Tag: Parliamentary Question

  • David Crausby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    David Crausby – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Crausby on 2014-06-05.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much has been paid through working tax credits to people in Bolton North East constituency in each of the last three years.

    Mr David Gauke

    Table 1: Bolton North East constituency Working Tax Credit entitlement

    Tax Year

    Total WTC entitlement

    2010-11

    £19 million

    2011-12

    £18 million

    2012-13

    £176 million

    These figures have been rounded to the nearest £ million.

    “

  • John Healey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    John Healey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Healey on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential effects of removing dedicated funding for local welfare assistance; and if he will review the current local welfare assistance arrangements introduced in 2013 before any such change is made.

    Steve Webb

    In the next spending round period, from April 2015, central government will continue to provide support to local authorities through general funds, as part of the coalition Government’s commitment to reducing ring-fencing and ending top-down Whitehall control.

    It was always the intention that 2014-15 would be the last year of separate funding for local welfare provision from the Department for Work and Pensions. Councils will continue to provide support to those in their community who face financial difficulties or who find themselves in unavoidable circumstances.

    In contrast to a centralised grant system that was poorly targeted, councils can now choose how to best support local welfare needs within their areas. As this is an administrative change only no assessment has been made of the effects. However we are carrying out a review of the current arrangements, working with the Local Government Association and the Department for Communities and Local Government. Once completed it is our intention to place a copy of the findings in the House Library.

  • David Amess – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    David Amess – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Prime Minister

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Amess on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Prime Minister, if it remains his policy to publish the report of the Chilcot Inquiry in full; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr David Cameron

    The Iraq Inquiry is independent of government, and should be allowed to complete its work without interference.

    Neither I nor Ministers have had any discussions with or made any representations to the Inquiry. Nor have I discussed the Inquiry with President Obama.

    The Inquiry has sought the declassification of material for inclusion in its report from many thousands of documents, some of which have been or will be published. Government does not, as a rule, comment on any discussions between officials and the Inquiry.

    The Maxwellisation process is a matter for the Inquiry.

    The Government remains committed to ensuring that the Inquiry’s final report will be able to disclose all but the most sensitive information which will be determined in accordance with the protocol governing the disclosure of documentary evidence which is available through the Inquiry website.

    Timing of the delivery of the report to me is a matter for the Inquiry, but it is my hope that the Inquiry can complete its work before the end of the year. Upon publication, copies of the report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

  • Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Helen Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Helen Jones on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the average rent is for (a) privately rented homes and (b) new homes built under the Affordable Homes Programme in (i) Warrington and (ii) Warrington North constituency.

    Kris Hopkins

    The information is not held centrally.

  • Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Tom Watson – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has provided any advice to public communications providers on the consequences of the decision of the European Court of Justice in Digital Rights Ireland and Seitlinger and Others on data retention by those companies.

    James Brokenshire

    The Government continues to consider the judgment of the European Court, but we consider that the UK Data Retention (EC Directive) Regulations 2009 remain in
    force. Those in receipt of a notice under the Regulations have been informed that they should continue to observe their obligations as outlined in any notice.

  • Oliver Colvile – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Oliver Colvile – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Oliver Colvile on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what specialist one-to-one study skills support will be available for students with specific learning difficulties following the review of the disabled students allowance; and who will provide that support.

    Mr David Willetts

    Discussions are underway with stakeholders, including those who specialise in supporting students with Specific Learning Difficulties. This will help determine how specialist one-to-one support will be delivered in the future and where the responsibility for funding such support will fall.

    I will not make a final decision on this matter until I have considered the necessary Equality Analysis, which is in preparation, and will take account of any relevant evidence provided by stakeholders.

  • Stephen O’Brien – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Stephen O’Brien – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen O’Brien on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many local authorities have signed up to become dementia friendly since the launch of the Dementia Challenge; and what other progress has been made since that date.

    Norman Lamb

    The dementia friendly communities recognition process was launched by Alzheimer’s Society in September 2013 and 55 communities have already signed up. We have therefore increased our original ambition of 20 communities committed to work to become dementia friendly, as set out in the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia, to reach 75 communities by March 2015. In addition, 59 local authorities are members of local Dementia Action Alliances.

    The Department has worked with Alzheimer’s Society to develop the recognition process for dementia friendly communities. Malpas has signed up to the recognition process and is receiving support in its work to become dementia friendly. The Department is also working with Alzheimer’s Society and the British Standards Institute to develop a code of practice for dementia friendly communities, which will help communities to continue in their work to become dementia friendly.

  • Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 2014-06-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they plan to take to tackle election malpractices.

    Lord Wallace of Saltaire

    The integrity of elections is crucial to our democracy. The Government is introducing measures to strengthen the electoral system through the introduction of Individual Electoral Registration which will make the register more accurate and secure.

    The Government will carefully consider any findings by the Electoral Commission in relation to the 22 May 2014 elections to determine whether any further measures may be needed to support electoral integrity.

  • Lord Hylton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the The Lord Chairman of Committees

    Lord Hylton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the The Lord Chairman of Committees

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hylton on 2014-06-05.

    To ask the Chairman of Committees what proportion of the food used in the House of Lords is (1) grown in the home counties; and (2) drawn from organic and whole-food sources.

    Lord Sewel

    The House of Lords does not draw any of its food from organic sources nor is any of the food offered categorised as “whole-food”. Fruit and vegetables used by the House sourced from the home counties are set out in the table below. Free-range chicken served in the House is mostly from Gloucestershire and Essex. The Salt Marsh lamb is from the Romney Marsh in Kent.

    Produce

    Source county

    Asparagus

    Hampshire

    Beetroot

    Bedfordshire

    Bramley apple

    Cambridgeshire

    Cauliflower

    Kent

    Herbs (potted)

    Hampshire

    Jacket potatoes

    Hertfordshire

    New potatoes

    Kent

    Raspberries

    Sussex

    Red potatoes

    Kent

    Spring greens

    Cambridgeshire

    Strawberries

    Kent

    Tomatoes (gourmet)

    Sussex

    Vitelotte potatoes

    Kent
  • Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2014-06-05.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what appointments to public bodies the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has made in the last 12 months.

    Viscount Younger of Leckie

    For the 12 month period ending 31 March 2014 the Department made 126 appointments, including new, reappointments and extensions to OCPA regulated public bodies. The appointments were made as follows:

    Partner Organisation

    Chair

    Member

    Advisory, Conciliation & Arbitration Service (ACAS)

    1

    5

    Arts Humanities and Research Council

    1

    3

    Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council

    1

    3

    Capital for Enterprise

    0

    1

    Competition Commission

    1

    35

    Competition Service

    0

    1

    Construction Industry Training Board

    0

    1 (employee representative)

    Consumer Futures

    0

    13

    Council for Science & Technology

    1

    13

    Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council

    0

    6

    Economic & Social Research Council

    1

    4

    Higher Education Funding Council for England

    1

    5

    Low Pay Commission

    0

    3

    Medical Research Council

    0

    2

    National Environment Research Council

    1

    3

    Office of Fair Trading

    2 (of which 1 was a short-term extension).

    2

    Science & Technology Facilities Council

    1

    3

    Student Loans Company

    2 (of which 1 was an interim appointment).

    4

    Technology Strategy Board

    0

    2

    UK Commission Atomic Energy Authority

    1

    3