The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Parminter on 2016-05-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 15 December 2015 (HL4104), when they intend to make public the report of the Lead Ammunition Group, which was submitted on 3 June 2015, and their response.
Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government is still in the process of considering the report’s findings and recommendations and will respond to it as soon as possible.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Nicholas Soames on 2016-07-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what additional support and resources her Department is providing to assist West Sussex County Council in meeting its universal broadband obligations.
Matt Hancock
The Government has implemented a basic broadband scheme to enable all premises to gain access to speeds of at least 2Mbps. This enables residents to gain access to every government service available online. Funding for subsidised connections through the scheme is provided by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) as part of the government’s superfast broadband programme. Consumers in eligible premises can access services from any of the suppliers who have been entered onto the scheme by BDUK.
In addition it is the Government’s intention to implement a new broadband Universal Service Obligation. This will give people the legal right to request a broadband connection, no matter where they live, by the end of this Parliament. Our ambition is that the minimum download speed should initially be set at 10 Mbps.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people prosecuted in their absence were on bail in each year since 2010.
Mr Sam Gyimah
Information on whether or not a defendant is in attendance at their hearing is not held centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett on 2015-11-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the additional anticipated receipts for HM Treasury as a result of the implementation of the National Living Wage in each year from 2016 to 2020.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
As set out in Table B.3 of their July 2015 Economic and Fiscal Outlook, the Office for Budgetary Responsibility estimate that, in 2016-17, the National Living Wage will leave receipts broadly unchanged. In 2017-18 and 2018-19, income tax and National Insurance Contributions (NICs) receipts are projected to stay constant but the overall impact of the policy on the public finances is forecast to reduce public sector net borrowing by £0.1bn. In 2019-0 and 2020-21, the policy is expected to increase income tax and NICs receipts by £0.1bn and reduce public sector net borrowing by £0.2bn.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alan Brown on 2015-12-16.
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to the Answer of 12 October 2015 to Question 10602, on which dates he has held meetings with HM Treasury on the potential effects of a carbon price support exemption scheme in Scotland in the last year.
David Mundell
Since the Opencast Restoration issue arose I have raised this formally and informally on numerous occasions with Government colleagues. I can confirm that I met with the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury to discuss the Carbon Price Support Exemption Proposal specifically on 14 July 2015. I have not formally met with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to discuss this issue. In addition, Scotland Office officials have raised this matter with DECC and HM Treasury colleagues.
As the hon Member knows, I have taken a keen interest in this issue since it arose including attending the Industry Taskforce and meeting with him in his constituency office last year.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ronnie Cowan on 2016-01-20.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has had with betting operators to ascertain how much is held in dormant betting accounts and unclaimed winnings.
David Evennett
My officials have regular discussions with betting operators on a wide range of issues.
The Government keeps under review ways to support investment in good causes, including the recommendations of the Use of Dormant Betting Accounts Report.
Ministers continue to encourage the gambling industry to maximise their contributions to these important areas, including funding programmes of research, prevention, and treatment of gambling-related harm,
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paula Sherriff on 2016-02-19.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 3 February 2016 to Question 24236, whether Transport for London’s financial contribution to the British Transport Police budget for 2016-17 has been confirmed.
Claire Perry
Transport for London’s financial contribution to the British Transport Police budget for 2016-17 has not yet been confirmed. Discussions will continue throughout March.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by FALSE on 2016-03-14.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are aware of the practice of breast ironing” in Commonwealth countries of Africa
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The British Government is aware of the harmful practice of breast ironing in some Commonwealth and other African countries. There is little reliable data on the number of girls suffering this form of abuse, but we strongly condemn violence against women and girls in all its forms.
The Government places gender equality at the heart of our bilateral development programming and works through diplomatic and development channels to tackle the causes and drivers of violence against women and girls as a matter of priority. The manifestations of violence may change but it is critical to address the structural causes of violence, including harmful beliefs and attitudes.
In Cameroon, Kenya and Nigeria we are continuing to engage with governments and local communities to support the rights of women and girls, including ending harmful practices which constitute violence against women and girls. In Cameroon our High Commission has been working closely with the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and the Family on campaigns in coordination with local religious leaders, to raise awareness and support community-led change to end the harmful practice of breast ironing.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Rob Marris on 2016-04-14.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when her Department plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Wolverhampton South West of 24 February 2016 on Game Farming in the UK, case reference ZA3022.
George Eustice
The letter from the hon. Member for Wolverhampton South West of 24 February 2016 on Game Farming in the UK was replied to on 18 April 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mendelsohn on 2016-05-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is their policy that entertainment expenses either given or received by individuals in fund management companies and their clients and suppliers should be disclosed, and whether they will encourage pension trustees to require such disclosures in their management contracts.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
The Government is committed to the principle that people should have access to appropriate and accessible investment options and understand the charges that they face.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is currently conducting a market study into asset management. We await the FCA’s assessment of disclosure of costs and fees in fund management reporting, where these issues fall under the scope of the market study. The FCA expect to publish an interim report in summer 2016 and a final report in early 2017.
With respect to the disclosure requirements imposed on pension trustees, the Department for Work and Pensions and the FCA jointly undertook a Call for Evidence on disclosure of costs and charges in workplace pension schemes during 2015. We and the FCA are assessing the responses received and remain committed to making regulations and rules in this Parliament requiring publication of costs and charges, as per the legal duty in the Pensions Act 2014.