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Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • Roger Godsiff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Roger Godsiff – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-04-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2014, Official Report, column 800W, on Business Improvement Districts: Birmingham, when he expects to publish the report on the Business Improvement District for Sparkbrook and Springfield, or to reach a decision on that matter.

    Brandon Lewis

    A decision will be taken on the appeal against the establishment of the Sparkbrook and Springfield Business Improvement District in due course and all interested parties will be informed.

  • Bob Blackman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Bob Blackman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bob Blackman on 2014-06-18.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what analysis his Department has undertaken of the feasibility of further financial devolution to London and other cities.

    Mr David Gauke

    The Government keeps all decisions on tax policy under review. In addition, the Government has recently devolved a range of responsibilities and funding through the Localism Act 2011 and have decentralised local government finance through the Local Government Finance Act 2012. Any further fiscal devolution to sub-national authorities in England would represent a significant change to the existing tax landscape with potentially significant legal, economic and constitutional implications.

  • Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    Simon Kirby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Energy and Climate Change

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Simon Kirby on 2014-04-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps he is taking to encourage the use of smart meters; and if he will make a statement.

    Gregory Barker

    The Government’s vision is for every home and smaller businesses in Great Britain to have smart electricity and gas meters by the end of 2020. In December 2012, the Department published the smart meter Consumer Engagement Strategy which sets out the approach to how domestic and non-domestic consumers will be encouraged to use smart meters to take control of their energy – helping them to save energy and money.

    Energy suppliers will have the primary consumer engagement role as they are the main interface with consumers before, during and after installation. Supplier engagement will be supported by a programme of centralised engagement undertaken by a Central Delivery Body (CDB), which the larger energy suppliers were required to set up in June 2013.

    The Department also has a continuing role in consumer engagement. For example, we are working with stakeholders, such as third-sector organisations, in engaging consumers, and ensuring that accurate information on smart meters is available online.

  • Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Jim Shannon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-17.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent steps the Government is taking with banks and credit card companies to ensure PPI repayments are made in full.

    Andrea Leadsom

    It is important that consumers get the redress which they are due. Ensuring that banks provide appropriate redress for their customers is a matter for the independent regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

    The Government is supportive of action taken by the FCA to recompense customers for the mis-selling of payment protection insurance (PPI) and prevent cases of mis-selling in the future through regulatory action. The FCA has stated that it is keeping a close eye on how the industry handles all PPI complaints and will be quick to challenge anything it thinks is unfair.

    I have asked the FCA to write to the Member in more detail about action being taken in regard to PPI. A copy of the response will be placed in the Library of the House.

  • Greg Mulholland – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Greg Mulholland – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Greg Mulholland on 2014-04-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2014, Official Report, column 139W, on Burma, what commitments the Burmese immigration minister made on conduct of the census.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    On 26 March, I spoke to Immigration Minister U Khin Yi, reminding him of the Burmese government’s assurance that all individuals would have the right to self-identify their ethnicity and that international observers would be allowed to monitor the census across the country. I also made clear that the census must have adequate security. The Immigration Minister acknowledged our concerns.

    We are pleased that international observers were invited to monitor the enumeration process across the country. However we were deeply disappointed that the Burmese government went against its long-standing assurances on census conduct, in particular the right to self-identify ethnicity. The Burmese Ambassador was summoned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 7 April, where I made clear that this decision was in contravention of international norms and standards on census conduct.

  • Matthew Offord – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Matthew Offord – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Matthew Offord on 2014-06-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of grave spaces that have been created in London since the introduction of the London Local Authorities Act 2007.

    Simon Hughes

    The Ministry of Justice has not made an estimate of the number of grave spaces created since the introduction of the London Local Authorities Act 2007 or the number of local authorities who have used powers under the Act to re-use graves. However, as the Ministry of Justice has responsibility for burial law and policy, I am keeping the issue of burial space under active review including considering what legislative changes might be necessary to address a shortage of graves.

  • Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    Mark Hendrick – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for International Development

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Hendrick on 2014-04-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much of the overseas aid budget is being used to help combat the spread and treatment of HIV and Aids; and in which countries.

    Lynne Featherstone

    The UK government’s expenditure on HIV is provided through: UK government contributions to multilateral and global initiatives that work on HIV prevention and treatment; HIV-specific bilateral projects and programmes; bilateral support to health systems and service delivery; and by supporting HIV related research.

    The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria is the principal mechanism the UK uses to finance our contribution to combat HIV. The UK has pledged up to £1 billion to the Global Fund over the next three years, of which around 50 per cent will be spent on HIV. In 2012/13 the UK provided £90.4 million to HIV-specific bilateral projects and programmes, supporting HIV prevention and treatment in 17 countries and across a number of regional programmes. Further details of these projects and programmes are available in the 2013 review of the HIV Position Paper “Towards Zero Infections" https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/261341/Towards_Zero_Infections_-_Two_Years_On_22_November_FINAL_word_version.pdf.

    Details of the total expenditure on health are published in Statistics on International Development (SID) which is available in the House Library or online at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-international-development.

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  • Bill Wiggin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    Bill Wiggin – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Culture Media and Sport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Bill Wiggin on 2014-06-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Mobile Infrastructure Project in Herefordshire is on course to be delivered on schedule.

    Mr Edward Vaizey

    The Mobile Infrastructure Project has faced challenges in finding ways to connect signal from masts back into the existing networks, and DCMS officials are assessing the impact of these challenges on overall progress and schedules.

  • Elfyn Llwyd – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Elfyn Llwyd – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Elfyn Llwyd on 2014-04-09.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that there is adequate staffing in magistrates’ courts to ensure the efficient and speedy provision of information to the bench.

    Mr Shailesh Vara

    There are adequate legal advisers in the magistrates’ courts who provide speedy advice to magistrates in order to ensure the efficient administration of Justice.

    We have resourcing models in place which help determine the aggregate staffing numbers required to manage anticipated workloads. Further, Delivery Directors ensure that resources are deployed effectively at individual courts.

  • John Denham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    John Denham – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Defence

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Denham on 2014-06-17.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what discussions he has had with BAE Systems about delaying the closure of the Portsmouth shipyard until the results of the Scottish referendum are known.

    Dr Andrew Murrison

    No discussions have been held with BAE Systems about delaying the closure of Portsmouth shipyard pending the results of the Scottish referendum.

    The Government is clear that Scotland benefits from being part of the UK and the UK benefits from having Scotland within it. The Government is not making plans for independence as we are confident that the people of Scotland will vote to remain within the United Kingdom in the referendum.