The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jeremy Browne on 2014-04-28.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many houses the Crown Estate is proposing to sell in Taunton Deane.
Nicky Morgan
The Crown Estate operates commercially at arm’s length from the Treasury. The Crown Estate makes commercial decisions in line with the Crown Estate Act 1961 and does not normally discuss them in detail with the Treasury.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Ms Lyn Brown on Communities and Local Government.
1
Brandon Lewis
I have regular meetings with the Fire Brigades Union. The most recent request for a meeting has come from Matt Wrack, the General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, and is dated 20 June. I am content to agree to this request as long as the Union is not in a period of strike action.
Earlier this year I agreed that the Government Actuary’s Department could cost alternative pension scheme designs that the Union had proposed. After constructive discussions, I wrote to the General Secretary on 23 April 2014 stating that their proposals were under consideration. The following day, the Union prematurely called a halt to those discussions by announcing strike action. I have since published draft regulations for consultation to implement the Proposed Final Agreement which was published in May 2012. I would encourage the Union to engage in that formal statutory consultation process which can be found at
“
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Katy Clark on 2014-04-28.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many 19 year olds have been refused child tax credits because of a break in their education in each year since 2009-10.
Nicky Morgan
The information is not available.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Nic Dakin on Energy and Climate Change.
1
Michael Fallon
My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has not received any recent direct representations from industry regarding the effect of load management on performance and industry.
National Grid recently announced two new balancing services to balance supply and demand in the coming winters. One of these, Demand Side Balancing Reserve (DSBR), will extend existing arrangements for companies to receive payment to reduce their electricity use or switch to on-site generators for short periods when instructed by National Grid.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he plans to extend the Duty Holder Concept Regulations to apply to (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department.
Anna Soubry
Under the policy introduced across Defence, a Duty Holder is an official (military or civilian) who owns, manages and is accountable for risks to life of people in his or her area of responsibility. Senior Duty Holders, who head the Department’s Top Level Budget areas and Trading Fund Agencies, are required by the Secretary of State’s Policy Statement on Health, Safety & Environmental Protection to refer to him any risks that they consider cannot be reduced as low as reasonably practicable.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Biography information for Peter Aldous on Cabinet Office.
1
Mr Nick Hurd
This Government is doing a great deal to support the growth of social enterprises. We are improving their access to finance through social investment. We are making it easier for them to deliver public services through the Social Value Act and a wide range of capacity building support.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent discussions he has held with education ministers in the devolved legislatures on proposals for English baccalaureate certificates and reforms of A-levels.
Elizabeth Truss
The Secretary of State met the Minister for Education for Northern Ireland and the Minister of Education and Skills for Wales on May 13 2013, along with Ofqual’s Chief Regulator Glenys Stacey, to discuss proposed reforms of GCSEs and A levels.
In line with the concordats between the Department for Education and the Northern Ireland Government, we give the Ministers of the devolved Governments advance notice of our intentions wherever possible. Department for Education and Ofqual officials meet regularly with their counterparts in Wales and Northern Ireland to discuss matters of common interest and share information. This includes GCSE and A level reforms in their respective administrations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Stanley on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will bring forward proposals to make borough councils for areas where there is no unitary authority eligible to apply for flood and coastal erosion risk management grant-in-aid.
Dan Rogerson
Borough Councils are already able to bring forward proposals working with the Environment Agency and/or the Lead Local Flood Authorities, should they wish to seek flood and coastal erosion risk management grant-in-aid.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lindsay Roy on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of animals used in medical research.
James Brokenshire
In 2010, the Coalition Government made a commitment to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research and our Delivery Plan was published in February 2014.
The commitment is being delivered through a science-led programme. At the core of the programme is a commitment to the 3Rs, led by the National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), an organisation with a strong record in reducing animal use. The NC3Rs closely involves government departments and agencies, the Home Office Inspectorate, the research community in both academia and industry, and others with relevant animal welfare interests.
I am committed to reducing the use of animals in research and the Delivery Plan shows how alternative methods can deliver fast, high quality research that also boosts economic growth. The commitment is not concerned with just baseline numbers, but encompasses the replacement, refinement and reduction (3Rs) more broadly. Aiming to achieve a target of reduction would be a flawed approach because numbers are not within our control. Instead, the Delivery Plan looks to support an agenda with the 3Rs at its heart.
The scientific case for developing new techniques that do not require the use of animals is now as strong as the moral one. This Delivery Plan is therefore our starting point for the future and it will pave the way for future practice, both at home and abroad, and will cement the UK’s place as an international leader in this field.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andy Slaughter on 2014-04-28.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what criteria have been used by his Department in choosing membership of the sub-groups set up to support his Department’s Working Group on the implementation of reforms to reduce the cost of personal injury compensation following a road traffic accident.
Damian Green
The Ministry of Justice has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.