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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Julie Elliott – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Julie Elliott – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julie Elliott on 2014-05-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the total expenditure was on Renewables Obligation support in 2013; and what proportion of such support was given to solar power.

    Gregory Barker

    Renewable Obligation (RO) expenditure is calculated on a financial year basis. Total expenditure in 2012/13 was £1,991m.

    The proportion of this support given to solar in 2012/13 can be calculated by dividing the number of RO certificates (ROCs) redeemed by suppliers originating from solar generation (20,932) by the total number of ROCs redeemed by suppliers (44,773,499). This gives a figure of 0.05%.

    Source:

    RO expenditure published in Ofgem’s 2012/13 RO annual report, available at:

    https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/renewables-obligation-ro-annual-report-2012-2013

    2012-13 ROCs redeemed by technology available at:

    https://www.renewablesandchp.ofgem.gov.uk/Public/ReportManager.aspx?ReportVisibility=1&ReportCategory=0 (Compliance certificates report).

    “

  • Richard Burden – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Richard Burden – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Burden on 2014-05-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether senior managers in the Highways Agency will be able to enter into legal tax reduction schemes when the Agency is transformed into a government-owned company.

    Mr Robert Goodwill

    The Government intends to transform the Highways Agency into a government-owned company, as confirmed in the response to consultation published on 30th April. In accordance with TUPE principles, we expect the pay and terms of employment of all staff to remain unchanged once transferred except for the necessary technical amendments to reflect the change to company status.

    Staff management arrangements for the company following transition, including pay and reward, are still being worked through within government. We aim to establish appropriate conditions to allow the company to fulfil its functions efficiently and effectively, whilst keeping costs down for the taxpayer. This will reflect the Government’s pay policy, as well as support the delivery of a substantially increased investment programme.

    There is no intention to encourage or create opportunities for legal tax reduction schemes as part of Highways Agency transformation.

  • Nicholas Brown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Nicholas Brown – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Brown on 2014-05-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effect of the under occupancy penalty on households where children have been removed by children’s services on a temporary basis under child protection regulations.

    Esther McVey

    Children who have been temporarily taken into care under child protection regulations are not assessed as part of the household with regards to the size criteria in both the social and private rented sectors.

    This means a bedroom will not be allocated for any children taken into protective care. However, a child can be treated as a member of the claimant’s household if they spend part of a benefit week in a claimant’s house and the local authority considers it reasonable to include them as part of that household.

    Where people are temporarily under occupying, they can apply for additional help through Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) scheme for which we have provided funding of £345 million over the last 2 years. Guidance to Local Authorities on awarding a DHP covers circumstances where a child is temporarily away from home. Where appropriate, claimants could therefore apply for a DHP in child protection cases.

  • Julian Brazier – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Julian Brazier – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Julian Brazier on 2014-05-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with the General Medical Council about the pre-signing of abortion certificates since January 2012.

    Jane Ellison

    Departmental officials have met with the General Medical Council (GMC) on several occasions since February 2012 where abortion issues, including pre-signing of abortion HSA1 certificates, were discussed. In addition, I also met with the GMC recently to discuss abortion issues.

  • Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Sadiq Khan – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Sadiq Khan on 2014-05-02.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, of what crimes UK citizens returned from abroad to complete their custodial sentences in prisons in England and Wales had been convicted in each of the last four years.

    Jeremy Wright

    It has not been possible to obtain this information. I will write to the Right Honourable member in due course.

  • Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Chris Ruane – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chris Ruane on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department has given across government on steps to improve communications with the visually impaired.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    I refer the Hon member to the Office for Disability Issues’s publication Fulfilling Potential. The Cabinet Office’s Government Digital Service is working with departments to digitise public services. Our Assisted Digital approach will ensure that these services serve the needs of all users, including people with a visual impairment.

  • Tobias Ellwood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Tobias Ellwood – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tobias Ellwood on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, if he will introduce legislative proposals to clarify the obligations that fairground attractions meet when publishing the price of rides.

    Jenny Willott

    There is already legislation, the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs) which requires traders to provide consumers with the information they need to make informed decisions. The Regulations prohibit commercial practices which omit or hide material information which the average consumer needs, according to the context, to decide how they meet these obligations in relation to the prices they charge, but having a clearly visible price list would be a relatively easy way of ensuring that consumers have access to relevant information. The CPRs also make it a criminal offence to give misleading price information.

  • Frank Field – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Frank Field – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 28 April 2014, Official Report, columns 526-7, on student visas, if she will publish details of the successful pilot with one university on ensuring overseas students return home once their course is completed.

    James Brokenshire

    Foreign national students who had been served with an adverse immigration
    decision were, at times, encountering a delay in receiving their travel
    documents back from the Home Office. On occasion this resulted in their
    immigration status changing to an overstayer.

    The pilot referred to was conducted through an informal relationship between
    the South Central Immigration Compliance and Enforcement (ICE) team and the
    International Student Advisors embedded within two local Universities. Through
    this link, those whose leave has been curtailed, have had an adverse decision,
    or wish to depart the UK are provided with local assistance by the Immigration
    Enforcement team. The pilot has enabled the local ICE team to facilitate the
    return of travel documents quickly, resulting in an earlier departure for the
    student. This has benefits for both the student and University as becoming an
    overstayer could jeopardise future applications from students to continue their
    studies. During 2013/14, fifty students were assisted in this way from two
    Universities (this is local data taken from local records that has not been
    sourced from an official database).

    The Government is looking at how this example of local good practice can be
    extended nationally.

  • Anne Main – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Anne Main – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anne Main on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the contribution of 26 November 2013 of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Official Report, columns 56-9WH, what recent assessment he has made of the prevalence of fly-grazing in Wales.

    George Eustice

    The Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Natural Environment and Science has met a number of interested bodies to discuss what action can be taken to address fly grazing in England. There is a range of legislation that can be used depending on the individual circumstances of each case. Most of the problems associated with fly grazing are linked to difficulties in tracing owners of unidentified horses. In such cases we would encourage a joined-up approach by enforcers and interested parties at a local level to help tackle the problem. It is already an offence under the Horse Passport Regulations for horses not to be identified. These regulations are enforced by local authorities. Fly grazing in Wales is a matter for the Welsh Government.

  • Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Simon Kirby on 2014-05-01.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many quangos have been abolished since 2010; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr Nick Hurd

    The Government has already reduced the number of public bodies by over 280. 185 bodies have been abolished.

    This is the largest restructuring of public bodies in a generation, making the landscape smaller, more accountable and transparent, and offering better value for money to the public.