The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jonathan Ashworth on 2016-02-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) publications, (b) consultation documents and (c) circulars his Department has issued since August 2012; and what the title was of each such publication, consultation document or circular.
Mark Lancaster
The requested information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2016-04-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to introduce lifetime awards for people assessed as requiring the upper personal independence payment allowance mobility component who have been diagnosed with muscle degenerative diseases or conditions.
Justin Tomlinson
Personal Independence Payment is specifically designed to ensure that the benefit is awarded to those with the greatest need and the award review process is integral to ensuring this happens. Under Disability Living Allowance over 70% of all claims had no review built-in, meaning that claimants could have been receiving too much or too little in benefit.
We take a personalised approach to setting the length of awards, varying the frequency and format of awards and reviews depending on the individual’s needs and the likelihood of their health condition or impairment changing.
Where the claimant has high levels of functional impairment which are only likely to increase or not improve, it is likely that the claimant will receive an enhanced rate of benefit and a longer term award.
We recognise that it is important to ensure that the review process is applied sensitively and appropriately. As such, it is likely that the awards of such claimants would also go through a less intensive review process which may not, if all the necessary information is held, include a face-to-face assessment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Angela Smith on 2016-04-26.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department will be responsible for drafting and publishing the obesity strategy.
Jane Ellison
The Childhood Obesity Strategy, which will be launched in the summer, is being led by the Department with input from across Government, including Public Health England.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2016-06-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions she has had with the Chief Electoral Officer on proposed industrial action by electoral office staff in Northern Ireland.
Mr Ben Wallace
I have regular discussions with the Chief Electoral Officer, including regarding the recent industrial action.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lisa Nandy on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent representations the Government has received from (a) the Chinese government and (b) Chinese energy companies on proposals to build new nuclear power stations in the UK.
Jesse Norman
The Department regularly engages with the Chinese government and with CGN about their proposed partnership with EDF in UK new nuclear build – as we do with all developers with proposals for new nuclear power stations. A record of ministerial engagement with external stakeholders is published on a quarterly basis, and can be found at
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jess Phillips on 2016-10-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the average cost was of opening a university technical college in the last three years.
Edward Timpson
The total pre-opening revenue expenditure for university technical college projects that opened, or were withdrawn or cancelled in 2010 to 2015 is published on at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/revenue-spending-on-open-and-withdrawn-utcs-and-studio-schools
The total pre-opening revenue expenditure for the 11 university technical college projects that opened in 2016 will be published in due course.
The capital costs of completed university technical college projects since 2011 are published at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/capital-funding-for-open-free-schools
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-11-03.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the size of the current account balance in 2014.
Mr David Gauke
The current account deficit in 2014 was 5.1% of GDP, with this net borrowing from the rest of the world helping fund the budget deficit. The Government’s plan to repair the public finances through fiscal consolidation should in turn improve the current account deficit, as set out in the latest forecasts of the Office for Budget Responsibility.
The Government is also working to boost UK exports, including a £20m package of support for first time exporters and working alongside a more effective UKTI and better export finance.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nigel Dodds on 2015-12-01.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Pet Travel Scheme in tackling pet smuggling.
George Eustice
The carriers which carry out checks to ensure pets animals are compliant with Pet Travel Scheme rules are audited by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the results show that they are performing satisfactorily. In 2014, APHA audited close to 6,000 pets. Of these only 0.9% of the pets were found not to comply with the entry rules. These pets were either detained until their compliance could be established, re-exported or placed into quarantine.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Neil Parish on 2016-01-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what support her Department plans to provide to ensure that proposed biomass combined heat and power schemes are not affected by changes to the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme.
Andrea Leadsom
To be eligible for Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) support, all biomass combined heat and power (CHP) must be certified by the Combined Heat and Power Quality Assurance (CHPQA) scheme, and must demonstrate that they have a valid CHPQA certificate. Any installation claiming the CHP Renewable Obligation Certificate uplift will not be eligible for receiving support under the RHI scheme.
We intend to reform the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) to improve value for money and reduce costs; improve cost control and budget management; and ensure the scheme focuses more on our long-term needs, while contributing to both our carbon and renewable energy targets. We plan to consult on the changes shortly. Therefore, I am unable to make specific commitments as to the future shape of the scheme at this point.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ian C. Lucas on 2016-02-01.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions (a) HM Revenue and Customs and (b) other parts of the Government have had with Google on systems for collection of tax in the UK.
Mr David Gauke
HM Revenue and Customs have had no discussions with Google on systems for collection of tax in the UK.
The Department does not hold information on whether other parts of Government have had discussions with Google.