The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, if he will place in the Library a copy of the Tees Valley City Deal.
Greg Clark
All City Deals are available on gov.uk.
A copy of the Tees Valley City Deal has been placed in the Library of the House.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-04-02.
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average age of rolling stock serving the (a) Tees Valley Line and (b) Esk Valley Line is.
Stephen Hammond
The rolling stock operated on these two lines is a mixture of Class 142 and Class 156 units which were constructed between 1985 and 1989.
However, the age of rolling stock is a crude measure of quality – as a properly planned refurbishment of an older train can result in a very pleasant travelling environment and a "new train feel" but at a fraction of the cost of a new unit.
Information on the average age of rolling stock is available from the Office of Rail Regulation’s website, by following this link:
http://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/displayreport/report/html/53dcc4e1-3223-48f9-9e9c-10d51359cdd7
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions his Department has had with local authorities in the Tees Valley on the creation of a combined authority.
Brandon Lewis
On 16 June 2014 the Government signed a City Deal with the Tees Valley in which the local leaders committed to develop plans to strengthen governance, including progressing the idea of a combined authority for the area.
It is for the local areas themselves to decide, given their circumstances, what governance arrangements will best enable effective and collaborative decision taking, which is transparent and locally accountable, thus delivering successfully the implementation of the area’s Strategic Economic Plan. Where councils come forward with a proposal for a combined authority that commands wide local support, if the Secretary of State considers that the statutory conditions are met, he will invite Parliament to approve an Order which enables the combined authority to be established.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-04-25.
To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much HM Treasury received in VAT charged on ebooks in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.
Mr David Gauke
No reliable estimate has been possible for the value of VAT levied on the sale of e-books purchased in 2012‑13 and 2013-14.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-06-18.
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many people in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales, (c) Northern Ireland and (d) each English region have joined the (i) Army Reserves, (ii) Royal Naval Reserves and (iii) Royal Air Force Reserves in each year since 2010.
Anna Soubry
This information is not held in the format requested. Statistical data on recruitment to the Reserve Forces can be found in the Defence Statistics Quarterly Personnel Report at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-armed-forces-quarterly-personnel-report-2014
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will provide funding as part of the National Pollinator Strategy to create a national insect monitoring scheme.
George Eustice
Defra is currently commissioning a two year research project that will develop and test a new national pollinator monitoring scheme. The project will develop the methods, sampling framework and delivery mechanisms for a cost-effective national monitoring scheme, which will assess changes in pollinator populations and their pollination services. Commissioning of this research is at an advanced stage and the project could start as early as this month. Once contracts are in place we will provide details on our science webpages (http://randd.defra.gov.uk/ ).
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-04-25.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the issuing of planning guidance as part of the proposed National Pollinator Strategy to ensure that future development is beneficial to bees and other pollinators.
George Eustice
Defra officials discussed the National Pollinator Strategy in relation to planning guidance with officials at the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in autumn 2013. DCLG published the National Planning Practice Guidance in March 2014, which is clear about biodiversity aims.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Ministers for Women and Equalities, whether his Department will attend the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia Forum 2014 in Valletta.
Sajid Javid
Yes.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what underspend there has been on the Youth Contract scheme; and how any such underspend has been used.
Esther McVey
The Government has announced a number of measures to reallocate the Youth Contract underspend.
In July 2013, the Deputy Prime Minister announced that out of the £1 billion initially allocated to the Youth Contract, £50 million of underspend would be made available to City Deals to support local youth initiatives. Additionally £5m of funding was made available to the devolved administrations to support further youth schemes.
Funding of £35 million was also allocated to extend the successful New Enterprise Allowance scheme. The scheme has already helped over 40,000 people start up their own business. A further £20m was allocated for start-up loans.
Further funds were allocated to enable pilots for 18-21 year olds with low levels of skills including maths and English, and 16/17 year olds to receive help from Jobcentre Plus.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Blenkinsop on 2014-05-07.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will meet the hon. Member for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland to discuss recent developments in South Tees NHS Foundation Trust.
Dr Daniel Poulter
The hon. Member for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland has had these issues debated in the House on more than one occasion, most recently at a Westminster Hall Debate on 5 November 2013. He has also had several meetings with Ministers.
The National Health Service (NHS) regulator, Monitor, is continuing to investigate the South Tees NHS Foundation Trust and the results of its investigation will be published in due course.