The below Parliamentary question was asked by Anna Turley on 2015-11-05.
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what correspondence his Department has had with PwC regarding SSI Redcar in the last three years; and how many meetings his Department has had with PwC in that period.
Anna Soubry
My officials had a number of telephone calls and one meeting with PwC between 28 August 2015 and 1 October 2015 to discuss SSI.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Paul Flynn on 2015-12-04.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether she plans to review the assessment principles on imperative reasons of overriding public interest in big energy planning projects.
Andrea Leadsom
These are requirements under European Law. There are no plans to review the assessment principles on imperative reasons of overriding public interest in big energy planning projects.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Daniel Zeichner on 2016-01-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to empower local authorities in proposed clean air zones to charge private cars which do not comply with EU vehicle emission standards.
Rory Stewart
Local Authorities already have powers under Part 3 of the Transport Act 2000 which can be used to establish Clean Air Zones. Vehicles have to comply with European emissions standards in order to be put on the market and we have been pushing strongly for action to improve the standards and for real driving emission testing to be introduced as quickly as possible.
As set out in our air quality plan for reducing nitrogen dioxide emissions, published on 17 December 2015, we will be requiring five cities in England to introduce Clean Air Zones and discourage certain types of vehicles from entering them. The plan identifies different categories of Clean Air Zone which may be appropriate depending on the circumstances of a particular Local Authority introducing a zone. However, the plan explains that, for those five cities, we have assessed that we can bring the UK into compliance with nitrogen dioxide limits without requiring the Local Authorities to impose restrictions on passenger cars. Further, the plan sets out the Mayor of London’s commitment to introduce an Ultra Low Emission Zone by September 2020 covering a range of vehicles, including passenger cars.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 2016-02-03.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received from bodies and organisations in support of fixed-term local authority tenancies.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
I refer the noble Lord to my answer to him to question HL5779.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Clement-Jones on 2016-02-29.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what involvement the Prime Minister has had in the formation of proposals for a new Cancer Drugs Fund.
Lord Prior of Brampton
NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence are developing the proposed new arrangements for the Cancer Drugs Fund. My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health, my hon. Friend the Minister for Life Sciences and the Prime Minister have been kept informed as this work has been progressed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham on 2016-03-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, for those countries and territories in which those in receipt of the UK state pension are subject to the frozen pensions regulations, what is the process necessary to negotiate reciprocal agreements for pensions to be uprated annually.
Baroness Altmann
There are a number of considerations around whether to initiate the negotiation of reciprocal agreements for pensions and other social security benefits. These include reciprocity between the social security systems in the respective countries, the movement of people between the two countries, and the affordability of concluding and administering an agreement.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Hanson on 2016-04-28.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals to reform the current method of electing hereditary peers to the House of Lords.
John Penrose
Given the very large and urgent list of other constitutional reforms currently underway, it’s hard to justify giving Lords reform a higher priority than other manifesto promises. We will continue to consider steps that are able to command support from all sides of the House. The Leader of the House of Lords has convened cross-party talks to discuss these issues, and those talks continue.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Thangam Debbonaire on 2016-06-13.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of staffing levels in Police Public Protection Units at (a) UK and (b) force level.
Mike Penning
Decisions on the size, composition and deployment of a police force’s workforce are operational matters for individual chief constables, working with their Police and Crime Commissioners.
HMIC’s progress report on the police response to domestic abuse, published in December 2015, found that forces have continued largely to protect their dedicated teams or other resources that focus on public protection work.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-09-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussion she has had with Cabinet colleagues on the effect of the possible expansion of Heathrow Airport on UK tourism.
Tracey Crouch
The Government has accepted the case for airport expansion in the South East and the Airports’ Commission’s shortlisted options. The new Culture Secretary will be ensuring that tourism is one of the factors considered, when a final decision is taken on a preferred scheme.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tulip Siddiq on 2016-10-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department has taken to encourage local authorities to offer business rate exemptions to nurseries.
Caroline Dinenage
The Government does not collect data on particular types of premises that might have benefited from local discretionary relief.
Central Government has given local authorities wide-ranging, discretionary powers to grant business rates discounts as they see fit – they are best placed to serve the needs of their community. All local authorities which grant a local discount will receive 50% of the cost from central Government funds.
The Minister for Childcare wrote to all local authorities in November 2014 to encourage them to apply business rates relief to nurseries and reminded them that central Government will meet 50% of the costs involved. He also encouraged nurseries to follow up with their local authorities themselves. The Department for Communities and Local Government wrote to local authorities in January 2015, reinforcing this message. This letter is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/395333/BRIL_1__-_2015__-__General_-_14_Jan.pdf
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