The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-01-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how often he reviews the cost effectiveness of corporate welfare schemes; and what the criteria are for such schemes to be continued.
Matthew Hancock
The Government does not support any corporate welfare schemes.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Margaret Ritchie on 2015-01-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to tackle the persecution of Christians overseas.
Mr David Lidington
Freedom of religion or belief is a human rights priority. At all levels of Government, we regularly urge the protection and the right of all, including Christians, to practise their religion or belief without discrimination.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2015-01-13.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will discuss with his counterparts in the devolved administrations the possibility of extending the National Citizen Services to those administrations.
Mr Rob Wilson
The Government is committed to giving as many young people as possible the chance to take part in this life-changing opportunity. The programme will continue to take place in every English Local Authority in 2015. 2014 saw 504 young people take part in Northern Ireland and 364 young people take part in Wales.
My officials and I continue to work closely with the devolved administrations and following successful pilots of the programme the Northern Ireland Minister for Social Development is developing a longer term plan for supporting NCS in Northern Ireland.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Griffiths on 2015-01-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many families are resident on (a) Army, (b) Royal Navy, (c) Marines and (d) Royal Air Force bases (i) in the UK and (ii) abroad.
Anna Soubry
The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by on 2015-02-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take following the recent report of Passenger Focus, Ticket to Ride”
Baroness Kramer
To coincide with the publication of Passenger Focus’s report, ‘Ticket to Ride – an Update’, the Government commenced a consultation on 3 February 2015 on changes to the process for administering penalty fares appeals. The consultation closes on 27 April 2015. A copy of the consultation document is attached.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord West of Spithead on 2015-02-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord De Mauley on 10 February (HL4601), whether the three offshore patrol vessels referred to as fulfilling the Royal Naval commitment to fishery protection included the Offshore Patrol Vessel presently deployed to the West Indies for five months.
Lord De Mauley
There is a formal agreement between the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and the Royal Navy that provides for the Royal Navy to supply surveillance and fisheries inspection services to the MMO. The agreement contains a commitment from the Royal Navy to provide 500 days of service annually to the MMO. It has three offshore patrol vessels based in UK waters: HMS Severn, HMS Tyne and HMS Mersey. The MMO do not specify how many or which vessels will be used at any one time to fulfil this role.
HMS Severn was available to contribute to delivery of that commitment between 1 April and 19 November 2014 after which it was tasked with other high priority duties. On projected figures it is anticipated that the Royal Navy will meet its commitments to the MMO for the financial year through the combined use of HMS Tyne, HMS Severn and HMS Mersey.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Morris of Aberavon on 2015-02-11.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the level of funding into the artificial pancreas; and why there has not been a call for artificial pancreas research by the National Institute for Health Research.
Earl Howe
Research infrastructure funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) contributes to international artificial pancreas research. This infrastructure includes the NIHR biomedical research centres at Cambridge and Imperial College London, the NIHR/Wellcome Trust Imperial Clinical Research Facility, and the NIHR Clinical Research Network. Spend on artificial pancreas research cannot be disaggregated from total expenditure through this infrastructure.
There has been no specific call for artificial pancreas research by the NIHR. However, the NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including artificial pancreas systems. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Simpson on 2015-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress has been made on the provision of superfast broadband to rural businesses in all parts of the UK.
Mr Edward Vaizey
In 2010 nearly half of UK premises could access superfast broadband. Current superfast broadband coverage is almost 80% of UK premises and the Government remains committed to providing 95% coverage by 2017. This will benefit rural businesses across the UK.
BDUK works with local authorities and the devolved administrations to determine how funding for broadband projects is deployed and where the roll out of superfast broadband is carried out.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian Lavery on 2015-02-11.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any former officials of his Department have taken employment with Rio Tinto plc in the last five years.
Andrea Leadsom
The Civil Service Business Appointments Rules, which are published on GOV.uk, apply to civil servants who intend to take up an appointment or employment after leaving the Civil Service and the approval process will differ depending upon the applicant’s seniority.
The destination of leavers are not held centrally.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Farron on 2015-02-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when the draft Governance of National Parks (England) and the Broads Bill will be published.
Dan Rogerson
The draft Bill on governance in English national parks and the Broads, announced in the Queen’s Speech, will be published when it is ready and is the next step in the Government’s review of their governance and local accountability.