Tag: Stephen Timms

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-11-10.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much gift aid has been (a) requested and (b) reclaimed from (i) donors and (ii) charities in circumstances in which people making registered charitable donations for gift aid ended the year below the income tax threshold in each of the last five years.

Damian Hinds

Individual donors are responsible for ensuring that they have paid sufficient tax to cover any Gift Aid reclaimed on their donations.

In practice, where HMRC identifies tax to cover issues as a result of its compliance activity with a charity, it may invite the charity to make good any shortfall on behalf of their donors. The charity is not legally obliged to repay any over-claimed Gift Aid and the responsibility always remains that of the donor.

Details of how much Gift Aid is reclaimed separately from donors and charities is not available.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-11-25.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proportion of spousal visa postal applications were determined within eight weeks in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013 and (e) 2014.

James Brokenshire

The proportion of postal spousal visa applications that received a grant or refusal outcome and were determined within eight weeks during 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 were (data from 2009 has been included for context):

• In 2009, of 19436 applications, 11% were determined within eight weeks

• In 2010, of 17455 applications, 51% were determined within eight weeks

• In 2011, of 11570 applications, 73% were determined within eight weeks

• In 2012, of 9580 applications, 12% were determined within eight weeks

• In 2013, of 20440 applications, 31% were determined within eight weeks

• In 2014, of 13020 applications, 65% were determined within eight weeks

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-11-30.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of how many refugees will be resettled in the UK under the vulnerable persons programme in (a) 2015, (b) 2016, (c) 2017, (d) 2018, (e) 2019 and (f) 2020.

Richard Harrington

The programme is driven by need, and the number resettled in a particular period will de-pend on a range of factors. This includes the number of referrals we have received from UNHCR and the number of confirmed places we have received from local authorities that are suitable for the specific needs of those who have been accepted for resettlement. Rather than a monthly or yearly target we acknowledge that some months we will resettle more or less than others because it is based on the need in the region at that time and the progress of those people through the system.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-12-08.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 7 December 2015 to Question 18565, what the components are of the 12 month support package provided to resettled Syrian refugees to assist with their integration.

Richard Harrington

The Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme prioritises those who cannot be supported effectively in the region, and the 12 month support package which refugees are offered is therefore tailored according to their individual needs. The main components are accommodation; cultural integration, including English Language tuition; and addressing any medical and social care needs.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2015-12-09.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which charities her Department has funded to assist people affected by the Syria crisis since 2012.

Mr Desmond Swayne

The UK has been at the forefront of the response to the crisis in Syria and the region. We have pledged over £1.1 billion, our largest ever response to a single humanitarian crisis.

As part of the our response to the Syria Crisis, the UK is supporting a range of implementing partners working in Syria and neighbouring countries, including United Nations agencies, international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), the Red Cross and other international organisations. NGO partners include CARE International, the Danish Refugee Council, Handicap International, the International Rescue Committee, Islamic Relief, Mercy Corps, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, Save the Children and World Vision. Due to security reasons, some of our International NGO partners working in Syria have requested to remain undisclosed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-01-06.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the average change in entitlement for existing universal credit claimants who are in work as a result of changes to benefits taking effect in April 2016.

Priti Patel

The vast majority of existing Universal Credit claimants will see no change in entitlement. Those who are in work and who are affected will receive additional support from their work coach and, where appropriate, from the locally administered flexible support fund.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-01-11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, when he plans to provide an answer to Question 18568, tabled by the hon. Member for East Ham on 2 December 2015.

Nick Boles

The Government has not made an estimate of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates for these age groups for each year until 2020.

The Government asks the Low Pay Commission to make NMW rate recommendations each year based on maximising the wages of the low paid without damaging employment opportunities. The Low Pay Commission will recommend the October 2016 NMW rates and indicative rates for 2017 by the end of February 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-01-18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure that applicants for universal credit are made aware of appropriate debt advice services; and if he will make a statement.

Priti Patel

At the initial meeting, Work Coaches will assess the claimant’s financial capabilities and determine if there is a need for Personal Budgeting Support. If there is, then the claimant can be referred to a range of services including the Money Advice Service. Any claimant identified as being vulnerable and needing an Alternative Payment Arrangement during the course of their claim will be referred for appropriate support.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-01-20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of measures to stimulate demand for recycled material; and if she will make a statement.

Rory Stewart

Incentivising recycled content in new products has environmental benefits, and consumers generally have a positive image of products with recycled content.

Working through the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), we have developed and delivered a number of activities in support of both the use of recycled materials in new products, and on activities to stimulate its demand. Developing and securing sustainable end markets for recycled materials is key to ensuring the UK meets its statutory recycling targets and supports growth of the waste reprocessing sector. For example, recycled bottle plastic now has a number of end markets, including “back to bottles” and plastic packaging such as trays, as well as its more traditional end market of fibre.

We have significant ongoing work in the area, including the delivery of the Plastics Industry Recycling Action Plan. This includes projects on design for recyclability and development of suitable end markets for plastic recyclate; and the coordinated development and delivery of a Food Waste Recycling Action Plan by industry and Local Authorities to disseminate and promote current research and best practice to increase the supply and quality of household and commercial food waste to the food waste recycling industry.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Stephen Timms on 2016-02-03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many people (a) under and (b) over 18 received support from child and adolescent mental health services in each of the last three years.

Alistair Burt

We do not hold this information centrally.