Tag: Seema Malhotra

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-12-07.

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, with reference to the publication, Towards a one nation economy: A 10-point plan for boosting rural productivity, how many rural exception sites for starter homes will be made available in 2015.

Brandon Lewis

Rural exception sites are identified by communities to meet a local housing need. We are currently consulting on the provision of Starter Homes on such sites and subject to the outcome will bring forward new policy in 2016. We will be supporting communities in bringing these sites forward.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-01-07.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide a list of all the departments within HM Treasury.

Harriett Baldwin

Treasury Group – Bodies can be found in the published Report and Accounts. The latest Annual Report and accounts for 2014-15 is published on line and can be viewed in the link below:-

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hm-treasury-annual-report-and-accounts-2014-to-2015

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-01-22.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessments he has made of the effect of the level of the current account deficit on the future strength of the pound sterling.

Harriett Baldwin

The widening in the UK current account deficit in recent years has been driven by a deterioration in the UK’s net investment income from abroad, while the trade deficit has continued to improve. The Office for Budget Responsibility expect factors that have depressed the returns on the UK’s net assets, such as the relative weakness in economic activity in the UK’s trading partners, to recede. The current account deficit is forecast to narrow to -2.1 per cent by 2020, limiting any impact on the exchange rate. Furthermore, the government’s plan to complete the repair of the public finances will support a gradual narrowing of the current account deficit.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-02-24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what analysis his Department conducts of personal independence payment medical assessments to (a) help identify common issues which cause repeated appeals and reapplications and (b) ensure a consistent approach across such assessments.

Justin Tomlinson

The Department and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Assessment Providers have robust audit and assurance regimes in place to check the quality and consistency of PIP assessments. These arrangements confirm that independent health professional advice complies with the required standards and that it is clear and medically reasonable. They also provide assurance that the assessment and opinion given are consistent so that, irrespective of where or by whom the assessment is carried out, claimants with conditions that have the same functional effect will ultimately receive the same benefit outcome.

Regular meetings take place with Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunals Service to discuss PIP appeals; feedback is provided to Assessment Providers if there is any indication that the assessment is a factor in appeals or reapplications to inform continuous improvement activity.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-10-10.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent representations she has received on schools covering costs on behalf of parents and the ensuing parental debt.

Edward Timpson

The department does not hold data from which to supply the information requested.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-11-05.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of his road investment strategy on productivity.

Andrew Jones

The Road Investment Strategy provides certainty about road investment ensuring more efficient operation and faster delivery for the English strategic road network. It sets out the vision and investment plan for a five year period from 2015 to 2020, encouraging the supply chain to invest and innovate from the long term certainty that this provides. Highways England is responsible for delivering the strategy and has been set a series of demanding targets by Government, which is regularly assessed, including independent monitoring by the Office of Rail and Road.

The combination of the measures will save the taxpayer £1.2 billion in the next 5 years and at least £2.6 billion over ten years. It also means clearer accountability and greater transparency, providing better assurance on the investment of public money.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-11-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, with reference to the document Fixing the Foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation, Cm 9098, what the evidential basis is for funding to UK Collaboration for Research in Infrastructure and Cities increasing productivity.

Joseph Johnson

As discussed in the “Fixing the foundations” document, long term investment in economic infrastructure is key to raising productivity[1].

The aim of the UK Collaboratorium for Research in Infrastructure & Cities (UKCRIC) is to coordinate research in UK cities and promote collaboration between disciplines and across sectors, boosting industrial engagement and helping to develop future infrastructure.

[1] HM Treasury (2015) “Fixing the foundations: Creating a more prosperous nation” https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/443898/Productivity_Plan_web.pdf

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2015-12-09.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the evidential basis is for his contribution of 25 November 2015, Official Report, column 1366, that Britain topped the league table of the best places in the world to invest in infrastructure.

Greg Hands

As anounced in the Autumn Statement the UK is recognised as the number one country for attracting infrastructure investment by Nabarro LLP’s 2015 infrastructure index. Nabarro ranks the UK as the top infrastructure investment destination based on its “chart-topping” sustainability and innovation, one of the highest scores for private participation, and strong credit and stability. The report also highlighted the government’s devolution policy as helping to facilitate a favourable investment environment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-01-07.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2015 to Question 19017, what information his Department holds on the reasons why the Office for Budget Responsibility does not view changes to net migration as one of the key risks or sensitivities to the medium term forecast.

Harriett Baldwin

As set out in the Charter for Budget Responsibility, the OBR is required to provide an analysis of the risks surrounding the economic outlook. As a result in every Economic and Fiscal Outlook the OBR sets out the risks and uncertainties surrounding the economic and fiscal forecast. The Treasury does not hold information on the reasons why the Office for Budget Responsibility did not include net migration as one of the key risks or sensitivities to the medium term forecast.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Seema Malhotra on 2016-01-26.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what information his Department holds on accumulated pension wealth on the lifetime allowance basis.

Harriett Baldwin

The Government does not hold its own records on total accumulated pension wealth, only on pension contributions. For the purposes of the Lifetime Allowance, officials have used data from the ONS Wealth and Assets Survey, which includes estimates of pension wealth.

The Government assessed the effects of changes to the Annual Allowance and Lifetime Allowance by considering how many people would have to reduce their saving in response to these reductions. This methodology was agreed with the OBR.

The reduction in the Lifetime Allowance will affect only 4% of savers currently approaching retirement. The Lifetime Allowance will be reduced to £1 million from April, but the average pension savings of someone approaching retirement is only £85,000.

Just 1% of savers make contributions of £40,000 per year, the level of the Annual Allowance since April 2014. The average saver contributes £6,000 per year.

The introduction of the Tapered Annual Allowance for individuals who earn over £150,000 in April 2016 will impact less than 2% of people saving into a pension.

The Government laid out its modelling on the effect of changes to the Annual and Lifetime Allowances on pension contributions in its policy costings documents at the March and Summer Budgets 2015.

For changes to the Lifetime Allowance, the Wealth and Assets Survey was used to estimate pension wealth, and this was projected forward using assumed pension contributions and estimates of the real rate of return on pensions savings taken from the OECD and the Government Actuary’s Department.

For the Tapered Annual Allowance, modelling used estimates from the Survey of Personal Incomes, HMRC operational data on personal pension contributions, the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, and the Occupational Pension Scheme Survey.