The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tania Mathias on 2015-11-17.
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to protect the personal details of those registered with the Government Gateway service from hacking; and if he will make a statement.
Matthew Hancock
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley on 2 November 2015 to UIN: 13799.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tania Mathias on 2015-12-11.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support will be available for long-term planning for cycling in the period between the closure of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund in April 2016 and the publication of the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy in summer 2016.
Mr Robert Goodwill
Following the recent Spending Review confirmation of this Government’s commitment to cycling and walking by committing to investing over £300million to 2020, I am considering in more detail future sustainable transport programmes. This includes the new ‘access’ fund, which is anticipated to build on the legacy of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund. The Government is also currently developing the first Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy and will be engaging with interested parties as this work progresses. I plan to publish further details shortly.
At the same time, the Local Growth Fund already includes many ongoing cycling and other sustainable transport initiatives.
This Government also remains committed to the principles of localism. Local authorities are well placed to decide their local priorities in relation to sustainable transport initiatives. Government resources allocated to local authorities, such as the local integrated transport block, can be flexibly distributed accordingly.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tania Mathias on 2016-03-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether spending on the upkeep of the defence estate counts towards the Government’s pledge to spend at least two per cent of GDP on defence, as defined by NATO.
Mark Lancaster
In accordance with NATO guidelines on Defence expenditure, spending on the upkeep of the defence estate to support our Armed Forces does count towards the Government’s pledge to spend at least two per cent of GDP on defence.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tania Mathias on 2016-07-08.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when his Department plans to begin its review of driving sentences and penalties.
Dominic Raab
The government is aware of concerns about a number of sentencing issues and is committed to making sure sentencing for driving crimes is proportionate within the context of our wider sentencing framework. It is our intention to commence a consultation before the end of the year which will look at driving offences and penalties.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tania Mathias on 2016-09-15.
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that funding is in place to implement its policy of 30 hours free childcare.
Caroline Dinenage
We are committed to providing the high-quality, affordable childcare that working families need.
To enable the successful implementation of 30 hours of free childcare, we are investing £1billion of additional funding per year, including £300million per year to increase our national average funding rates.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tania Mathias on 2015-11-17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, whether the agreement signed with China to fund Hinckley Point C nuclear reactor includes funding from China for (a) decommissioning costs and (b) emergency clean-up costs.
Andrea Leadsom
The basis on which Chinese companies will invest in the Hinkley Point C project is set out in the strategic investor agreement agreed between EDF and CGN in October. The terms of this agreement are a matter for EDF.
Operators of new nuclear power stations are required to have a Funded Decommissioning Programme (FDP) approved by the Secretary of State before nuclear related construction can begin. The FDP sets out how a new nuclear operator will make secure financial provision for decommissioning their power station and managing and disposing of its waste without recourse to the taxpayer.
Operators of nuclear power stations are also required to put in place insurance or other financial security to meet their nuclear third party liabilities.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tania Mathias on 2015-12-16.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans that the three per cent additional stamp duty rate on the purchase of a second home will apply to people in the process of moving house who own two properties for a short period of time.
Mr David Gauke
In general, if, at the end of the day of a residential property transaction, a purchaser owns more than one property and has not replaced a main residence, the higher rates will apply. Where there is a temporary overlap between replacing and selling a main residence, the higher rates will apply but the purchaser will be entitled to a refund of the higher amounts on disposal of the previous main residence within 18 months.
The Government is consulting on the policy detail, including on the treatment of difficult cases.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tania Mathias on 2016-03-24.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether spending on the upkeep of the defence estate counts towards the Government’s pledge to spend at least two per cent of GDP on defence, as defined by NATO.
Mark Lancaster
In accordance with NATO guidelines on Defence expenditure, spending on the upkeep of the defence estate to support our Armed Forces does count towards the Government’s pledge to spend at least two per cent of GDP on defence.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tania Mathias on 2016-07-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when his Department plans to commence the Triennial Review of Sales and Prizes.
Tracey Crouch
As previously stated in the House of Commons, Government is reviewing the situation and I hope to announce details of a review in due course.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tania Mathias on 2016-10-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what training and support the NHS provides to doctors who have returned from long-term career breaks.
Mr Philip Dunne
The Induction and Refresher Scheme for general practitioners (GPs), launched in 2015, is designed for doctors who have been out of practice in the United Kingdom for more than two years and have therefore dropped off the national performers list.
NHS England also funds the Retained Doctor Scheme. This scheme provides doctors, who are on the performers list but who want to remain in or return to practice (for example after a career break) and work a maximum of four clinical sessions, with protected time for continuing professional development (CPD) and educational support. The scheme is designed to allow doctors to remain in practice when standard part time working is unavailable or does not suit the doctor’s working patterns.
The GP easy return to practice forms part of the GP Forward View, published in April 2016 by NHS England.