant since BAES relocated its shipbuilding activities to Scotland in 2014. The upgraded facilities will provide the opportunity for vessels to be maintained on the site under cover, which allows the work to be completed more efficiently and will result in ships being returned to the operational fleet more quickly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Kyle on 2016-04-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will appoint a Shadow Board of the Institute of Apprenticeships.
Nick Boles
The Institute for Apprenticeships Board will be appointed through a public appointments process. The outcome will be announced as soon as the process allows in 2016.