The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2016-03-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much revenue he expects to accrue to the public purse from changes in the level of probate fees in each of the next five financial years.
Mr Shailesh Vara
The information requested is set out in the published Consultation Document which can be located at: https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/fee-proposals-for-grants-of-probate.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2016-03-23.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of businesses that have registered for (a) VAT and (b) PAYE in each region and nation of the UK between 2010 and 2014.
Mr David Gauke
The Office for National Statistics publishes a breakdown of the number of businesses registered for VAT and/or PAYE by region:
Previous releases of this publication including data from 2010 onwards can be found here:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/activitysizeandlocation/bulletins/ukbusinessactivitysizeandlocation/previousReleases
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 2016-05-04.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the long-term protections in place for the monies granted under the Cotonou Convention in the 11th European Development Fund.
Baroness Verma
The European Development Fund (EDF) provides development assistance in accordance with the Cotonou Agreement. The 11th EDF resources are implemented in compliance with the principals of sound financial management and transparency. Every year the accounts of the EDF are scrutinised by the European Court of Auditors (ECA) who perform rigorous annual audits on the EU’s finances. The ECA also review specific programmes and projects for effectiveness and impact.
DFID regularly reviews the work of its partners, including the EU, to ensure that aid is being spent efficiently and appropriately.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Michael Tomlinson on 2016-06-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to increase cycling provision in Poole.
Mr Robert Goodwill
Poole Borough Council received funding for the LSTF 2011-15 programme as a partner authority which was led by Dorset County Council for the ‘School Travel Health Check’ project; they also received funding for the ‘Be SMArT’ project led by Bournemouth Borough Council. Both projects aimed to facilitate sustainable travel and included improvements for cycling.
The Department is also preparing to launch the Access Fund for revenue only funding, which will be open to all local authorities in England (excluding London) regardless of previous bidding success. This will include an objective to actively promote increased levels of physical activity through walking and cycling.
The Access Fund is being aligned with the third Local Growth Deal which presents opportunities for all authorities to seek capital funding for their sustainable transport schemes. All local authorities have been notified to engage with their Local Enterprise Partnerships and the Department on both these opportunities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jopling on 2016-09-05.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 14 June (HL500), whether they intend to publish in the Official Record a summary of the findings of the lessons learnt review of the 83 per cent escalation of costs for the recent improvements to the A1 road close to Gamston Airport, and what steps they have taken to reduce the risk of similar occurrences.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The “Lessons Learned” workshop was completed on 8 June 2016 and is currently under review. There are some outstanding issues to be resolved regarding the possible requirement for permanent speed cameras, the agreement of alterations to a private access and the completion of road safety audit works, before it can be completed. Highways England intend to publish their findings on their website in due course.
To reduce the risks of similar occurrences, Highways England now has a greater focus on strategic planning with a five year plan of work. They are more able to ensure early contractor involvement more proactively in the development and construction of schemes. Highways England will take the lessons learned on the A1 Elkesley and ensure they are given due consideration in future schemes.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Steve McCabe on 2016-10-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 12 September 2016 to Question 44308, on primary education, where the information requested is held.
Nick Gibb
The information requested is not held, because the data supplied by the consultation does not provide a breakdown by profession of respondents to question 1 of the consultation.
As set out in answers 44308 and 35933, the Department’s analysis of the consultation responses is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/new-national-curriculum-primary-assessment-and-accountability.
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Caroline Lucas on 2015-11-09.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what information her Department holds on the date when EDF ordered the pressure vessel heads for Hinkley Point C; and how many pressure vessel heads for Hinkley Point C have already been manufactured.
Andrea Leadsom
Supply of components for Hinkley Point C are a matter for EDF. The construction of Hinkley Point C, including the safety of pressure vessel heads, will be subject to regulation by the Office for Nuclear Regulation.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Osamor on 2015-12-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his Turkish counterpart on negotiating a ceasefire with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party; and if he will make a statement.
Mr David Lidington
We are closely monitoring all of these and related events in Turkey and the region. The Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) continues to kill members of the Turkish police service and security forces. We support Turkey’s right to defend itself against all forms of terrorism. We have been clear that the PKK must cease its violence and the peace process needs to be resumed. The UK stands ready to help in any way it can in this regard. I last raised this with my Turkish counterpart when we met in August.
The Government continues to monitor closely Turkey’s democratic reforms, including as part of the EU accession process, focusing particularly on freedom of expression, respect for the rule of law and minority rights.
We welcome Turkey’s invaluable contribution to the international campaign against Daesh, particularly its agreement for the use of its airspace and airbases, as a member of the Global Coalition committed to defeating it. Turkey has been carrying out military strikes against Daesh since July 2015, and state that they have detained over 2,500 Daesh suspects since 2013, of whom one third are foreigners. Turkey recognises the role that Syrian Kurds have to play in the fight against Daesh, and accepts that Syrian Kurds receive Coalition support.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Dan Jarvis on 2016-01-12.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the Government plans to introduce a one-month time limit on engagements for (a) small business and (b) other limited company contractors before they are treated as employees for tax purposes.
Mr David Gauke
Where people would have been employees if they were providing their services directly, the intermediaries legislation (known as IR35) requires that they pay broadly the same tax and National Insurance as other employees.
The Government estimates that currently only around 10% of people who should pay tax on at least part of their company’s income under these rules do so. This non-compliance is both unfair and estimated to cost over £400 million a year. The Government is therefore looking to improve the legislation in a way that protects the Exchequer and improves fairness. However, it is not the Government’s intention to widen the scope of the rules.
The Government published a discussion document on 17 July 2015 that set out the issues in more detail and invited views on options for reform. The discussion period closed on 30 September and the Government will announce next steps in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nusrat Ghani on 2016-02-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many new businesses have been set up in Wealden constituency since May 2010.
Anna Soubry
There is no single data source that comprehensively measures all business start-ups within the UK. However, ONS has published statistics showing that there were 2,770 businesses newly registered for VAT or PAYE in the Wealden constituency between 2010 and 2014. Some newly registered businesses will have been trading for a number of years and other active businesses will not be covered because they are operating below the VAT and PAYE registration thresholds.