Tag: Roger Williams

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Williams on 2015-01-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment his Department has made of the potential contribution to the economy of the investment in science announced in the Autumn Statement 2014; and what steps he plans to take to maximise that contribution.

Greg Clark

The Department published a summary of the evidence around the potential contribution to the economy of its investment in science alongside the Science and Innovation Strategy that was published in December. In addition we announced new funding for specific projects which will boost the contribution of our science investments to the wider economy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Williams on 2014-06-04.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will extend the Help to Buy Scheme to housing built with local affordable conditions attached.

Andrea Leadsom

The Help to Buy: mortgage guarantee scheme offers lenders the option to purchase a guarantee on mortgages where the borrower has a deposit of between 5 per cent and 20 per cent of the value of the property. A mortgage supported by the mortgage guarantee scheme works in exactly the same way as any other mortgage, but has to comply with the requirements set out in the scheme rules. In particular, the scheme rules exclude the use of the mortgage guarantee alongside other government schemes or shared ownership schemes.

The Help to Buy: equity loan scheme is managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government and is available to all those who aspire to own a new build home, but struggle to access or afford the repayments on a low deposit mortgage. The scheme is open to first time buyers and to those looking to move up the housing ladder.

Whilst the Government keeps all schemes, including Help to Buy, under review, the Government currently has no plans to extend the Help to Buy scheme.

Further information about both parts of the Help to Buy scheme can be found at: http://www.helptobuy.org.uk/home.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Williams on 2014-06-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, for what reason householders converting to higher efficiency natural gas condensing boilers are eligible for help under the Green Deal Home Improvement Fund, but householders in rural areas converting to higher efficiency oil or liquid petroleum gas condensing boilers are not eligible.

Gregory Barker

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Monmouth on 9^th June 2014, Official Report, Column 21W.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Williams on 2014-06-12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that the UK’s sanitary and phytosanitary rules in food production are not affected by the agreement of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

George Eustice

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership could be worth £10 billion a year to the UK economy, with potential to deliver significant opportunities for the UK agriculture, food and drink sectors. Sanitary and phytosanitary issues are likely to be critical to a successful agreement. I am pursuing these in consultation with industry and other interested parties to ensure progress is made, based on sound science and consistent with our biosecurity and food safety standards.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Williams on 2014-06-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what role his Department is playing in the Government’s review of the Muslim Brotherhood announced in April 2014.

Mr William Hague

The Government has appointed a senior member of the diplomatic service, Sir John Jenkins, to lead the review. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is contributing information and analysis through our network of Embassies across the Middle East and more widely, including by consulting academic experts. The FCO is also providing an oversight role as part of the review’s steering group.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Williams on 2014-06-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will estimate the potential reduction in gas imports from the roll-out of ground sourced heat pumps.

Gregory Barker

I have not made such an estimate. However, we expect the impact of ground-source heat pump (GSHP) deployment on gas imports to be negligible.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Williams on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent representations he has received from UK retailers on the effect of the Sunday Trading Act 1994 on their businesses.

Jenny Willott

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has received representations from a number of correspondents in the last 12 months on Sunday Trading. These include representations from Asda Stores Ltd, Horticulture Trades Association and shopping centres advocating further liberalisation, as well as others such as the Association of Convenience Stores, some large retailers, 2 individual stores and small groups, supporting the current Sunday trading rules or for further restrictions.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Williams on 2014-06-17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much beef was imported into the UK from (a) the Republic of Ireland, (b) the rest of the EU and (c) non-EU countries in each of the last 18 months.

George Eustice

The following tables provide details of UK imports of beef and veal as recorded in the Official Overseas Trade Statistics for the period January 2012 – April 2014.

		Thousand Tonnes					Thousand Tonnes
Imports from	Month	2012	2013	2014		Imports from	Month		2012		2013		2014
Irish Republic	January	12.3	12.1	13.3		Non EU	January		1.6		2.6		2.2
	February	13.7	10.8	12.2			February		1.3		1.7		1.5
	March	14.9	13.0	16.2			March		1.2		1.4		1.5
	April	12.9	11.9	13.5			April		1.4		2.3		2.1
	May	12.5	12.4				May		2.1		2.6
	June	11.8	14.9				June		3.1		3.5
	July	11.3	12.2				July		2.2		3.5
	August	12.4	11.7				August		2.2		3.1
	September	13.8	14.9				September		1.9		2.8
	October	15.0	15.6				October		2.2		3.5
	November	14.0	15.1				November		2.0		2.5
	December	15.1	16.4				December		1.7		2.0
Irish Republic annual total		159.7	161.0			Non EU annual total			23.0		31.7
Rest of EU	January	3.8	3.9	3.4
	February	4.1	3.2	3.4		Ó Crown Copyright
	March	4.4	2.9	3.3		Source: HM Revenue and Customs
	April	4.4	3.5	4.1		2013 & 2014 data is subject to amendments
	May	5.3	3.9
	June	4.3	3.3			EU data based on EU 28
	July	4.8	4.1
	August	4.7	3.7
	September	4.2	3.9
	October	5.1	4.4
	November	4.4	4.6
	December	3.8	4.2
Rest of EU annual total		53.4	45.6

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